21 Dessert Recipes That Made Mother’s Day Brunch End on a High Note

Brunch is great, but it’s the dessert that most people remember. These 21 dessert recipes bring the kind of finish that makes Mother’s Day feel complete. They’re sweet, simple, and just special enough to end the meal on a high note. Whether you’re baking ahead or keeping it easy, there’s something here worth saving room for.

Strawberry shortcake with brown sugar biscuits and whipped cream. — Strawberry Shortcake with Brown Sugar Biscuits. Photo credit: Ruthybelle Recipes.

Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust

A stack of three lemon bars on a plate with more lemon bars in the background. — Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Tart lemon filling on a crisp, buttery crust bakes in under an hour. The bars slice clean and offer a bright citrus flavor that cuts through anything else on the table. Each bite is smooth, sweet, and slightly sharp. They’re refreshing, simple, and always go fast.
Get the Recipe: Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust

Mini Apple Pies

Flaky mini pies filled with tender apples, chopped dates, and warm spices bake up golden in just under an hour. The crust is buttery and crisp, and the filling leans sweet and fruity without being too rich. Each pie fits in your palm but still delivers full pie flavor. A handheld dessert that makes people smile.
Get the Recipe: Mini Apple Pies

Peach Crumble Bars

Sweet peach filling layered between a buttery shortbread base and a crumb topping bakes in about 45 minutes. The bars hold their shape for slicing but melt in your mouth. You get juicy fruit, soft texture, and a bit of crunch in every bite. They’re easy to bring, share, and watch disappear.
Get the Recipe: Peach Crumble Bars

Butterscotch Peach Crisp with Fresh Peaches

Fresh peaches and a brown sugar oat topping bake into a warm, syrupy crisp in about 45 minutes. The butterscotch flavor runs through the whole dish, adding depth without being overpowering. The topping stays crunchy while the fruit softens and sweetens. Serve it warm, and it practically speaks for itself.
Get the Recipe: Butterscotch Peach Crisp with Fresh Peaches

Sugared Cranberries

Fresh cranberries, coated in a crunchy sugar shell, require 15 minutes of preparation plus drying time. They’re sweet, tart, and make a perfect contrast to rich desserts or cheese boards. The texture is crisp on the outside with a juicy burst inside. Small, but surprisingly addictive.
Get the Recipe: Sugared Cranberries

Banana Bread Muffins

Moist banana bread muffins, made with ripe bananas, eggs, and brown sugar, take approximately 30 minutes from start to finish. The texture is soft and fluffy, with a mellow sweetness that hits just the right note. They’re easy to serve and pair well with both coffee and conversation. A classic brunch treat that always gets eaten first.
Get the Recipe: Banana Bread Muffins

Air Fryer Apple Fritters

Apple cinnamon fritters on a plate with apples. — Air Fryer Apple Fritters. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Chopped apples folded into a spiced batter crisp up in the air fryer in just 20 minutes. The outside becomes golden and crunchy, while the inside remains soft and packed with fruit. A quick glaze adds a little sweetness without making them too heavy. They’re fast, fragrant, and completely worth making.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Apple Fritters

Glazed Strawberry Brownies with Frozen Strawberries

The image showcases moist pink dessert bars topped with a creamy glaze and fresh strawberry slices, arranged on a cooling rack with scattered strawberries. — Glazed Strawberry Brownies with Frozen Strawberries. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Fudgy brownies packed with strawberries and finished with a smooth glaze bake up in under an hour. The chocolate and berry combination is rich without being overpowering. Each bite is soft, sweet, and slightly tangy, thanks to the fruit. They’re simple to slice, stack, and share.
Get the Recipe: Glazed Strawberry Brownies with Frozen Strawberries

Wild Blackberry Muffins

Blackberry muffins drizzled with lemon glaze sitting on a gray cooling rack on a dark background. — Wild Blackberry Muffins. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Juicy wild blackberries and lemon glaze come together in these muffins that bake up in just 25 minutes. The batter is light and fluffy with pockets of tart fruit and sweet citrus. Each one feels like a little surprise in every bite. They’re the kind of baked good that never makes it to leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Wild Blackberry Muffins

Blackberry Crumble Pie

Plump blackberries and a cinnamon oat topping come together in a bubbling pie that bakes in just over an hour. The filling is juicy and slightly tart, balanced by a crisp, buttery crumble. The crust holds its shape with every slice. It tastes like late summer, no matter when you serve it.
Get the Recipe: Blackberry Crumble Pie

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Tart rhubarb and ripe strawberries bubble under a golden oat topping in about 50 minutes. The mix is tangy, jammy, and sweet in all the right ways. The top stays crisp while the filling turns soft and fragrant. It’s the kind of dessert people go back for before coffee’s even poured.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Apple Galette

