Whether you create something special for a party or want to make your family a sweet treat, these decadent cake recipes are sure to fit the bill!
No special occasion is complete without a cake, whether birthdays, weddings, or holidays.
And even though there is nothing wrong with buying a ready-made one, nothing can beat cakes made from scratch.
It feels more personal, but you can also decide on the flavors and measurements.
Plus, it is the best way to hone your baking skills.
There are a lot of cake recipes that you can choose from, and you can think of any ingredients available, and there is probably a cake version of it.
From fruits like strawberries, apples, and pears to nuts like almonds, pecans, and pistachio, you can select the ones you prefer.
You can also go for sweets like vanilla, caramel, chocolate, and custard to savory ones like avocados and carrots; you will never run out of options.
If you are looking to make a show-stopping dessert, we’ve gathered 42 incredible cake recipes that you can try at home.
These recipes will surely impress your guests and family.
All you need are cake decorating ideas, thick frosting, and a couple of decorating tools, and you’ll feel like a pastry chef in no time.
You can also experiment with cake recipes like burnt, pounds, and classic layered ones.
Check out #2 and #32 if you want something to satisfy your chocolate cravings.
1. Vanilla Cake
This Vanilla Cake recipe uses the paste or reverses creaming method in baking, which have you mix the dry ingredients and sugar with the butter until it becomes sandy.
The wet ingredients come after, one at a time.
The method helps yield the cake in an even shape, making it sturdy enough for stacking and decorating.
The result is a fluffy and moist cake that has a light and tender inside.
You can frost and decorate with your favorite frosting for any celebration, or keep it simple by decorating it with whipped cream and berries for a quick dessert.
Chocolate cake is a true classic.
It has a moist crumb with a deep chocolate flavor.
The recipe is simple, as it only calls for a couple of ingredients you most likely have in your fridge or pantry, including cocoa powder, sugar, flour, baking powder, eggs, soda, milk, and vanilla extract.
This authentic chocolate cake recipe will become your go-to whether for a holiday, birthday or if you just want to give in to your cravings.
3. Carrot Cake
This classic Carrot Cake recipe is extra moist and has a tender crumb.
It is jam-packed with excellent add-ins, including nuts, pineapple, and raisins, if you want.
Top it off with cream cheese frosting and serve it chilled.
Make birthdays more memorable with this classic birthday cake recipe.
It is soft, fluffy, perfectly frosted, and loaded with sprinkles.
This vanilla yellow cake is covered with cream cheese, and it is up to you how you want to decorate it.
5. White Cake
White cake is a recipe that was initially created for weddings, but these days, this recipe is a common flavor cake baked for all types of occasions.
This classic is light, flavorful, fluffy, and has a moist crumb.
Just like a birthday cake and vanilla cake, you can decorate this in any style you want.
6. Fruit Cake
If you think fruit cake is dry, hard, and too thick, you’ve never tried this recipe.
It is chock-full of tasty dried fruit soaked in whiskey overnight and flavored with nutmeg, lemon juice, pumpkin spice, and almonds.
The candied cherries contribute more levels of flavor and wonderful texture.
You can use a dried fruit mixture you can purchase in stores or blend your own to make a customized cake balancing the mixture based on your preference.
This recipe is so good that one slice of this fruitcake will never be enough.
7. Coffee Cake
If you love coffee in the morning, you will be a fan of its dessert version.
Coffee Cake is succulent, sweet, spongy, and oozing with a coffee bean aroma.
This dish is butter-filled and has hints of cinnamon too.
You can serve this with a cup of hot coffee.
8. Custard Cake
Custard cake is similar to a chiffon cake with a topping egg and sweetened milk mixture called custard.
At first glance, this cake looks like a Leche Flan because of its topping, but it has a soft cake below.
This cake is creamy, sweet, and so soft that you don’t have to use a knife to cut it.
You can pair it with black coffee to balance the taste.
9. Ube Cake
A Philippine favorite, Ube cake is a moist, nutty, and flavorful dessert with purple yam, locally known as ube.
With this recipe, you can include coconut string jam, an ingredient always present in ube-based dishes.
10. Sponge Cake
A Sponge Cake is made with only a few ingredients you already have in your kitchen.
This is commonly used to make layered cakes, as frostings are usually placed in the middle and often covered in other flavors, but you can eat them as is.
It is soft, tasty, spongy, and so light that you won’t be able to resist eating more than one serving.
The Pineapple Upside Down Cake is a soft buttery dessert with a caramelized brown sugar cherry and pineapple topping.
