Try our brightest ideas for spring desserts -- the perfect way to sweeten your celebration!

 

This dessert is a lovely study in contrasts: the delicate, crisp exterior; the ephemeral interior; and here, soft, sweet-tart rhubarb and crunchy pistachios.

This tart looks incredible, and is easy to make, too. Thin slices of Meyer lemons are poached in simple syrup to make sweet candied circles, and then arranged on store-bought puff pastry.

These airy eclairs are simple to make, thanks to choux (cream-puff) pastry, which can be mixed, piped, frozen ahead, and baked on Easter day.

Serve this fluffy cheesecake with Citrus-Vanilla Compote.

A parade of bunnies and eggs -- what's not to love? These confections resemble the classics we know so well, but ours are fresher, softer, much more delicious -- and customizable.

Crisp on the outside, chewy on the inside, and heaped with whipped cream and fresh fruit, this classic meringue dessert is a lively study in textures. This egg-shaped pavlova makes a magnificent finale to your Easter feast.

This cake is made with cream for a luxuriously rich texture. Cut through the fluffy meringue frosting to reveal the raspberry-flecked cake layers with raspberry jam in between.

Spoon lemon curd, whipped cream, and candied pistachios over homemade vanilla bean ice cream to construct these sophisticated sundaes. All of the elements can be prepared in advance, so this is a great party dessert.

Creme fraiche gives a deliciously tangy edge to the custard in this puff pastry tart. No need to fuss when arranging the raspberries on top: they should look as though they’ve simply tumbled onto the custard.

The warm flavors of clover honey and cinnamon set these creme brulees stand apart. If you don't have a kitchen torch, you can use your broiler to caramelize the cinnamon-sugar topping -- simply put the custards in the freezer for 20 minutes beforehand to keep them from getting too warm in the oven.

Update classic key lime pie with a coconut-milk filling and a sprinkling of toasted shredded coconut atop billowy whipped cream.

Low-fat yogurt lightens up this carrot cake. A bit of cardamom or cinnamon gives it a warm spicy kick.

Basic vanilla cake gets a sunny makeover with the addition of lemon syrup, whipped frosting, and lemon slices.

Combining cake, cream, and berries, this treat is twice as delectable as the sum of its parts. The buttery cake soaks up the strawberry juices, while the whipped cream adds an airy richness.

This clever dessert uses egg yolks, eggshells, and, if you wish, an egg carton in a witty presentation that will make your guests smile.

Soft as a down pillow, creamy like custard, and lightly flavored with vanilla and cinnamon, this ricotta cake is best served at room temperature with a fresh strawberry sauce.

Put your Easter dessert on a pedestal with this cake made of endless layers of crepes. The creamy curd and candied topping use Meyer lemons, which are more fragrant and less acidic than other varieties.

Lemon-curd filling adds a touch of tartness to this coconut layer cake.

A richly textured dessert is a fertile nesting ground for a miniature roost spun from shredded phyllo dough and filled with candy-coated chocolate eggs.

These no-bake, eggless custards topped with strawberries are perfect for an elegant gathering.

Top pink almond petits fours with gum-paste cherry blossoms for a dessert that will brighten any table.

Impress guests with layers of lemon curd, whipped cream, and ladyfingers soaked in dessert wine.

This recipe reinterprets coconut cream pie as a tart. Expect a firmer, crumblier crust than you find with the classic.

Tucked inside nests of milk-chocolate shavings are truffle eggs tinted robin's egg blue and dusted with metallic luster. The accompanying marbled eggs are created by dipping more truffles into melted white chocolate swirled with blue food coloring.

These treats are modeled on a symbol of the season -- baby chicks. With coconut feathers, nutty beaks, and confectionery details, they aren't just eye candy; these cakes are delicious, too.

This rich cheesecake topped with marzipan carrots reinvents warm spices and cream cheese icing (carrot cake's best features).

Use a melon baller or serrated grapefruit spoon to scoop out the rinds and create these frozen treats.

Top an egg-shaped coconut cake with piped flowers for the ultimate Easter dessert.

A dusting of finely ground almonds on the pan provides a pleasing contrast to the rich, smooth silkiness of this cheesecake.

This simple but elegant dessert elevates store-bought sorbet and frozen puff pastry into ginger-spiced towers of contrasting textures.

Get a jump start on Easter day preparations and bake the layers of this cake the day before. When it's time for dessert, spread the filling, stack the layers, and make the meringue, then frost and brown the cake.

Scoop out an egg-shaped pound cake and fill it with a lemon-curd "yolk" to give guests a sweet Easter surprise.

This dessert tastes every bit as bright as it looks. Egg yolks, sugar, and mouth-puckering lemon juice create a velvety curd that is poured into a crunchy cornmeal shell flecked with lemon zest and fresh sage.

What appear to be cracked eggs are something much better -- scoops of mango sorbet in chocolate shells.