The spring holidays, Easter and Passover, mark my favorite time of year. The ground begins to thaw, buds make their way up through the soil, and the dirt comes alive. Year after year, my garden is reborn after a deep sleep. Signs of transformation abound. As the earth awakens, a renewed hope and the promise of abundance emerge. This lovely time of transformation is the perfect backdrop for Passover and Easter.
My healthy Easter menu is a creative affair inspired by the riches of spring. My favorite gluten-free Easter recipes use fresh, seasonal ingredients such as asparagus, spinach, and rosemary, and so much more.
Easter Recipes from the Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook
Savory Vegetable Quiche
Spinach Sun Dried Tomato Tart
Carrot Cake
Chocolate Chip Scones
Lemon Bars
Raspberry Bars
Easter Recipes from the Blog
Asparagus Basil Salad
Spinach Cake
Deviled Eggs
Fruit Salad
Nut-Free Chocolate Chip Scones
Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Creamy Cream Cheese Frosting
Lemon Poppy Seed Bunny Cookies
The spring holidays are a celebratory time of rebirth. Passover always falls on the full moon of the month of Nisan in the Jewish calendar which is a lunar calendar. Easter on the other hand, falls on the Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox, and so its date varies. Further, Western churches use the Gregorian calendar, the standard calendar for much of the world, while Orthodox churches use the older Julian calendar. According to Borgna Brunner:
The two churches vary on the definition of the vernal equinox and the full moon. The Eastern Church sets the date of Easter according to the actual, astronomical full moon and equinox, while the Western church does not use the astronomically correct date for the vernal equinox, but a fixed date (March 21).
So Easter can occur at two different times during the year. One Sunday celebrated by Western churches and one by Eastern churches. For the Eastern church, Easter always falls after Passover. For the Western Church, Easter sometimes precedes Passover by weeks.
What does Easter mean to you? Before you read the above did you understand the factors that determine the date of the Easter holiday? Will you be celebrating Easter? If so, how?
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This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives that I’ve updated. I first posted it in 2011.
elana says
Rebecca,
Thanks for your comment. Here’s a link to my most recent Passover recipe roundup: https://elanaspantry.com/passover-menu/
:-) Elana
CC says
My daughter sent me your new book. I’ve read it from front to back. It’s wonderful! I have your first book and use it constantly. Thank you for your delicious recipes!
CC in Dallas
Elana says
CC, I’m so happy to hear you are enjoying my books!
cami says
these look delicious! i would love to see a “hot cross bun” recipe made with almond flour. thanks for sharing all your wonderful recipes!!!
Elana says
Thanks Cami! I will add that to my list of requests :-)
Lynn Krukowski says
I made myself gf hot cross buns by using your Irish Soda Bread recipe. I left out the salt and caraway seeds, used currants instead of raisins, added candied orange/lemon peel (1/4c ?), cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. I also scored it into 1/8th’s. It was as close as I have been able to get to a hot cross bun in years! Thank you.
This year I thought I would make the recipe minus salt and + the currants and then take half of it to added the peel and spices to. That way I would have a sandwich bun as well as hot cross buns in same batch!
Thank you for all your inspiring and healthy recipes. Lynn K
Elana says
You’re welcome Lynn!
Jen @ keepitsimplefoods says
These are so fun and playful! Thanks for sharing. :)
Elana says
You’re welcome Jen!
Lauren says
A Roman Catholics my family and I are busy with Holy Week and we will be at church for Good Friday, Holy Saturday (maybe) and then on Saturday night, after nightfall (like in Judaism, the beginning of the following day) we will attend the Easter Vigil Mass. We will get home late at night and have the entire Easter Sunday to relax, cook and eat. I will make something with meat this Easter because we gave up all meat for Lent (except for fish) and I’m really craving some beef. Forget jelly beans- I want a burger!!!!
Your scones sound perfect for breakfast on Easter Sunday with some fresh fruit.
Have a very happy and blessed Passover week. I have attended several Seders in the past and I find them very moving (plus I actually like the Seder food and the Manischewitz wine!).
Elana says
Thanks so much for your comment Lauren!
Amanda says
We are Christian and I love the Easter season. We are very busy with all of Holy Week (Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter brunch, Easter church services and the annual baptisms at our church). But I love Easter not just for the spiritual reasons, but also for the family and the food! This year I will be making hard boiled eggs dyed with natural dyes, and probably a gf dessert to take to Easter dinner for my gluten intolerant cousin and picky aunt :)
Elana says
Thanks Amanda! I love hearing about your Easter plans :-)
Rebecca says
Do you have any delicious Passover recipes? Just made your coconut macaroons (in my tiny parisian kitchen mind you!) Love your site and recipes (your coconut cupcakes actually changed my life :) Merci beaucoup! Unfortunately they don’t have jelly beans in Paris so I’ll be without my favorite Easter tradition this year! :) Best from Paris, Rebecca
Elana says
Rebecca, here’s a link to my Paleo Passover Recipes for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/paleo-passover-recipes/
Enjoy!
Elana
Yaya says
My husband and I celebrate Passover. Our families celebrate Easter – so we celebrate Passover with friends and Easter with families. Let me just say your chocolate chip scones were a BIG hit at our Sedar this year. Thank you, Elana. I appreciate your hard work and am grateful to have found your website and your books. Again, thank you.
Elana says
Yaya, thanks so much for your lovely comment and happy holidays :-)
Angela West says
I am inspired! My Mother-in-law and sister-in-law will be in town and I am ready to create wonderful food safe for my kiddos and beautiful to eat. Thanks!
Elana says
You’re welcome Angela!
AnneKD says
We’re going to see my family, who I haven’t seen since Christmas. Really looking forward to seeing my niece and nephews.
Elana says
Anne, that sounds lovely!