25 Mother’s Day Cakes That Look Just as Sweet as They Taste
Baked with extra love, of course.
Over the years, you may have picked up a thing or two from Mom in the kitchen. Maybe she taught you how to frost a cake, sneak a taste of the batter, or tell when something is done without setting a timer because moms just know these things. Ree Drummond has a sweet story like that, too: Her famous chocolate sheet cake came from her mother-in-law after she got engaged to Ladd—and she’s been making it for her family ever since!
Of course, you don’t need a passed-down family recipe to make Mom feel special. One of these beautiful Mother’s Day cakes will do the trick! Go bright and springy with a lemon poppy seed cake, lean into strawberry season with a fresh berry-filled dessert, or make a chocolate cake if Mom believes cocoa belongs in every celebration. Hard to argue with her there. Either way, you can't go wrong treating her to one of these Mother's Day desserts.
If you aren't quite a cake baker, the good news is that plenty of these cakes are easy to decorate. Just follow a few tips for frosting cakes, and she'll be so impressed. If you want to provide a whole spread, bake a batch of Mother's Day cookies or cupcakes to go along with your cake. Just don't forget to give Mom the first and biggest slice—she deserves it!
3-Ingredient Mini Layer Cakes
A tiny cake feels special before you even take a bite! These little beauties start with a big shortcut, which means you can spend less time fussing with batter and more time making them pretty. Add lemon curd, whipped topping, and a raspberry on top, and Mom gets her own personal dessert!
Get Ree’s 3-Ingredient Mini Layer Cakes recipe.
Lemon Raspberry Cake
Lemon and raspberry are such a happy pair, especially for Mother’s Day. The cake layers are bright and tender, the frosting is soft pink and fruity, and the jam in the middle gives every slice a little surprise. It looks lovely on a cake stand, but it still feels homemade in the sweetest way.
Get the Lemon Raspberry Cake recipe.
Daffodil Cake
This cake is sunshine in dessert form! The yellow and white swirls come from a mix of sponge cake and angel food cake, so it’s light, airy, and just right after a big Mother’s Day brunch. The lemon glaze drips down the sides in the prettiest way, and the name alone makes it feel like spring.
Get the Daffodil Cake recipe.
Strawberry and Cream Sheet Cake
A sheet cake is always a good idea when the whole family is coming over. This one has strawberries in the cake and more on top, so the berry flavor really comes through. The cream cheese frosting keeps it sweet and soft, and you can slice it straight from the pan. (Mom gets the first piece, naturally!)
Get Ree's Strawberry and Cream Sheet Cake recipe.
Lemon Meringue Cheesecake
Can’t decide between cheesecake and lemon meringue pie? This dessert solves that very important problem. It has a creamy cheesecake layer, a sunny lemon topping, and a fluffy toasted meringue piled on top.
Get the Lemon Meringue Cheesecake recipe.
Tiramisu Cake
Any java-loving mom will appreciate this cake inspired by tiramisu. The strong coffee flavor and light mascarpone frosting are such a dreamy combination. It's great for lunch, mid-day, or after dinner!
Get the Tiramisu Cake recipe.
Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake
One of the best things about spring is rhubarb, so what better way to celebrate mom than with a seasonal dessert. It's naturally pink, so it can't get more mom-themed than that!
Get the Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake recipe.
Chocolate Pound Cake
Sometimes, all you need is a simple pound cake to make the day even sweeter. And when it's chocolate covered in vanilla bean glaze, she'll want to have more than one slice.
Get Ree's Chocolate Pound Cake recipe.
Pink Lemonade Sheet Cake
This lemony cake is topped with a cute pink glaze that's made with strawberry jelly and fresh lemon juice. Crushed freeze-dried strawberries on top add an extra burst of flavor.
Get Ree's Pink Lemonade Sheet Cake recipe.
Marble Cake
If Mom likes chocolate and vanilla, give her the best of both worlds with a marble cake! It's also topped with a slightly tangy yet perfectly sweet glaze.
Get the Marble Cake recipe.
Lemon Poppy Seed Sheet Cake
This citrusy treat will feed a crowd. It's packed with fresh lemon and lots of poppy seeds, both in the batter and the glaze, giving each bite a balanced texture and bright flavor.
Get the Lemon Poppy Seed Sheet Cake recipe.
Berry Chantilly Cake
Layers of delicate vanilla cake filled with fresh berries and fluffy mascarpone cream: No wonder it's such a popular cake at Whole Foods! Skip the store-bought kind and make it yourself.
Get the Berry Chantilly Cake recipe.
Oreo Cheesecake
If she love Oreos, you have to make her this cheesecake! The filling is stuffed with tons of chocolaty, cream-filled cookies. The crust is made of Oreos, too, plus chocolate ganache, whipped cream, and more cookies on top.
Get the Oreo Cheesecake recipe.
Jello Cake
Mom is sure to feel nostalgic when she sees this retro cake! The swirls of dye and white chocolate whipped cream are just as fun now as they were back in the day.
Get the Jello Cake recipe.
Chocolate Raspberry Cake
Homemade gifts are the best gifts, and this scratch-made chocolate raspberry cake is the best gift of all. There's fresh berries between the layers and on top of this stunning cake.
Get the Chocolate Raspberry Cake recipe.
Chocolate Lava Cake
Bake a cake just for Mom with this individual lava cake that's made in a ramekin. Once she reaches the molten center, she's sure to be impressed.
Get the Chocolate Lava Cake recipe.
Hummingbird Cake
This classic cake is loaded with warm spices, pineapple, and banana, and topped thick swoops of cream cheese frosting. No wonder it's a comfort food favorite!
Get the Hummingbird Cake recipe.
Lemon Cake
Not only does this cake have a ton of citrusy flavor in the batter, but the buttercream frosting is also made with lemon zest and lemon juice.
Get the Lemon Cake recipe.
No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake
This cheesecake uses a secret supermarket ingredient to make it fluffy and sweet: strawberry Jell-O. It gives it extra flavor and added structure, so you don't need the oven.
Get the No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake recipe.
Coconut Layer Cake
This fluffy coconut layer cake will impress mom (and the whole family)! The best part is that you cover the cake in shredded coconut so the decorating is super easy.
Get Ree's Coconut Layer Cake recipe.
Edna Mae's Sour Cream Pancakes
Homemade Lemonade
Peaches and Cream Shortcakes
Strawberry Pavlova
