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Mother’s Day is the perfect excuse to bake something a little extra special, whether you’re making an easy brunch at home or a make-ahead dessert to share. I pulled together some of my favorite recipes that feel impressive but are super doable. No stress baking here.
From soft, gooey cinnamon rolls to fresh, fruity treats and rich chocolate desserts, there’s something here for every kind of mom and every kind of baker. Pick one to make now, and save a few for later (or send the list to a family member to make for you)!
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms and mother figures out there, and to anyone who is remembering, missing, or holding this day close in their own way.
Tessa’s Tips
Want to make your Mother’s Day brunch or dessert feel extra special?
- Add fresh whipped cream, berries, or ice cream on top
- Dust with powdered sugar right before serving
- Finish chocolate desserts with flaky sea salt
Here’s a simple way to narrow down what to bake as you browse the recipes below:
- Make-ahead brunch: Cinnamon Bun Bites or Coffee Cake
- Showstopper dessert: Chocolate cake or cheesecake
- Short on time: No-bake dessert or an easy bar recipe
- Baking for a group: Sheet cakes and cookies are always a safe bet
Let’s start with brunch!
Easy Mother’s Day Brunch Recipes
1
Cinnamon Bun Bites
These Cinnamon Bun Bites taste like the gooey middle of a cinnamon roll in every bite. No rolling required for this family-friendly recipe.
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2
Gooey Cinnamon Rolls
These cinnamon rolls are ultra-soft, filled with gooey cinnamon goodness, and topped with a rich vanilla icing. They’re way better than Cinnabon, and easy to make ahead!
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3
Quiche Lorraine
Quiche Lorraine is the perfect recipe for any brunch gathering – or add a salad and it also makes an incredible lunch or dinner! A real crowd-pleaser, this rich, creamy egg filling is full of flavor and packed with bacon, caramelized onions and cheese. All baked into a crisp, deliciously buttery pie crust.
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4
Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
These Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins bake up tall, soft, and tender with bright lemon flavor. Includes the key tricks for bakery-style muffin tops.
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5
Homemade Crepes
How to make deliciously thin, buttery, and easy crepes inspired by Paris, France right at home. The flavor and filling options are endless! Can be made ahead of time.
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6
Chocolate Chip Scones
Chocolate Chip Scones pack all the delicious flavors of a chocolate chip cookie into a tall, buttery, flaky scone. This super simple recipe is ready in just 30 minutes and is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert!
7
Lemon Blueberry French Toast Casserole
Lemon Blueberry French Toast Casserole can be made overnight and tastes like a combination of bread pudding and gourmet French toast. Perfect for Easter brunch or Mother's Day!
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8
Brown Butter Coffee Cake
Brown Butter Coffee Cake features an ultra moist and flavorful brown butter sour cream cake with a sweet cinnamon brown sugar streusel throughout. My all time favorite coffee cake recipe!
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9
Lemon Pound Cake Loaf
This ultra-buttery lemon loaf is bursting with fresh citrus flavor and topped with a thick glaze. Even better than Starbucks and easy to make!
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10
Butter Pecan Banana Bread
Homemade Butter Pecan Banana Bread is a fun twist on the classic banana bread recipe with a buttery, nutty flavor, a soft, moist texture, and crunchy pecans studded throughout. The perfect breakfast, brunch, or sweet snack.
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Mother’s Day Chocolate Desserts
11
Chocolate Cream Pie
This Chocolate Cream Pie is ultra-smooth, perfectly chocolatey, and surprisingly quick and easy. A family-favorite!
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12
Best Ever Chewy Brownies
My BEST Ever Chewy Brownies are just as chewy as boxed brownies but with better chocolate flavor. One bowl recipe, ready in less than 1 hour. I've made this recipe over 200 times (no joke!).
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13
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Flourless Chocolate Cake is the perfect recipe for any chocolate lover! A surprisingly easy well-loved recipe for restaurant-quality results.
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14
French Silk Pie
This homemade French Silk Pie has an Oreo crust and ultra-creamy chocolate filling with no raw eggs! A perfect make-ahead dessert. My most-popular holiday recipe!
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15
Death by Chocolate Cheesecake
Insanely decadent Death by Chocolate Cheesecake features chocolate in FOUR forms: chocolate cookie crust, double chocolate cheesecake filling, with a rich chocolate ganache topping. It doesn't get better than this!
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16
Best Chocolate Cake
This is the BEST Chocolate Cake recipe—deeply chocolatey, ultra-moist, and easy to decorate, slice, and serve.
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17
Brookies
These brookies combine fudgy brownies and chewy chocolate chip cookies into one luscious bite. Kitchen-tested with tons of baking tips!
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18
Oreo Cheesecake Recipe
This Oreo Cheesecake is an Oreo lover’s dream! A rich, buttery Oreo crust topped with a creamy cheesecake and filled with chunks of whole Oreos for an indulgent, showstopping treat.
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19
Browned Butter Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies
TikTok VIRAL Browned Butter Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies are loaded with flavor and have a soft yet chewy, ooey gooey texture. The BEST cookies you'll ever taste!
