Eggless Easter: Vegan and Cruelty-Free Crafts, Recipes, And Candies

Celebrating vegan Easter

As veganism grows in popularity, chefs and craft-masters are developing innovative alternatives to conventional Easter foods and activities. These eggless Easter ideas don't compromise on taste or creativity, but they are free from the environmental costs, animal cruelty, and health concerns often associated with egg production. With the advent of plant-based egg alternatives like Just Egg and Follow Your Heart VeganEgg, there are more possibilities than ever before. Whether you're accommodating a vegan guest or treating the whole family to an eggless Easter, there are countless plant-based recipes, candies, and crafts that can make your Easter celebration special. 

By planning an egg-free Easter, you can be a part of creating a kinder world for hens. In our broken food system, these intelligent birds spend most of their adult lives producing eggs inside wire cages no bigger than a standard sheet of paper. These enclosures severely restrict hens' movement—preventing them from spreading their wings or engaging in any natural behaviors. At less than three years old, when their egg production slows, hens are sent to slaughter for low-grade meat. 

Meanwhile, male chicks have no use to the industry because they do not lay eggs. Shortly after they are hatched, male chicks are sorted out and tossed into a macerating machine to be ground alive in a horrific process known as "chick culling." This cruelty does not reflect the values of hope and celebration implicit in the Easter holiday. Choosing to leave eggs out of your Easter celebration and opt for compassionate, plant-based alternatives is a powerful way to take a stand against the egg industry's cruelty.

Not only is an eggless Easter a compassionate choice, but it's easier than you might think! Some of the recipes featured below can be made in under 30 minutes with common ingredients you may already have in your kitchen. Vegan Easter gifts and candies are available on popular sites like Amazon, Walmart, and Etsy. And one of the crafts featured below creatively repurposes a common household item that most of us throw away in the trash. Start planning your vegan Easter today!

Vegan Easter crafts

Easter is a time to have fun with the whole family. If you’re concerned that there are no vegan alternatives for an egg hunt or egg dying, don’t worry! You can replicate these activities with vegan eggs, or consider new spring games or crafts that everyone will enjoy.

Organic Authority

• Tie Dye Vegan Marshmallows

• Color outside with egg-shaped sidewalk chalk

• Organize a treasure hunt to find animal figurines or eco-friendly paper eggs with vegan candies inside

• Make Salt Dough Easter Egg Decorations

• Get silly with Easter Mad Libs

• Make "Chicken Little" Glass Jars

• Dye Vegan Craft Eggs or Wooden Eggs (Purchase plastic eggs here or wooden eggs here)

• Make recycled cardboard tube bunnies

• Make a Fairy Garden

• Make paper mache Easter eggs

• Make a DIY Bird Feeder

• Need to clean up after crafting? Check out the Easter-themed bath bombs in the gifts section below!

Vegan Easter gifts

You may already know that live rabbits or chicks don’t make good Easter gifts. These animals are often abandoned once the novelty wears off. While the gift-givers mean well, too often this situation ends in fear and heartbreak for an innocent animal. But there are countless cruelty-free gift options to consider for your loved ones this Easter.

TheCherryBlossomUS on Etsy

• Rabbit Lego Set on Amazon

• "Plant a pizza" herb garden starter kit for kids (perfect with vegan cheeses like Violife or Daiya)

• Hide & Squeak Egg Toys on Amazon

• Springtime embroidery kit on Etsy

• Easter bunny and golden egg bath bombs from Lush

• Stuffed animals like this Easter bunny or this chick on Amazon

• Tulip backpack from Society6

• Springtime headband on Amazon

• Easter books like Pete the Cat and the Easter Basket Bandit by James Dean (includes Poster, Stickers, and Easter Cards!)

Vegan Easter candies

Easter candies are a timeless hit for the whole family, and there is no shortage of vegan options. The plant-based treats below are sure to charm any of your friends or family members with a sweet tooth.

