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Looking for gluten-free Easter recipes and candy? Easter is a big holiday in the United States, one that involves a lot of food that often isn’t gluten-free. This can make celebrating easter difficult.
Just like any other holiday, navigating Easter while gluten-free can be hard. That’s why in this complete guide to a no-gluten Easter, I’m going to share with you some GF Easter recipes and candies to enjoy!
When talking about celebrating a gluten-free Easter, it’s important to know why people might be gluten-free. The most common reason and the reason that I most relate to is because of celiac disease (I’ve had celiac for over 10 years).
Celiac is a serious autoimmune disease that occurs in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. When people with celiac disease eat gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and contaminated foods like oats), their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine.
These attacks lead to damage to the villi, small fingerlike projections that line the small intestine, that promote nutrient absorption. When the villi get damaged, nutrients cannot be absorbed properly into the body.
This inflammatory response to gluten and related nutrient deficiencies can cause a wide variety of symptoms in people with celiac. From bloating, headaches, constipation, joint pain, bone health complications, infertility, weight gain, weight loss, and more.
This can start at any age, and occur in any body, as long as someone is eating gluten and has the celiac genes. If left untreated, celiac disease can lead to additional serious health problems.
Additionally, when enjoying a gluten-free Easter, we have to know what gluten is. Gluten is a protein found in barley, rye, contaminated oats, and wheat. It may be helpful to remember the acronym “BROW” when trying to remember what foods have gluten.
In baked goods, gluten holds things together working as a binding agent. It gives texture and chew to foods.
Most people can safely eat gluten. However, some people have gluten sensitivity or celiac disease which means they need to avoid gluten. It can cause digestive issues such as diarrhea and nausea as well as nonintestinal symptoms such as rashes, headaches, or joint pain.
When celebrating a gluten-free easter, it’s important to remember what we’re celebrating with Easter. Easter is a major Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. It is on a Sunday every year, and many people celebrate it.
It is common for people to attend church for Easter service and this is where the first risk of gluten exposure happens: communion wafers. If allowed, you may use gluten-free communion wafers but know that this is not condoned by the Vatican. Instead, some suggest only drinking the wine for communion.
Following church service there is often an Easter brunch or dinner. These central celebratory meals often feature gluten. On top of that, egg hunts are also a common activity that is done on Easter.
Eggs filled with candy are hidden around a yard or house and children look for them, hoping to get as many treats as they can. Easter baskets are typically given on easter too. They are baskets filled with Easter goodies from candy to toys to sometimes gift cards. Both Easter egg hunts and Easter baskets can be sources of gluten exposure too due to candy sometimes containing gluten.
If you are attending an event for Easter where food will be served, consider bringing your own, so you can still eat with everyone else while staying safe. You can also host your own Easter meal and make some delicious gluten-free recipes that everyone will enjoy! Later on, in this blog post, we’ll talk more about some gluten-free Easter recipes you can make!
Although the purpose of Easter remains the same, it is true that some traditions change when celebrating a gluten-free Easter. It’s okay to grieve your losses and it’s healthy to allow yourself to experience your emotions.
This might look like letting yourself feel angry over not being able to have the gluten-filled Easter cookies everyone else is munching on (p.s. if you’re in need of gluten-free cookies, check out this post).
You may want to explain to loved ones that you have to avoid all gluten to stay celiac-safe. You may be able to modify traditions so they are gluten-free, or you may choose to create new traditions. Either way, the new manner of celebrating the holiday will take some adjustment.
So, be patient with yourself and your loved ones, feel all your emotions, and be gentle with yourself as you make new memories the celiac-safe way. And I’m holding all the space for you as you learn to navigate this new way of life.
When it comes to a gluten-free Easter, it’s important to know where the risks lie when it comes to food.
On Easter, candy is a big part of the food that is enjoyed. A lot of candies contain barley malt and other gluten ingredients. There are also many pastries and bread that are served that also have gluten like Hot Cross Buns.
Additionally, mashed potatoes are often served as sides at dinner, they may seem gluten-free but can be thickened with wheat flour, so always double-check with the host.
Other foods that might hide gluten include deviled eggs. Some mustards (especially the artisanal ones) can contain gluten, so it’s important to double-check on ingredients to ensure they are safe.
