17 Easy Mother’s Day Dishes Kids Can Help Make

The best gifts you can give Mom can't be picked up at the store. Like macaroni necklaces and finger-painted masterpieces, the most thoughtful presents are the ones that are homemade. Whether you surprise her with her favorite cocktail and a special dinner, treat her to her favorite homemade dessert, or whip up a delicious breakfast with the help of the kiddos (and these recipes!) — Mom is sure to appreciate the thoughtfulness and care that goes into a made-with-love meal.

This vibrant fruit board showcases beautifully cut and arranged ripe fruit paired with cheeses, honey and creamy homemade dips. You can slice the fruit ahead of time and both dips can be made the day before, making it easy for a grown up to do the prep work ahead — leaving just the arranging to the kids on Mother's Day morning.

This drink reminds Molly of going to the mall with her mom and getting some kind of frozen coffee drink — but then just eating the whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles off the top! She wanted to make this one caffeine-free and kid-friendly, so she’s swapping out the coffee and re-creating that memory with peanut butter instead.

Ina's puff pastry shortcut turns this easy cheese Danish into a flaky, creamy breakfast treat that feels effortlessly elegant. It’s a simple yet special option mom will love, perfect for a relaxed Mother’s Day morning spread.

You only need 5 ingredients (most of which are probably in your kitchen right now) and a few minutes to put together a fancy bite for Mom. These skewers work well as an appetizer before lunch or dinner — or as part of a mid-morning brunch spread.

This fancy-looking toast is actually a breeze to make. You can skip the oven and toast the bread in a toaster to make it easier for older kiddos to help. LIttle ones will have fun whipping the ricotta to create a silky smooth, airy texture that’s perfect for piping on crusty bread. Layered with jam, it creates a gorgeous marbling effect — and the perfect savory-sweet bite.

Pasta salad is a great pick when the kids want to help cook. Since it's served cold, a grown up or supervised teen can easily boil the noodles and prep anything else that requires cutting or cooking — leaving simpler tasks like adding things to the bowl and stirring for younger kids. To make this recipe even easier (and more kid-friendly) swap the roasted chicken for store-bought rotisserie chicken.

This quick-and-easy breakfast comes together in a flash. Let younger kids line the ramekins with ham and sprinkle cheese into each cup. Older kids can crack the eggs. Don't have ramekins? Use a muffin tin instead!

Mom will be so impressed with these homemade pancakes. Let the littlest kiddos help measure and mix the batter. Older kiddos who have some practice in the kitchen can flip flapjacks with adult supervision.

These easy sticky buns come together with minimal effort, delivering gooey, caramel-coated goodness in every bite. It’s a sweet shortcut kids can whip up for breakfast or dessert to surprise their moms with something warm and homemade.

Kids of all ages love measuring and mixing — so why not bake Mom a sweet coffee cake for breakfast? This one uses (thawed) frozen berries to add lots of flavor for almost no effort.

Breakfast in 10 minutes? Yes, it’s possible! Put younger kids to work smashing avocados while older kids make toast. Then, everyone can work together to top the slices of bread with avocado, smoked salmon and garnishes.