From luscious chocolate cakes to light angel food cakes and multi-tiered birthday cakes, it's a wide, delicious world of cake out there. Even if it's just a slab of simple, buttery pound cake enjoyed with a cup of coffee, there is something celebratory about eating a slice of cake. The flip side is that cakes tend to require more effort to bake than a tray of brownies or cookies, but that's no reason to worry. Our Food & Wine guide to cake includes tips from professional bakers (like starting with room temperature ingredients) to help you make an amazing dessert. We've also shared our best layer cakes, so you'll never wonder how to celebrate another birthday—plus bundt cakes, upside-down cakes, icebox cakes and more.
Strawberry Almond Cheesecake with Matzo Crust
Strawberry Almond Cheesecake with Matzo Crust
4 hrs
Fiadone (Corsican Cheesecake) with Chestnut Honey and Figs
Fiadone (Corsican Cheesecake) with Chestnut Honey and Figs
17 hrs 30 mins
Grilled Doughnuts with Blueberry Sauce
Grilled Doughnuts with Blueberry Sauce
25 mins
Olive Oil Thyme Cake with Figs and Black Pepper
Olive Oil-Thyme Cake with Figs and Black Pepper
2 hrs 10 mins
Caramel-Pear-Cheesecake Trifle
Caramel-Pear-Cheesecake Trifle
45 mins
Gluten-Free Lemon Drizzle Cake
Gluten-Free Lemon Drizzle Cake
1 hrs
banana cake with walnut streusel
Banana Sheet Cake with Walnut Streusel and Rum Glaze
2 hrs
Card Placeholder Image
Fifteen-Minute Magic Cake
Card Placeholder Image
Lane Cake
6 hrs
Peach Streusel Cake
Peach Streusel Cake
2 hrs
Babas au Rhum with Mixed Citrus Fruits
Babas au Rhum with Mixed Citrus Fruits
3 hrs 30 mins
Molasses-Gingerbread Cake with Mascarpone Cream
Molasses-Gingerbread Cake with Mascarpone Cream
1 hrs 30 mins
Air Fryer Basque Cheesecake
Air Fryer Basque Cheesecake
5 hrs 50 mins
Spice Cake with Bourbon-Pecan Frosting
Spice Cake with Bourbon-Pecan Frosting
2 hrs
Mini Spiced Pumpkins
Mini Spiced Pumpkins
1 hrs 15 mins
Strawberries-and-Cream Gelato Cake
Strawberries-and-Cream Gelato Cake
Card Placeholder Image
Lemon-Blueberry Yogurt Loaf Cake
3 hrs 30 mins
Almond Cake with Mixed Berries
Almond Cake with Mixed Berries
1 hrs 40 mins
Double Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Filling
Double Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Filling
3 hrs
Coconut Flour Carrot Cake
Coconut Flour Carrot Cake
1 hrs 15 mins
Hazelnut-and-chocolate meringue cake
Hazelnut-and-Chocolate Meringue Cake
4 hrs
Grapefruit Cornmeal Cake
Grapefruit Cornmeal Cake
2 hrs 30 mins
Warm Strawberry Crumb Cake
Warm Strawberry Crumb Cake
2 hrs 30 mins
Tres Leches Cake with Strawberries
Tres Leches Cake with Strawberries
5 hrs 45 mins
Apple-Raisin Crumb Cake
Apple-Raisin Crumb Cake
1 hrs 45 mins
Tres Leches Cake
Tres Leches Cake
1 hrs 15 mins
Blackberry-Cardamom Cupcakes with Lemon Frosting
Blackberry-Cardamom Cupcakes with Lemon Frosting
2 hrs
Chocolate Blackout Cake
Chocolate Blackout Cake
2 hrs 30 mins
Double-Chocolate Bundt Cake with Ganache Glaze
Double-Chocolate Bundt Cake with Ganache Glaze
1 hrs 30 mins
Sugar-Dusted Vanilla Ricotta Fritters
Gale Gand's Sugar-Dusted Vanilla Ricotta Fritters
30 mins
Red Velvet Cheesecake
Red Velvet Cheesecake
4 hrs
Rhubard Pudding Cake
Rhubarb Pudding Cake
45 mins
Lane Cake
Lane Cake
Chocolate and Fig Cake
Chocolate and Fig Cake
3 hrs
Lemon-Ricotta Cupcakes with Fluffy Lemon Frosting
Lemon-Ricotta Cupcakes with Fluffy Lemon Frosting
3 hrs
Card Placeholder Image
Citrus Glaze and Candied Zest
3 hrs
Brown Butter-Sour Cream Crumb Cake
Brown Butter-Sour Cream Crumb Cake
1 hrs 30 mins
Lemon drizzle cake
Lemon Drizzle Cake
2 hrs
Strawberry Shortcakes with Meyer Lemon Cream
Strawberry Shortcakes with Meyer Lemon Cream
1 hrs 30 mins
Rum-Mocha Walnut Layer Cake
Rum-Mocha Walnut Layer Cake
3 hrs
Beet Cake with Bourbon Sauce
Beet Cake with Bourbon Sauce
1 hrs 30 mins
Cherry-and-Chocolate Bûche de Noël. Photo © Michael Turek
Cherry-and-Chocolate Bûche de Noël
2 hrs 10 mins
Apple Cake with Toffee Crust
Apple Cake with Toffee Crust
3 hrs 45 mins
Pumpkin Cheescake with Pecan Praline Topping
Pumpkin Cheesecake with Pecan Praline Topping
6 hrs
Sacher Torte
Sacher Torte
2 hrs
Sour Cream Coffee Cake Muffins
Sour Cream Coffee Cake Muffins
1 hrs 5 mins
Almond Cake with Pears and Crème Anglaise
Almond Cake with Pears and Crème Anglaise
1 hrs 30 mins
Dulce De Leche Layer Cake. Photo © Petrina Tinslay
Dulce de Leche Layer Cake
4 hrs
Chocolate Lava Cakes with Strawberries
Chocolate Lava Cakes with Strawberries
1 hrs
Swirled Summer Berry Soufflés
Swirled Summer Berry Soufflés
30 mins
Mixed Berry Cornmeal Biscuit Shortcake
Mixed Berry Cornmeal Biscuit Shortcakes
45 mins
Breton Butter Cake
Kouign-Amann Cake (Breton Butter Cake)
2 hrs 25 mins
Spiced Carrot Cake with Brown Butter Frosting
Spiced Carrot Cake with Brown Butter Frosting
3 hrs
Raspberry Jam Bomboloni
Raspberry Jam Bomboloni
1 hrs 45 mins
Cardamom Spiced Crumb Cake
Cardamom-Spiced Crumb Cake
1 hrs 30 mins
Corn Biscuits with Savory Herb Streusel
Corn Biscuits with Savory Herb Streusel
2 hrs
Lemon Bundt Cake
Lemon Bundt Cake
2 hrs
Card Placeholder Image
Orange and Cardamom Upside-Down Cake
Maple-Buttermilk Pudding Cake
Maple-Buttermilk Pudding Cake
1 hrs
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Sticky Toffee Pudding
2 hrs 20 mins
Molten Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Filling
Molten Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Filling
40 mins
Glazed Korean Rice Cake Skewers with Spam
Glazed Korean Rice Cake Skewers with Spam
45 mins
Ice Cream Birthday Cake
Ice Cream Birthday Cake
5 hrs