You don’t need a reservation to pull off a special Mother’s Day brunch—just a solid recipe (or two) and maybe a mimosa. These easy Mother’s Day brunch recipes are simple enough for even beginner cooks, but still delicious and thoughtful. Whether you’re making breakfast in bed or setting the table for a full breakfast spread, there’s something here to help you pull it off—no stress, no fuss.
Looking for the best Mother’s Day dinner ideas to celebrate the moms in your life? Whether you're planning a cozy night in or a festive gathering, we’ve rounded up delicious, crowd-pleasing dishes perfect for the occasion. From Mother’s Day brunch ideas and light lunch options to show-stopping desserts, we’ve got you covered all day long. You can even elevate the vibe with our guide on how to set a spring table.
These Mother’s Day dinner ideas range from simple starters to indulgent mains, make-ahead sides, and sweet treats—plus a few drinks to toast to Mom. If you’re still deciding what to cook, scroll down for our favorite recipes and inspiration to make her feel extra special.
Ever wanted to turn your Sunday reset routine into a series? Or share your secrets to hosting a themed dinner party every month?
At Food52, we believe in the joy of thoughtfully living, centered around the idea that food is central to a life well-lived. That means cooking, yes—but also organizing your pantry, resetting your space at the end of the day, and gathering your favorite people around the table. Our community is full of creative homebodies, dinner party enthusiasts, and everyday experts—and now, we’re looking for a few of them to help us bring that spirit to life on video.
Ever get asked where your light fixtures are from—or better yet, how to install them? Our sister brand Schoolhouse believes in the power of thoughtful, intentional design—and the joy of a well-styled space. Rooted in a “mix beats match” mentality, they love showcasing real homes, real people, and real stories. Their community includes creatives, design lovers, renovators, and homebodies alike—and now, they’re looking to highlight even more ideas from folks who live and breathe design.
Your entryway is the first impression your home makes—so why not make it a good one? Whether you have a narrow hallway, a tiny mudroom, or just a sliver of wall by the front door, your entry deserves just as much love as the rest of your space. After all, it’s where keys are tossed, shoes are kicked off, and first hellos are exchanged.
The good news? You don’t need a lot of square footage to make a big impact. From smart storage solutions to statement-making lighting, we’re sharing our favorite ways to turn even the tiniest entryway into a functional, stylish moment.
Welcome to the latest edition of Food52 Founder Amanda Hesser’s weekly newsletter, Hey There, It’s Amanda, packed with food, travel, and shopping tips, Food52 doings, and other matters that catch her eye. Get inspired—sign up here for her emails.
I have a new (old) book out! My first book—The Cook and the Gardener—about cooking seasonally from a garden and about a crusty old French gardener whom I befriended when I worked as a cook at a château in Burgundy, France, was relaunched yesterday, on the 25th (26th!) anniversary of its original publication in 1999.
Who doesn’t love a special little beverage? As spring has slowly gotten warmer I’ve seen more and more people posting themselves making at-home iced tea concoctions, fruity syrups for seltzers, and even ‘loaded’ flavored waters. What has stood out to me from the bunch is a “homemade Gatorade” recipe by the creator @healthylittlepeach, which has gotten millions of views and tons of recreation videos. The allure lies in its “electrolytes” and health benefits. It looked deceivingly simple, and I was curious to see if it actually tasted good or refreshing.
Mother’s Day is a well-earned holiday—after years of all-consuming, exhausting, totally-worth-it motherhood—so when it comes to mother's day desserts, don’t hold back. Whether you’re planning a full brunch spread or just looking for a sweet way to end the day, these Mother’s Day dessert recipes are a guaranteed hit. We’ve got bakery-worthy cakes, make-ahead tarts, no-bake treats, and edible gifts (think: homemade chocolates and flavored sugars) that feel just as special as she is. And yes—chocolate is very much involved.
What Makes a Great Mother’s Day Dessert
When it comes to Mother's Day desserts, it’s all about balance: something that feels indulgent yet doesn’t require hours of prep. Whether you go for a no-bake treat, a fruity creation that screams spring, or a rich chocolate number that feels like a hug in every bite, the key is to make it feel special without stressing out in the kitchen. A great Mother's Day dessert should be easy to share, stunning enough to wow her, and full of flavors she loves.
Are you familiar with migas? If not, let me introduce you! Migas (pronounced mee-guhz) are cheesy scrambled eggs tossed with crumbled tortilla chips, which lend delicious salty-crunchy-corn notes. You’ll typically find sautéed onions and peppers or tomatoes folded in as well, plus your choice of toppings.
