Mother’s Day Desserts: Easy Recipes Mom Will Love

These Mother's Day dessert recipes are simple, pretty, and perfect for celebrating Mom. From lemon tarts and berry trifles to no-bake chocolate pie, cheesecake, scones, pavlova, and fruit-filled spring desserts, these sweet treats are easy to love and beautiful enough for the holiday table.

Three Mother's Day dessert recipes: a pavlova with whipped cream and berries, a glass parfait layered with cream and strawberries, and a lemon cake topped with blueberries and powdered sugar, each garnished with fresh mint.

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What Makes a Great Mother's Day Dessert?

Most moms, including this one, are blessed by thoughtful gestures - the simple things that let her know she is loved and remembered on Mother's Day. That can be a hug, a homemade card, a special Mother's Day dinner, or a beautiful dessert to sweeten her day.

When choosing a Mother's Day dessert, I love recipes that feel seasonal, pretty, and easy enough to enjoy making. Whether you're baking something from scratch or assembling a simple no-bake treat, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Mom's Favorites: First, what kind of treats does she love most? Chocolate, lemon, berries, cheesecake, pie, or something light and creamy? If you're not sure, ask her - or offer a few ideas and see what makes her smile.
Pretty and Colorful: Mother's Day desserts often feel extra special when they're beautiful on the table. Think berries, flowers, whipped cream, lemon curd, powdered sugar, or a simple garnish of fresh mint.
Seasonal Ingredients: Spring is filled with fresh, inspiring flavors. Lemons, strawberries, blueberries, rhubarb, and other bright seasonal ingredients make these desserts feel just right for May.

While she is enjoying the dessert you made her, use this Questions to Ask Mom printable and learn things you may never have known!

Mother's Day Dessert Recipes

Whether you're planning Mother's Day brunch, afternoon tea, Sunday dinner, or a simple family gathering, these desserts are easy ways to make the day feel special.

Closeup sliced side view of pound. cake with fresh berries and edible flowers.

Easy Berry Topped Pound Cake Recipe

Savor the simplicity and richness of homemade pound cake. This easy recipe puts a twist on the classic cake with a delicious berry topping.

Berry Topped Pound Cake

Four layered dessert trifle cups with whipped cream, lemon slices, and mint leaves rest on a silver tray. The base of cake or biscuit layers adds depth to each cup, set elegantly on a lace doily. A blurred background reveals glasses and a green bottle.

Lemon Dessert Trifle Recipe

Bright, fresh, and irresistibly creamy, this lemon dessert trifle with Chantilly cream is the perfect make-ahead treat for spring and summer gatherings. Easy to serve in individual glasses or a classic trifle dish!

Lemon Dessert Trifle

Closeup Lemon Pudding Cake with a Spoon and Blueberries

Mini Lemon Pudding Cakes

Mini Lemon Pudding Cakes are a refreshing, melt-in-your-mouth, lemony dream. Simple and quick to make, this dessert magically forms two layers when baked. A light and airy cake on top with a lemon pudding custard on the bottom.

Mini Lemon Pudding

A white frosted lemon cake recipe is decorated with lemon slices and purple flowers on a white cake stand. Yellow flowers and a white napkin are in the background on a light-colored surface.

Lemon Layer Cake Recipe

This lemon cake recipe is a made from scratch layer cake with real ingredients like fresh lemon juice and zest. It's like sunshine in cake form!

Lemon Layer Cake

Side view of two Eton Mess glasses on a white background with a red and white striped towel and a grey background.

Easy Strawberry Eton Mess Recipe

An easy, no-bake dessert with layers of strawberries, lightly sweetened whipped cream, and crushed meringue cookies. Eaton Mess is a classic British dessert that's deliciously perfect for summer gatherings.

Strawberry Eton Mess

Kentucky Derby Bars

These Kentucky Derby Bars are a rich and easy Derby Day dessert with a buttery crust, gooey pecan filling, and plenty of chocolate. Perfect for parties, spring entertaining, and Southern-style celebrations.