I know it can feel overwhelming to keep a pulse on everything that could gluten you. Being a gluten-free guest during the holiday seasons can feel like a lot, and it’s possible. Whether that means you’re bringing your own food, co-hosting, hosting, or communicating closely with the host, don’t let celiac rob you of enjoying the holidays.
For more on strategies that simplify celiac-safety during the holidays, check out my Celiac Crash Course!
Now that we’ve got the basics of Easter down, let’s talk about gluten-free Easter candy. When looking for gluten-free candy it’s important to know how to check food labels for gluten.
First, you want to check for a gluten-free claim or certification on the label. If you see “gluten-free”, “no gluten” etc. written anywhere, that means this candy per FDA law must have <20ppm of gluten and thus, be celiac-safe.
If you don’t see a gluten-free claim, you will want to look for gluten-containing ingredients. Gluten commonly shows up in the ingredients list of candy as:
You will also want to check for ingredients that may contain gluten, like natural flavors. If you see natural flavors on a candy that’s not labeled gluten-free, contact the manufacturer to check on its gluten-free status. To make your life easier I’ve listed some gluten-free Easter candies below:
As always, double-check the ingredients to verify these products are suitable for your needs. If you need help identifying safe gluten-free food and medications, I show you how in the Celiac Crash Course.
A self-paced course where I, a dietitian who’s had celiac for over 10 years, teach you the basics of celiac safety so avoiding gluten and cross-contact feel routine (including when buying prescription or over-the-counter medications). Learn more here.
Now that we know what Easter candy is gluten-free, we can talk about what easter treats you can put in Easter eggs. Some of my gluten-free favorites include:
Remember, the candy you celebrate Easter with doesn’t have to be specifically Easter themed. You can rely on regular gluten-free candies to fill gluten-free Easter eggs and baskets with.
You also don’t have to put candy in Easter baskets! You can fill Easter baskets up with other fun things like colored pencils, coloring books, kid’s books, gluten-free play dough, legos, and more.
When it comes to celebrating a gluten-free Easter, you’ll need some delicious and safe Easter recipes to lean on. My advice is to make a list of all your Easter favorites and try to explore some gluten-free recipes online. Pinterest is a lot of fun for this. And if you’re looking for a more done-for-you approach, below are some recipes that you can prepare for the whole family!
(Remember when serving gluten-free food during the holidays to make sure you’re managing cross-contact for your sensitive gluten intolerant guests, and especially for all of your celiac guests).
First up on the gluten-free Easter recipe list are Gluten-free Brunch recipes! Easter brunch is a common meal featured during this holiday so here are some recipes to serve up…
Egg Casserole is the perfect gluten-free Easter brunch recipe to serve for the holiday. It’s an easy dish and is perfect to whip up for a large crowd! Especially if you’ve got guests you weren’t expecting to feed!
All you’ll need are eggs, sausage, bell peppers and shredded cheese. Just make sure the shredded cheese and sausage are gluten-free (they usually are but be sure to double-check).
Make this recipe more affordable given the rising egg prices by cutting down on some of the eggs and instead whisking them up with some milk to stretch them out more.
Gluten-Free Ricotta Pancakes are another perfect and delicious recipe to serve at gluten-free Easter brunch. These gluten-free ricotta pancakes are delicious and you can add a little Easter twist by making faces on top of them with cut out fruit, whipped cream and chocolate chips!
These Hash Brown Egg Nests by The Cooking Jar are the perfect festive gluten-free Easter brunch dish. Who doesn’t love potatoes and eggs for brunch?
All you’ll need is gluten-free frozen hashbrowns (not all are gluten-free so check the label), shredded cheese, eggs, bacon, parsley, avocado, oil and salt and pepper.
Vegan Caramel Chia Pods are another fun gluten-free Easter brunch recipe to serve. Make a big batch and layer it in small mason jars for guests to grab and eat during Easter brunch! This is also super cross-contact friendly as they are pre-served so there’s less of a chance for guests to contaminate the food.
Second up on the gluten-free Easter recipe list are gluten-free appetizers. These are lighter foods to help keep people from getting hangry before the main event! Below are some fun options to serve your guests!
This Easter Egg Deviled Egg Chick Recipe by Natashas Kitchen are a fun spin on traditional deviled egg plates shared on Easter. The ingredients all should be naturally gluten-free, just double check on the dijon mustard, mayo, and olives.
