Whether you celebrate Easter, Passover, or you’re just waiting for spring, these are some delicious treats. Here are some of our top recipes, handpicked by the Chronicle staff! 

1.Tsourekis (Traditional Greek Easter Bread) 

Ingredients:

*Yields approximately 6 loaves 

Instructions: 

1. Scald milk with cinnamon stick. Melt butter. Allow to cool slightly. To cooled milk, add yeast, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 cup flour. Mix with hand to break up yeast. Let rise/bubble till doubled.  
2. In mixer, beat eggs, then add sugar. Slowly add cooled milk and butter. Slowly add flour mixed with masticha etc.  
3. Mix as much as you can in the mixer, then add the last 4-5 cups of flour by hand kneading on counter.  
4. Turn into greased bowl and cover with damp towel. Let rise to double then punch down and turn over and cover till double again.  
5. Split dough into greased pans, cover, and let rise to double again.  
6. Bake at 325 F until browned, approximately 35-40 minutes. 
7. Preserve some dyed eggs to decorate with egg wash and almonds and/or sesame seeds.

An essential part of this bread are the red-dyed eggs. Red dye is used to symbolize the blood of Christ.  The shell of the egg represents the sealed tomb, and the cracking of the eggshell signifies Christ’s resurrection. In the Greek Orthodox tradition, we crack eggs against each other in a playful but meaningful manner, one greets the other, “Christos Anesti” (meaning “Christ has risen”). The response, “Alithos Anesti” (meaning “Indeed, he did!”) 

2. The Best Cornbread

Ingredients:

• 1 can cream of corn  
• 2 boxes of Jiffy Corn Bread mix  
• 1/2 cup of sugar  
• 1/2 stick melted butter  

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease/butter a 9×9 baking dish. 
2. Mix all ingredients together in one bowl. 
3. Pour in mixture. 
4. Bake for 30-40 minutes. 

3. Easter M&M Rice Krispie Treats 

Ingredients:

• 6 cups rice cereal (any brand)
• 1 stick melted butter 
• 10-ounce bag of marshmallows 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 1 1/2 cups M&Ms  

Instructions: 

1. Melt butter and marshmallows over low heat until smooth. 
2. Add in vanilla. 
3. Pour marshmallow mixture over rice cereal. 
4. Add M&Ms. Stir until all cereal is coated and sticky. 
5. Coat pan and back of spatula with cooking spray. 
6. Push Rice Krispie treats flat in the pan with the back of the spatula. 
7. Let cool and harden for a couple hours before serving.

4. Polish Chrusciki  

Ingredients:

• 24 egg yolks  
• 12 teaspoon sugar 
• 2 tablespoon water 
• 4 cups flour 
• Oil for frying
• Powdered sugar

Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients together and knead well. 
2. Roll out and cut into rectangle strips (about 1 1/2 inch x 5 inch) 
3. Make a slit in each strip and pull one end through the slit to make a bow tie. 
4. Fry in oil, flipping over so each side is golden brown. 
5. Immediately cover in powdered sugar. 

5. Cream Cheese Fruit Dip  

Ingredients:

• 8 ounce cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar 
• 8 ounce plain yogurt 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 

Instructions: 

1. Cream together cream cheese, yogurt and sugar.
2. Mix in vanilla. 
3. Serve with fruit! 

6. Fudgy Brownies (Vegan) 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup melted vegan butter or oil 
• 3/4 cup sugar 
• 1/3 cup non-dairy milk 
• 3 teaspoon vanilla 
• 1 cup flour 
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder 
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 1 cup vegan chocolate chips (optional) 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease an 8×8 baking pan. 
2. In a large bowl, whisk together hot melted butter (or oil) and sugar. Then, whisk in milk and vanilla. 
3. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. 
4. Mix the dry ingredients into the bowl with the butter and sugar mixture until well combined. 
5. (Optional) Fold in the chocolate chips.
6. Pour the batter evenly into the baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a fork comes out relatively clean.