Kentucky Derby Bars

A glass trifle dish filled with layers of whipped cream, sponge cake, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries creates a stunning berry trifle, topped with fresh berries and mint, displayed on a wooden stand in front of a window.

Easy Berry Trifle Recipe

A simple and elegant Berry Trifle recipe with layers of pound cake, sweetened whipped cream, and juicy fresh berries. A no-fuss dessert for summer holidays, Christmas, and afternoon tea.

Berry Trifle

Front side view of sliced no bake cheesecake with a bite missing on a white plate with a fork.

No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe

A creamy, foolproof no-bake cheesecake with a buttery graham cracker crust and only 10 minutes of prep. This easy make-ahead dessert chills into smooth, tangy, beautiful slices-perfect for summer, holidays, birthdays, and gatherings.

Easy No Bake Cheesecake

A lemon cake recipe comes to life as a slice is removed, dusted with powdered sugar, on a white cake stand. Fresh lemons, a teapot, and flowers like sunflowers and baby's breath surround it, crafting a bright, inviting setting.

Anytime Lemon Cake Recipe

Indulge in the moist and tender goodness of this homemade Lemon Cake Recipe. Easy to make with bright citrus flavors, it's the perfect treat for tea or coffee.

Easy Lemon Snack Cake

A slice of almond cake rests gracefully on a blue-patterned plate, set against a blue and white striped cloth. Topped with powdered sugar and almond slivers, a fork holds its delicious promise. In the background, a blurred cup and another plate add to the elegant scene.

Anytime Almond Cake Recipe

A tender, buttery almond cake with a delicate aroma and crumb that stays moist for days. Made with simple ingredients, perfect for snacking, teatime, or special occasions - a reader favorite with over 100 rave reviews.

Almond Cake

A rectangular lavender tea bread loaf with white icing, topped with two sprigs of lavender, is placed on a white oval platter next to a small bouquet of lavender tied with a plaid ribbon.

Lavender Tea Bread Recipe

This Lavender Tea Bread is a moist, buttery loaf with delicate floral lavender flavor and a hint of vanilla. It's an easy tea bread perfect for afternoon tea, brunch, or spring and summer gatherings.

Lavender Cake

Side view of Strawberry Trifle on white linen covered table with a bowl of fresh strawberries in a wooden bowl

Simple Strawberry Trifle Recipe

A summer celebration isn't complete without a delicious dessert. This no-bake Strawberry Trifle is incredibly delicious, effortless, and ready in minutes!

Strawberry Trifle

A basque cheesecake topped with blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and small white flowers sits on a plate, with a slice served on a smaller plate nearby. A vase of light brown carnations is in the background.

Easy Basque Cheesecake Recipe

Make this easy Basque Burnt Cheesecake with a rich, creamy center and caramelized top. Follow these effortless, simple steps for cheesecake perfection.

Easy Basque Cheesecake

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

A simple Chocolate Chip Banana Bread recipe made from a lighter, healthier version of classic banana bread. Yet still moist and rich; infused with chocolatey decadence that's perfect for snack time or teatime.

Healthier Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

A decadent chocolate pie with whipped cream and chocolate shavings on top, served in a foil pie plate with one slice missing. This irresistible chocolate pie rests on a white plate atop a white wooden surface.

Easy No Bake Chocolate Pie

A rich and creamy no bake chocolate pie made with just three simple ingredients. This easy, make-ahead dessert is perfect for Valentine's Day, dinner parties, or whenever you need a quick chocolate treat.

No Bake Chocolate Pie

Side view of Garnished Strawberry Mug Cake

2 Minute Strawberry Mug Cake

This 2-Minute Strawberry Mug Cake is a soft, sweet microwave dessert made with fresh strawberries, pantry ingredients, and vanilla. It's an easy single-serving treat topped with whipped cream and berries - perfect for spring, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, or anytime you want a quick strawberry dessert.

Strawberry Mug Cake

Top view of a slice of Lemon Custard Tart sprinkled with powdered sugar on a white scalloped plate sits near the rest of the tart on a white cake stand and a white and gold teacup filled with tea.

