Delectable edible gifts for Mom

Is there anything better than an edible gift? Here are five desserts you can make for Mom, adorned with personalized tags that tell her just how special she is.

These delicious desserts wrapped up in picture-perfect packaging and made with so much love are exactly the kind of homemade Mother’s Day gift Mom looks forward to the most.

You can get creative with homemade tags or print these ready-made tags on card stock.

These cookies are bursting with strawberry flavor, and they are this bright with no added food coloring. By stacking a few cookies on top of one another and tying them up with a festive ribbon, these make a great homemade gift for Mom.

Yields 16

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter (room temperature)
• 1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1/4 cup strawberry Jell-O mix, dry
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Using hand beaters or a stand mixer, cream together the butter, sugar and dry Jell-O mix until light and creamy.
3. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract and almond extract.
4. In a separate bowl, combine the salt, baking powder and flour.
5. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
6. Stir in the coconut.
7. Using a cookie scoop, scoop out large bits of the dough, and place them on a cookie sheet.
8. Bake for about 6 to 8 minutes, and then transfer the cookies to a cooling rack.

This recipe makes just one baked cherry crisp — perfect for a dessert just for Mom. This crisp can be dressed up with some pretty lace ribbon, twine and a “homemade with love” tag.

Serves 1 (8-ounce jar)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup frozen cherries
• 1-1/2 tablespoons white sugar
• 3 tablespoons flour, separated
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons old-fashioned oats
• Scant 1 tablespoon butter
• Pinch salt

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a small bowl, combine the cherries, white sugar, 1-1/2 tablespoons of flour, the cinnamon and the vanilla extract. Stir together.
3. Pour the cherry mixture into the jar.
4. In another bowl, combine the brown sugar, oats, butter, salt and 1-1/2 tablespoons of flour. Mix together, and then place on top of the cherries.
5. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the cherry mixture has cooked down and the topping is golden brown. Remove and allow to cool.

This lemon curd is unique thanks to the poppy seed addition. It is bursting with citrus flavor and packed into a miniature glass jar. Lightly brush the top of the jar with a colored paint to give it a rustic look so Mom can later use it to decorate with.

Serves 1 (3-ounce jar)

Ingredients:

• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• Pinch salt
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

Directions:

1. In a blender or food processor, pulse together the sugar and lemon zest.
2. In a medium-size bowl, using hand beaters or a stand mixer, cream the butter with the sugar and lemon zest mixture.
3. Stir in the eggs, lemon juice and salt.
4. Transfer to a medium-size pot, and cook on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. The mixture will thicken as you stir it.
5. Remove from heat, and stir in the poppy seeds.
6. Transfer to a small jar, and allow to chill in the fridge (it will continue to thicken).

This bread is stuffed with fresh berries and flavored with a hint of fresh lemon. Wrap some parchment paper around the loaf with some twine and ribbon, and Mom will be thrilled to receive it.

Yields 1

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• Pinch cinnamon
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup 2 percent milk
• 1/3 cup butter (room temperature)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 cup blackberries
• 1 cup strawberries, stems removed and chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray a bread pan with cooking spray, and then lightly coat the pan with flour. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In another bowl, using a stand mixer or hand beaters, cream together the sugar and butter until fluffy. Beat in the milk and eggs, one at a time.
4. Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until just combined.
6. Gently stir in the blackberries and chopped strawberries.
7. Pour the mixture into bread pan.
8. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.

These bars are made with minimal ingredients and can be whipped up in a matter of minutes. Some brown packing paper and various ribbons tied around these bars make them an easy gift in case you need something last minute.

Yields 9-12, depending on the size you cut the bars

Ingredients:

• 1-3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 cup butter (room temperature)
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• Pinch cinnamon
• Scant 1 cup raspberry jam
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8 x 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, and set it aside.
2. In a medium-size bowl, using a stand mixer or hand beaters, cream together the sugar and butter until creamy. Add in the salt, cinnamon and flour.
3. Press a little bit more than 1/2 the mixture into the baking pan.
4. Cover the mixture with the jam.
5. Add the oats to the remaining flour and sugar mixture, and stir until combined.
6. Sprinkle the oat mixture over the jam.
7. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until the top is lightly browned.
8. Remove, and allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.

More Mother’s Day recipes

Mother’s Day brunch drinks
Mother’s Day grilling menu
Mother’s Day lunch menu