Its juices seep beautifully into the cake, adding a more luscious flavor and solid texture.
The classic upside-down cake uses canned pineapple and maraschino cherries, which is perfect any time of the year.
12. Banana Cake
This Banana Cake recipe is moist, soft, and rich.
Once it is cooled, this heavenly cake is topped with an irresistible and tart lemon cream cheese frosting for a great dessert that your family will love.
This buttery and decadent Million Dollar Pound Cake recipe has been a staple in Southern kitchens for years.
It is made with simple pantry ingredients, and you can serve it on its own, or you can serve it with whipped cream, berries, ice cream, lemon curd, or other options.
This is a pound cake fan’s dream.
14. Brownie Cake
A tasty and decadent cake that you can make from scratch.
This tender and moist dessert is made using real chocolate and has an authentic crackly, meringue-like crust similar to a brownie.
Avocado toasts are a favorite of many, but did you know that you can incorporate its best traits into a cake too?
This Lemon Avocado Cake comes with a sweet blueberry topping and an incredible combination of flavors.
It is a vegan dessert that you will come back to again and again.
This Peanut Butter Cake is unbelievably easy to make.
It is a tried and tested recipe that only needs a handful of kitchen staples and is filled with peanut flavors.
Pair it with fluffy, creamy, and nutty peanut butter frosting, and this cake is suited for all peanut lovers.
Soft, rich, and filled with nutty goodness, this Butter Pecan Cake is for all pecan fiends.
The browned butter cream cheese frosting and the chopped pecans can make each bite of this cake a dream.
18. Pistachio Cake
This Pistachio Cake recipe has a real, punchy pistachio flavor.
It is flavorful, soft, and made with real pistachios.
To add more crunch, you can top it with pistachios and Italian meringue buttercream.
19. Oreo Cake
You can never go wrong with Oreo.
These chocolate cookies with vanilla filling can be seen in almost any pantry.
What better way to enjoy it than to make a cake out of it?
This recipe has a moist chocolate sponge cake layered with sweet buttercream frosting made with crushed Oreo cookies.
20. Coconut Cake
Do you love coconut desserts?
This Coconut Cake is a must-try.
It is moist and soft, with sweet and mouthwatering cheese and coconut frosting.
This rainbow cake is layers and layers of fun and surprises.
It is filled with creamy frosting and sweet sprinkles; each slice will make you feel like a child again.
22. Lemon Pound Cake
This Lemon Pound Cake is the ultimate cake for lemon lovers.
The lemon juice and lemon zest are added to the batter, which lightly perfumes it with citrus goodness.
After baking, the cake is doused with tart lemon syrup and drizzled with lemon glaze, so you can get an intense lemon flavor with each bite.
Everything about this cake recipe is just excellent; from its golden crust to the delicate and dense crumb, everything is absolute perfection.
The cream cheese flavor is so outstanding that you do not need extra glaze or frosting.
This Chocolate Bundt cake will undoubtedly get rave reviews from your guests.
It is moist, sweet, and perfect for any celebration.
This cake oozes with chocolate goodness and will cure your chocolate cravings.
25. Poppy Seed Cake
If you are a fan of simple and classic recipes, you will love this Poppy Seed Cake.
This cake is not overly sweet and not too dense, and it has no frostings or glazes, just a light dusting of powdered sugar to give it a bit of flavor.
You can serve it for brunch or as a dessert with a side of fruit, hot tea, or coffee.
You can also serve it with cherries or strawberries on top or add a spoonful of whipped cream.
With cinnamon swirls and grated fresh apples, this unique Bundt Cake makes for a great dessert at any time.
It is light, moist, and full of fruity flavor.
Eating a delectable slice of cake is the best way to end a hearty meal.
This Moonshine Pound Cake recipe is worth the trial in the kitchen.
It is filled with fresh strawberries and tastes similar to the popular cocktail Moonshine.
28. Hummingbird Cake
This cake is tender, flavorful, and brimming with bananas, fresh pineapples, pecans, and spices, and it is topped with luscious cream cheese frosting and shredded coconut.
This cake is suited for Easter or other special occasions like birthdays and holidays.
Pumpkin spice is one of the most sought-after flavors, and there is a pumpkin spice version of almost every food and beverage, including cakes.
Pumpkin Spice Cake is available to curve your cravings.
It is filled with a strong cinnamon flavor, wonderfully moist, and topped with a heavenly cream cheese glaze.
30. Caramel Cake
This Caramel Cake has a buttery soft vanilla layer with simple caramel icing.