Lemon Custard Tart Recipe

This Lemon Custard Tart is the perfect balance of sweet and tart, and it's surprisingly easy to whip up. So grab your apron and your whisk, and let's get baking!

Lemon Custard Cake

Strawberry Rhubarb Cake

A simple and delicious Strawberry Rhubarb Cake with a buttery crumb, sweet strawberries, and tart rhubarb-perfect for spring dessert, brunch, or afternoon tea.

Strawberry Rhubarb Cake

A slice of lemon pudding dessert topped with whipped cream is served on a white plate, with two whole lemons blurred in the background.

Baked Lemon Pudding

Baked Lemon Pudding is a delicious, irresistibly light and airy dessert with Irish origins. A sweet, effortless treat you don't want to miss.

Baked Lemon Pudding

Rhubarb Upside Down Cake

Celebrate the season with an easy Rhubarb Upside Down Cake. Baked and unmolded, this cake has a mosaic top of rhubarb baked into a brown sugar sauce over a vanilla, cinnamon cake. It's utterly delicious and simple to make.

Rhubarb Upside Down Cake

Side top view of Lemon Mug Cake in a white mug with slices of lemon and whipping cream.

2 Minute Lemon Mug Cake

Satisfy your lemon cake cravings with an easy Lemon Mug Cake recipe. Quick, delicious, and perfect for a bright and zesty spring treat!

Lemon Mug Cake

Top side view of a serving of strawberry cobbler in a white tart dish with melting vanilla ice cream

Skillet Strawberry Cobbler

This Strawberry Cobbler is a quick and easy recipe made with fresh strawberries, pantry ingredients, and is ready in about 35 minutes. Serve straight from the skillet with a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream.

Skillet Strawberry Cobbler

Side view of unsliced Hummingbird Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and pecan sprinkles

Hummingbird Cake Recipe

Hummingbird Cake is a moist and dense cake filled with ripe bananas, pineapple, pecans, and deliciously savory spices. Tweaked slightly from the original, this cake is simplified and made even easier in a Bundt pan. And, of course, drizzled in a thick cream cheese glaze for the ultimate in flavor.

Hummingbird Cake

A layered sponge cake with cream and strawberries, topped with whole strawberries and powdered sugar, sits on a white cake stand with a slice removed-perfect among full size desserts for afternoon tea.

Victoria Sponge Cake Recipe

This Victoria Sponge Cake is an afternoon teacake recipe, favored by Queen Elizabeth, with a long British royal heritage. An easy-to-make, simple two-layer cake that's lightly sweet, soft, and perfect!

Victoria Sponge Cake

Irish Tea Cake

Delight in the simplicity of Irish Tea Cake, a buttery and light treat that's nearly effortless to make. Discover its charming elegance.

Irish Tea Cake

A ricotta cheesecake inspired key lime pie topped with whipped cream, lime wedges, and lime zest sits on a white plate on a marble surface.

No-Bake Ricotta Cheesecake

This no-bake ricotta cheesecake is smooth, lightly sweetened, and gently flavored with fresh lime. Made with a blend of ricotta and cream cheese, it sets beautifully in the refrigerator and is an ideal make-ahead dessert for entertaining.

No-Bake Ricotta Cheesecake

Strawberry Upside Down Cake

This Strawberry Upside Down Cake is a unique twist on a summer classic dessert. A hint of lavender transforms a delicious strawberry cake into something magical.

Strawberry Upside Down Cake

Close up view of Strawberry Shortcake topped with whipped cream and mint sprigs on a small white plate.

Easy Homemade Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

As soon as the strawberries begin to ripen in the fields near my home, I'm planning this Classic Strawberry Shortcake. It just somehow seems to herald in the warm, long, fun days of summer ahead.

Easy Homemade Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

A strawberry pie recipe with a golden crust, topped with whipped cream and mint, sits on a white table. One slice is cut. A gold pie server, striped napkin, and floral décor are nearby.

Easy Strawberry Pie Recipe

This Strawberry Pie recipe uses four key ingredients-and one surprising twist. It's packed with juicy, whole berries and tastes like summer in a slice: fresh strawberries, warm sunshine, and an irresistibly sweet dessert.

