Easter Brownies

Easter Brownies are the kind of treat that disappears fast — rich, fudgy, and loaded with chocolate! A simple cocoa brownie base gets a festive twist with crunchy Cadbury mini eggs, adding color and just the right amount of crunch. Whether you’re making them for a holiday dessert or just an excuse to enjoy Easter candy, they’re a fun and delicious addition to any celebration.

Why this recipe is awesome

These brownies are such a fun treat to have around for Easter or other holidays. I tested this recipe with my reader-favorite cocoa brownies recipe, doubled it, and added Cadbury mini eggs for a festive Easter touch.

The result was a colorful, crunchy, fudgy brownie that kids and adults devoured. This brownie recipe has been around for decades, hiding in a little paperback book from Hershey’s. You don’t need a fancy brand of cocoa, either. I always use regular Hershey’s cocoa, and my grandkids love these brownies.

EASY: This is a really easy brownie recipe. You don’t have to chop any chocolate, although you can certainly add additional chocolate if you like — I often do!  

MAKE-AHEAD: These Easter brownies are good for a few days, so you can make them 1-2 days before you want to serve.

I hope you make this recipe. I think you’ll love it!

Ingredient notes

➡️➡️➡️ The full ingredient amounts and instructions are listed below on the printable recipe card. Scroll below the recipe card for frequently asked questions and tips for success.

There are no special ingredients in these Easter brownies other than the Cadbury mini eggs. The brownies themselves are a classic style with pantry ingredients. Here are a few things to make note of:

Vegetable oil: Our testing reveals that tasters prefer a mix of melted butter and vegetable oil. The oil keeps the brownies extra moist and the butter adds flavor.

Cocoa: There’s no need to get fancy cocoa for this recipe. I have always used regular Hershey’s cocoa in almost any recipe that calls for cocoa powder, and it works and is delicious.

Options for this recipe

Decorations: You can modify this recipe to suit any holiday. Use green M&Ms to make St. Patrick’s Day brownies or pink and red heart candies for Valentine’s Day.

How to make Easter brownies

Preheat the oven and prepare the pan. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cover a 9×13-inch pan with tin foil and lightly grease the foil. I like to leave an overhang on the ends to make lifting the foil out of the dish easier.

1. Mix wet ingredients. In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, sugar and vanilla. 
2. Add eggs and mix well with a spoon.
3. Mix dry ingredients. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. 
4. Add dry ingredients to wet. Mix the flour mixture with the eggs and stir until well blended.
5. Mix in the decorations. Add the chocolate chips and crushed mini eggs to the mixing bowl and gently fold them through the brownie batter. Do not over-mix at this stage.
6. Bake the Easter brownies. Spread the brownie batter in the prepared pan. Bake just until the brownie begins to pull away from the edges.
7. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup Cadbury mini eggs on top of the warm brownies, pressing slightly to make them adhere.

Cool and then serve. Let the brownies cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then gently lift the foil out and allow them to cool completely before cutting.

Questions and tips

How do you cut Cadbury mini eggs for brownies?

Cadbury mini eggs can be difficult to cut with a knife, so be cautious. Our testing of this recipe found that it is best to leave the candy eggs in a sealed bag and smash them gently with a rolling pin to crush them. It doesn’t matter if some eggs are still whole when you add them to the brownie batter.

How do you know when Easter brownies are done?

Because ovens vary so much, we suggest setting your timer at least five minutes before the minimum time stated in the recipe (this goes for any brownie recipe.) Then, start checking your brownies every couple of minutes. Your tester should come out with wet crumbs but not coated in wet batter.

How to store Easter brownies

These Easter brownies should be stored in an airtight container and kept at room temperature, where they will stay fresh for about a week.

Serving suggestions

We love serving brownies with good quality vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream with vanilla. Either is a perfect light accompaniment to these Easter brownies.

If you’re hosting a dessert party, we suggest adding other festive spring desserts, such as our condensed milk lemon icebox pie, Southern banana pudding with homemade custard, and lemon bars with a shortbread crust.