37 Mother’s Day Cakes That’ll Make Mama Swoon
There’s only one correct response to a mother’s claim that she doesn’t want gifts: one of our best Mother’s Day cake recipes—and time with you. We’ve gathered a few of our favorite options to consider baking for the mom who means the most to you. Maybe she’s the type to crave something not too sweet to wrap up a brunch, or something with nuts or fruit to go with tea. Or maybe your Mom only wants cake if it’s chocolate cake. Below you’ll find all the Mother’s Day cake ideas you need, even if you’ve you’re only able to “share a slice” from afar while you chat on the phone.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou2/37Tahini Chiffon Cake With Burnt Honey Cream and Poached Rhubarb
We’ve published many, many cake recipes over the years, but this small-group 6-inch number is still a favorite. The fluffiness factor on this cake is so-light-it-could-float, but you’ll add a touch of egg yolk for richness. The sesame seed coating adds a bonus level of crunch.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food styling by Micah Marie Morton3/37Easy Coffee Cake
Invite the whole family over for a Mother’s Day brunch, cook some bacon in the oven, make your signature scrambled eggs, and slice up this simple, no-mixer-required crumb-topped cake. They’ll wonder how you made it look so easy.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson5/37Baked Alaska Saint Pierre
Your mom has flair. She brings the drama. Make sure your Mother’s Day dessert does the same.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Kate Schmidt6/37Angel Food Cake
This soft pillow of a cake gets its tender crumb from whipped egg whites, cream of tartar, and cake flour, which is finer and less prone to forming gluten than all-purpose flour. Decorate with whipped cream and fresh berries—or edible flowers if you prefer.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne7/37Super-Moist Yellow Cake With Rich Chocolate Frosting
Really good yellow cake is worthy of a special day. Making it right means not creaming your butter and sugar together at the start.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich9/37Anytime Lemon Cake
You could double this easy cake recipe to make a lemon layer cake, or swap the pan to turn it into fresh, springy cupcakes.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Stevie Stewart10/37Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake
Dress up Mom’s favorite (cheesecake, duh) with a homemade raspberry swirl and a graham cracker crust enriched with a touch of nutty brown butter.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich12/37Louisiana Crunch Cake
If Mama just loves coconut desserts, this Louisiana take on pound cake is perfect for her.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell14/37Black Forest Cake
This gorgeous chocolate-cherry cake uses kirsch two ways: in the cake-soaking syrup and to preserve the sour cherries that get sandwiched between each layer.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich15/37Philly Fluff Cake
A beloved staple of local bakeries in Long Island and New Jersey, this cake gets remarkable balance of richness and lightness from cream cheese, butter, and shortening.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton16/37Daffodil Cake
This cloud-like spring cake, a Depression-era riff on angel food, doesn’t need buttercream frosting, just a big dollop of whipped cream and some smashed macerated strawberries.
Photo by Andrew Purcell, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Carrie Purcell17/37Coconut–Key Lime Sheet Cake
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele18/37Pistachio Cake
Bought Mom a pretty new mug or a stylish teapot as a Mother’s Day gift? She’ll love lingering with a hot drink and a slice of this nutty cake.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova19/37Flourless Chocolate Cake
When nothing but chocolate will do, nothing but this classic Gourmet dessert recipe will suffice.
Photo and Food Styling by Joseph De Leo20/37Backyard Citrus Upside-Down Cake
The natural pectin in the citrus, combined with the sugar, creates a pudding-like upside-down layer similar to a buttery marmalade. You can make this Mother’s Day recipe with lemons or any other citrus you have around.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele21/37Classic Bundt Cake
Break out your fanciest bundt pan for this easy recipe, and serve with lemon curd or whipped cream.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton22/37Cardamom Basque Cheesecake
It’s easy to overbake a Basque cheesecake because you’re trying to get it to brown properly. But adding a bit of honey will give you gorgeous caramelization without cooking the interior too much.
Photo by Squire Fox24/37Clementine Pound Cake
With its zesty aroma and chocolate-honey glaze, this cake is a favorite from legendary baker Cheryl Day.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova26/37Lane Cake
Boozy, nutty Lane Cake—a Southern specialty—brings in pecans and bourbon or brandy to great effect. Bake it the Saturday before Mother’s Day—it tastes even better after an overnight rest.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle27/37Rhubarb-Pistachio Bundt Cake With Rose Glaze
Rosewater adds a subtle aroma to this rhubarb-pistachio bundt cake. Rose petals add a pretty garnish but read up on edible flowers before heading out to the garden.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova29/377UP Cake
The carbonation of the soda acts as a leavener by adding bubbles to the batter of this nostalgic cake, while its flavor gives the cake a citrusy backbone.
Photo by Peter Cassidy30/37Prinsesstårta
How did the iconic Swedish princess cake become a signature dessert of San Francisco? Read the tale, then bake your own rendition for Mom.
Photo by Linda Xiao31/37One-Bowl Ricotta Olive Oil Pound Cake
You can’t beat the rich moisture that olive oil adds to this exceedingly easy cake. And with just one bowl required, no one will be left with a mountain of dishes on Sunday night.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson32/37Classic Carrot-Coconut Cake
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens34/37East 62nd Street Lemon Cake
Does your mother collect old cookbooks and food magazines? Honor her hobby with this lemony cake from baking icon Maida Heatter.
Photo by Massimo Pessina & Blandine Boyer, Food Styling by Eric Kayser35/37Fraisier
Thinking about strawberry shortcakes but want to get a little more elaborate? Making this beautiful cake means you don’t need a floral centerpiece on the table. This strawberry dessert needs to be refrigerated overnight, so you’ll want to plan ahead.
Photo by Peter Frank Edwards.36/37Spiced Honey Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
Need a cake for the gluten-free moms in your life? This single-layer beauty is flavored with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and vanilla and topped with a coconutty cream cheese frosting.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Summer Moore37/37Raspberry Cake With Whipped Cream Filling
Some Mother’s Day cakes are just guaranteed to steal the show, and this raspberry-filled chiffon cake falls into that category. The whipped cream gets rich color and flavor from freeze-dried raspberries, ground in a spice mill or food processor.
