Too old for an Easter basket? Have a springy cocktail to celebrate instead!
Too old for an Easter basket but still want to get all kinds of festive? This Easter (March 31, 2024) always occurs the first Sunday after the full moon around the spring equinox, meaning it's the perfect holiday to help you shake off any winter doldrums and celebrate! What better way than with cocktails that pair wonderfully with everything from Easter brunch to dinner? Get inspired with this list of 42 spring cocktails just in time for Easter.
Hosting Easter breakfast or brunch? You’ve gotta have mimosas. We love jazzing ours up with the addition of fun fruits, like in our mimosa margaritas, our raspberry mimosas, our strawberry shortcake mimosas, or our lemonade mimosas. Bloody Marys are always nice for brunch too, and our recipes have extra nods to the warmer weather by adding extra veggies, like the tomatillos in our green Bloody Marys, the carrots in our bunny Marys, or the pickles in our dill pickle Bloody Marys.
Long day planned? You can take your drinking through the afternoon with fruity and low ABV slow sippers like our spiked sparkling basil lemonade or our St. Germain spritz. Having a bigger get-together? Our rainbow sangria, our brunch punch, or our Prosecco punch recipes are easy on you, while still being huge crowd-pleasers. Bonus: They also look great in a big pitcher or punch bowl on your outdoor BBQ table.
Missing the Easter candy? Try our chocolatey mudslide, our peeptini, or our cottontail margarita to get a sweet fix. Make these and leave the Easter egg hunting to the kids.
Serving ham or lamb for dinner? Our classic cocktails like an old fashioned (including one with brown sugar), our cherry sazerac, or our whiskey ginger will stand up well to the savory red meats too.
Whatever you serve, you’re going to want the perfect meal to stand up to the big flavors of these cocktails—check out our lists of Easter lunch, side dishes, appetizers, and desserts too. Not a big drinker but still want to celebrate? Here are our mocktails and non-alcoholic drinks perfect for any occasion too.
1
Best Bloody Mary
If you’ve only ever had a Bloody Mary made from a store-bought mix, you’re in for a treat. Ever the popular brunch cocktail, a good homemade recipe is a must-have, whether you’re drinking them on Sunday mornings, as a hangover cure, or on airplanes (it’s a thing—check the study!).
Get the Best Bloody Mary recipe.
2
Cottontail Margaritas
You're just one hippity hop away from a tropical daydream. Marshmallow fluff and coconut make for the cutest rim, but feel free to skip it (or use food coloring to turn it fun pastels!).
Get the Cottontail Margaritas recipe.
3
Blueberry Gin & Tonic
The addition of a blueberry syrup turns a classic gin & tonic into a perfectly spring-y cocktail, making it fruity, a little sweeter, and a beautiful shade of purple. The syrup will make more than you need for one drink, but you can save it for future cocktails or serve it over pancakes or ice cream.
Get the .
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4
Bee's Knees Cocktail
For those who love gin, this bright, juicy cocktail will definitely live up to its name. Though this Prohibition-era drink may have been created to mask less-than-ideal bathtub alcohol, it’s still popular today thanks to its refreshing simplicity—you only need honey, lemon, and gin to make one!
Get the Bee's Knees Cocktail recipe.
5
Color-Changing Margaritas
Use leftover red cabbage from naturally dyeing your Easter eggs to turn your margarita fuchsia!
Get the Color-Changing Margaritas recipe.
6
Jelly Bean Bellini
We just found your new favorite jelly bean flavor—it’s bellini! This drink is for adults that enjoy the childlike joy of jelly beans. Sip each layer one by one or mix the cocktail together for a more tutti frutti kind of vibe.
Get the Jelly Bean Bellini recipe.
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7
Old Fashioned Cocktail
Ah, the whiskey Old Fashioned. Oaky and sweet, with a hint of citrus on the finish, it’s truly a bourbon lover's drink. Because you only need a few ingredients to make this classic cocktail—sugar, bitters, and a large ice cube—it's the perfect thing to pair last-minute with your Easter ham.
Get the Old Fashioned Cocktail recipe.
8
Cadbury Creme Martini
Cadbury Creme Egg-lovers, we made this drink just for you. Not unlike the candy, these martinis are VERY sweet. If you'd like to tone down the sweetness, we'd suggest omitting the sweetened condensed milk. (Even though it looks so cute!)
Get the Cadbury Creme Martini recipe.
9
Prosecco Mint Julep
This festive sparkling drink is perfect for a low-key Easter cocktail hour. A sort of lightened-up mint julep, the addition of a dry sparkling wine provides a pleasant brightness and effervescence that plays well with the rich, caramelized tones of bourbon whiskey.
Get the Prosecco Mint Julep recipe.
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10
Spiked Sparkling Basil Lemonade
Basil-infused vodka brings out the sweetness of the herb and turns the spirit a vibrant, springy green.
Get the Spiked Sparkling Basil Lemonade recipe.
11
Brunch Punch
Sure, mimosas are great. But when you're hosting brunch for a big group, brunch punch is where it's at. With a full bottle of bubbly and plenty of vodka, it's just the thing to get your Easter celebration going.
Get the Brunch Punch recipe.
12
Peeptini
Alert: Easter candy is not just for kids anymore! We took inspiration from one of our favorites—Peeps—to make a fun pink Peep-tini that’s perfect for an Easter brunch or party. Try one, and you might just find yourself making this adorable dessert cocktail all spring long.
Get the Peeptini recipe.
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13
Green Apple Moscato Sangria
Super packed with fresh strawberries, apples, and oranges, this Olive Garden copycat is the perfect fruity green cocktail to welcome in spring.
Get the Green Apple Moscato Sangria recipe.
14
Cherry Sazerac
Tart maraschino cherry juice adds a fruity sweetness to this whiskey and cognac cocktail that will go perfectly with your Easter ham.
Get the Cherry Sazerac recipe.
15
Piña Colada Spritz
Some days we want a piña colada, but we don’t want to get out the blender. For these times, may we suggest the delightfully effervescent and very easy piña colada spritz? It’s fast, fuss-free, and still hits all the right notes.
Get the Piña Colada Spritz recipe.
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16
Strawberry Shortcake Mimosas
Celebrate the return of strawberries with this shortcake mimosa! Use any leftover ice cream to make strawberry milkshakes or strawberry shortcake ice cream cake.
Get the Strawberry Shortcake Mimosas recipe.
17
Dill Pickle Bloody Marys
Get ready for a life-changing Bloody Mary hack: PICKLE JUICE ICE CUBES! 😵 Easter brunch will never be the same.
Get the Dill Pickle Bloody Marys recipe.
18
Blood Orange Mocktail Spritzer
Alcohol-free cocktails should never be an afterthought! This blood orange and ginger spritzer hits all the right notes: a little sweet, a little sour, and a little spiced. Finished off with a bouquet of fresh garnishes, it’s the perfect mocktail to toast with at any Easter gathering.
Get the Blood Orange Mocktail Spritzer recipe.
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19
Mudslide
Too old for an Easter basket? Get your chocolate fix with this Baileys and Kahlúa cocktail.
Get the Mudslide recipe.
20
Lemon Blueberry Daiquiri
Inspired by our love of lemon blueberry margs, this brightly colored daiquiri has major springtime vibes. Between the fruity sweetness of the berries and the bright, citrusy flavor, the rum tends to fade to the background, making these surprisingly drinkable despite the strength (so please drink responsibly!).
Get the Lemon Blueberry Daiquiri recipe.
