Our Most-Loved Cake Recipes

Sweet treats deserve the proper treatment with these great cookie cutters and molds.

Think twice before you pour what’s left of this morning’s pot down the drain.

Make sure you’re stocked up on these baking aisle stars—you’ll thank us later.

We're huge fans of a box cake mix, but if you've got the time to pay a little extra attention, there's nothing like a homemade cake from scratch. We've rounded up our best from-scratch cake recipes and covered all the bases, from vanilla cake to holiday-worthy carrot cake, cakes dressed up like unicorns, and even cakes inspired by our favorite cocktails. No matter how simple or complex you go, these cake recipes from scratch guarantee a memorable treat.

Layers upon layers of fresh key lime, luscious cream cheese, and shortbread cookies make for a delicious no-bake cake with a show-stopping presentation. A thin layer of pistachios adds a crunch to each creamy, bright bite. The taste is light and sweet, making it the perfect ending to a large holiday meal. If you can't find Key limes to juice, try Nellie & Joe's brand. 

Chocolate cake with Swiss meringe buttercream will get you across the finish line, or help someone else to.

All of the elements of a classic hummingbird cake come together here in decadent cheesecake form. Layers of banana cheesecake, pineapple-pecan praline sauce, vanilla cheesecake, and white chocolate ganache are all stacked into a pecan-coconut graham cracker crust for a show-stopping dessert you won’t soon forget. Despite the intimidation factor that often surrounds making cheesecakes at home, we highly encourage you to give this one a go. In all honesty, cheesecakes are much easier to make—and make well—than you’d probably think. A layered cheesecake like this one is certainly simpler to pull off than baking, assembling, and frosting a traditional layer cake. So break out your springform pan with confidence—you’ve got this.

From holiday celebrations to weddings to birthdays, cakes everywhere are moving to personal serving sizes. Dive into these delicious miniature cakes–no layering required.

Great things often come in small packages and that’s the case with these mini cakes and cupcakes. Cute as can be and just as flavorful as full-sized cakes, these little treats are perfect for holiday gifts and dessert buffets.

Citrus fans will love this lemon-orange cake decorated to resemble a fresh orange slice.   You can make the homemade buttercream frosting that’s listed here, or you can use a canned frosting.  We recommend that you use a fondant smoother tool from Wilton for best results. 

There is never, and we mean never, a wrong opportunity for cake, especially when it's a recipe that's stood the test of time. These cake recipes are the ones you'll keep coming back to, whether you're celebrating a birthday, holiday, friendship, or just being alive.

A great way to achieve the perfect cake is to flip it upside-down, of course! These timeless recipes are great for holidays, gifts, special occasions, or just to satisfy that sweet tooth craving. 

Not that there's ever a bad time for cake, but there's something about the season of rebirth that really makes you want a slice. Spring is full of opportunities to celebrate, after all, and Easter, Mother's Day, and graduation are all better with a nice cake boasting seasonal ingredients and fresh flavors. These light, colorful cakes reflect spring's best flavors and occasions, from Easter to a row of floral, sunny days.

You could say they're ... a piece of cake.

Finally, eggnog you can eat. One magic cake batter transforms into two layers when baked and chilled: a cake layer and a custard layer. This dessert looks difficult to make, but is actully simple with easy-to-find ingredients. Try it topped with boozy whipped cream, made by whipping heavy cream and bourbon until stiff peaks form. Hungry for more? Check out 20 Eggnog Desserts to Sweeten the Holiday Season next. 

Take Rice Krispies Treats to the next level by flavoring them with strawberry and chocolate and stacking them into “cake” layers to create a dessert that resembles a Neapolitan sundae.  It’s a perfect dessert child’s birthday party at school. 

The magical marriage of pudding or custard and cake in one recipe results in a cake superbly moist cake with irresistible texture.

Some of fall’s best flavors—we’re talking cinnamon, apple, maple, caramel, ginger, pumpkin, and more—were meant to be enjoyed as desserts. Luckily, there’s always an occasion for cake, no matter the season. Whether you’re looking for a pumpkin loaf, caramel apple cake, sweet potato pound cake, caramel buttercream, or just a seriously good piece of chocolate cake, these recipes satisfy the sweet cravings that come with cooler nights.

What's one of the best ways to enjoy fresh, in-season apples? Apple cake, of course. These apple cake recipes celebrate fall's flavors in full force, and best of all, you don't have to be an expert baker to master them. From oven-baked to skillet-cooked, we rounded up our top-rated cakes that celebrate fall's bounty of apples and spice.

In the steamy days of summer, all we really crave are light, seasonal treats that incorporate fresh summer fruits (and pair well with a cool scoop of vanilla ice cream, if that’s your thing). Even if you’re a die-hard chocolate cake fan, we promise these unique sweets will be even more satisfying at this time of year. The best part? These recipes make enough to serve everybody at the cookout.

From fancy layer cakes to simple sheet cakes and muffins, we've got the best carrot cake recipes for any occasion.

Easy make-and-take desserts for serving a crowd.

At last–the surprising shortcuts to spectacular home-style layer cakes are revealed.