The 60 Best Mother’s Day Desserts to Treat Mom to on Her Big Day
Mother’s Day—a celebration to honor the moms, grandmas, aunts and loved ones who raised us to be who we are today—is coming on May 8. So, grab a spatula and get into the kitchen with your stash of flour, sugar and spices: You’re whipping up dessert for the most important guest of all time. Whether you have five minutes or five hours, we have plenty of recipes that will make her feel the love on her special day. Here are 60 Mother’s Day desserts she’s bound to love, from cake to pie to cookies. (P.S.: A bouquet of flowers might help drive the message home even more...just saying.)
RELATED: The 63 Best Mother's Day Gifts for Every Type of Mom
1. Naked Lemon and Olive Oil Layer Cake
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
2. Sachertorte (Chocolate Apricot Cake with Dark Chocolate Ganache)
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
3. Strawberry Shortcake
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
4. Grapefruit Meringue Stacks
- Time Commitment: 3 hours
- Why We Love It: gluten free, special occasion-worthy
5. Glazed Vegan Chocolate Bundt Cake
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser, dairy free
6. Key Lime Pie
- Time Commitment: 4 hours and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, one bowl, beginner-friendly
7. Chocolate Raspberry Fool
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
8. Loaded Funfetti Dessert Nachos
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
9. Easy Lemon-Hibiscus Layer Cake
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
10. Simple Butterscotch Pudding
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, one pot, gluten free
11. Pear and Thyme Tarts
- Time Commitment: 2 hours
- Why We Love It: vegan, gluten free, dairy free
12. Three-Ingredient Blood Orange Granita
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes (plus freezing time)
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, dairy free, gluten free, one pot
13. Damn Good Peanut Butter Banana Cake
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: gluten free, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
14. White Chocolate Citrus Pots de Crème
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes (plus chilling time)
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, special occasion-worthy
15. Kiwi and Lime Curd Fools with Blackberries
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: gluten free, make ahead
16. Easy Tiramisu
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: no bake, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
17. Red Velvet Lava Cakes
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
18. Banana Cream Pie Parfaits
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
19. Carrot Cake Roll
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
20. Limoncello Prosecco Floats with Lemon Sorbetto
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: no bake, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy
21. Heart Thumbprint Cookies
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
22. Foolproof Vegan Applesauce Spice Cake
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, dairy free, beginner-friendly
23. Mixed Berry Pavlova with Lemon Curd and Mascarpone Whipped Cream
- Time Commitment: 2 hours
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, special occasion-worthy
24. Yogurt Coffee Cake
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
25. Easy Chocolate Mousse
- Time Commitment: 5 hours and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
26. Cardamom Cream-Filled Bundt Cake
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
27. The Best Classic Lemon Bars
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
28. Mini Blackberry Cheesecake Tarts with Walnut Crust
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy
29. Easy Turtle Sundae Ice Cream Pie
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
30. Salty Dark and Milk Chocolate Skillet Cookie
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
31. No-Bake Berry Tiramisu
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: no bake, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
32. Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
33. Cantaloupe-Mint Sorbet
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, dairy free, gluten free
34. Puff-Pastry Plum and Thyme Galette
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
35. Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
36. Lemon Pie with Blueberry Meringue
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
37. Mini Strawberry Ice Cream Pies
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
38. Cheater’s Mini Rhubarb Galettes
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, dairy free, special occasion-worthy
39. Coconut Rice Pudding with Rhubarb Compote
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes (plus chilling)
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
40. Botanical Shortbread Cookies
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
41. Lemon-Raspberry Whoopie Pies
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
42. No-Bake, Gluten-Free Rose Petal Brownies
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: no bake, gluten free, vegan
43. Blueberry Crumble Pie
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
44. Strawberry, Cardamom and Pistachio Pavlova Bites
- Time Commitment: 3 hours and 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, special occasion-worthy
45. No-Bake Coconut Cream Pie
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: no bake, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
46. Meyer Lemon Loaf Cake
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
47. Ice-Cream Cone Cannoli
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: no bake, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
48. Ricotta-Honey Ice Cream
- Time Commitment: 4 hours
- Why We Love It: no cook, <10 ingredients, gluten free
49. Oatmeal Cookie Cream Pies
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
50. Strawberry Pie with Strawberry Crust
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
51. Peanut Butter Cream Pie with Raspberry Meringue
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
52. Carrot Cake Doughnuts with Cream Cheese Glaze
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
53. Salted Peanut Butter and Honey Ice Cream
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes (plus chilling)
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, dairy free, gluten free
54. Big Raspberry-Rye Cookies
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, one bowl, beginner-friendly
55. Lemon Earl-Grey Polenta Loaf
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, dairy free, crowd-pleaser
56. Cheater’s Mini Strawberry-Vanilla Galettes
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
57. Biscochito Biscotti
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
58. Gluten-Free Ricotta Cheesecake
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: gluten free, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
59. Clementine Meltaway Cookies
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
60. Dulce de Leche Skillet Brownie
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
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For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.