🍰☀️ 30 BEST Summer Cakes To Boost Your Summer Parties! ☀️🍰

What do you think of when you think of the most delicious summer cakes? Icebox cakes or cake pops? Ice cream cakes? Airy angel food cake or strawberry shortcake? All of the above?

There are so very many reasons fun summer cakes come in handy! 

In some situations for celebrating, cupcakes are a good choice, and other times summer cake pops are just the right treat to finish a meal. 

Summer cake ideas are often fruit-focused while others are summer-themed cakes like the beach or the 4th of July. 

Often, summer cake ideas that are assembled fast for a cookout, served chilled, or don’t even need an oven. Light and lovely or chilled and fruity?

You will surely find some familiar summer cake recipes like Pineapple Upside Down Cake and Strawberry Shortcake Cake, but do not miss out on Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Cake+Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting or the S’mores Camping Cake! 

Give yourself permission to enjoy a summer cake this year! 

1. Key Lime Pound Cake

One of the easiest summer cakes on this list is this Key Lime Pound Cake! 

All the usual ingredients with the addition of key lime juice! 

A key lime glaze on top is super easy to make and add. 

This cake can be made in advance and kept in the fridge or frozen for future enjoyment.

2. Red, White & Blue Layer Cake

Patriotic summer cake ideas are always in vogue! 

In addition to the colorful icing and sprinkles, the effort is made to color the cake layers in red, white, and blue so the surprise is revealed when the cake is sliced and served! 

Pick up some gel colors and you’re in business!

3. Pink Lemonade Bundt Cake

Let’s capitalize on summer’s favorite drink, lemonade, in our summer cake recipes, shall we? 

This Pink Lemonade Bundt Cake has a surprise pink lemonade swirl in the middle and super fun sprinkles atop a lemon glaze! 

Lots of lemon ingredients with variations as well as tips and tricks!

4. Starbucks Cake Pops

This copycat recipe of Starbucks Cake Pops has a no-nonsense approach! 

Bake a box of cake mix. 

Break it up, stir in pre-made frosting, form into balls, insert sticks, and freeze. 

Melt almond bark or pink candy melts, roll the cake pops in the melt till fully coated, and add sprinkles!

5. Beach Poke Cake-Birthday Cake

Super fun summer birthday cake ideas include a cake that is decorated like a pool party! 

This is a poke cake so after the cake is baked and cooled, holes are poked with a straw and a filling is poured in before frosting with your favorite frosting dyed blue. 

The decorations could include Teddy Grahams, fish or lifesaver gummies, and crushed graham crackers for sand.

6. Watermelon Cake

It does not seem as though summer has truly arrived until I slice into a watermelon and enjoy that juicy sweet fruit! 

So, a summer-themed cake decorated to look like a watermelon is definitely fun! 

It even has a watermelon scent! 

This recipe is not for the faint of heart, but if you want to try something a bit fancier, this is a great option!

7. Jello Fruit Cake

A metal bundt pan, some fresh fruit, unflavored gelatin, apple juice, sugar, and lemon juice is all that are needed in this summer cake ideas fresh fruit dessert! 

Raspberries, mangoes, strawberries, green grapes, and red grapes are recommended. 

It does take at least four hours to set, so making it a day ahead is a great plan!

8. Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Cake+Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Elegant summer cake ideas have their time and place too, like this lemon blueberry creation! 

The textures of the cake and icing work well together and so do the flavors! 

Fantastic pictures to follow along with in addition to a video. 

The garnish on the top and sides is exquisite with lemon slices and edible flowers!

9. Peach Bellini Cake (Sparkling Wine Cake)

Got a box of cake mix, some sparkling wine, heavy cream, honey, fresh peaches, and jam? 

Then this fun summer cake is one you are ready to make complete with whipped cream and a drizzle of honey on top! 

Adult pleasing for sure since the water in the cake prep is substituted with sparkling wine!

10. S’mores Camping Cake

If winter is the only time s’mores cross your mind, this simple summer cake decorating idea of a camping cake will bring summertime onto that list with a cute little campfire showing s’mores as part of the decoration on top! 

Chocolate rules in this creation with a chocolate cake, icing, and decorations!

11. Watermelon Fruit Cake 

I took a few liberties when selecting recipes for this summer cakes collection as you will see here! 

This cake has no flour, added sugar, or eggs. 

Rather it is a creatively arranged cake shape creation using watermelon, peaches or nectarines, grapes or cherries, and mint leaves! 

Stunning, right? 

Mother Nature is to be thanked for this beauty!

12. Sunflower Cake

Summer cake ideas that revolve around summer flowers are beautiful! 

This one is iced to look like a sunflower in all its blooming glory! 

Chocolate is the main flavor used and there is a helpful video too! 

All the needed recipes are in the associated links. 

This post is a full explanation of how to decorate with the icing!

13. Strawberry Lemonade Cake With Sweet & Tart Lemon Curd Filling

There are often totally different summer cake recipes that can be made using similar ingredients. 

This Strawberry Lemonade Cake has three parts which are the cake, the curd, and the buttercream icing. 

Note the curd needs four hours to set and can be made the day ahead.

14. Bits Of Sunshine Cake Pops

A good read here about summer cake pops and how best to shape and decorate them. 

These adorable Sunshine Cake Pops were made with almond slivers being added around the cake pop before being dunked into the yellow candy melt with sprinkles as the final touch. 