Muffin-Tin Quiche with Spinach & Potato by Eating Well are an easy gluten-free Easter appetizer to serve. They are simple to make and feature a key Easter ingredient, eggs.
They also have potatoes, cheese and greens, they’re delicious and easy to make as an appetizer with little mess. They can be enjoyed at brunch or dinner.
Tomato Basil Skewers by Spend with Pennies are a quick appetizer to serve at gluten-free Easter events. They are simple skewers with tomato, basil, and cheese. They are refreshing and not too heavy to eat before a meal. These will be a hit if you bring them or serve them!
All you need to make them are skewers, mozzarella balls, olive oil, GF Italian seasoning, garlic, grape tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, and gluten-free balsamic glaze.
My Avocado Egg Salad is a fun twist on egg salad that can be a fun gluten-free Easter recipe. This recipe uses mashed avocado instead of mayo. A must-try if you like avocado! Bonus: make this if you need a gluten-free recipe to use leftover Easter eggs with.
Next up on the gluten-free Easter recipe list are dinner recipes! Easter dinner is typically a big deal and involves a lot of delicious foods. Below are some favorites you can make!
Tater Tot Casserole is a fun gluten-free Easter dinner recipe option. You’ve got potatoes, corn, and beef, all common guest starts at Easter dinner. Plus it’s all made into a casserole for easing serving.
Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze by Spend with Pennies is the perfect gluten-free Easter dinner recipe to serve.
This glaze can be put on a store-bought ham or you can cook your ham yourself. This sweet, savory glaze will be delicious. Glazed ham is very common on Easter, so this will surely be a hit!
Crispy Chicken Thighs by Mama Knows Gluten-Free is the perfect gluten-free Easter dinner recipe if ham isn’t your thing! Who doesn’t love some good crispy chicken? This is an easy one-pan meal with chicken and roasted vegetables.
Roasted Lamp Chops by Pinch and Swirl is another delicious gluten-free Easter dinner recipe option. We got ham, chicken, and now lamb. These are flavorful roasted lamp chops, perfect for an Easter Sunday. They are simple to make and really melt in your mouth.
Last but not least on the gluten-free Easter recipe list are desserts! Rule number one of living with celiac disease: always bring your own delicious dessert!
This Gluten-Free Bunny Bait by Sweets and Thank You is the perfect gluten-free Easter dessert recipe. It’s sweet and salty with peanuts, popcorn, pretzels and candies. This is festive and easy to share, you can pack it into Ziplocs or just bring a large bowl!
All you’ll need is gluten-free chex cereal (I’d substitute extra gluten-free chex for the Cheerios because they’re controversial in the celiac community), gluten-free pretzels, peanuts, M&Ms, and gluten-free chocolate.
Gluten-Free Easter Bunny Sugar Cookies by Strength and Sunshine are an easy to make gluten-free Easter dessert recipe. They’re simple but delicious, everyone will love them! They’re also vegan.
To make this recipe you will need gluten-free 1-1 baking flour, millet flour, sweetener of choice (this recipe uses sugar substitutes but you can use real sugar if it’s more enjoyable), bobs red mill egg replacement, baking powder, vanilla extract, vegan butter, non-dairy milk, water, and other things to decorate the cookies.
My Strawberry Blondies are a rich gluten-free Easter dessert option. Because they are made with chickpeas they also feature many benefits like protein and fiber.
All you’ll need to make this delicious and simple recipe are chickpeas, strawberry syrup, nut butter of choice, 2 eggs, vanilla extract, and baking powder.
Jell-O Rainbow Easter Eggs by Spend with Pennies are a fun gluten-free Easter treat to make for and with kids. All you’ll need to make these are oil, JELL-O, water, Greek yogurt and egg molds. And yes, JELLO is gluten-free.
Celebrating a gluten-free Easter can feel overwhelming but hopefully, this blog post gave you some ideas of foods you can still enjoy. Easter is a holiday where there are a lot of options for you to stay safe. There are a lot of gluten-free candies and recipes that can be easily modified. You don’t have to sacrifice enjoying yummy foods this Easter!
And if the Holidays are hard and you feel like you need more strategies and support to simplify your celiac safety strategies, check out the Celiac Crash Course! This self-paced course gives you strategies and skills to stay celiac-safe at events like this. Check it out here.