10+ Cake Recipes to Sweeten Your Baking Adventures

Cake recipes are a great excuse to get creative in your kitchen. Whether you’re into classic flavors or want to try something a bit fancier, there’s a cake out there for you.

You’ll always find a recipe that matches your mood or skill level. Baking at home means you get to share those sweet moments—sometimes literally.

Baking a cake feels rewarding, especially when you get to taste the results. With a solid recipe, you’ll have clear steps and ingredients, which honestly makes life easier.

1) Classic Chocolate Cake

This classic chocolate cake comes together with just a whisk and a bowl—no fancy mixer needed. It’s moist, rich, and, let’s be honest, it never disappoints.

You’ll use basic stuff like flour, cocoa powder, sugar, and eggs. The instructions are straightforward, so even beginners can pull this off.

It works as a two-layer cake, and you can use whatever frosting you love. It keeps well, and honestly, it tastes even better the next day.

Grab a trusted version of this recipe here.

Ingredients

• 1 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 and 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup boiling water

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Whisk flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
3. Add egg, milk, oil, and vanilla; mix well.
4. Stir in boiling water carefully.
5. Pour batter into greased pans.
6. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Cool before frosting or serving.

2) Vanilla Butter Cake with Japanese Techniques

This vanilla butter cake uses Japanese methods for that extra-soft, plush texture. It stays tender for days, which is honestly a dream for cake lovers.

You’ll gently mix the batter to trap air inside. That’s what gives you a fluffy, smooth crumb in the end.

This approach slows down how quickly the cake dries out. You get something that stays fresh longer than most traditional recipes.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour your cake pan.
2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla.
4. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt; add to mixture alternately with milk.
5. Mix gently to keep batter airy.
6. Pour batter into pan and bake for 30-35 minutes.
7. Check doneness with a toothpick; it should come out clean.
8. Cool before serving.

For more details, check out this vanilla cake recipe.

3) Easy White Cake with 7 Ingredients

This white cake only needs seven ingredients—stuff you probably already have. It bakes up soft and fluffy, with a mild flavor that’s easy to love.

You can keep it simple or add your favorite frosting. Since it uses pantry staples, you’ll have it in the oven in no time.

The texture turns out light and tender. Here’s everything you need to get started.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white sugar
• ½ cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1¾ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ cup milk

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
4. Mix flour and baking powder, then add to wet mix alternately with milk.
5. Pour batter into a greased pan.
6. Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Let cool before frosting or serving.

If you want to dive deeper, check out the Easy White Cake Recipe.

4) Moist Banana Cake

You’ll love this moist banana cake—so soft and packed with banana flavor. Using oil instead of butter keeps it super tender.

Mashed bananas and buttermilk add extra moisture and richness. The usual cream cheese frosting on top gives it a fresh, tangy finish.

Let the cake cool before you frost it, or the frosting might melt. This recipe is simple and a great way to use up those ripe bananas.

Ingredients

• 2 to 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Cream cheese frosting (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix mashed bananas, oil, sugar, and eggs in a bowl.
3. Add buttermilk and vanilla extract, stir to combine.
4. In another bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt.
5. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, stir until blended.
6. Pour batter into a greased 9×13 inch pan.
7. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Let cake cool before frosting with cream cheese frosting.

Want a soft, tasty treat? Try this moist banana cake recipe.

5) Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Carrot cake brings together grated carrots and warm spices like cinnamon for a moist, flavorful dessert. The cream cheese frosting on top adds a tangy, smooth finish that really works.

You can bake this as a layer cake or just keep it simple in a sheet pan. Some people swap in a bit of maple syrup or use less oil to lighten things up, but it’s always delicious.

Ingredients

• 2 cups grated carrots
• 1 ½ cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the frosting:

• 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
• ½ cup butter (softened)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
3. In another bowl, beat the sugar, oil, and eggs until smooth.
4. Stir in the vanilla and grated carrots.
5. Combine wet and dry ingredients gently.
6. Pour the batter into a greased pan.
7. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Let the cake cool before frosting.
9. For the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until creamy.
10. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, mixing until smooth.
11. Spread frosting over the cooled cake before serving.

For a homemade version, check this carrot cake with cream cheese frosting recipe.

6) Tres Leches Sponge Cake

Tres Leches is a light sponge cake that soaks up a mix of three different milks. You pour the milk mixture over the warm cake so it gets extra soft and full of flavor.

Once it’s soaked, you’ll spread whipped cream on top for a fluffy finish. It’s a simple, crowd-pleasing dessert.

