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Mother’s Day Dessert Ideas

May 2, 2026 · In: Featured, Recipes, Seasonal, Spring

Mother’s Day isn’t complete without a delicious dessert for mom to indulge in! I’ve collected 30+ of my favorite recipes you can use to celebrate your mama – desserts that are easy to make ahead like S’mores Icebox Cake and No-Bake Cheesecake, small batch cake recipes for more intimate family celebrations, and classics that my own mother loved to bake like Berry Crisp.

mothers day dessert ideas

A quick note about dietary restrictions: I have a small but growing collection of gluten-free dessert recipes, eggless cake recipes, and vegan dessert recipes in case you need them!

  • Gluten-Free Desserts
  • Eggless Cake Recipes
  • Vegan Cake Desserts

Mother’s Day Dessert Ideas

strawberry cupcakes recipe with strawberry frosting

Strawberry Cupcakes

These cupcakes are delightful and bursting with natural strawberry flavor! They are a labor of love (you’ll have to cook some strawberries) but worth it for mom.

Get the Recipe

no churn vanilla ice cream berry crisp toppings

No-Churn Berry Crisp Ice Cream

Inspired by my love for berry crisp a la mode (and how it reminds me of my mom!), this berry crisp ice cream is smooth no-churn vanilla ice cream with ribbons of berry filling and buttery oat streusel clusters! 

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strawberry swirled no-bake cheesecake topped with strawberries

No-Bake Marbled Strawberry Cheesecake

Tangy no-bake cheesecake with swirls of beautiful strawberry reduction, set on a buttery graham cracker crust. Stunning, delicious, and perfect for making ahead!

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strawberry lemon cake recipe

Strawberry Lemon Cake

Soft and zesty lemon cake layers with bright strawberry buttercream that’s bursting with authentic flavor – this is the BEST strawberry lemon cake and it’s unbelievably easy to make.

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no bake cheesecake recipe by sugar and sparrow

The Perfect No-Bake Cheesecake

Velvety smooth, creamy filling that has all the traditional flavor of cheesecake (without any baking!) set on a buttery graham cracker crust. This one is perfect for making ahead!

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hummingbird cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

Hummingbird Cake

As a mom, I can attest that this cake is so comforting! Stick-to-your-fork moist, perfectly spiced, and has incredible flavor between the ripe banana, crushed pineapple, and toasted pecans.

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fruit pizza with berries recipe

Berry Fruit Pizza

A giant chewy sugar cookie with cream cheese frosting, dressed up with fresh berries for a dessert that will impress your mom big time! It’s quick, easy, and so fun to decorate.

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easy smores icebox cake recipe

Easy Smores Icebox Cake

Layers of graham crackers (which soften into a cakey consistency), easy chocolate ganache, and pillowy soft homemade marshmallow meringue that gets toasted on top! An easy make ahead dessert that mom will obsess over.

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lemon cupcakes with lemon frosting

Lemon Cupcakes

These lemon cupcakes are light and refreshing, perfectly fluffy, bursting with natural lemon flavor, and irresistible topped with lemon cream cheese buttercream.

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berry crisp recipe with vanilla ice cream

Berry Crisp

This always reminds me of my mom – she made it all the time growing up and I think of her every time I make it! A warm dish of mixed berry crisp topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is so comforting.

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small batch raspberry chocolate cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

Small Batch Raspberry Chocolate Cake

Decadent chocolate cake with delicious raspberry buttercream and a beautiful chocolate ganache drip, perfectly portioned for 2-4 people! Perfect size for a small family celebration.

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lemon blueberry cupcakes with lemon cream cheese frosting on a cupcake stand

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes

Super soft yet moist lemon cupcakes with fresh blueberries perfectly suspended inside and irresistible lemon cream cheese frosting. These are always a hit and I have a layer cake version too!

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sugar and sparrow small batch strawberry cake

Small Batch Strawberry Cake

The perfect amount of strawberry cake for 2-4 people and bursting with natural strawberry flavor! You can bake this as a mini 4-inch layer cake OR a single layer 6-inch cake.

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4th of july desserts no bake

Small Batch Strawberry Cake

The dreamiest cookies and cream cheesecake made without any baking! Rich and creamy french vanilla filling studded with Oreo cookies on a delicious Oreo crust.

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strawberry crunch ice cream cake recipe

Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Cake

This cake is so nostalgic – any mom from the 90’s would remember a strawberry shortcake ice cream bar! This cake version is no-churn strawberry and vanilla ice cream with layers of strawberry crunch.

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berry chantilly cake recipe inspired by whole foods

Berry Chantilly Cake

Inspired by the iconic Whole Foods bakery dessert, this cake features layers of fluffy white cake, Chantilly cream frosting, and fresh berries throughout. 