Easy Strawberry Pie

Slice of Lemon Curd Tart with whole tart on a cake stand

Simple Lemon Curd Tart Recipe

This French Lemon Curd Tart is inspired by Tarte au Citron, or French Lemon Tart. It's a creamy, slightly tangy lemon custard filling baked in a crisp, buttery shortbread crust. It's incredibly simple to make, and utterly delicious!

Lemon Curd Tart

Top view of Heart Shaped Pavlova with fresh fruit and mint leaves

Heart Shaped Pavlova Recipe

These Heart Shaped Pavlova desserts are crisp on the outside, pillowy and soft on the inside, and incredibly delicious topped with vanilla whipped cream and fresh fruit. They're special, perfect for Valentine's Day, anniversaries, and holidays, and deceptively easy to make.

Easy Pavlova

Front side view of sliced Orange Cake with citrus icing and orange slices on a white serving platter.

Easy Orange Cake Recipe

A soft, moist, and easy iced Orange Cake with irresistible citrus flavors. Perfect for gifting, celebrations, or sweet cravings - no mixer needed!

Iced Orange Cake

A small decorative bundt cake with white icing is placed on a white cake stand. The earl grey tea cake is surrounded by vibrant purple flowers and light pink blossoms. A blurred floral arrangement is in the background. The scene has a light, airy aesthetic.

Lavender Earl Grey Tea Cakes

Treat yourself to Lavender Earl Grey Tea Cakes that combine floral and citrus notes in a soft, tender mini bundt cake dessert you'll love!

Earl Grey Lavender Tea Cakes

Top view of sliced Strawberry Scone Loaf on white marble cutting board

Buttermilk Strawberry Scones Loaf

Indulge in a delightful treat with this scrumptious strawberry scone loaf. Made with fresh strawberries, this golden, crunchy-topped treat has a moist, soft, delicious interior with craggy, brown edges, all thanks to baking it as a loaf instead of individual scones.

Strawberry Scones Loaf

Raspberry Scones with Royal Albert Country Roses tea set with a maidenhair fern in the background.

Raspberry Scones with Lemon Butter Glaze

Easy to make, sweet and flaky, these Buttermilk Raspberry Scones are everything you love about the season. Make a batch and enjoy a cup of tea!

Raspberry Scones

View of Blueberry Tarts with Lemon Curd filling on a blue and white plate for teatime.

Mini Blueberry Tarts with Lemon Curd

Mini Blueberry Tarts with Lemon Curd are an easy, French-inspired teatime treat or summer dessert with 3 ingredients and made in 30 minutes.

Mini Blueberry Tarts

Closeup view of Glazed Strawberry Baked Donut

Strawberry Baked Donuts Recipe

This incredibly delicious, super easy Baked Strawberry Donut recipe is packed with fresh strawberries, dipped in strawberry glaze, and so tender and moist they almost melt in your mouth.

Baked Strawberry Donuts

A plate of pink macarons with cream filling, made from a delightful macaron recipe, is displayed alongside a pink rose on a decorative white tray.

Strawberry Macarons Recipe

Learn how to make easy strawberry macarons - irresistibly light, chewy, and delicious! And perfect for teatime or gifting!

Strawberry Macarons Recipe

Lemon Crinkle Cookies

Lemon Crinkle Cookies are sweet and soft and pillowy... and utterly delicious. Made with fresh lemon juice and zest, and then tossed in powdered sugar that "crinkles" as they bake, these cookies are a favorite. And perfect for the holidays-- or any time of the year!

Lemon Crinkle Cookies

Lemon Biscotti with Almonds and Vanilla

Dunkable cookies, familiarly known as biscotti, as you know, are coffee cafe favorites. Lemon Biscotti with Almonds and Vanilla is a seasonal favorite I love to make this time of year.

Lemon Biscotti

More Mother's Day Recipe Collections

If you're planning to make something special for mom, here are a few ideas, or explore our entire Mother's Day recipe collection from breakfast and brunch to dinner, afternoon tea, and more.

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