This recipe collection is perfect for when you are celebrating a milestone event such as a birthday, hosting a holiday dinner with family and friends, or even just wanting something sweet after dinner.
You’ll find cakes suitable for any type of occasion from a simple single pan to elaborate multiple tiers.
1. Lemon Poppyseed Sheet Cake
When we host large gatherings of people, one of my go-to dessert options is the Lemon Poppy Seed Cake.
It is perfect for feeding many people because it does not require much effort to prepare.
I enjoy the addition of cream cheese icing on the cake, which complements the zesty flavours in the lemon.
Making this cake in a sheet pan also saves time as there is no need to create layers for the cake; it is simply poured into a single pan!
Plus, it stays fresh for several days, making leftovers more enjoyable!
2. Earl Grey Chocolate Cake
The concept of adding Earl Grey Tea to a Chocolate Cake might seem extravagant; however, it is an incredibly straightforward recipe!
In fact, most people do not even know that it is made with Earl Grey Tea.
The flavours are quite distinct because of the subtle hints of floral flavours that add a unique touch to standard chocolate cake recipes.
As a result, many people believe that I am an excellent baker; I assure you, nothing could be further from the truth!
3. Lemon Bar Cake
The Lemon Bar Cake is simply a cake version of a Lemon Bar.
You still have all of the delicious gooey lemon filling that you would normally find in a lemon bar; however, the way in which it is prepared is much less finicky!
The base of the cake is the same as the traditional shortbread base for all lemon bars.
Once baked, simply cut them into squares; voila!
The Lemon Bar Cake has become my signature potluck contribution.
4. Egg Yolk Bundt Cake
Egg yolks create an extremely rich flavor for this cake; therefore, presentation-wise the cake has a beautiful golden hue.
I have taken advantage of the reverse-creaming method in this cake’s creation, although it seems like a difficult procedure, it allows for so much of the confusion to be eliminated from the process.
Utilizing this reverse-creaming technique yields a finer crumb than the traditional ‘creaming’ method, so it is worth the additional work involved.
5. Individual Strawberry Shortcake
These shortcakes seem elegant, but they’re actually incredibly simple to make.
Macerated strawberries and lemon whipped cream do all the heavy lifting; all you have to do is ensure that your shortcakes are rich, buttery and light in texture.
This makes them an ideal choice for a dinner party, as everyone gets a perfectly sized serving.
6. Everyday Cake
This is the cake you make whenever you just want a good piece of cake without making a lot of fuss.
This is a basic loaf cake that has a long shelf life due to the oil and yogurt mixture used in it.
I’ve got everything needed to make this cake on hand at all times because you just never know when you’re going to need cake!
7. Orange Olive Oil Cake
This cake is made very moist by using olive oil, and has a unique flavor that can only come from using an oil-based product.
When you rub orange zest into sugar before mixing, all the oils are released into the sugar and will be present throughout the cake, making the orange flavor jump out between every bite and adding an elegant flair to the cake without any extra work.
8. Classic Vanilla Bundt Cake
This is my go-to bundt cake recipe when I want to make something visually interesting but that reminds me of growing up.
Because of the sour cream, it doesn’t dry out, and it has a clean, pure vanilla flavor.
A simple glaze or just powdered sugar dusted on it would be the best way to serve this cake.
9. Best Carrot Cake Recipe
This carrot cake contains plenty of actual carrots and walnuts and is just moist enough for the batter to hold everything together.
The cinnamon flavor comes through strong and has that perfect carrot cake texture.
I always make sure to top it with cream cheese frosting because they just go so well together.
10. Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
This one-bowl banana cake will use up those old bananas that are overripe and just hanging around on your countertop!
The combination of the brown sugar and the warming spices will remind you of the fancier sibling of banana bread.
The cream cheese frosting perfectly mellows out the flavors of all that sweetness from the bananas and sugars.
11. No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake
If you want a cake but don’t want to worry about the whole oven thing, this no-cook cheesecake will satisfy your needs!
It has a creamy, light texture, which makes it look super fancy compared to the effort to make it!
The pumpkin spice flavor is just right – strong enough to know it’s pumpkin but not so strong that you can’t enjoy other flavors as well.
12. Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies
Whoopie pies are basically little handheld cakes, so they’re great for parties or when you want something more casual than a big cake.
The marshmallow fluff filling keeps them light and fluffy instead of overly sweet.
They taste just like the whoopie pies you’ll find in New England bakeries!