If you want to try it, check out this Tres Leches Cake recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 5 large eggs, separated
• 1 cup sugar, divided
• 1/3 cup whole milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 can evaporated milk (12 oz)
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Beat egg yolks with 3/4 cup sugar until pale. Mix in milk and vanilla.
4. Slowly add flour mixture to egg yolks.
5. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining sugar.
6. Fold egg whites into batter gently.
7. Pour batter into a greased pan; bake 25-30 minutes.
8. Mix evaporated milk, condensed milk, and 1/4 cup heavy cream.
9. Poke holes in warm cake and pour milk mix evenly over it.
10. Chill cake in fridge for 4 hours.
11. Beat whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff.
12. Spread whipped cream over cake before serving.

7) Berry Icebox Cake

Berry icebox cake is about as easy as dessert gets. You don’t even have to turn on the oven.

Just layer fresh berries, a creamy filling, and cookies or graham crackers. Stack it up, chill in the fridge, and let the flavors blend together.

It’s especially good in summer when berries are everywhere. The cookies soak up the cream, so every bite is soft and sweet.

You can use strawberries, blueberries, or whatever berries you’ve got. Assembly takes just a few minutes, and then the fridge does the rest.

For a no-bake treat, check out this mixed berry icebox cake from Sally’s Baking Addiction.

Ingredients

• 3 cups mixed fresh berries (such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 package graham crackers or vanilla wafers

Cooking Instructions

1. Whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.
2. Beat cream cheese and vanilla extract until smooth.
3. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture.
4. In a dish, layer graham crackers and spread some cream mixture on top.
5. Add a layer of fresh berries.
6. Repeat the layers, finishing with berries on top.
7. Cover the dish and chill it for at least 4 hours, or overnight if you have the time.

8) Layered Birthday Cake

A layered birthday cake just feels right for a celebration with family or friends. You can go with plain vanilla, classic chocolate, or mix things up with your favorite frosting.

Toss in some sprinkles or fruit between the layers if you want to make it pop. Making it at home is actually less intimidating than it looks.

Stack up three or more cake layers with buttercream or cream cheese frosting. Feel free to play around with colors or flavors—why not match your party theme?

For a tried-and-true option, bake a moist vanilla cake and layer it with thick vanilla buttercream. It stays soft and holds together beautifully.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ cups sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup milk
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 ½ cups vanilla buttercream frosting

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans.
3. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
4. In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar until creamy.
5. Add the eggs one at a time, then pour in the vanilla extract.
6. Alternate adding the flour mixture and milk, starting and ending with the flour.
7. Divide the batter into the pans and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
8. Let the cakes cool completely.
9. Spread buttercream between layers and over the top and sides.
10. Decorate with sprinkles or fruit if you’re feeling fancy.

9) Poke Cake with Fruit Toppings

Poke cakes are honestly kind of genius. You bake a soft cake, poke holes all over it, and pour in some tasty liquid or fruit filling.

The cake soaks up all that goodness and turns out super moist. Topping it with fresh or frozen fruit just feels right.

Berries like strawberries or blueberries work especially well, but you can experiment. Whipped cream or a light frosting on top is a solid move.

Ingredients

• 1 box vanilla cake mix (or homemade vanilla cake)
• 1 cup fruit filling or Jell-O
• 2 cups mixed berries (fresh or frozen)
• 1 cup whipped cream or frosting

Cooking Instructions

1. Bake the cake as directed on the box or in your recipe.
2. Poke holes evenly across the cake while it’s still warm, using a fork or skewer.
3. Pour the fruit filling or Jell-O slowly over the cake and let it sink in.
4. If you want, roast the berries at 350°F (175°C) for about 10–15 minutes.
5. Spread whipped cream or frosting over the cake.
6. Arrange the berries on top right before serving.

10) Joy the Baker’s Bundt Cake

Joy the Baker’s Bundt cakes are just plain delicious. Go for a rich chocolate Bundt or try a cinnamon version with swirls of spice.

These cakes turn out moist every time, making them great for a weekday treat or something a bit more special. You don’t need fancy ingredients—just the basics you probably have at home.

Getting the cake out of the pan can be tricky, but Joy has some handy tips for that. If you’re feeling playful, toss in some funfetti sprinkles for extra color.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups flour
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp salt
• Cocoa or cinnamon (optional for flavor)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Grease and flour a Bundt pan—don’t skimp on this part.

3. Cream the butter and sugar together until the mixture looks light and fluffy.

4. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition.

5. Stir in the vanilla and then the sour cream.

6. Sift the dry ingredients, then add them in gradually.

7. Pour the batter into the pan, trying to get it as even as you can.

8. Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick poked in the center comes out clean.

9. Let the cake cool for 15 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack. Wait until it cools completely—seriously, it’s worth it.

More tips? Check out Joy the Baker’s Perfect Chocolate Bundt Cake.