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20
Nutella Cheesecake Bars
Silky Nutella cheesecake. Buttery chocolate cookie base. Fudgy Nutella ganache. Are you drooling yet? These Nutella Cheesecake Bars are so delicious that no one will be able to stop at just one!
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Fruity Mother’s Day Desserts
21
No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bars feature a buttery graham cracker crust and a homemade double strawberry cheesecake filling. Delicious, easy, crowd-pleasing summer treat!
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22
Lemon Bundt Cake
This Lemon Bundt Cake is ultra moist, tender, buttery, full of fresh lemon flavor and so easy to make. Topped with a simple lemon glaze. It's the perfect show stopping cake for any occasion!
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23
Blueberry Cobbler
Blueberry Cobbler is bursting with delicious blueberry flavor, featuring a hint of bright lemon freshness, and finished with a light, fluffy cake topping. Super quick and easy recipe, perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
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24
Strawberry Chocolate Galette
This Strawberry Chocolate Galette recipe is a total crowd-pleaser and is surprisingly easy to make. Strawberries and chocolate are already a match made in heaven – but wrap them in perfectly flaky, buttery pie crust and you’ve got the most crave-worthy summer dessert.
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25
Raspberry Lemonade Cheesecake Bars
Raspberry Lemonade Cheesecake Bars are like biting into sunshine! A buttery, crisp graham cracker base topped with a zesty lemon cheesecake and vibrant raspberry swirl. As pretty as they are delicious.
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26
Glazed Lemon Cookies
Glazed Lemon Cookies are buttery, citrusy, soft lemon cookies topped with a sweet lemon glaze. These are the best lemon cookies that come together quickly, contain simple ingredients, and don’t even require chilling.
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27
Raspberry Brownie Recipe
Raspberry Brownies are ultra-rich and fudgy, with gooey chocolate chunks and fresh raspberries studded throughout. Garnished with raspberry powder on top so it's perfect for Valentine's Day!
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28
Key Lime Pie
Easy Key Lime Pie recipe is packed full of bright, fresh lime flavor, a hint of ginger in the buttery graham cracker crust, all topped with fresh whipped cream. One bite will transport you straight to the sunny Florida Keys!
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29
Brown Butter Peach Cobbler
This Brown Butter Peach Cobbler is the most flavorful cobbler recipe you'll ever try. The brown butter peaches, warm spices, and the biscuit-like base and topping make for the ultimate summer treat. Use fresh, frozen, or canned peaches to enjoy this cobbler all year long!
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30
Raspberry Cream Sandwich Cookies
Raspberry Cream Sandwich Cookies feature adorable sugar cookies filled with luscious raspberry ganache, with a white chocolate drizzle and a sprinkling of freeze-dried raspberries. These cookie sandwiches are sweet, tangy, and so pretty – perfect for Valentine’s Day, baby showers, or just a sweet treat for the family.
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Easy Mother’s Day Desserts
31
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake
This No Bake Peanut Butter Cheesecake has a buttery graham cracker crust, ultra creamy filling, and rich chocolate ganache. Easy, smooth, and perfect for summer.
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32
Brown Butter Rice Crispy Treats
These Brown Butter Rice Crispy Treats are crispy, gooey, and deeply flavorful. An easy upgrade that everyone will love!
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33
Perfect Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Ultra-moist & fluffy with a hint of spice and a big dose of nostalgia, these Carrot Cake Cupcakes are topped with velvety cream cheese frosting and crunchy walnuts. Easy recipe perfect for Easter, Mother's Day, or any spring celebration!
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34
Peanut Butter Pie
This homemade Peanut Butter Pie is made from scratch with just a few ingredients and will have everyone coming back for seconds! It’s CRAZY good! With step-by-step video.
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35
Funfetti Sheet Cake
Funfetti Sheet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and plenty of sprinkles will take you right back to childhood. This cake is quick, easy, super moist, ready in just 40 minutes and a definite crowd-pleaser. No one will be able to resist this scrumptious, fun sheet cake!
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36
Strawberry Swirl Sugar Cookies
Strawberry Swirl Cookies feature ultra-chewy vanilla sugar cookie dough swirled with vibrant strawberry-infused cookie dough. Soft, chewy, fruity, and ready in under 1 hour!
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37
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars take chewy chocolate chip cookie dough and layer it with a creamy, rich, smooth vanilla cheesecake. Two perfect beginner-friendly desserts in one, and every bite is absolute heaven!
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38
Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies
My go-to recipe, these Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies are perfectly tender and soft with just the right amount of chewiness. They take just minutes to make with ingredients you may already have in your kitchen!
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39
Brown Butter Triple Chocolate Blondies
Brown Butter Triple Chocolate Blondies are insanely flavorful, with caramel-y browned butter notes, three kinds of chocolate, and a perfectly chewy texture. Ready in under 1 hour!
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40
Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes
Easy Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes are ultra tender and moist chocolate cupcakes topped with homemade coconut buttercream frosting and toasted coconut. This easy recipe is perfect for any Mounds bar lovers!
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41
Cookie Butter Ice Cream
This easy Cookie Butter Ice Cream recipe is a total sleeper hit. Crushed bits of Biscoff cookies and thick ribbons of cookie butter make every bite a total delight. The no-egg, no-cook homemade ice cream base takes just 30 minutes to prep and churn.
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