Thin apple slices laid over a rustic crust bake into a golden galette in about 45 minutes. The apples soften just enough while the crust stays crisp and flaky. A sprinkle of sugar brings out the natural sweetness. It looks like you tried hard, even if you didn’t.
Get the Recipe: Apple Galette

Colombian Fruit Salad

Chunks of tropical fruit, such as papaya, banana, and pineapple, are topped with a drizzle of sweet sauce and a sprinkle of cheese in under 15 minutes. The mix is juicy, creamy, and just a little savory. Each spoonful hits different notes of flavor and texture. It’s vibrant, fast, and fun to serve.
Get the Recipe: Colombian Fruit Salad

Marshmallow Fruit Salad

Fruit cocktail, marshmallows, and whipped topping can be mixed together in under 10 minutes. The result is sweet, soft, and full of nostalgic texture. Chill it ahead, and it’s even better. It’s one of those desserts that keeps people coming back for another scoop.
Get the Recipe: Marshmallow Fruit Salad

The Best Asian Fruit Cake: Chinese Bakery Style

Soft sponge layers, whipped cream, and fresh fruit come together in a delicate cake that takes about 90 minutes to make. It’s airy, lightly sweet, and full of strawberries, kiwi, and peaches. The balance between cream and fruit makes it easy to keep eating. It looks elegant without being heavy.
Get the Recipe: The Best Asian Fruit Cake: Chinese Bakery Style

Instant Pot Apple Pie Cheesecake

A slice of cheesecake with a graham cracker crust, layered filling, and a white topping with caramel drizzle, served on a patterned plate—perfect for brunch desserts or as a sweet addition to your favorite dessert recipes. — Instant Pot Apple Pie Cheesecake. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Rich cheesecake swirled with apple pie filling sets in the Instant Pot in just over an hour. The texture is smooth and creamy with soft bits of apple and cinnamon throughout. Each slice is sweet without being overly sweet. It’s what happens when two classic desserts get together.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Apple Pie Cheesecake

Rustic Apple Galette

A slice of apple galette with ice cream on a plate. — Rustic Apple Galette. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Sliced apples layered over flaky dough bake into a rustic dessert in 45 minutes. The crust is golden and sturdy while the apples soften and caramelize. There’s just enough cinnamon to round out the flavor. It’s unfussy, reliable, and good warm or cold.
Get the Recipe: Rustic Apple Galette

Air Fryer Caramelized Bananas

A fork holds a piece of caramelized banana topped with a scoop of whipped cream on a white plate—perfect for adding to your favorite brunch recipes or as a sweet treat for Mother’s Day brunch. — Air Fryer Caramelized Bananas. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Ripe banana slices caramelize in the air fryer in under 10 minutes. The heat brings out their natural sweetness and adds a bit of crispness on the outside. A sprinkle of cinnamon or brown sugar takes it to the next level. It’s the kind of quick dessert that feels like more than the sum of its parts.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Caramelized Bananas

Chocolate Covered Pineapple Dessert

A square slice of dessert with white whipped topping and a pineapple piece dipped in chocolate on a blue plate, perfect for Mother’s Day brunch or adding to your favorite dessert recipes, sits next to a baking dish with more slices. — Chocolate Covered Pineapple Dessert. Photo credit: Ginger Casa.

Juicy pineapple chunks dipped in melted chocolate, chill and set for about 30 minutes. The mix of sweet fruit and dark chocolate makes each bite fresh and rich. The contrast in temperature and texture is part of the appeal. Easy to eat, hard to forget.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Covered Pineapple Dessert

Microwave Apple Crisp

A white mug filled with baked oat crumble, topped with ice cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, makes the perfect brunch dessert. Oats and green apples in the background hint at this sweet treat—ideal for Mother’s Day brunch or your favorite dessert recipes. — Microwave Apple Crisp. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Cinnamon-spiced apples and a quick oat topping cook in the microwave in just 5 minutes. The apples turn tender and syrupy while the topping stays a little crunchy. It’s warm, fast, and hits the mark when you need dessert right now. Perfect for one or two without turning on the oven.
Get the Recipe: Microwave Apple Crisp

Strawberry Shortcake with Brown Sugar Biscuits

Soft brown sugar biscuits, layered with juicy strawberries and topped with whipped cream, come together in under an hour. The berries soak into the biscuits, making everything soft and full of flavor. Each bite combines creaminess, sweetness, and a hint of crunch. It’s a dessert that feels like home.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake with Brown Sugar Biscuits