16 Easy Cake Recipes (2024)

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  • Desserts

You don't need to be a pastry chef to bake the perfect cake.

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16 Easy Cake Recipes (1)

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Updated on August 25, 2023

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16 Easy Cake Recipes (2)

If you're anything like the participants on Worst Bakers in America, you know you can mess up a cake recipe in many ways, even if you thought you were precise with your measurements. Fortunately, a homemade cake doesn't have to be daunting.

Try one of these quick and easy cake recipes if you're a beginner baker and want to boost your confidence. Each recipe was hand-selected to be simple and relatively painless. In one short afternoon, you'll be able to perfect a delicious crumb cake, cheesecake, chocolate cake, and more.

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Easy Ice Cream Cake

16 Easy Cake Recipes (3)

The secret to this astonishingly simple four-ingredient dessert? Using ice cream sandwiches to build your cake.

Get the recipe: Easy Ice Cream Cake

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Strawberry Ice Cream Cake

16 Easy Cake Recipes (4)

Ripe strawberries give vanilla ice cream a beautiful pink hue; top the dessert with fresh whipped cream before serving.

Get the recipe: Strawberry Ice Cream Cake

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Slow Cooker Apple Spice Cake

16 Easy Cake Recipes (5)

Cinnamon, cloves, and grated fresh ginger give this dessert a warm, comforting spiciness.

Get the recipe: Apple Spice Cake

04of 16

Glazed Lemon Pound Cake

16 Easy Cake Recipes (6)

This citrusy, buttery cake can be baked and glazed up to a day in advance.

Get the recipe: Glazed Lemon Pound Cake

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Chocolate-Earl Grey Cake

16 Easy Cake Recipes (7)

Add a cup of Earl Grey tea into the batter to infuse the cake with bergamot flavor and fragrance.

Get the recipe: Chocolate-Earl Grey Cake

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Gingersnap Cherry Cheesecake

16 Easy Cake Recipes (8)

The gingersnap crust is easy to make—just grind the cookies in a food processor, then combine with melted butter and press into a pan.

Get the recipe: Gingersnap Cherry Cheesecake

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Classic Cheesecake

16 Easy Cake Recipes (9)

This ultra creamy, fabulously rich cheesecake takes just 30 minutes to prep.

Get the recipe: Classic Cheesecake

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Berry Oat Crumble Cake

16 Easy Cake Recipes (10)

Sprinkle the berry filling with a tasty oat mixture before baking; the oats will become crumbly, complementing the sweet and juicy berry layer.

Get the recipe: Berry Oat Crumble Cake

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Plum Cake

16 Easy Cake Recipes (11)

This gorgeous seven-ingredient cake boasts a delightfully sticky, juicy fruit topping.

Get the recipe: Plum Cake

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Strawberry Shortcake

16 Easy Cake Recipes (12)

You don't even need to prep anything for this easy strawberry shortcake recipe—simply pick up a tube of homestyle biscuits, strawberries, and whipped cream.

Get the recipe: Strawberry Shortcake

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Slow Cooker Angel Food Cake

16 Easy Cake Recipes (13)

Both strawberries and whipped cream provide a decadent topping for this light and easy angel food cake.

Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Angel Food Cake

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Nectarine Olive Oil Cake

16 Easy Cake Recipes (14)

Top this deceivingly easy cake with powdered sugar and serve with sliced nectarines.

Get the recipe: Nectarine Olive Oil Cake

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Marbled Pound Cake

16 Easy Cake Recipes (15)

Add a rich chocolate frosting to turn this baked treat into a decadent dessert.

Get the recipe: Marbled Pound Cake

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Toasted Coconut Refrigerator Cake

16 Easy Cake Recipes (16)

With just four ingredients—sweetened coconut, heavy cream, vanilla pudding, and ready-made pound cakes—you can create this easy crowd-pleasing dessert.

Get the recipe: Toasted Coconut Refrigerator Cake

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Slow Cooker Chocolate Pudding Cake

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This dump cake is incredibly straightforward. Simply drop in the ingredients, set the slow cooker, and forget about it for three hours.

Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Chocolate Pudding Cake

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Chocolate Hazelnut Swirl Cake

16 Easy Cake Recipes (18)

A cross between a decadent dessert and a breakfast-like coffee cake, this confection gets its zebra-like stripes from hazelnut and chocolate. The crunchy streusel topping ties the entire dish together and makes this dinner party-worthy.

Get the recipe: Chocolate-Hazelnut Swirl Cake

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16 Easy Cake Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are the 5 main ingredients in cake? ›

These basic ingredients for baking a cake are; flour, eggs, fat (usually butter), sugar, salt, a form of liquid (usually milk), and leavening agents (such as baking soda).

How do I make cake flour out of regular flour? ›

How to make cake flour: Whisk together 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons (105g) all-purpose flour and 2 tablespoons (14g) cornstarch. Use in place of cake flour in a recipe, substituting by equal weight or volume.

What are 15 baking ingredients? ›

Essential Baking Ingredients: How to Stock Your Pantry
  • Flour. Must-Have Flour. ...
  • Leaveners. Leaveners react with other ingredients to cause a chemical reaction, which is what gives baked goods lift and rise. ...
  • Sugars. Must-Have Sugars. ...
  • Cocoa Powder. Must-Have Cocoa Powder. ...
  • Salt. Must-Have Salt. ...
  • Dairy. ...
  • Fats. ...
  • Extracts and Flavorings.
Jan 21, 2021

What are the 10 ingredients of cake? ›

Top 10 Baking Essentials Ingredients For A Cake. Flour, sugar, and butter are the key ingredients for a killer cake. Eggs bind everything together, while leavening agents like baking soda or powder invite the fluff. Cocoa powder adds a chocolate kick to your bakes; dried fruits and nuts offer chewy textures.

What ingredients do you mix first in a cake? ›

All ingredients should be at room temperature for best results. Start by beating the butter and sugar together, then add eggs one at a time. Alternate adding dry and wet ingredients and scrape the bowl to ensure everything is mixing evenly.

Do you add eggs or flour first cake? ›

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a medium bowl, stir together dry ingredients. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating just until combined after each addition.

Can I make my own cake flour? ›

You can make cake flour at home with just two ingredients: all-purpose flour and cornstarch! To do so, measure out 1 cup of all-purpose flour into a bowl. Then, scoop out 2 Tablespoons of the flour and replace with 2 Tablespoons of cornstarch. You can also scale the recipe up and down accordingly.

What can I use if I don't have cake flour? ›

Making a cake flour substitute is easy with the following two ingredients: all-purpose flour and either cornstarch or arrowroot powder. Start with one level cup of AP flour, remove two tablespoons of the flour, and add two tablespoons of cornstarch or arrowroot powder back in.

What happens if you use plain flour in a cake? ›

Because plain flour contains no extra ingredients, including rising agents, your cakes and pastries won't rise if you use this type of flour as it is. You'll need to add a rising agent, such as yeast or baking powder, into the plain flour if you want your baked goods to rise and become appetisingly fluffy.

What is the secret to a perfect cake? ›

The next time you're baking a cake, keep these simple tricks in mind:
  1. Prep the ingredients. Have all of the ingredients at room temperature, unless the recipe directs otherwise. ...
  2. Use the right flour. ...
  3. Prep your pans. ...
  4. Alternate wet and dry ingredients. ...
  5. Preheat. ...
  6. Release air bubbles. ...
  7. Test for doneness. ...
  8. Cool down.
Jun 29, 2022

What are the 4 basic components of cake? ›

Flour, sugar, egg and fat form the basic components of all cakes. Understanding the function of each of these ingredients in cake baking can give us a better idea of where we can substitute super foods such as flax, chia, or mushrooms.

What are the 4 main ingredients in baking? ›

Flour, water, and leavening agents are the ingredients primarily responsible for the characteristic appearance, texture, and flavour of most bakery products. Eggs, milk, salt, shortening, and sugar are effective in modifying these qualities, and various minor ingredients may also be used.

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