It is sweet and straightforward, and the frosting and drip are made with homemade caramel sauce.
Inspired by the sticky toffee pudding staple in British cuisine, this cake has layers of rich brown sugar cake surrounded with toffee sauce, toffee bits, and buttercream, all together into one incredible delight.
There are a lot of crunches and a lot of flavors in this cake.
This chocolate cake is fluffy, moist, and filled with luscious and creamy chocolate ganache.
It is frosted with whipped chocolate ganache and topped with a sweet chocolate drip.
It is rich, dark, and definitely not for the faint of heart.
Black Forest is a traditional German cake with chocolate sponge layers filled with cherries and creamy whipped cream.
This delicious dessert is fruity and sweet and can be served at birthdays and brunches
34. Applesauce Cake
Applesauce cake filled with brown butter frosting is an old-fashioned homemade layer cake that is moist, full of fantastic flavor, and mouthwatering.
It has the right amounts of brown sugar, cinnamon, and crunchy, toasty pecans.
35. Tres Leches Cake
Tres Leches Cake is tender and soaked in a three-milk mixture.
It is topped with fluffy whipped cream and fruits, but you can also top it with a sprinkle of cinnamon for an authentic Mexican treat.
Nutella is every chocolate lover’s favorite, so why not add it to your chocolate cake?
This recipe combines the sweetness of Nutella and the light tart of strawberries.
These two ingredients create a dessert that your family will love.
37. Apple Cake
With chunks of apples nestled beautifully in a tender, buttery rum cake, this Apple Cake is the essence of simplicity.
Each slice is deliciously spiced and makes for a wonderful dessert, snack, or breakfast.
38. King Cake
This King Cake recipe originated in Louisiana and has quickly risen to fame.
It is made with a rich and filling brioche dough.
This cake is often made for the state’s carnival season, which ends with Mardi Gras.
39. Gingerbread Cake
If you are looking for a classic Christmas dessert, look no further than the Gingerbread Cake covered in cream cheese frosting.
This decadent pastry is one to please the crowd.
This swiss roll is shaped differently than the other cakes on the list but is just as good.
It has a light sponge and creamy filling and is coated with a silky and irresistible ganache.
This recipe will be the show’s star if you serve it at a party.
41. Eggnog Cake
Eggnog Cake has three layers of heavenly goodness and is soaked in boozy syrup.
It is luscious, rich, and topped with buttercream spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon.
This dessert is too appetizing to pass up this holiday season.
42. Red Velvet Cake
Is it chocolate?
Is it vanilla?
It is up to you to find out.
Red Velvet Cake is made with layers of chocolate sponge filled with cocoa powder.
The cocoa reacts well with the buttermilk and keeps the cake light, fluffy, and moist.
The flavors of chocolate and cream cheese are delicately rich.
The bottom line
Why wait for the next big thing to celebrate when you can make any cake you want?
With these cake recipes, your desserts will never be the same again.
Don’t forget to share a slice with your family and friends.
Enjoy our tried-and-tested cake recipes below:
42 Decadent Cake Recipe Assortment
Whether you create something special for a party or want to make your family a sweet treat, these decadent cake recipes are sure to fit the bill!
Ingredients
- Vanilla Cake
- Chocolate Cake
- Carrot Cake
- Birthday Cake
- White Cake
- Fruit Cake
- Coffee Cake
- Custard Cake
- Ube Cake
- Sponge Cake
- Pineapple Upside Down Cake
- Banana Cake
- Million Dollar Pound Cake
- Brownie Cake
- Lemon Avocado Cake
- Peanut Butter Cake
- Butter Pecan Cake
- Pistachio Cake
- Oreo Cake
- Coconut Cake
- Rainbow Sprinkle Funfetti Cake
- Lemon Pound Cake
- Cream Cheese Pound Cake
- Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake
- Poppy Seed Cake
- Cinnamon Apple Bundt Cake
- Strawberry Moonshine Pound Cake
- Hummingbird Cake
- Pumpkin Spice Cake
- Caramel Cake
- Sticky Toffee Cake
- Chocolate Ganache Cake
- Black Forest Cake
- Applesauce Cake
- Tres Leches Cake
- Strawberry Nutella Cake
- Apple Cake
- King Cake
- Gingerbread Cake
- Chocolate Swiss Roll
- Eggnog Cake
- Red Velvet Cake
Instructions
- Skim through our Decadent Cake Recipes list.
- Select the cake you’re looking for.
- Prep the ingredients as instructed.
- Spill your thoughts on our Facebook page!