10+ Homemade Cake Recipes to Try for Delicious, Easy Baking Fun

Baking a homemade cake is honestly one of those little joys that makes a regular day feel special. You get to play with fresh flavors and decide exactly what goes in—no weird additives or mystery ingredients.

You don’t have to be a pro baker to whip up a cake that tastes amazing. Seriously, the right simple recipe can make the whole process feel easy and, dare I say, pretty fun.

Craving a classic vanilla or itching to try something new? Homemade cakes always add a personal touch to the table.

Baking your own cake just makes any celebration feel more meaningful. Plus, it’s cool to see your skills improve each time you try a new recipe.

1) Classic Vanilla Butter Cake

If you want a cake that’s simple and packed with vanilla flavor, this one’s for you. Butter, sugar, and a few other basics—most of them are probably in your kitchen already.

Butter keeps things moist and adds that rich, unmistakable taste. You start by creaming together sugar, butter, baking powder, and salt.

That step helps the texture stay smooth and soft. Next, you mix in eggs and vanilla for flavor.

The batter comes together easily and feels super silky. You can eat this cake plain, frost it, or even freeze some for later.

Ingredients

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

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
3. Mix baking powder and salt into flour.
4. Add flour mixture to butter mixture slowly.
5. Beat in eggs one at a time.
6. Stir in milk and vanilla.
7. Pour batter into greased pan.
8. Bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

2) Simple White Cake with 7 Ingredients

This white cake keeps things easy with just seven ingredients. When you want something homemade but don’t want to fuss, it’s a solid go-to.

You’ll end up with a light, classic cake that’s good for just about any occasion. Mixing everything takes hardly any time, and you can have this cake ready in under an hour.

No need for fancy gadgets or anything like that. The result? Soft, moist cake you can dress up with frosting or eat plain with your coffee.

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

3) Japanese-Style Moist Yellow Cake

Japanese-style yellow cake is all about that soft, moist texture. It’s lighter than most Western cakes but still buttery and satisfying.

If you like your desserts less sugary, this is a great pick. The batter uses extra egg yolks for creaminess.

Folding the batter gently keeps it fluffy. Baking at a lower temp (about 325°F) locks in moisture.

Top it with whipped cream or fresh fruit if you’re feeling fancy—or just eat it plain.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
• 4 large eggs
• 3/4 cup (150g) sugar
• 1/4 cup (60g) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp baking powder

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).
2. Separate egg yolks and whites.
3. Whisk yolks with half the sugar until pale.
4. Gently fold in melted butter, milk, and vanilla.
5. Sift flour and baking powder; add to yolk mix.
6. Beat egg whites with remaining sugar until stiff peaks form.
7. Fold egg whites carefully into batter.
8. Pour into a greased pan.
9. Bake 40-45 minutes until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

4) Berry Icebox Cake

Berry icebox cake is a summer classic—no oven needed, just layers of berries, cream, and crunchy cookies. You throw it together and let the fridge do the work.

The flavors blend as it chills, making each bite creamy and bright. Use whatever berries you have on hand—strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, go wild.

The creamy layer is usually whipped cream, sometimes mixed with cream cheese or pudding for extra oomph.

Ingredients

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

Cooking Instructions

1. Beat heavy cream with powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.
2. In a separate bowl, mix cream cheese and vanilla extract until smooth.
3. Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture gently.
4. Layer wafers or graham crackers at the bottom of a dish.
5. Spread a layer of the cream mixture over the crackers.
6. Add a layer of fresh berries.
7. Repeat layers until ingredients are used, ending with cream and berries on top.
8. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight for best results.

5) Lemon Butter Cake

Lemon butter cake brings a burst of citrus and a soft, gooey center—kind of a cross between a lemon bar and cheesecake. The tangy flavor isn’t too sweet, and the texture is just dreamy.

It’s great for gatherings or just a random Tuesday night. You’ll use fresh lemon juice and zest for that real lemon kick.

Bake it until golden, and you get a rich layer of lemony goodness on top.

Ingredients

• ¾ cup sugar
• ½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 1 egg
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla
• Zest of 2 lemons
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch of salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix melted butter and sugar in a bowl.
3. Beat in the egg and vanilla until smooth.
4. In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
5. Add dry ingredients to the wet mix. Stir in lemon zest and juice.
6. Pour the batter into a greased baking dish.
7. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden and set on top.
8. Let it cool slightly before serving.

