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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.

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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

OATMEAL CREME PIE CAKE 🙌🏼 I’m always thinking abou OATMEAL CREME PIE CAKE 🙌🏼 I’m always thinking about this cake during back-to-school season because Oatmeal Creme Pies take me right back to my elementary school days! It’s layers of tender brown sugar oatmeal cake with the gooiest homemade marshmallow filling and tastes just like the real deal in cake form – perfect party cake for an Oatmeal Creme Pie lover! 

Full recipe linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/oatmeal-creme-pie-cake/ 
 
#oatmealcremepie #vintagecake #layercake #partycake #cakedecorating
NO-BAKE BISCOFF CHEESECAKE ✨this is the perfect EA NO-BAKE BISCOFF CHEESECAKE ✨this is the perfect EASY no-bake dessert for Fall and I cannot get over the incredible spiced caramel flavor!! I added Biscoff cookie butter to my favorite no-bake cheesecake base, piled it onto a Biscoff cookie crust, then topped it with a melted cookie butter drip + tons of crunchy cookie crumbs.  
 
🤎Full recipe linked in my bio + at https://sugarandsparrow.com/no-bake-biscoff-cheesecake/ 
 
BISCOFF CRUST: 
1 8.8oz package Biscoff cookies (250g) 
1/3 Cup (75g) unsalted butter, melted 
 
FILLING: 
16 Oz (452g) full-fat brick-style cream cheese, room temp 
1/4 Cup (50g) powdered sugar 
3/4 Cup (210g) creamy Biscoff cookie butter 
1 tsp ground cinnamon 
1 tsp pure vanilla extract 
1 Cup (240ml) heavy whipping cream, cold 
 
INSTRUCTIONS: 
1. Combine the Biscoff crust ingredients until the mixture resembles wet sand, then press firmly into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.  
2. In a large bowl, whip the cream cheese until smooth, then add the powdered sugar, cookie butter, cinnamon, and vanilla and mix until smooth.  
3. In a separate medium bowl, whip the heavy whipping cream to stiff peaks, then fold into the cream cheese mixture until no streaks remain. 
4. Add the filling on top of the Biscoff crust, cover, and refrigerate for at least 8 hours. 
5. Once set, top with melted cookie butter and crushed Biscoff cookies. 
 
#biscoff #biscoffcheesecake #nobakecheesecake #biscoffcake #nobake 
A mini pumpkin spice latte cake to celebrate my SI A mini pumpkin spice latte cake to celebrate my SIL 🥳 two 6-inch layers of spiced pumpkin cake with the most delicious coffee buttercream + a little vintage piping for good measure ☕️ making a birthday cake for my family and friends will always be my favorite love language!!

👩🏽‍🍳 Recipes: perfect pumpkin layer cake + coffee buttercream (both found at sugarandsparrow.com) or you can find a dedicated PSL cake recipe in my book! 
✨ Piping Tips: @wiltoncakes tip 3 for the writing + tip 4B for the borders
☕️ Garnish: chocolate covered espresso beans

#pumpkincake #birthdaycake #pumpkinspicelatte #minicake #cakedecorating
BROWN BUTTER CREAM CHEESE FROSTING 🤎🧈 brown butter BROWN BUTTER CREAM CHEESE FROSTING 🤎🧈 brown butter is the KEY to making cream cheese frosting even better! You get the tang of cream cheese but with rich, nutty caramelized notes of brown butter and it’s HEAVENLY on any Fall cake 🙌🏼 I paired with my carrot cake recipe here but it’s also incredible with spice cake, pumpkin cake, chocolate cake, and more! 

Full recipe + all my favorite cake pairing suggestions in my bio and here: https://sugarandsparrow.com/brown-butter-cream-cheese-frosting/

BROWN BUTTER CREAM CHEESE FROSTING 
YIELD: 3.5 Cups  
 
INGREDIENTS 
1/2 Cup (113g) unsalted butter 
8 Oz (226g) full-fat brick-style cream cheese, room temperature NOT the spread 
4 Cups (480g) powdered sugar 
1 tsp pure vanilla extract 
pinch of salt, or to taste 
 
INSTRUCTIONS 
1. Brown the butter: Add the butter into a large frying pan and cook over medium heat until the butter melts, stirring occasionally. Continue cooking for 3-5 minutes while stirring constantly. First it will foam, then bubble as little white particles of milk solids separate, then the white specks will caramelize and turn medium-brown and smell deliciously nutty. Remove from heat, transfer to a glass container, and cool until it re-solidifies and is the consistency of softened butter (about 45 minutes in fridge).  
2. Add the cooled brown butter into the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and add the cream cheese. Mix on medium-high until fluffy and light in color, 5 min, scraping down the bowl and paddle as needed. 
3. Turn the mixer to low speed and add the powdered sugar a few cups at a time, scraping down the bowl and paddle after mixing in each addition. Add the vanilla and salt and continue mixing on low speed until smooth and uniform. 
 
#brownbutter #creamcheesefrosting #creamcheese #buttercream #cakedecorating
MILKY WAY CAKE 🍫✨this tastes JUST like a Milky Way MILKY WAY CAKE 🍫✨this tastes JUST like a Milky Way candy bar, but in cake form! It’s layers of decadent chocolate cake filled with homemade chocolate nougat and gooey caramel, then topped with chocolate buttercream. A MUST try if you love Milky Way 😍
 
Comment RECIPE and I’ll send it straight to your inbox or find it at https://sugarandsparrow.com/milky-way-cake-recipe/ 
⁣ 
#milkywaycake #caramel #chocolatecake #chocolatecaramelcake #cakesofinstagram

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