15. Layered Watermelon Cake With Coconut Cream Frosting

This watermelon summer cake fresh fruit creation literally looks like a baked cake, but the inside is actual watermelon. 

Two huge slices of watermelon are iced with a coconut cream frosting just like a cake with berries for decoration! 

No matter what eating plan your guests are on, this cake is perfect!

16. Beach Themed Cake

The beach is the place many people enjoy during the summer so this summer-themed cake fits right in and is absolutely gorgeous! 

Excellent list of materials needed in addition to the cake and icing ingredients. 

Be prepared to talk about how you made this because everyone is going to ask!

17. Strawberry Shortcake Cake

I mean, how can you go wrong with summer cake ideas with fresh fruit-laden, like this classic, Strawberry Shortcake? 

Vanilla cake, fresh whipped cream, and gorgeous sweet strawberries are a timeless combination. 

You will have to try it to decide if you think the secret ingredient is a game changer!

18. Peach Dump Cake

Some of the best summer cake ideas easy to make are ones that are not necessarily beautifully iced on a cake plate. 

But rather, dump cakes. 

You read that right, dump cakes where all the ingredients are dumped in a casserole dish and baked to delicious perfection! 

Like this peach one! 

Gloriously easy and fabulously tasty, especially when served a la mode!

19. Patriotic Berry Cake

Fun summer cakes typically are associated with a holiday or special event. 

Here is a different take on a Memorial Day or July 4th cake!

This Berry Cake is made with red strawberries, white vanilla cake, and blueberries! 

The berries provide the filling between the cake layers as well as additional decoration on top!

20. DIY Sprinkle Drip Cake

If you have been eyeing those drip cakes on Instagram, you know this simple summer cake decorating idea has been quite popular of late. 

This tutorial gives step-by-step instructions on how to make the best ganache for the job as well as tips on how to add sprinkles!

21. Hummingbird Cake

Some decidedly adult summer cakes have richer textures, ingredients, and heaven forbid, nuts! 

The lovely Hummingbird Cake has banana, pineapple, pecans, and spices all baked together with a decadent cream cheese frosting! 

Kind of a cross between a spice cake, a carrot cake, and banana bread. 

In other words, delicious!!

22. Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Oh yea, baby! 

Classic summer cake ideas absolutely have to include the Pineapple Upside Down Cake! 

It has it all from the moist cake to caramelized pineapple with cherries plus the whole, flip it over routine is such fun! 

Also, any extra pineapple slices left after layering the pan, are added into the batter for extra flavor!

23. Garden Vegetable Pound Cake

Another mashup taste here among my summer cake recipes! 

This Garden Vegetable Pound Cake is a cross between zucchini bread and carrot cake! 

Summer veggies are the stars here using zucchini, yellow squash, and carrots in the batter! 

Super easy to make pound cake!

24. S’mores Cake Pops

S’mores Cake Pops? Count me in! 

Start with chocolate cake mixed with chocolate icing and rolled into balls. 

Dip the balls into melted marshmallow-flavored candy melts (may only be available in the summer) and decorate with graham cracker crumbs and pieces of chocolate!

25. Watermelon Cookie Cake

Delicious and different summer birthday cake ideas abound and here we have yet another creative watermelon cake…cookie cake that is! 

I’m not sure which is more impressive, the thickness of this Cookie Cake or the bright icing colors!  

Either way, extra chocolate chips on top that double as seeds tie the look together perfectly!!

26. Summer Beach Cake

Earlier we had a summer-themed cake with a beach on top of a poke cake. 

This time it is on a pre-bought ice cream cake. 

Similar idea with a totally different design of cake when served! 

Clear instructions are given on how to decorate this beach-themed cake.

27. Ultimate Orange Cake 

If you are lemon and “strawberried” out on summer cake ideas, how about orange? 

Still has a refreshing citrus flavor and it is nice to have another fruit take center stage. 

The recipe uses orange juice and zest in both the cake and the glaze so that tells you what amazing flavor the cake has!

28. Mango Cake With A Coconut Caramel Drizzle

Ever made summer cake ideas easy using a new recipe that will wow your guests? 

This tropical coconut Mango Cake definitely would qualify! 

It has an exotic flair and an unexpected coconut caramel sauce on top. 

Mango puree can be purchased or you can make your own!

29. Strawberry Shortcake Cake Pops

Time to take that lovely strawberry shortcake and turn it into fun summer cake pops! 

The consistency of the cake ball will take some customizing depending on how juicy the strawberries are, (less juice is better) since a play-doh consistency is what works best. 

Freeze-dried strawberries would be another good option.

30. Summer Celebration Ice Cream Cake

Brownie crust, ice cream middle, and chocolate drizzle make for a delicious simple summer cake! 

The brownie is baked and cooled completely before the ice cream is then added.

Next, the whole pan is frozen for three hours. 

When ready to serve, thaw for ten minutes, cut pieces, garnish with berries, and drizzle with chocolate!

The bottom line

I wish you a wonderful summer filled with fun and family and lots of adventures and sweet summer cakes! 

Looking for more Summer food or drink options? How about 32 Incredible Summer Potluck Recipes, 27 BEST Summer Casseroles, 27 Sizzling Summer Appetizers, 21 Summer Soups Recipes, and 30 Easy Summer Cocktails.