25 Fresh Spring Recipes

These spring recipes highlight all the produce this season has to offer! Browse ideas with asparagus, peas, radishes, carrots, and more.

Spring recipes

When spring rolls around, it’s all we can do not to jump into cooking everything asparagus, radishes, and carrots. Because after a long winter, there’s nothing better than the invigorating crunch of fresh spring produce! Here are some of our favorite spring recipes that use the produce of the season.

Depending on where you’re located, the following produce may be in season in spring: Asparagus, Radishes, Carrots, Spinach, Butter Lettuce, Potatoes, Fennel, Chives, Leeks, Mint, Strawberries, and Rhubarb. You’ll see this produced featured in the recipes below. Let us know what other spring veggies you love to cook with!

And now…25 fresh spring recipes!

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Asparagus Risotto

25 Fresh Spring Recipes: Asparagus Risotto & More!


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 3 to 4

Description

This flavor-packed asparagus risotto pairs creamy arborio rice with Parmesan and lemony roasted asparagus. A true crowd pleaser!


Ingredients

  • 1 quart vegetable broth
  • 1 quart water
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 1 pound asparagus
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 lemon (Zest from half, plus 4 slices from the other half)
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter
  • 1/2 yellow onion
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 cups white arborio rice
  • 1 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay
  • 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Optional garnish: Toasted pine nuts

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Heat the broth: Combine the broth, water, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt in a saucepan and place it over low heat. (You’ll use this warmed broth to stir into the risotto).
  3. Cut the vegetables: Mince the onion, then place it in a bowl and reserve. Cut off the tough bottom ends of the asparagus and then cut them into two-inch pieces.
  4. Prep the asparagus: Add the asparagus stalks to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle them with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then sprinkle on ½ teaspoon kosher salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Add the zest of ½ lemon and mix with your hands. Thinly slice 2 lemon wheels from the lemon, then cut each in half and add them right on the tray.
  5. Start the risotto: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and the 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced onion and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until tender. Add the garlic powder and rice and cook, stirring occasionally, about 2 minutes until the rice starts to turn light brown. Stir in the wine and cook until the liquid is fully absorbed.
  6. Roast the asparagus: Place the tray with the asparagus in the oven and 10 to 15 minutes, until bright green and tender when pierced by a fork at the thickest part. The timing will depend on the thickness of the asparagus spears. (You’ll remove it from the oven while you’re cooking the risotto in the next step.)
  7. Meanwhile, cook the risotto: Add two ladles of the hot broth to the risotto. Cook, stirring occasionally until the liquid is fully absorbed, then add two more ladles of both. Cook in this same manner for about 12 minutes, adding two ladles and stirring. After the 12 minutes, taste a grain of rice. If it’s creamy but still al dente in the center, you’re ready for the final step! If not, continue to cook and add broth for a few minutes more.
  8. Finish the risotto: When the rice is al dente, reduce the heat to low. Add two more ladles of broth, the Parmesan cheese and a few grinds of black pepper. Stir vigorously for 1 to 2 minutes until you’ve got a thick and creamy risotto. Then stir in the asparagus and roasted lemon wedges and serve immediately. Stores refrigerated in a sealed container for 3 days, though the color of the asparagus will fade (reheat before serving).
  • Category: Main dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Spring
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Spring recipes

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Carrot Cake Cupcakes

This carrot cake cupcakes recipe is a smash hit! The moist, spiced cakes are topped with mounds of tangy cream cheese frosting.

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Here’s a festive recipe that’s a simpler form of the popular classic cake: Carrot Cake Cupcakes! These little cakes are fun, easy to put together, and overwhelmingly satisfying. The moist, carrot-studded cakes have just the right warm spiced interior. Piled high with tangy cream cheese frosting, the flavor combination is out of this world good. We tested these out on a few friends and neighbors and they all came back with 5 star reviews! They’re ideal for spring, Easter, or anytime you’re craving an impressive treat.

Ingredients in carrot cake cupcakes

Carrot cake cupcakes are much simpler than making a big layered cake. No need to make several round pans, worry about a toppling cake or best practices for icing. Just throw the batter in a muffin tin, and you’re done! Icing is quick and simple with a pastry bag. Here’s what you’ll need for the cake portion of these carrot cake cupcakes:

  • All-purpose flour
  • Granulated sugar
  • Spices: cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Eggs
  • Neutral oil
  • Unsweetened applesauce: applesauce is the secret ingredient that makes these cupcakes extremely moist!
  • Carrots: we like to use the large grater holes for substantial chunks of carrots
Carrot cake cupcakes

Tips the cream cheese frosting

The most challenging part of these carrot cake cupcakes? Icing them! There are just a few tips we’ve learned for making the best cream cheese frosting that holds up on a cupcake. Here’s what to know:

  • Let the butter and cream cheese come to room temperature (1 hour). Sure, it’s annoying to remember. But it’s absolutely crucial for the right texture, here. We’ve messed it up with butter that’s too cold. Place them on the counter and it should take 1 hour for both to come to room temperature.
  • Sift the powdered sugar. To ensure the best icing quality, sift the powdered sugar through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl before using it. This removes any lumps.
  • Pipe with a pastry bag. Pastry bags may seem daunting at first, but they’re very easy to use. Choose a fun icing tip and apply the icing in a circular pattern across the top of the cakes.
Carrot cake cupcakes

Presentation ideas for carrot cake cupcakes

These carrot cake cupcakes look lovely with a sprinkle of finely chopped pistachios on top. But you can step them up in a few ways! Here are some ideas:

  • Top with any chopped nuts like pistachios, pecans, or walnuts
  • Add a sprinkle of shredded coconut
  • Add carrot candies to the tops, or make a decorative carrot using icing

Storage and make-ahead info

What are best ways to store carrot cake cupcakes? Can you make them ahead? Here are a few tips:

  • Cupcakes are best fresh. But you can make them ahead! See below.
  • Un-iced cupcakes store at room temperature in a sealed container for 2 days, or up to 5 days refrigerated.
  • Leftover iced cupcakes store for up to 4 days refrigerated.
  • If making in advance, store the cupcakes without frosting. Refrigerate up to 2 days. Add icing as close to serving as possible.
  • Or, freeze un-frosted cupcakes for up to 2 months before serving. Again, we recommend making them closer to serving for best results. You can also freeze leftover cream cheese frosting for up to 1 month. Make sure to bring it to room temperature and stir it before using.
Carrot cake cupcakes

More carrot recipes

Carrots are always in season (though of course we love to celebrate them in the spring!). Here are a few more carrot recipes you’ll love:

This carrot cake cupcakes recipe is…

Vegetarian. For dairy free, use a dairy free frosting.

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Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Carrot Cake Cupcakes


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 35 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 12 cupcakes

Description

This carrot cake cupcakes recipe is a smash hit! The moist, spiced cakes are topped with mounds of tangy cream cheese frosting.


Ingredients

For the cupcakes

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 eggs
  • ⅓ cup neutral oil
  • 2/3 cup applesauce (unsweetened)
  • 1 ½ cups lightly packed peeled and grated carrots

For the frosting

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • For the garnish: finely chopped pistachios, pecans or walnuts (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place muffin liners into a standard 12-cup muffin tin.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking soda, and kosher salt. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs with the oil and applesauce. Stir in the grated carrots.
  3. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring only until just combined (but making sure no pockets of dry ingredients remain).
  4. Divide the batter evenly between the muffin cups (about ¼ cup in each).
  5. Bake for 23 to 25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to fully cool, at least 1 hour. (Set out the butter and cream cheese at room temperature for 1 hour while the cupcakes cool.)
  6. When the cupcakes are cool, make the cream cheese frosting: Make sure the butter and cream cheese are at room temperature. Use a fine mesh sieve to sift the powdered sugar into a bowl. Beat the butter and cream cheese with a mixer on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes until completely smooth, scraping once. Reduce the speed to low, then add the vanilla. Slowly add the powdered sugar until it comes together into a thick icing.
  7. Use a pastry bag to pipe the icing onto the cupcakes, or refrigerate the icing up to 1 week until frosting. (You can use the entire quantity of frosting or less if desired for a lighter cupcake.) Top with finely chopped pistachios.
  8. Storage info: Leftover cupcakes can be stored refrigerated for up to 4 days, but are best served as fresh as possible (bring to room temperature before serving). If making in advance, store the cupcakes refrigerated without frosting; add icing as close to serving as possible. Freeze the un-frosted cupcakes for up to 2 months, but again: we recommend making them closer to serving for best results. You can also freeze cream cheese frosting for up to 1 month. Make sure to bring it to room temperature and stir it before using.
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Dessert
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Carrot cake cupcakes

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Quick Chickpea Tacos

These chickpea tacos are a fast way to dinner! This crowd pleaser pairs a flavorful filling of garbanzos with guacamole, pico and slaw.

Chickpea tacos

Here’s a dinner idea for when you’re not sure what to cook: Chickpea Tacos! This plant based recipe does heavy lifting with a short cook time and big flavors. Garbanzo beans might not strike you as a taco filling (and honestly, Alex was a little wary here). But they make a flavorful filling coated in cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika, punched up with a hit of zesty lime. Throw it all in a tortilla with guacamole and toppings, and this fast weeknight dinner is done in 20 minutes. PS, it’s plant-based, too!

Elements in chickpea tacos

Need dinner ideas for tonight? These chickpea tacos are designed as a workhorse recipe to get quick, nourishing food on the table fast. We love recipes like this: simple to whip up and full of big flavors. (In fact, we wrote a whole book about it!) These

  • Red cabbage
  • Carrot
  • Chickpeas
  • Spices: cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, kosher salt
  • Olive oil
  • Lime juice
  • Sour cream (or cashew cream or omit for vegan)
  • Guacamole
  • Pico de gallo
Chickpea tacos

Making the chickpea filling

The chickpea filling in these tacos is loaded with savory spices to make these legumes sing! It’s possible these tacos could convert people who are chickpea wary, but this recipe is intended for chickpea lovers (like ourselves!). Here are a few notes on what makes the filling work:

  • The blend of spices is similar to a fajita blend. Make sure to find smoked paprika: its subtly smoky flavor brings an essential nuance.
  • Sour cream adds necessary richness. The chickpeas taste a little dry without a little more richness like a standard taco filling. For vegan, try vegan butter, cashew cream, vegan yogurt or vegan sour cream as a stand in. You can omit it, but it evens out the texture.
  • Fresh lime seals the deal. The hint of citrus takes it up a few notches.