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brown butter chocolate chip skillet cookie recipe

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

The ultimate chocolate chip skillet cookie made with rich brown butter! Perfectly gooey, crisp on the edges, and amazing whether served warm with ice cream or sliced at room temperature. Mom will love this!

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neapolitan ice cream cake by sugar and sparrow

Neapolitan Ice Cream Cake

Layers of delicious no-churn ice cream in classic neapolitan flavors (chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla), paired with decadent chocolate cake. Nostalgic and easy!

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chocolate chip cookie dough cake recipe with edible cookie dough

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cake

For the mom who can’t help herself to the cookie dough: soft and moist chocolate chip cookie cake, decadent brown sugar buttercream, semi-sweet chocolate ganache, and edible cookie dough!

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oreo icebox cake recipe

Easy Oreo Icebox Cake

7 layers of Oreo cookies and homemade whipped cream, refrigerated until the cookies soften into the perfect dessert consistency. Just four ingredients, easy to make, and every bite tastes like a milk-dunked Oreo.

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millionaire's cake recipe from scratch

Millionaire Cake

Inspired by a $22 slice of cake at Disneyworld, this recipe is so indulgent: decadent chocolate cake, thick caramel filling topped with shortbread crumbles, caramel buttercream, and whipped chocolate ganache frosting. Mom will feel like a millionaire!

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no-churn strawberry shortcake ice cream

No-Churn Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream

No-churn vanilla ice cream with sweetened strawberries and baked shortcake crumbles in every bite. So dreamy and easy to whip up (no ice cream maker needed)!

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small batch churro cake by sugar and sparrow

Small Batch Churro Cake

For the Disney moms (or just moms who enjoy churros), this small batch version of my churro cake recipe is soft churro-flavored cake, smooth Mexican chocolate ganache, and cinnamon-vanilla buttercream. Makes just enough to serve 2-4 people.

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smores ice cream cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

The Ultimate S’mores Ice Cream Cake

I am such a big fan of s’mores and this would be my dream mother’s day dessert! Layers of no-bake graham cracker crust, homemade hot fudge, chocolate ice cream, and toasted marshmallow ice cream.

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lemon raspberry layer cake with raspberry filling and lemon raspberry frosting

Lemon Raspberry Layer Cake

Layers of soft lemon cake with raspberries baked into each layer (and perfectly suspended!), fresh raspberry cake filling, and lemon raspberry buttercream. 

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flourless chocolate cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

Fudgy Flourless Chocolate Cake

This extra fudgy, decadent cake tastes like it came from a high brow restaurant and it’s so easy to make! It’s naturally gluten-free and will make Mother’s Day feel a little fancier.

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oatmeal creme pie cake recipe

Oatmeal Creme Pie Cake

Another nostalgic bake for any 90’s mom! Inspired by the classic after school treat, this Oatmeal Creme Pie cake is layers of deliciously moist oatmeal brown sugar cake and homemade marshmallow creme filling.

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the best snickers candy bar cake by sugar and saprrow

The Ultimate Snickers Cake

For the candy bar loving mom: layers of moist chocolate cake, chocolate peanut butter nougat, and thick peanut caramel, all wrapped up in chocolate buttercream frosting. I’ve also got a Milky Way Cake and a Twix Cake if either of those are her favorites!

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strawberry shortcake layer cake

Strawberry Shortcake Layer Cake

Layers of moist and fluffy white cake, homemade whipped cream frosting, fresh sweetened strawberries, and baked shortbread crumbs. So light and refreshing!

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small chocolate cake recipe serves 2

Small Batch Chocolate Cake

For the chocolate loving mom and perfectly portioned for 2-4 people! It’s an easy one-bowl recipe, super moist and decadent, and can be baked as a mini layer cake OR single layer 6-inch cake.

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london fog cupcake recipe with earl grey tea

London Fog Cupcakes

If your mom is a black tea lover, these cupcakes are right up her alley! They’re single serve portions of my beloved London Fog cake recipe – super soft and moist, infused with Earl Grey tea, and full of black tea vanilla flavor. 

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I hope you found the perfect Mother’s Day dessert on this list! Let me know what you make in the comments and feel free to share on Instagram. Be sure to tag @sugarandsparrowco if you post a photo – I love to see what you bake!

By: Whitney · In: Featured, Recipes, Seasonal, Spring · Tagged: mothers day

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@sugarandsparrowco

Everything I baked in June☀️I was so motivated to Everything I baked in June☀️I was so motivated to bake this month (summer flavors had me INSPIRED!) and could barely keep up with myself but I ended up publishing 7 new recipes on my website + finalized 5 more that will be up ASAP! 

