10+ Loaf Cake Recipes for Easy and Delicious Baking Fun

Loaf cakes are such a simple, tasty treat to whip up at home. You really only need a handful of ingredients.

They’re perfect for snacks, breakfast, or dessert. Plus, you can play around with flavors and toss in whatever extras you’re craving.

You can make a loaf cake to suit your taste, whether you want something sweet, fruity, or even chocolatey. They’re easy to bake and honestly great for sharing—if you’re in the mood to share, that is.

Ingredients

• Flour
• Sugar
• Eggs
• Butter or oil
• Baking powder
• Flavorings (like vanilla, cocoa, fruit, or nuts)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl.
3. Beat eggs and wet ingredients in another bowl.
4. Combine wet and dry mixtures until smooth.
5. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan.
6. Bake for 45-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Let cool before slicing.

1) Cream Cheese Frosted Carrot Cake

This carrot cake loaf turns out moist and lightly spiced, just right for a simple dessert. The carrots bring a natural sweetness, and the creamy, tangy frosting on top is honestly hard to resist.

You don’t need a fancy mixer—just stir everything up in a bowl. Cinnamon and nutmeg give it warmth, but they don’t take over. Once it’s baked, the cream cheese frosting smooths everything out and keeps it from being too sweet.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup grated carrots
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil
• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream cheese frosting

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• ¾ cup powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
3. In another bowl, mix oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
4. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.
5. Fold in grated carrots.
6. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan.
7. Bake for 50 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 smooth.
10. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, mix well.
11. Spread frosting over the cooled cake.

Check out the full recipe here.

2) Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf Cake

A lemon poppy seed loaf cake is such a simple, bright treat. It’s moist, with a fresh lemon zing and those little poppy seeds for a bit of crunch.

The lemon zest really wakes up the whole loaf. You can drizzle a light lemon glaze over the top or leave it plain—either way, it’s lovely.

It bakes in about an hour and makes your kitchen smell amazing.

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cups (265 g) sugar
• ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
• Zest of 3 lemons
• 1 tbsp poppy seeds
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 2 large eggs

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a loaf pan.
2. In a bowl, cream butter and sugar until smooth.
3. Mix in lemon zest and poppy seeds.
4. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
5. Combine flour and baking powder, then add half to the mixture.
6. Stir in buttermilk, then add remaining flour mix.
7. Pour batter into the pan and bake for 50-60 minutes.
8. Let it cool before slicing.

Find more details in this lemon poppy seed loaf recipe.

3) Triple Chocolate Banana Loaf

If you’re after something super moist and packed with chocolate, this loaf is for you. Bananas keep it soft and sweet, while chocolate chips make every bite a little decadent.

Cocoa powder goes right in the batter for that deep chocolate flavor. Sometimes I’ll pour a chocolate glaze on top—why not?

You can mix this up in one bowl, which is always a win. Plus, it’s a great way to use up those bananas that are getting a little too spotty.

Ingredients

• 2 overripe bananas
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup chocolate chips
• Optional: chocolate glaze for topping

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
2. Mash bananas in a bowl. Add sugar and oil, mix well.
3. In another bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
4. Stir dry ingredients into wet mixture just until combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
5. Pour batter into the pan and bake for 55-60 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick.
6. Let cool before adding chocolate glaze, if using.

4) Funfetti Pound Cake

Making funfetti pound cake is just plain fun. It’s a classic vanilla pound cake, but with rainbow sprinkles mixed in for a pop of color.

After baking, I like to add a simple vanilla glaze or a swipe of buttercream. The sprinkles give a bit of crunch and make every slice look like a party.

You’ll only need basic ingredients: flour, eggs, butter, sugar, and vanilla. Here’s a lovely version with glaze at Funfetti Pound Cake – Browned Butter Blondie.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup rainbow sprinkles

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Grease a loaf pan and set aside.
3. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
6. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture alternately with milk, starting and ending with dry.
7. Stir in vanilla and fold in sprinkles gently.
8. Pour batter into the pan and smooth the top.
9. Bake for 60-70 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
10. Let cool before adding glaze or buttercream.

5) Sticky Toffee Loaf Cake

Sticky Toffee Loaf Cake is soft and sweet, with the flavors of dates and rich toffee. Brown sugar and syrup make it extra moist.

You’ll usually find a sticky toffee sauce drizzled over the top. If you want, add a sticky toffee buttercream for more sweetness.

It’s inspired by the classic British sticky toffee pudding, and it’s perfect for sharing.

