10+ Easy Cake Recipes to Bake at Home with Simple Ingredients

Baking a cake can seem tricky, but honestly, it’s not as hard as it looks. Easy cake recipes let you whip up a tasty dessert without spending ages in the kitchen.

Whether you’re new to baking or just craving a quick treat, there’s a way to make a cake that tastes great and doesn’t stress you out.

Easy cake recipes use common ingredients and simple steps, so you can enjoy homemade cake without stress. Most of these only need a handful of ingredients, and you’ll be surprised how fast they come together.

Ingredients:

• Flour
• Sugar
• Eggs
• Butter or oil
• Baking powder
• Milk or water
• Vanilla extract (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix dry ingredients in one bowl.
3. In another bowl, combine wet ingredients.
4. Slowly add dry mix to wet mix, stirring until smooth.
5. Pour batter into a greased pan.
6. Bake for 25-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Let cool before serving.

1) Simple White Cake with 7 Ingredients

This white cake is a lifesaver when you want dessert but don’t want to fuss. Seven ingredients, one bowl, and you’ll have a classic, soft cake in under an hour.

You’ll mix up sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla, then add the rest. The batter comes together fast, and the result is light and fluffy.

You don’t need fancy gear or odd ingredients, so it’s a good place to start if you’re new to baking.

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup milk

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream the sugar and butter until smooth.
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time.
4. Stir in vanilla extract.
5. Combine flour and baking powder, then add to the creamed mixture.
6. Mix in the milk last until batter is smooth.
7. Pour batter into a greased 9-inch pan.
8. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

2) Japanese-Style Moist Vanilla Butter Cake

This cake is super soft and stays moist for days—no joke. There’s a little trick to it: you beat the eggs and sugar really well to give it a light, plush texture.

Fold in the dry ingredients and melted butter gently, and you’ll end up with a cake that almost melts in your mouth. It’s both fluffy and rich.

Bake at a moderate temperature to keep it from drying out. The vanilla flavor shines through, and it’s honestly hard to stop at one slice.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).
2. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
3. Beat eggs and sugar until pale and fluffy.
4. Gently fold in dry ingredients.
5. Mix melted butter, milk, and vanilla; add to batter.
6. Pour batter into a greased pan.
7. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

3) Classic Pound Cake for Beginners

A classic pound cake is about as beginner-friendly as it gets. You just need butter, sugar, eggs, flour, and vanilla—nothing weird.

This cake is dense, buttery, and super satisfying with tea or coffee. I like to add a bit of fruit or whipped cream on top if I’m feeling fancy.

No need for special gadgets. A mixer, a bowl, and a loaf pan get the job done.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
4. Mix in vanilla.
5. Gradually add flour, mixing just until combined.
6. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan.
7. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Let cool before slicing.

4) Easy Sheet Cake Served Straight from the Pan

Sheet cakes are the way to go if you want something low-key and quick. You bake and serve from the same pan, so there’s barely any cleanup.

A chocolate sheet cake comes out moist and rich, especially if you slather on the icing while it’s still warm. Or go for vanilla with sprinkles if you’re feeling playful.

If you want less mess, just use one bowl for mixing. That’s fewer dishes—always a win.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder (for chocolate version)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup buttermilk or milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or sprinkles (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, cocoa powder (if using), baking soda, and salt.
3. Melt butter in a saucepan, add water, and heat until hot.
4. Slowly stir the butter mixture into the dry ingredients.
5. Add buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Mix well.
6. Pour batter into a greased 9×13-inch pan.
7. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Let cool slightly, then spread your frosting on top.
9. Serve warm or at room temperature right from the pan.

Want more detailed recipes? Check out Allrecipes and The Kitchn for chocolate and vanilla sheet cakes.

5) 5-Minute Quick Cake Recipe

You can whip up a simple cake in five minutes—yep, really. The ingredients are probably already in your pantry.

This cake cooks in the microwave, so you don’t even need to turn on the oven. Mix everything in a mug or bowl, zap it, and you’ve got cake.

Vanilla or chocolate both work. It’s a nice little treat when you’re craving something sweet and don’t want to wait.

Curious? Here’s a 5 Minute Vanilla Cake recipe if you want to try it out.