Migas are served in Mexican under various names, but this recipe is modeled after the Tex-Mex migas served in Austin, Texas. It’s a wonderfully satisfying and flavorful meal to enjoy for breakfast, brunch, lunch or even dinner.
Spring has arrived, and that means Mother’s Day is just around the corner so we're serving up plenty of Mother's Day brunch recipes! While booking an overpriced prix fixe might seem tempting, there’s something extra special about staying home—creating a cozy, personalized atmosphere that feels uniquely yours. Hosting a Mother’s Day brunch at home doesn’t have to be stressful. Whether you’re searching for easy Mother's Day sweet brunch recipes, savory brunch ideas, or crowd-pleasing cocktail recipes, we've got you covered. From make-ahead brunch dishes to expert hosting tips, we’re here to help make your Mother’s Day celebration delicious, memorable, and stress-free.
From bakery-worthy baked goods like cinnamon rolls to fresh salads, savory egg dishes, and bubbly cocktails, this list is filled with easy brunch recipes that feel special without being stressful. Bonus: We’ve also included easy table-setting ideas for and clever store-bought hacks to help you pull off a beautiful Mother’s Day brunch effortlessly.
In an ideal world, there’s a jar of something pickled in my fridge at all times—hether it be red onions, pickled kale stems, or some napa cabbage I forgot to cook. I don’t plan for this, but when I have veggie scraps, trimmings, or simply a wilting head of something or other, I follow the easiest pickling ratio in the world: the 3-2-1 brine. That’s 3 parts water, 2 parts vinegar, and 1 part sugar. That's it.
This isn’t a secret—plenty of chefs are out here using this ratio—but it’s the one that stuck with me. It’s like culinary muscle memory.Sometimes, having to look up a brine recipe is the difference between veggies going in the pickle jar or going in the trash. This is a decidedly sweet-and-sour pickle, a real-crowd pleasing flavor profile that’s perfect for veggies like onions or radishes, which have a bit of bite and crunch to them.
When Ashley Murphy and Marissa Hagmeyer—co-founders of NEAT Method and authors of The NEAT Method Organizing Recipe Book—stopped by our Brooklyn HQ recently, they didn’t just come for a quick hello. They came armed with drawer dividers, stylish bins, and a vision. In just a few hours, they transformed our most chaotic corners (think: a junk drawer overflowing with cords, a coat closet with mismatched hangers, and the under-sink abyss in our studio kitchen) into Pinterest-worthy spaces. But what stuck with me even more than the aesthetic glow-up? The way they made organizing feel approachable—even fun.
Their first ever book, which dropped in January, reads like a friend holding your hand through the chaos. It’s packed with more than 70 step-by-step projects, from refreshing your fridge to finally figuring out your bedroom drawers. “It’s about finding what works for you and what makes sense in your routine,” Marissa told me. “We thought the recipe concept would make it more bite-sized—you can follow the steps, take small doses within your home, and curate exactly what you're looking for.”
Welcome to The Flavor Files! 🎉 This is where I dive into my love for cooking, flavor, and food science—because delicious food deserves a little curiosity.
Also, April is my birthday month, which means: Cake and Ice Cream Season™. I bake myself one cake and treat myself to a new ice cream flavor a week leading up to the big day because I deserve it (and so do my neighbors, who conveniently show up right when dessert is ready). This week’s cake? A chocolate hazelnut praline situation that’s so decadent and happy, I smile every time I look at it. Chocolate + Hazelnuts = the Superior Sombo. I don’t make the rules, I just bake by them.
It might sound a little sad that I bake myself a birthday cake every year—but honestly? It’s the best kind of self-love. Sure, I could go to a bakery and pick one up, but they never seem to have the exact flavor I’m craving (where’s the cake that tastes like childhood memories, three types of toasted nuts, and a hint of existential crisis?).
Plus, baking it myself gives me a solid excuse to say, “I’m not procrastinating, I’m celebrating me.” And that, my friends, is what I call personal growth… in layers, with frosting. I need to pick a new cake to make this week. There will be frosting!
I’m knee-deep in book edits right now, which basically means I’m in a committed relationship with several Word docs, a chorus of line edits, and my ever-vigilant fact checker. On Thursday, I heroically powered through an entire chapter, feeling, dare I say, productive, only to discover that the file wasn’t auto-saving to the cloud like I thought. Then it crashed. Completely. Gone.
So, I did what any rational adult on the verge of a Word-induced breakdown would do: I closed my laptop, dramatically whispered “we were rooting for you,” and took myself to a movie. Honestly, there was nothing else to do, and it wasn’t worth crying over. Pick up and move on.
The Wedding Banquet(a remake of the 1993 original by Ang Lee), to be exact. It’s emotional, but tender and warm, like a hug from someone who doesn’t need to say, “you’ll be fine,” because somehow you already believe it.
