Mother's Day Recipes

Staff Picks

Easy Basic Pancakes

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Nothing says "weekend" like homemade pancakes for breakfast. Our easy recipe will help you whip them up in less than 30 minutes. Making pancake batter from scratch is so simple that you'll wonder why you never did it before!

Vanilla Sponge Cake with Strawberry-Meringue Buttercream

Tall and light-as-air, this three-layer chiffon cake is a strawberry lover's delight. There are three pounds of berries sandwiched between its layers, mixed into the ethereal whipped frosting, and in a sugar-dusted pile on top.

Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake

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Everyone needs a delicious coffee cake recipe in their repertoire, and this cinnamon streusel coffee cake recipe is the perfect option. Meaning "something strewn" in Old German, streusel is easy to throw together -- and then to throw on top of this sour-cream coffee cake. The sweet glaze in the recipe is the perfect coffee cake topping.

Carrot Cake

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Beneath this towering yet unpretentious appearance lies multiple layers of moist, mildly spiced cake that are flecked with carrots and pecans and enveloped by a generous coating of cream cheese frosting.

Cream-Cheese Pound Cakes

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For best results, bake these cakes at least a day before serving. Store, wrapped in plastic, for up to three days at room temperature, or freeze for up to three months.

Vanilla Glaze for Cinnamon-Bun Bites

Make this glaze while the Cinnamon-Bun Bites are baking. Recipe adapted with permission from "Williams-Sonoma Family Meals: Creating Traditions in the Kitchen," copyright 2009 by Maria Helm Sinskey and Williams-Sonoma, published by Weldon Owen, San Francisco.

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cheesecake with Chocolate Glaze

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This cheesecake is a fresh take on a familiar combination. It's not too sweet and has a voluptuous consistency. The glossy chocolate glaze goes on like satin.

Buttermilk Waffles

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Make these fluffy waffles on the weekend for a treat the whole family will enjoy.

Spinach and Gruyere Quiches

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An outstanding quiche relies on a few simple elements: a creamy egg custard, buttery homemade crust, and flavorful cheese and vegetables. This family-friendly brunch recipe delivers all three.

Lemon Poppy-Seed Tea Cake

This sweet Mother's Day treat comes to us from reader Angie M. Biggin of Lyons, Illinois. Serve this easy Lemon Poppy-Seed Tea Cake along with other afternoon-tea desserts.

Ganache

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This ganache recipe (which can easily be multiplied) is the base for Apricot and Ganache Tartlets, Chocolate Cakes with Ganache Glaze, Mini Chocolate Whoopie Pies, Chocolate Cupcakes with Whipped Ganache, and Peanut Butter Truffles. For step-by-step photos, see our handy 101.

Coddled Eggs

Coddling is a gentle steaming method that yields a tender egg. The eggs are cooked individually in coddling cups-ceramic cups with screw-on lids available at kitchen-supply stores. Four-ounce baby-food jars can be used as well. Garnish with chopped herbs, onion, or cooked bacon.

Inspiration and Ideas

Family Recipes from Big Martha, Martha Stewart's Mother

Martha Stewart's love of cooking came from her mother, also named Martha. Try one of these cherished recipes from Martha's mom, Mrs. Kostyra.

Our Most Beautiful and Delicious Cake and Cupcake Recipes for Mother's Day

Mother's Day Brunch Recipes for Breakfast in Bed or a Feast at the Table

Test Kitchen's Favorite Buttermilk Pancakes

Embellished Wreath Cookies

Limoncello

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Triple-Chocolate Mousse Cakes

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With three shades of chocolate, these cakes are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the sweet tooth.

All Mother's Day Recipes

Plum Cocktails

These refreshing cocktails are made with gin and either yellow or red plums.

Tomato-Onion Casserole

If you're a fan the juicy flavor of roasted tomatoes, this easy brunch dish is for you.

Donn's Waffles

Martha cited this recipe from Donn Chappellet as one of her favorite breakfasts. The egg whites cause the waffles to puff up and then fall quickly, so serve each piece as it finishes cooking.