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (optional for chocolate)
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix dry ingredients in a microwave-safe mug.
2. Add milk, oil, and vanilla, then stir well until smooth.
3. Microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes until the cake rises.
4. Let cool for a minute before eating.

6) Basic Vanilla Cake with Pantry Staples

If you’ve got flour, eggs, oil, and milk, you’re halfway to a homemade vanilla cake. This recipe is all about simplicity.

It comes together in one bowl, so you won’t be stuck washing dishes all afternoon. The cake comes out moist and tasty.

You can frost it with buttercream or just eat it plain—up to you. For more on this style, check out this one-bowl vanilla cake recipe.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup milk
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
3. Add oil, milk, eggs, and vanilla. Stir until smooth.
4. Pour batter into a greased 9-inch cake pan.
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Let cool before removing from the pan and serving.

7) Berry Icebox Cake for No-Bake Fun

A berry icebox cake is the ultimate no-bake dessert. When it’s hot out and you want something cool, this is your answer.

Layer fresh berries, creamy filling, and graham crackers or vanilla wafers. Toss it in the fridge for a few hours and let everything meld together.

Whip up some cream with sugar and vanilla, then start layering with berries. Use whatever berries you love—strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, you name it.

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups mixed fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
• 3 cups graham crackers or vanilla wafers

Cooking Instructions

1. Chill a mixing bowl and beaters in the fridge for 10 minutes.
2. Whip the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form.
3. In a serving dish, layer crackers or wafers, whipped cream, and berries.
4. Repeat layers until you use all ingredients, finishing with cream and berries on top.
5. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
6. Slice and serve chilled.

Need more details? Here’s a no-bake summer berry icebox cake recipe.

8) Super Simple Tender Scratch Cake

You can whip up a tender, moist cake with just a handful of basic ingredients. No fancy gadgets required—honestly, that’s half the charm.

This cake always comes out soft and fluffy. It’s a go-to when you crave something homemade but don’t want to fuss.

Enjoy that fresh, scratch-made flavor without spending your whole afternoon in the kitchen. Works for birthdays, lazy weekends, or whenever you feel like it.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream the butter and sugar together until it looks light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then splash in the vanilla.
4. Stir flour and baking powder together in a separate bowl.
5. Add the dry mix and milk to the butter mixture, alternating between the two.
6. Pour everything into a greased 8-inch pan.
7. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick poked in the center comes out clean.
8. Let it cool before you dive in.

For more details, check out this Super Simple Cake Recipe.

9) Rainbow Layer Birthday Cake

A rainbow layer birthday cake just screams celebration. You’ll make thin cake layers, each one a different color—stack them up and there’s your rainbow.

The vanilla flavor is classic, nothing too wild, and you get to frost it however you like. White or cream cheese frosting really makes those colors pop.

No need for special equipment. Just your usual baking stuff and some food coloring. Honestly, it’s perfect for birthdays or any day that could use a little color.

Ingredients

• 3 cups cake flour
• 2 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups buttermilk
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• Food coloring (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.
3. Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until the mixture is light.
4. Add eggs one at a time, then pour in the vanilla.
5. Alternate adding dry mix and buttermilk, blending well each time.
6. Split the batter into six bowls and tint each one a different color.
7. Pour each colored batter into separate cake pans.
8. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
9. Let the cakes cool off before you stack and frost them.

10) Chef’s 1 Egg, 1oz Sugar, 1oz Flour Cake

This cake is as simple as it gets—perfect for when you want a little treat and not a huge mess. Just one egg, sugar, and flour, all in equal amounts. Easy to remember, right?

Start by whipping the egg and sugar together until they’re light and fluffy. Then, gently fold in the sifted flour to keep things airy.

Bake it at 350°F (175°C) until a toothpick comes out clean. That usually takes about 15-20 minutes, but don’t wander off too far.

Ingredients

• 1 large egg
• 1 oz (about 2 tablespoons) sugar
• 1 oz (about 3 tablespoons) cake flour

Cooking Instructions

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

2. Beat the egg and sugar together.
   Keep going until the mixture looks fluffy.

3. Sift the flour.
   Gently fold it into the egg mixture.

4. Pour the batter into a small cake pan you’ve greased.

5. Bake for about 15-20 minutes.

6. Check if it’s done with a toothpick—if it comes out clean, you’re good.

7. Let the cake cool down before you serve it.