Until next time,
Nik
For my paid subscribers, we’re making an Indian-style stir fry of vegetables and paneer for my paid subscribers.
Paneer and Mixed Vegetable Stir Fry
There are some meals that don’t come from a recipe card passed down or a dish served at a holiday table. They come from a feeling of wanting something warm, something nourishing, something that reminds you that you're still here, still trying.
As we get closer to Easter (and further into Spring), I’ve been leaning into baked goods that feel a little brighter, more colorful, and good for sharing. Some of these are brand new recipes I developed this season—like the Toasted Coconut Cupcakes with Passionfruit Curd–and others are old favorites I keep coming back to—like the Pistachio Braid. Whether you're baking for Easter, or just in the mood for something a little sweet, this is what I’ve been making in the test kitchen recently.
Pro Tips for Spring Baking
• When making a cream cheese frosting for the carrot cakes, wait to add the cream cheese until the very end and whip as little as possible until it’s combined. The more you whip, the more moisture gets drawn out from the cream cheese, which can result in a less-stable frosting.
Copper cookware glows. It radiates like Arthur’s grail. Camelot’s galley must’ve been filled with the stuff. Buckingham Palace still is. Same with the kitchens of Monet, Montgeoffroy, and Martha. There’s a reason for this: Copper isn’t just nice—it’s obviously nice. The metal’s pure and the vibe’s the most electric. Point being, copper rocks and—when molded into casseroles by famed Dansk designer Jens Quistgaard—it performs.
For Quistgaard, copper’s beauty boosts its performance. According to Stig Guldberg, author of the biography, Jens Quistgaard: The Sculpting Designer, the Dansk designer sought to create casseroles that would “not be reserved for the stove,” meaning they could double “as an attractive centerpiece” on any dining table and thus eliminate the need of owning—and subsequently washing—serving bowls. As intended, Quistgaard’s copper, which debuted in 1960 and descends from his Ankerline and Købenstyle collections, is rich with stove-to-table benefits.
As a part of Snack Shop series, Annie Arriaga investigates the latest and greatest viral snack shops in New York City to see if the hype is real, if the snacks are yummy, and if the spot is underrated, overrated, or perfectly rated.
You’ve heard of a bar crawl, but what about a coffee crawl? One of the many beautiful things about New York City is that there are coffee shops on every corner, each one with its own specific vibe, specialty drink, and ambiance. When I heard Audrey Finnochario was coming from Rhode Island to shoot with us, I proposed we go on a coffee crawl through some of Manhattan’s most internet-popular coffee creations (with the Nitro Bar queen herself) to make the most of her visit to the Big Apple.
Welcome to Come On Over, a Food52 newsletter about hosting life’s big and little moments. It’s where we share our personal tips and tricks, from modern-day etiquette—shoes off or shoes on?—to making extra seating out of every surface of an apartment. This week, Kelly’s egg-cited for Easter.
Bunnies, egg hunts, the great (still brisk) outdoors, and family time—growing up, Easter always felt like the first real whisper of spring. These days, not much has changed… except I hunt my next mimosa rather than my next egg. Every year, my husband, our friends, and I take turns hosting Easter brunch, and one thing stays the same: Lamb is always on the table, and I might bust out a haystack or two. Here’s how I pull it all together.
Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and if your mom spends most of spring and summer digging, pruning, planting, or admiring her flower beds, you’re in the right place. We rounded up the best gardening gifts for moms, from practical tools like watering wands and plant markers to thoughtful extras like gardener’s hand cream and a fresh tomato leaf candle. Whether she’s a veggie-grower, wildflower fanatic, or more of a tomato-in-a-container kind of gardener, this list has something she’ll use—and love.
To curate this list, I went straight to the source: my mom and my aunt. Both of them have serious planting experience. I grew up trailing behind my mom in the garden center at Home Depot and Lowe’s, not knowing what anything was, but totally enchanted by the colors and vines.
Welcome to the latest edition of Food52 Founder Amanda Hesser’s weekly newsletter, Hey There, It’s Amanda, packed with food, travel, and shopping tips, Food52 doings, and other matters that catch her eye. Get inspired—sign up here for her emails.
Emily, a reader of this newsletter, sent me photos of her kitchen and a note that said, “Renovated my dream kitchen a year ago, but cannot figure out how to style my countertop area, particularly corners. Help if ya’ll can!”
In The Green Scene, there's no such thing as a silly question about cannabis. What's the difference between THC and CBD? How the heck do I make edibles at home? What home design advice can dispensaries teach me? Kick back—we have the answers.
Editor's note: This piece was updated in April, 2025
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