Zucchini and Tomato Frittata

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Serve this hearty egg dish at breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Yeast-Raised Pancakes

Flapjacks turn fancy with this yeast batter, which gives them a brioche-like texture.

Croque Madame Sandwiches

Your typical grilled cheese just got a tres chic update thanks to the addition of ham, nutty gruyere, and a fried egg.

Potato-Onion Frittata

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This substantial frittata is an all-in-one breakfast that includes eggs, potatoes, and sharp cheddar cheese.

Quiche Lorraine

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Perhaps the most famous quiche, Lorraine is named for its region of origin in France. The classic recipe contains no cheese, only eggs, cream, and thick chunks of slab bacon, perfect for a family-friendly brunch.

New York-Style Crumb Cake

European immigrants made this confection -- which has large, crisp crumbs on top -- a New York City coffee-shop favorite. An optional layer of jam between the batter and topping adds a fruity component.

Baby Carrots with Spring Onions

Baby carrots are glazed in a white-wine-and-butter sauce and served with spring onions in this delicious side.

Cinnamon-Bun Bites

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Serve these bites directly from the baking dish, or unmold them and place the whole mound on a serving dish or in a basket. Recipe adapted with permission from "Williams-Sonoma Family Meals: Creating Traditions in the Kitchen," copyright 2009 by Maria Helm Sinskey and Williams-Sonoma, published by Weldon Owen, San Francisco.

Mini Cheesecake Jars

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Single-serving cheesecakes made in glass jars are adorable and easy mini alternatives to their full-size cousins. They bake in just half an hour and can be cooked a few days ahead of time.

Pistachio Cannoli Cake

This dramatic four-layer dessert is inspired by the flavors of Sicilian-style cannoli, which is stuffed with ricotta, chopped chocolate, and candied orange zest.

Blueberry-Cornmeal Pancakes

This batter is thicker than normal, thanks to the addition of cornmeal. The bubbles that usually indicate when to flip a pancake will not form, so flip when the edges start to set.

Rhubarb-Apple-Almond Cobbler

This rhubarb and apple cobbler is perfect for kids to make on Mother's Day: The steps are few and easy to follow, and it is attractive yet requires no real decorating—you just drop the dough over the top, brush on heavy cream, add sliced almonds, and bake.

Strawberry Cobbler

The filling for these berry cobblers is made with basic ingredients like fresh strawberries, cornstarch for thickness, sugar for sweetness, and a touch of lemon juice. It's transferred to a baking dish and topped with flaky biscuits for the ultimate summer dessert. It's a tart twist on the southern classic.

Grape Juice Squares

Delicious grape squares are easy to make from grape juice and gelatin.

Vanilla Madeleines

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The recipe is also a good base for any number of flavors. If using a nonstick pan, which heats up faster than a traditional one, go by the shorter baking time in step 4. Click here for 21-century variations on the classic.

No-Bake Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust

Not all cheesecakes are baked; this eggless version is just cream cheese, lemon juice, sugar, and heavy cream over a gingersnap crust. Still, it's so rich that one cake is enough for a dozen slices.

Potato Waffles

Closely related to potato pancakes, the potato waffle has one advantage -- it reheats exceptionally well and therefore can be made in advance. Serve with your favorite brunch foods, such as soft-boiled eggs and poached asparagus.

French Almond Macarons

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These classic French cookies have a crisp exterior and a slightly chewy center. Make all three versions for a festive dessert buffet.

Rainbow-Chard Quiche

Chard leaves turn rich and tender when cooked; here, the mild stems provide a vivid topping for a brunch quiche. To ensure that the phyllo dough does not become dry and brittle, thaw it completely in the refrigerator; keep it covered with a towel as you work.

Yeasted Cheese-and-Sour-Cherry Coffee Cake

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In a nod to the cheese Danish, this coiled loaf contains swirls of cream cheese and cherries.

Triple Decker PB & J Tea Sandwiches

Triple-decker peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches are an old favorite made into something special for your next party.

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