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped dates
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup sticky toffee sauce (see your preferred recipe)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix dates with baking soda and boiling water; set aside to soften.
3. Cream butter and brown sugar until light. Add eggs one at a time.
4. Add flour alternately with milk, then fold in the softened dates.
5. Pour batter into a loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes.
6. Let cool slightly before drizzling with sticky toffee sauce.

For more info, check this Sticky Toffee Loaf Cake.

6) Mango Lime Loaf Cake

This mango lime loaf cake is a fresh, tropical bake that’s surprisingly easy. You don’t need a mixer, so it’s perfect if you want something simple with a big flavor payoff.

The cake turns out moist, with juicy mango pieces and a hit of lime zest. The lime keeps things bright and balances the mango’s sweetness.

Drizzle a lime glaze on top if you want an extra tangy kick. I love it for breakfast or as a snack.

Ingredients

• 2 large ripe mangoes, peeled and chopped
• Zest and juice of 2 limes
• 175g (1 1/3 cups) plain flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 175g (3/4 cup) butter, softened
• 175g (3/4 cup) caster sugar
• 3 large eggs

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Grease and line a loaf pan.
3. Beat butter and sugar until creamy.
4. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well.
5. Stir in lime zest and juice.
6. Fold in flour and baking powder.
7. Gently fold in chopped mango.
8. Pour batter into the pan and smooth the top.
9. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
10. Let cool before removing from the pan.

7) Honey Salabat Tea Cake

This Honey Salabat Tea Cake has a gentle ginger flavor from salabat, which is ginger tea. Honey sweetens it up, and lemon zest and juice brighten the whole thing.

The cake comes out soft and moist, thanks to sour cream and eggs in the batter. You mix cooled salabat with honey, oil, sugar, sour cream, eggs, vanilla, and lemon, then fold in flour and baking soda.

Bake until golden and a toothpick comes out clean. It’s just right with a cup of tea or as a sweet snack.

You can find a detailed recipe at Honey Salabat Tea Cake Recipe – NYT Cooking.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooled salabat (ginger tea)
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a large bowl, whisk salabat, honey, oil, sugar, sour cream, eggs, vanilla, lemon zest, and juice.
3. Add flour and baking soda. Stir until just combined.
4. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan.
5. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Cool before slicing and serving.

8) One-Bowl Molasses-Chocolate Cake

This cake comes together fast, and you only need one bowl. Rich chocolate chips meet the bold flavor of molasses for something a little different.

You might be surprised how moist and just-sweet-enough this cake turns out. If you want dessert without a lot of fuss, this recipe has your back.

After baking, try drizzling sweetened condensed milk over the warm cake. It soaks in and adds even more flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup molasses
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In one large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt, and sugar.
3. Add molasses, oil, milk, and vanilla. Stir until smooth.
4. Fold in chocolate chips.
5. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan.
6. Bake for 45-50 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Cool before slicing.

9) Classic Pound Cake

You really can’t go wrong with a classic pound cake. It’s simple, buttery, and just kind of comforting.

The dense but tender texture makes it a favorite for tea time or dessert. I always think it’s best sliced thick, maybe with some fruit on the side.

This cake uses equal parts flour, butter, sugar, and eggs. It’s old-school, and honestly, that’s part of the charm.

Baking it in a loaf pan gives you neat slices. You can serve it as is, or with a light glaze if you’re feeling fancy.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons 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 extract.
5. Gradually add flour, stirring just until combined.
6. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan.
7. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Let cool before slicing.

10) Fall-Spiced Yam Loaf

This fall-spiced yam loaf feels like a warm hug on chilly days. It’s moist, thanks to the yam or sweet potato, and it’s got a gentle sweetness.

Warm spices like cinnamon and ginger give it that unmistakable autumn vibe. I’d eat it for breakfast, but it’s also great as a snack.

You can enjoy it plain, or maybe with a little butter or cream cheese if you’re in the mood. Sometimes a little seasonal flavor is just what you need.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked, mashed yam or sweet potato
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

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

2. Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.

3. Grab a large bowl. Mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and your favorite spices.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and mashed yam.

5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ones. Stir gently—just enough to bring it all together.

6. Scoop the batter into the loaf pan.

7. Bake for 50-60 minutes. Stick a toothpick in; if it comes out clean, you’re golden.

8. Let the loaf cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then, move it to a wire rack.

If you’re craving more cozy treats, check out these loaf cake recipes.