65 Easy Mother's Day Desserts Even Better Than A Gift
Desserts > flowers, an over-crowded brunch, jewelry...
We already think our moms are the sweetest, but why not make their special day even sweeter with a homemade dessert? When you really think about it, dessert is the best Mother's Day gift of all; there's always leftovers, no crowded restaurants to deal with, and, best of all, it's a homemade gift that really shows the love. Whether you opt for fancy crème brûlée and French macarons or a spin on a classic like our honey & peanut butter blondies, you can't go wrong with any of these 65 Mother's Day dessert recipes. You just might never have to make a last-minute brunch reservation ever again!
Whatever her dessert of choice may be, we've got plenty of easy, impressive recipes to really sweeten up her day. Looking for a showstopper you can reveal after dinner? Try our raspberry tiramisu, our baklava cheesecake, or ourcopycat Cheesecake Factory lemon raspberry cream cheesecake. Need something easy and shareable? Dessert bars are the lowest-lift, highest-reward dessert there is–try our blueberry crumble cheesecake bars, our Dubai chocolate brownies, our lemon bars, or our French silk brownies.
Looking for something super simple that's still impressive? Try a homemade ice cream, like our gelato, our no-churn strawberry shortcake vegan ice cream, our red velvet ice cream, or go for a simple tart or no-bake option, like our no-bake blackberry Oreo tart, our fruit tart (top with your mom's faves!), or our whipped ricotta cheesecake.
Want even more Mother's Day inspiration? Check out our best Mother's Day lunch ideas, our top Mother's Day cake recipes, and even our favorite mimosas to kick her day off right.
Dubai Chocolate Brownies
If you’re as completely obsessed with the Dubai chocolate trend as we are, then you gotta sink your teeth into these Dubai chocolate brownies. The crispy, silky pistachio and tahini layer from the original contrasts perfectly with the soft, fudgy brownie.
Get the Dubai Chocolate Brownies recipe.
Lemon-Blueberry Cheesecake Lasagna
This easy no-bake dessert is filled with layers of lemon Oreos, blueberry cheesecake, and lemon whipped cream, celebrating the classic spring dessert combination: lemon and blueberry.
Carrot Cake Mini Trifles
Trifles are such a great dessert for hosting because they serve a crowd and can be made ahead of time. Served in these individual containers, these carrot cake-filled versions become the cutest shareable treat.
Get the Carrot Cake Mini Trifles recipe.
Homemade Strawberry Cake
Making strawberry compote is easier than you'd think. Whipping it into the cake batter, frosting, AND filling makes this a strawberry lover's dream.
Get the Homemade Strawberry Cake recipe.
Big-Batch Lava Cake
Words cannot fully express how I feel about this particular cake. It's fudgy yet light, salty and sweet, and rich as can be. This is the perfect starter lava cake recipe. It only requires 10 ingredients, and because it’s one large batch, there's no need to stress about overcooking the center.
Get the Big-Batch Lava Cake recipe.
Copycat Cheesecake Factory Lemon Raspberry Cream Cheesecake
The Cheesecake Factory has nothing on our version of their beloved lemon raspberry cream cheesecake. The crust is a simple vanilla sponge cake that’s topped with a layer of tart raspberry-dipped ladyfingers, then a lemon cheesecake, and finally a lemon white chocolate mousse.
Get the Copycat Cheesecake Factory Lemon Raspberry Cream Cheesecake recipe.
Fruit Tart
If you’re one of the many who are stunned by the shiny fruit tarts in bakery windows, then this recipe is for you. Good news: It’s surprisingly easy to make a stunning fruit tart right at home! Make it as the star of your Mother's Day brunch, or as an easy, warm-weather treat to indulge in anytime.
Get the Fruit Tart recipe.
Strawberries & Cream Tiramisu
Step aside, strawberry shortcake—this strawberries & cream tiramisu is taking over. Instead of coffee-dipped ladyfingers, I’m using heavy cream and our Food Team secret ingredient: triple sec. The citrus-soaked ladyfingers are then layered with decadent mascarpone and strawberry jam for a gorgeous layered dessert that is just as stunning to look at as it is delicious to eat.
