20 Mother's Day Cupcakes To Show Your Mom How Much You Care
Dessert is the best way to her heart.
We can all agree that when you’re looking to celebrate, nothing beats a showstopper of a homemade cake, particularly on Mother’s Day. But what if you’re not the strongest baker, or are more of a store-bought box mix sort of person? Cupcakes to the rescue! These delicious, easy-to-make cupcake recipes are easier to feed a crowd than a cake, and are just as delicious and special. We've got chocolate, vanilla, fruity options, and more here to inspire your creativity this Mother’s Day.
If you’re thinking of cupcakes as just a basic cake base topped with matching frosting, have we got news for you. Yes, vanilla cupcakes with vanilla frosting are classic, but there are SO many more options out there. Our favorite way to mix up our flavors is to take inspiration from other desserts. You can stuff other desserts inside your cupcakes, like we did in our coconut cream cupcakes, our ice cream-stuffed cupcakes, our cannoli cupcakes, or our cheesecake-stuffed cupcakes. You could take flavor inspiration from other desserts, like we did in our Dole Whip cupcakes, our s’mores cupcakes, our carrot cake cupcakes, or our Neapolitan cupcakes. You can also take ideas from your favorite drinks, like in our margarita cupcakes, our pink lemonade cupcakes, our Moscow mule cupcakes, or our bahama mama cupcakes. Dig deep into your mom’s favorite things, then use these as inspiration to turn them into the perfect treat for her.
Cupcakes don’t even have to be made of cake. 🤯 We’re big fans of turning larger, more involved desserts like pavlovas or cheesecakes into mini versions and calling them cupcakes. Are our lemon-blueberry mini cheesecakes or our pavlova cupcakes with raspberry sauce true cupcakes? Maybe not. Will they be incredibly delicious and beloved? Absolutely!
Want more Mother’s Day ideas? For moms with a sweet tooth, check out our favorite Mother’s Day cakes and desserts. For more Sunday meal inspo, check out our top Mother’s Day brunch and dinner recipes too.
Cheesecake-Stuffed Chocolate Cupcakes
Can't decide between making chocolate cake and cheesecake for your mom this year? Now you don't have to! We went with nonpareil sprinkles on chocolate frosting, but feel free to get creative with your decorations here.
Pavlova Cupcakes With Raspberry Sauce
Pavlovas have a crispy exterior with a soft, marshmallow-like interior, and these mini ones made into cupcakes are ideal for serving to your mom this Mother's Day. Dollop with a little whipped cream and raspberry sauce for the perfect bite all spring long.
Coconut Cream Cupcakes
Inspired by the beloved coconut cream pie, these stuffed cupcakes have all the classic components of the original dessert, sans pie crust. You (and your mom!) won't miss it though, because in its place are our soft and fluffy vanilla cupcakes. 😍
Get the Coconut Cream Cupcakes recipe.
Bahama Mama Cupcakes
Based on the classic summery cocktail made with multiple rums and tropical juices, these cupcakes are the next best thing to sending your mom on a tropical beach vacation. 😎
Get the Bahama Mama Cupcakes recipe.
Lemon-Blueberry Mini Cheesecakes
Even though these cheesecakes might be miniature, they deliver maximum lemon blueberry flavor. Bonus: no finicky water bath!
Dole Whip Cupcakes
Did your mom ever take you to Disney as a kid, waiting with you in long lines, taking photos of you with your fave characters, and holding you on her shoulders for the parades? Show her your appreciation with these cupcakes inspired by Disney's best-ever pineapple treat, Dole Whip.
Get the Dole Whip Cupcakes recipe.
Cheesecake Cupcakes
Who doesn't love an ultra-creamy slice of cheesecake? This mini version is super-easy to make (no water bath!), but just as delicious as its full-size counterpart. Feel free to swap out the fruit for whatever your mom likes, or leave it out entirely and top with whipped cream and chocolate curls instead.
Get the Cheesecake Cupcakes recipe.
Cannoli Cupcakes
Let's be real: The filling of the cannoli is the best part. That's why these cupcakes are so amazing—they're stuffed to the brim with the good stuff.
Get the Cannoli Cupcakes recipe.
Mimosa Cupcakes
These Champagne and orange cupcakes are the perfect addition to Mother's Day brunch. They're also a great way to finish off an opened bottle of sparkling wine afterward too.
Get the Mimosa Cupcakes recipe.
Margarita Cupcakes
The fun in these margarita-inspired cupcakes is in the frosting. You'll add a healthy pour of tequila to the bowl with butter, powdered sugar, and lime juice and beat until fluffy. It adds a bright and bold kick that balances the sweetness and creaminess (without giving your mom a major hangover).
Get the Margarita Cupcakes recipe.
Neapolitan Cupcakes
If your mom can't decide what kind of cupcakes she'd like, then this is the recipe for you! It has strawberries + chocolate + vanilla, all in one beautiful little package.
Get the Neapolitan Cupcakes recipe.
Carrot Cake Cupcakes
There’s not too many desserts that can beat out our love for carrot cake. A perfect spring dessert, this classic recipe truly never disappoints with its warming, lightly spiced cake and rich and decadent cream cheese frosting. The only thing better? Shareable, bite-sized carrot cake cupcakes.
Get the Carrot Cake Cupcakes recipe.
Boston Creme Cupcakes
When you don't have time to grab or make Boston Cream doughnuts or pie, make these cupcakes instead. They've got everything your mom loves about the OG, but are way easier (and cuter!).
Get the Boston Creme Cupcakes recipe.
Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes
Want to level up from box mix for your mom this year, but aren't sure where to start? These vanilla cupcakes are a great jumping off point (may we recommend starting off by swapping in our chocolate or cream cheese frosting?).
Get the Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes recipe.
S'mores Cupcakes
Is your mom the outdoorsy type? If so, we bet she's into s'mores. Give her everything she loves about them—the perfect combo of graham crackers, toasty marshmallows, and melty chocolate— with these pretty s'mores cupcakes.
Get the S'mores Cupcakes recipe.
Moscow Mule Cupcakes
To make these cupcakes really feel like a Moscow Mule in dessert form, we added ginger beer to the cupcake batter. It's an easy hack that lets you skip the eggs, oil, and water that the box calls for and gives you all of the gingery flavor your mom loves. Don't worry, we put the vodka in the frosting. 😉
Get the Moscow Mule Cupcakes recipe.
Ice Cream-Stuffed Cupcakes
Nothing beats the combo of ice cream and cake, and these cupcakes have it ALL. We went with chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream here, but feel free to switch it up.
Get the Ice Cream-Stuffed Cupcakes recipe.
Succulent Cupcakes
These pretty cupcakes look so intricate, but they're actually beyond easy to make. Once you master the technique, turn it into a colorful garden (and try it out on our sunflower cupcakes too!).
Get the Succulent Cupcakes recipe.
Moscato Cupcakes
If your mom is a big moscato wine fan, these are the sweet treat for her. These are a sweet treat for adults only. Want even more moscato inspo? Check out our giggle juice cocktail or white wine sangria too.
Get the Moscato Cupcakes recipe.
Pink Lemonade Cupcakes
These pink lemonade-inspired treats would be so cute for an outdoor Mother's Day brunch! Sweet strawberry and tart lemon are seriously perfect together.
Get the Pink Lemonade Cupcakes recipe.
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