Comment “JUNE” to get all the recipes that are available now:

-Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake
-Rocky Road Cupcakes (w/ homemade marshmallow creme filling!)
-Blackberry Lavender Cake
-Homemade Blackberry Filling
-Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
-Strawberry Shortcake Cookie Bars
-Berries & Cream Sheet Cake

https://sugarandsparrow.com/everything-i-baked-in-june
 
#cake #bakersofinstagram #baking #bakinglove #cakedecorating
WHIPPED CREAM CHEESE FROSTING ☁️ this easy 4-ingre WHIPPED CREAM CHEESE FROSTING ☁️ this easy 4-ingredient whipped cream frosting is deliciously light, comes together SO easily, and is stabilized with cream cheese to make it the perfect thick consistency for filling and frosting cakes and cupcakes!! It’s so good with my strawberry shortcake sheet cake and berries & cream cake and I have a feeling I’m going to be whipping it up for many more summer cakes😍

Full recipe with cake pairing suggestions at https://sugarandsparrow.com/whipped-cream-cheese-frosting/ 

INGREDIENTS 
1 Cup (8oz, 226g) full-fat brick-style cream cheese, cold
1 Cup (120g) powdered sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 Cups (600ml) heavy whipping cream, cold

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Chill the bowl of your stand mixer (or the large bowl you’ll be using with your hand mixer) into the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
2. Into the cold mixing bowl, add the cream cheese and beat on medium speed with the whisk attachment until creamy, 2 min. Add the powdered sugar and mix on low speed until mostly incorporated, then turn the mixer to medium-high speed and mix for 1 min.
3. Add the vanilla extract, then turn the mixer to medium-high speed and slowly pour in the heavy whipping cream (down the side of the bowl so it doesn’t fly everywhere). Once all the cream is added, continue mixing on medium-high for just about 30 seconds longer, keeping a close eye on the mixing bowl to watch it thicken. It should come together into a thick, silky frosting consistency at this point, where you can dip the whisk into the frosting and it holds a slight peak when you hold it upright.
4. Use the frosting immediately to decorate cakes and/or cupcakes for best results!

#whippedcreamfrosting #creamcheesefrosting #cakedecorating #whippedcream #frosting
TOP 10 4TH OF JULY DESSERTS 🎆 These are just a few TOP 10 4TH OF JULY DESSERTS 🎆 These are just a few of my favorite summer dessert recipes that will disappear at any Fourth of July celebration.

Comment “JULY” and I’ll send you all 20+ of my favorite 4th of July dessert ideas – naturally red white and blue desserts like my berries and cream cake, easy no-bake desserts, no-churn ice cream, strawberry shortcake inspired recipes, and all the treats that will go FAST at any barbecue.

https://sugarandsparrow.com/4th-of-july-desserts/

#fourthofjuly #4thofjuly #summerdessert #partycake #dessertideas
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE COOKIE BARS 🍓my hot take: str STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE COOKIE BARS 🍓my hot take: strawberry shortcake toppings on a buttery, soft sugar cookie base is WAY BETTER than traditional strawberry shortcake. I topped my favorite sugar cookie bar recipe with silky whipped cream cheese frosting + homemade strawberry sauce and now I’m ruined 😵

Full recipe is linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/strawberry-shortcake-cookie-bars/ 

SOFT SUGAR COOKIE BARS
2 Cups + 2 Tbsp (283g) all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 Cup (170g) unsalted butter, room temp
1 Cup (200g) granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (177ºC). Grease and line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang for easy release.
2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or hand mixer) cream together the butter and sugar on high speed until pale and fluffy, 2-3 min.
4. Turn the mixer to medium and add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Mix until combined, then add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until a uniform cookie dough forms.
5. Press the cookie dough into the prepared pan in an even layer, all the way to the edges. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until the edges are just starting to brown. 
6. Cool the sugar cookie bars in the pan for 30 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Top with whipped cream cheese frosting and strawberry sauce (full recipe linked in my bio!)

#strawberryshortcake #strawberries #whippedcreamfrosting #cookiebars #sugarcookies
BLACK FOREST CAKE 🍒 this is my favorite thing to m BLACK FOREST CAKE 🍒 this is my favorite thing to make during cherry season! My version is decadent chocolate cake soaked with homemade cherry syrup, fresh cherry filling, and whipped cream frosting. Top it with a chocolate ganache drip if you want to go the extra mile! 

Full recipe + decorating tutorial is linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/black-forest-cake-recipe/

PS I’m working on a sheet cake version of this recipe that’s even easier! Stay tuned.

#blackforestcake #cherrycake #chocolatecake #cherries #cakedecorating

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