Learn more about lemon butter cake on Flouring Kitchen.

6) Custard Cake

Custard cake is one of those desserts that looks way fancier than it is. When you bake it, the batter magically separates into layers—a soft cake on top, creamy custard in the middle, and a light base.

The flavor is mild but the texture is so satisfying. Add some fresh berries if you want a little extra zing.

You don’t need a ton of ingredients or time to pull this off. It’s a nice choice when you want something homemade but not complicated.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 2 cups lukewarm milk
• 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 4 eggs, separated
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix melted butter, milk, powdered sugar, egg yolks, flour, and vanilla until smooth.
3. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
4. Gently fold egg whites into the batter.
5. Pour into greased baking dish.
6. Bake for 45-50 minutes until top is golden and custard is set.
7. Let cool before serving for best texture.

You can find more details on custard cake recipes at Vanilla Magic Custard Cake.

7) Soft and Plush Homemade Vanilla Cake

If you want a cake that’s light, moist, and super soft, this vanilla cake fits the bill. Using oil instead of butter keeps it extra tender.

You’ll get that gentle vanilla flavor in every bite. It’s easy to make and works for pretty much any event.

Try topping it with your favorite frosting or just eat it as-is. The trick is to keep the batter smooth but don’t overmix—nobody likes a tough cake.

Check out this easy recipe for a homemade treat like this one.

Ingredients

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

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Grease and flour your cake pans.
3. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
4. In another bowl, beat oil and sugar. Add eggs one at a time.
5. Stir in vanilla.
6. Alternate adding flour mixture and milk, starting and ending with flour.
7. Pour batter into pans and bake 30-35 minutes.
8. Let cool before frosting.

8) Quick 5-Minute Vanilla Cake

Want cake but don’t want to wait? This quick vanilla cake takes just five minutes to prep.

You probably have all the ingredients already. The cake bakes in about 30 minutes and comes out moist and tasty.

Mix the dry and wet stuff separately, then bring it all together by hand or with a mixer. It’s perfect for those last-minute dessert cravings or when you just can’t bring yourself to open a boxed mix.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

3. In another bowl, whisk milk, oil, vanilla, and eggs.

4. Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir until smooth.

5. Pour batter into a greased 8-inch pan.

6. Bake 28-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

7. Let cool before serving.

You can find more details in a 5 Minute Vanilla Cake recipe.

9) No-Fail Red Velvet Cake

You can whip up a soft, moist red velvet cake at home with barely any fuss. The recipe keeps it simple with cocoa, buttermilk, and vinegar—nothing fancy, just the basics for that classic red velvet vibe.

Cream cheese frosting on top? Absolutely. It’s creamy, a little tangy, and cuts through the sweetness just right.

Mixing the batter only takes a few minutes, so you won’t be stuck in the kitchen all day. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for an even, moist crumb.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans.

2. Mix flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.

3. In another bowl, whisk buttermilk, oil, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla.

4. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet and stir until smooth.

5. Pour batter into pans and bake 25-30 minutes.

6. Cool cakes completely before frosting.

7. Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth, then add powdered sugar a bit at a time.

8. Spread frosting between layers and over the top.

10) Angel Food Cake

Angel food cake is all about that light, fluffy bite. Mostly egg whites, barely any fat, and a subtle sweetness—yeah, it’s kind of dreamy.

If you want a dessert that feels special but isn’t heavy, this is the one. No butter, no yolks, just a cloud-like crumb that almost melts away.

You’ve got to whip those egg whites until they’re stiff and glossy. That’s the secret to getting the cake to rise and stay airy.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cake flour
• 1 ½ cups white sugar, divided
• 12 large egg whites (room temperature)
• 1 ½ teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt

Cooking Instructions

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

2. Sift the cake flour with half the sugar. Just set it aside for now.

3. Grab your egg whites. Beat them with cream of tartar and salt until you see soft peaks.

4. Slowly add the rest of the sugar, still beating, until those peaks get stiff.

5. Fold in the flour mixture and splash in some vanilla extract. Go easy—you don’t want to deflate the batter.

6. Pour everything into an ungreased tube pan.

7. Bake for 35–40 minutes. You’re looking for golden and springy.

8. Flip the pan upside down and let the cake cool all the way before you even think about removing it.

For more tips, check out this angel food cake recipe.