Get the Strawberries & Cream Tiramisu recipe.
Blueberry Cheesecake Icebox Cake
When it’s hot outside, a no-bake dessert like this blueberry cheesecake icebox cake is an ace up your sleeve. Layers of blueberry jam, whipped cream cheese, and graham crackers are stacked together for a no-fuss cool and creamy masterpiece that looks like you spent hours crafting it (but all you did was chill it!).
Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies
We’re no strangers to red velvet desserts, cheesecakes, or brownies, so this marriage felt like a no-brainer. The fudginess of the red velvet and the tang of the cheesecake make a beautiful partnership, while the brownie is the perfect base to hold it all together.
Blueberry Crumble Cheesecake Bars
Taking inspiration from our all-star strawberry cheesecake bars and our cranberry crumble cheesecake bars, I developed this extra-springy version that showcases jammy blueberries and a lemony crumble topping. With these cheesecake bars, you get a crusty bottom, a soft tender cheesecake, and a crispy crumbly top, all without too much work.
Grapefruit Tart
Citrus season should be heavily celebrated, and this grapefruit tart is reason enough. A simple curd is made using fresh grapefruit juice that is a perfect balance of tart and sweet. It’s a really beautiful tart that would shine at your spring brunch, or served after dinner (stick with a theme and serve it after this citrus glazed chicken).
Get the Grapefruit Tart recipe.
French Silk Brownies
Perfect for parties, potlucks, or just a cozy night in, these brownies are a versatile treat that will impress your friends and family. The silky chocolate layer gives an elegant touch, while the brownie base keeps things casual and fun.
Get the French Silk Brownies recipe.
Espresso Martini Fudge
I love fudge, so it only felt natural to create and espresso martini version, because coffee just makes everything better, especially when paired with chocolate and my favorite Irish cream liqueur. Plus, who can say no to that adorable coffee bean garnish?
Get the Espresso Martini Fudge recipe.
Raspberry Cheesecake Lasagna
Spring is all about big pans of fruity no-bake cheesecake, and this cheesecake lasagna is giving all that and more. Fresh raspberry filling sits atop layers of crunchy graham cracker crust and silky whipped cream cheese for a cool, creamy dessert that’s equally simple to make and impressive to serve.
Get the Raspberry Cheesecake Lasagna recipe.
Best-Ever Brownies
Nothing says chocolate decadence like a brownie, and our tried-and-true favorite recipe is no exception. Starring both melted chocolate and unsweetened cocoa powder, these dense, fudgy brownies deliver all the intense chocolate goodness your mom loves.
Get the Best-Ever Brownies recipe.
Oreo Cookie Cake
This version of our OG cookie cake takes things to the next level by putting cookies INSIDE the "cake." It’s packed with chopped Oreos, decorated with a rich Oreo buttercream, and crowned with even more Oreos.
Get the Oreo Cookie Cake recipe.
Baklava Cheesecake
Baklava is already one of my not-too-sweet dessert faves, so turning it into a cheesecake felt like an obvious way to take things to the next level. Instead of the traditional pressed graham cracker, the crust is made from layers of butter-brushed phyllo dough, chopped walnuts and pistachios, and a hearty drizzle of honey, just like a traditional baklava.
Get the Baklava Cheesecake recipe.
Caramel Crunch Tart
This tart that isn’t fussy and requires zero baking. The crunchy chocolate top is what this tart is all about, and the combo of it with the caramel reminds me of a 100 Grand Bar. The chocolate and caramel do create a rich combination, so a little sprinkle of sea salt on top helps balance everything out
Get the Caramel Crunch Tart recipe.
Strawberry Upside-Down Cake
Pineapple upside-down cake is the most classic, but you can pretty much put anything underneath cake batter, bake it, flip it, and have a stunner of a dessert. For this version, we kept it simple with strawberries—make this for any and every occasion this spring and summer!
Get the Strawberry Upside-Down Cake recipe.