ShaheenaCreation on Etsy

• Organic Dark Chocolate Carrots by Lake Champlain

• Sour Patch Kids Easter Egg

• Artisan Chocolate Eggs & Bunnies from Lagusta's Luscious

• Lindt Dark Chocolate Gold Bunny

• Skittles-filled Easter Egg

• Vegan Jelly Beans from Jelly Belly

• Easter-themed Swedish Fish

• Caramel-Filled Melk Chocolate Eggs from Sjaak's

• Extra Large Vegan Easter Bunny from Trupo Treats

• Mini Cream Eggs from No Whey! Foods

• Melk Chocolate Bunny Filled with Gummy Bears from Sjaak's

• Easter Lollipops from YumEarth

• Vegan Chocolate Egg Truffles on Etsy

• Chocolate Easter Bunny by No Whey

And don’t forget—many popular candies you can find at the grocery store are accidentally vegan. Oreos, Jolly Ranchers, Skittles, DumDum lollipops, Nerds, Now & Laters, Red Vines, Twizzlers, Smarties, Laffy Taffy, Sour Patch Kids, and Swedish Fish are just a few common vegan candies to choose from.

Vegan Easter recipes

The highlight of many Easter gatherings is a festive brunch or dinner. Whether you want to celebrate with quiche, wellington, or even rack of lamb, there’s a delicious vegan alternative for you! You may find that these inventive vegan recipes can please even the pickiest eater in your family.

Just Egg Quiche by Nora Cooks Vegan

Brunch

• Tiramisu Pancakes from Chef Chloe Coscarelli

• French Toast from Nora Cooks

• Carrot Lox from Love and Lemons

• Cheesy Broccoli Hashbrown Bake (Gluten-Free) from Minimalist Baker

• Oatmeal Breakfast Bake from The Big Man's World

• Easy Egg-Free Frittata (Gluten-Free) from Minimalist Baker

• Vegan Quiche from Nora Cooks

• Gooey Banana Bread Batter Instant Steel-cut Oatmeal from Oh She Glows

Easter Vegan Brioche Bunnies by Gathering Dreams

Sides

• Easter Vegan Brioche Bunnies from Gathering Dreams

• Happy Easter Smoothie (Gluten-Free) from Healthy Happy Life

• Spinach and Artichoke Dip (Gluten-Free) from Nora Cooks

• Vegan Deviled Eggs (Gluten-Free) from Bon Appetit

• Focaccia Bread from Bianca Zapatka

• Creamy Vegan Mashed Potatoes (Gluten-Free) from Nora Cooks

• Springtime Beet Soup (Gluten-Free) from Forks Over Knives

• Arugula Avocado Tomato Salad (Gluten-Free) from Stacey Homemaker

• Barbecue Potato Salad (Gluten-Free) from The Vegan 8

• Easy Vegan Scalloped Potatoes (Gluten-Free) from Minimalist Baker

Easy Vegan Shepherd's Pie by Jessica in the Kitchen

Entrees

• The Perfect Vegan Mushroom & Veggie Wellington from World of Vegan

• Best Vegan Lasagna from Hummus Sapien

• Shepherd's Pie (Gluten-Free) from Jessica in the Kitchen

• Vegan Chiles Rellenos from Dora's Table

• Spring Stuffing from Oh She Glows

• Vegan "Rack of Lamb" (Gluten-Free) from Gourmandelle

• Vegan Ham from Nora Cooks

• Mushroom Sweet Potato Wellington from BBC Good Food

Easter Sugar Cookies by Nourishing Amy

Dessert

• Lemon Blueberry Loaf from A Virtual Vegan

• Babka with Chocolate from Lazy Cat Kitchen

• Vegan Trifle from A Virtual Vegan

• Chocolate Truffles from Nora Cooks

• Easter Cupcakes from World of Vegan

• Vegan Hot Cross Chocolate Buns from Vibrant Plate

• Carrot Cake Cupcakes from The Conscious Plant Kitchen

• Easter Sugar Cookies from Nourishing Amy

• No-bake Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars from All The Healthy Things

• Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Eggs (Gluten-Free) from Keeping the Peas

• Blueberry Scones (Gluten-Free) from Minimalist Baker

• Homemade Vegan Peeps from Homecooked Roots

• Rainbow Vegan Cheesecake from Rainbow Nourishments

• Mexican Bread Pudding from Dora's Table

Pre-made options

Not up for spending your holiday cooking? You can opt for a pre-made holiday roast! Tasty options are available from mainstream brands like Tofurky. Or you can order this "Hoppy Spring Feast" which ships nationwide from Herbivorous Butcher, the first vegan butcher shop in the US.

Show compassion for chicks on Easter and beyond

It’s awesome that you’re choosing plant-based meals and activities for your Easter. By opting for an eggless Easter, you’re making a difference for hens and creating a kinder, more compassionate future for all animals.

If you want even more ways to help animals this season, you can join our movement to end the cruel confinement of these intelligent birds. Take action for chicks suffering in our food system today.