You may have extra chickpeas left over after eating these tacos, depending on how many you add to each taco. Store any leftover filling refrigerated for up to 3 days. The recipe makes 3 cups of filling, which can stretch to 8 to 10 tacos.

Guacamole is required

Texture is everything when it comes to a taco. For these chickpea tacos, you need extra gooey, creamy elements to balance out the chickpeas. A smear of guacamole on the taco is required here, before you add the chickpeas.

You could substitute other creamy spreads or sauce (like refried beans), but we think zingy, creamy guacamole works best under these legumes. For quick meals we like to purchase it, but you can also try our homemade guacamole.

Chickpea tacos

Sides for chickpea tacos

When it comes to quick weeknight meals, often we skip sides for these chickpeas tacos (they’re pretty filling!). But if you’re looking for something simple to serve alongside, here are some ideas:

More chickpea recipes

These chickpeas tacos are a great way to use the mighty garbanzo bean! Here are a few more chickpea recipes you might enjoy:

This chickpea tacos recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free.

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Chickpea tacos

Chickpea Tacos


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 14 minutes
  • Cook Time: 6 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 8 to 10 tacos

Description

These chickpea tacos are a fast way to dinner! This crowd pleaser pairs a flavorful filling of garbanzos with guacamole, pico and slaw.


Ingredients

  • 2 cups shredded red cabbage
  • 1 carrot
  • 2 15-ounce cans chickpeas
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon each chili powder and smoked paprika (or paprika)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice, divided
  • 1 tablespoon sour cream (or vegan butter or cashew cream), plus more for serving if desired
  • Guacamole (required!)
  • Pico de gallo or fresh salsa, for serving (purchased)
  • Fresh cilantro, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Make the quick slaw: Shred the red cabbage and shred the carrot. Place them in a bowl with 1 tablespoon lime juice and 2 pinches of kosher salt.
  2. Cook the chickpeas: Drain and rinse the chickpeas, shaking off as much water as possible. Combine spices and salt in a small bowl. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chickpeas and spices and sauté, stirring frequently, until warm and the chickpeas are evenly coated, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon lime juice and the sour cream and cook 1 more minute until warmed through and tender.
  3. Warm the tortillas: Warm and char the tortillas by placing them on an open gas flame on medium for a few seconds per side, flipping with tongs, until they are slightly blackened and warm. (See How to Warm Tortillas.)
  4. Assemble the tacos: Add a generous spoonful of guacamole, spoonfuls of chickpeas, slaw, and pico de gallo. If desired, top with sour cream (or cashew cream) and/or fresh chopped cilantro. Store any leftover filling refrigerated for up to 3 days.
  • Category: Main dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Chickpea tacos

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Blood Orange Curd Brownies

Bright in both flavor and color, these blood orange brownies feature a layer of rich, fudgy chocolate brownie topped with a tart blood orange curd.

Chocolate and orange are a classic combination, but not one often seen in brownies (or if it is, flavored with little more than a bit of zest or orange extract). This lovely layered treat is as much about the citrus curd as it is about the brownie, resulting in a rush of flavor and luscious texture in each and every bite.

Cut squares of Blood Orange Curd Brownies topped wtih little wedges of blood orange, on parchment with whole and cut oranges around.

I first set out to make a lemon bar brownie, with a layer of tart lemon curd on top of a rich chocolate brownie. It was an unusual idea, for sure, but I was kind of excited about it, to be honest.

But Taylor has some sort of moral opposition to the combination of lemon and chocolate, why I cannot say, and managed to talk me into doing an orange version instead.

I actually made a half batch of each, one orange, one lemon, for research purposes, and brought both with me to ceramics class along with a paper to collect votes on which one everyone preferred. It was a close match, but ultimately the orange won by a single vote. And who am I to deny the people what they want?

Neat grid of Blood Orange Curd Brownies cut into squares, one piece propped up to showcase the perfectly defined layers of brownie and deeply-colored blood orange curd.

My main challenge when testing this recipe is that orange curd, unlike lemon curd, has a tendency to be somewhat bland tasting (especially when you are comparing it bite for bite to lemon curd, which is why it surprised me that the orange version won, since it was my first batch and the orange was rather dull in comparison).

While the flavor of orange and chocolate go together beautifully, the lemon definitely had a noticeably brighter, punchier flavor. I wanted to see if I could replicate that tartness in the orange version.

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Black Sesame Amaretti Cookies

Amaretti are some of my favorite cookies for a reason: they are ridiculously simple to make, with only 3 main ingredients—plus the black se...