Recipes for Mother's Day

By: Abigail Kunkel

With Mother’s Day coming up, there’s no better way to show your appreciation other than baking a delicious treat! Here are three recipes to make for your mom, other family members, or, even better, yourself!


Brownies (from the Tasty Dessert cookbook with a little bit of my own spin on it) (the link is a similar recipe from the same company):

This family favorite is a chocolatey delight! When asked to describe the brownies in one word, Kathryn Kunkel said, “YUM!” This is the recipe for brownies…

Recipe calls for:

1 ¼ cups (2 ½ sticks) unsalted butter

2 cups of chocolate chips

¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 cups granulated sugar

½ cup packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

6 large eggs

1 cup all-purpose flour


  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9 by 13-inch dark metal baking pan with cooking spray or butter. Line with parchment paper, leaving a 1-inch overhang on all sides, then grease the parchment.

  2. Put 1 cup of the chocolate chips in a Ziploc bag and hit them with a spoon or rolling pin. This will reduce them to small bits in order for them to be easier to melt. In a heatproof liquid measuring cup, combine the cup of crushed chocolate chips and ¼ cup of the cocoa powder.

  3. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Pour the butter over the chocolate mixture and let it sit for 2 minutes, undisturbed, then whisk the mixture until it is smooth.

  4. Combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, vanilla, and eggs in a large bowl. Using a handheld mixer, beat the mixture on high speed until it is light and fluffy, about 10 minutes. The texture will be similar to the texture of pancake batter.

  5. With the mixer running, pour in the chocolate mixture and beat until smooth. Sift the remaining ½ cup cocoa powder and the flour into the batter and use a rubber spatula to gently fold them in until just combined.

  6. Pour and mix the remaining cup of chocolate chips into the batter. Then pour the batter into the baking pan, spreading it heavenly with your rubber spatula. Bake for 20 minutes.

  7. After the 20 minutes end, take the brownies out, tap the pan on a flat surface a couple of times, and then put them back in the oven for another 20 minutes.

  8. Enjoy some delicious brownies!


Chocolate Cake (from the Hershey’s website) This amazing classic is the perfect dessert. You can even decorate it!

Recipe calls for:

2 cups of sugar

1 ¾ cups of all-purpose flour

¾ cup Hershey’s cocoa powder (or any cocoa powder)

1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

½ cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water


  1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.

  2. Stir together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla, then beat the mixture on medium speed for two minutes. Stir in the boiling water (the batter will be thin). Pour the batter into the prepared pans.

  3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes. Remove from the pans to wire racks. Cool completely.

  4. Decorate if you choose to and enjoy some chocolate cake!


And finally… chocolate chip cookies! (from Martha Stewart website) These chocolate chip cookies are yet another easy and delicious classic!

Recipe calls for:

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

2 sticks (1 cup) of unsalted butter

½ cup granulated sugar

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 large eggs

12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit with racks in the upper and lower third positions. In a small bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda, then set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and both sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add salt, vanilla, and eggs, then mix to combine. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just combined. Mix in chocolate chips.

  2. Using a tablespoon measure, drop heaping portions of dough about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

  3. Bake until cookies are golden around the edges but still soft in the center, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on a baking sheet for 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let them cool completely.

  4. Enjoy!


This Mother’s Day, enjoy some of these delicious treats, and don’t forget to share some with your mom!