47 Mother’s Day Desserts for a Sweet Celebration
Mother’s Day desserts are well timed. You can bake any of your favorite spring sweets, working in juicy strawberries or tangy rhubarb. Or you can cap off your Mother’s Day dinner with the flavors of coffee or caramel or peanut butter—whatever Mom loves most. If your mom’s a confirmed chocolate person, then you know what you have to do. Scroll down to get our favorite Mother’s Day cakes, fruit desserts, and easy brownies that even the grandkids can bake.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Stevie Stewart1/47Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake
We know you’re looking for the kind of Mother’s Day dessert recipes that’ll really make it feel like a special occasion. Enter this showstopper, swirled with homemade raspberry purée and poured into an easy brown butter crust.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Stevie Stewart2/47
Strawberry Shortcakes
Strawberry desserts feel right for Mother’s Day, and this rendition of the classic is a guaranteed hit.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Rhoda Boone3/47
Our Favorite Key Lime Pie
We found that the trick to a really great Key lime pie is just a touch of lemon juice to balance the flavors. You can prep this one in advance and keep it in the fridge.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by John Bjostad4/47
Double Chocolate Layer Cake
If your mom is really only interested in chocolate desserts, treat her to this stunner, dressed up in a deeply chocolaty ganache frosting.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich5/47
Profiteroles With Maple Caramel Sauce
Gougères, éclairs, and profiteroles are all made from pâte à choux, a wonderfully flexible pastry dough that you can prep ahead. This version gets filled with store-bought vanilla ice cream and drizzled with a luscious sauce made from butter, cream, maple syrup, and white chocolate.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton6/47
Classic Crème Brûlée
Kick it old school with this classic French dessert. A kitchen torch makes it easy to create the crackly burnt-sugar topping.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Simon Andrews7/47
Chocolate Mousse
Dipping your spoon into this chocolate mousse feels elegant—but the active prep time required is under an hour. Chill it in your fridge for up to a day before Mom comes over.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Sean Dooley8/47
Carrot Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
Carrot cake isn’t just for Easter—it’s the perfect option to serve after a savory Mother’s Day brunch.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich9/47
Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie
Some of us count down the days until rhubarb appears and then try to eat as much of it as we can until the season’s done. If your mom feels the same way, bake this pie for Mother’s Day.
- Photo by Greg McBoat10/47
Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes
Our archives contain cupcake recipes for every season—this one is just right for all your May festivities.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, prop styling by Brian Heiser, food styling by Rhoda Boone11/47
Coconut Milk Custard With Strawberry-Rhubarb Compote
Top this creamy coconut dessert with the tangy fruit compote and pistachios just before bringing it out to the table.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich12/47
Philly Fluff Cake
Think pound cake, but fluffier. This beloved regional classic is enriched with the trifecta of tangy cream cheese, vegetable shortening, and butter.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton13/47
Peach and Butter Pecan Ice Cream Icebox Cake
Bringing ice cream and jam into the icebox cake formula will change your make-ahead dessert moves forever.
- Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Mira Evnine14/47
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Bar cookies feel a bit more polished than your standard classic chocolate chip cookies, and these offer the ideal chewy texture.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks15/47
Vanilla-Buttermilk Layer Cake With Orange Frosting and Raspberries
Going big on Mother’s Day this year? Readers call this tender buttermilk cake “spectacular.” The raspberries between the layers add pops of fruity flavor.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele16/47
Rhubarb Crisp
Not every rhubarb recipe needs strawberries in the mix. Spicy candied ginger and fragrant orange zest add plenty of complementary flavors here. This recipe is sure to be a hit among anyone who loves cobblers and crisps.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton17/47
Pastel de Tres Leches
This layered tres leches cake is sandwiched with strawberries, mangoes, and whipped cream. Plan on everyone going back for a second slice.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens18/47
East 62nd Street Lemon Cake
While this cake requires no additions, like many lemon desserts, it’s great with fresh fruit and whipped cream.
- Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton19/47
French Silk Pie
Intimidated by pie crust? This no-bake Oreo crust is an absolute breeze. Top with dramatic curls of shaved chocolate.
- Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Kaitlin Wayne20/47
Italian Butter Cookies
Anyone who has ever been disappointed by stale bakery cookies will be impressed by these buttery homemade versions. Let the kids decorate with sprinkles in Mom’s favorite colors.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne21/47
Lemon Meringue Pie
Sweet and tart with a fluffy meringue top, this pie from Gourmet is a reader—and staff—favorite.
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Bananas Foster
It’s quick to make this dessert; you just sauté some bananas in butter and sugar, sprinkle with cinnamon, then add some liqueur and rum to the pan and ignite carefully with a long match, basting the bananas with the boozy sauce. Don’t skip the vanilla ice cream.
- Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht23/47
Tiramisu
Making a big sausage lasagna for the fam? Cap off the meal with this creamy no-bake Italian dessert.
- Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich24/47
Louisiana Crunch Cake
Call it the other coconut cake, if you will, this Deep-South classic offers maximum crunch; the shredded coconut and granulated sugar bake right into the cake’s exterior.
- Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Christina Allen, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht25/47
Peanut Butter Brownies
Make sure your brownies are glam enough for Mom by swirling them with creamy peanut butter. The secret to a bold pattern? Freeze the batter for a bit first.
- Photo by Andrew Purcell, Prop Styling by Paige Hicks, Food Styling by Carrie Purcell26/47
Lemon Curd Tart With Olive Oil
Olive oil enriches the crust, but the tangy lemon curd is really the star of the show.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne27/47
Banoffee Pie
Your oven is occupied with the rest of the meal, which is fine because this pie doesn’t require any baking. Dust with cocoa powder if you don’t feel up to making chocolate shavings.
- Photo by Caleb Adams, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell28/47
Three Cities of Spain Cheesecake
Some Epicurious staffers have declared this simply the greatest cheesecake recipe of all time. You’ll have to bake it to find out if you—and Mom—agree.
- Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Stevie Stewart29/47
Kentucky Bourbon Pie
If your mother is into bourbon, serve this homage to the Derby Pie alongside her favorite whiskey cocktail.
- Photo and Food Styling by Joseph De Leo30/47
Backyard Citrus Upside-Down Cake
The natural pectin in the lemons, combined with the sugar, creates a pudding-like layer on top of this cake that’s similar to a buttery marmalade.
- Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Stevie Stewart31/47
Chocolate Mousse Pie
This mousse pie needs to be refrigerated for at least six hours, but that’s a good thing if you’re feeding everyone dinner first.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton32/47
Lemon Bars
If you waited until the last moment and you’re looking for easy desserts for Mother’s Day, do not lose hope. These tart and lemony bars are quick and fuss-free to assemble.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne33/47
Pound Cake
Cake flour gives this cake its tender, airy crumb. Add a scoop of ice cream and Mom’s favorite berries.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova34/47
Coconut Cream Pie
It’s essential to blind-bake the pie crust here, because the creamy coconut filling never sees your oven.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele35/47
Pistachio Cake
The scents of cardamom and orange zest jazz up this pistachio cake. Just be sure to start with fresh pistachios—yes, nuts do go bad.
- Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova36/47
Panna Cotta
This simple vanilla-scented dessert is great with fresh fruit on top, though you can also opt for fancy cocktail cherries or chocolate shavings.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne37/47
Fluffy Coffee and Walnut Cake
This light and fluffy walnut cake takes after a British classic, but we promise that Mom will go nuts for the mocha buttercream.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton38/47
Fresh Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Canned pineapple can be great, but this cake is even better when you use fresh, ripe fruit.
- Photo by Greg McBoat39/47
Daydream Believer Cupcakes
Swirling apricot preserves into the frosting lends these tender, almond-scented cupcakes a sunny, fruity flavor.
- Photo by Linda Xiao40/47
Crepe Cake
Building a towering crepe cake isn’t hard when you start with this no-cook shortcut for pastry cream. You might find figuring out the right Mother’s Day gift even harder. Can we suggest a new cookbook?
- Photo by William Meppem41/47
Molten Chocolate Chunk Brownies
Some say brownies are the ultimate chocolate dessert. We say, “save us the corner piece.”
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova42/47
Retro Strawberries-and-Cream Pretzel Tart
Some family gatherings are incomplete without this tart—which is sometimes called a salad. Whatever you call it, this throwback is worth revisiting.
- Photo by Deb Perelman43/47
Marble Bundt Cake
Using melted white chocolate in the vanilla portion of this marble cake recipe gives it extra richness and a toasty flavor.
- Photo by John Kernick44/47
Three-Layer Berry and Brown Sugar Pavlova
You’re allowed to show off a bit when it’s all for Mom. Whip up three tiers of airy meringue, which crack and crumble to reveal marshmallowy interiors. Loads of fresh berries keep this spring dessert juicy.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone45/47
One-Bowl Milk Chocolate Cake With Chocolate-Caramel Frosting
Get the kids involved in celebrating the best mother around: With just a little help from you, they can bake this easy cake with chocolate-caramel frosting.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi46/47
Coeur à la Crème With Roasted Strawberry Sauce
This heart-shaped dessert is classic French way to show your love. Roasting fresh strawberries concentrates their flavors and makes them even sweeter.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova47/47
Salted-Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
It feels fitting to highlight a family recipe when we’re talking about Mother’s Day desserts. These cookies have big chocolate chunks, deep caramel notes from a long rest, and plenty of salt.
Genevieve Yam
Emily Farris
Maggie Hoffman