What makes a delicious cake even more satisfying? When it's a beauty to behold! Check out our most beautiful cakes that are loaded with fresh fruit, dipping in chocolate ganache or stacked layer after layer.
The Most Beautiful Cakes We’ve Ever Made
Updated on May 01, 2024
1/57
Minted Chocolate Torte
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Our family has enjoyed this remarkable layered cake for years. It's a favorite for many occasions. —Barbara Humiston, Tampa, Florida
2/57
Ginger-Glazed Lemon Bundt
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Tangy ginger, tart lemon and puckery cranberries make this melt-in-your-mouth cake as crisp—and gorgeous—as autumn. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
3/57
Unicorn Cake
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This magical unicorn cake tastes as good as it looks. Baking in smaller pans creates impressive height, and a few simple decorating tricks turn it into a showstopping dessert. —Lauren Knoelke, Des Moines, Iowa
4/57
Malted Chocolate & Stout Layer Cake
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
If you want a dessert that will take the cake at a St. Patrick's Day celebration, look no further! The rich chocolate cake is incredibly moist and has a nice malt flavor that's perfectly complemented by the Irish cream frosting. —Jennifer Wayland, Morris Plains, New Jersey
5/57
Chocolate Hazelnut Torte
Total Time
55 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Most cake recipes feed a crowd. So we came up with this elegant little cake that serves six. That's enough for two…with just the right amount of leftovers! —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
6/57
Spice Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Whenever I get a craving for a tasty old-fashioned treat, I make this cake. Great cooks in my family have been baking it for generations, and their families have been enjoying the wonderful spice flavor and rich frosting.
—Nancy Duty, Jacksonville, Florida
7/57
Funfetti Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This simple and tender cake has been celebrated in my family for years. Dressed up with tinted frosting and confetti, it becomes pure party fun. — Karen Berner, New Canaan, Connecticut
8/57
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
14 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The combination of mocha and peanut butter will satisfy every sweet tooth at your table. The garnish is a little extra work, but what are special occasions for? —Tammy Bollman, Minatare, Nebraska
9/57
Chocolate Ganache Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This decadent triple-layer beauty is pure chocolate indulgence. The cake layers can be frozen prior to final assembly; in fact, they're easier to work with when frozen. —Kathleen Smith, Overland, Missouri
10/57
Pina Colada Tube Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We named this a “pina colada” cake because it has coconut, pineapple and rum. It’s a soothing finish at the end of a big spread. —Debra Keil, Owasso, Oklahoma
11/57
Citrus Cornmeal Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Cornmeal adds a rustic quality to this delicate dessert flavored with citrus and almond. It makes a great holiday party hostess gift and is sure to be a staple in your recipe collection. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California
12/57
Lemon Ricotta Cake
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This lemon ricotta cake recipe is a family gem that was passed down from my grandmother and mother. Garnished with shaved lemon zest, the moist four-layer cake is the perfect dessert when you want to impress. —Nanette Slaughter, Sammamish, Washington
13/57
Rainbow Cake with Clouds
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Some cakes stand on their own without icing. For this bright Rainbow Cake, use a little whipped cream to make fluffy clouds. —Janet Tigchelaar, Jerseyville, Ontario
14/57
Chocolate Swirl Delight
Total Time
25 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I made a few updates to a great recipe and ended up with an impressive dessert. Everyone loves its light texture and chocolaty flavor. —Lynne Bargar, Saegertown, Pennyslvania
15/57
Brown Sugar Pound Cake
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This tender pound cake is the first one I mastered. You'll want to eat the browned butter icing by the spoonful. It tastes like pralines. —Shawn Barto, Winter Garden, Florida
16/57
Cranberry Layer Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I adapted a Bundt cake recipe to create this layer cake. Cranberries, walnuts and homemade frosting make it taste so delicious that you'd never guess it starts with a convenient cake mix. —Sandy Burkett, Galena, Ohio
17/57
Chocolate Carrot Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Finely shredding the carrots gives this cake an extra-nice texture. The walnuts sprinkled on top add crunch, but you can leave them off if you prefer. —Pamela Brown, Williamsburg, Michigan
18/57
Lemon Chiffon Cake
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This moist, airy chiffon cake was my dad's favorite. Mom revamped the original recipe to include lemons. I'm not much of a baker, but whenever I make this dessert my family is thrilled! —Trisha Kammers, Clarkston, Washington
19/57
Double-Chocolate Toffee Icebox Cake
Total Time
30 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother-in-law taught me that anything tastes good if you use enough chocolate or cream. This no-bake dessert proves she was right. Sometimes I use chocolate graham crackers and stack up the layers in a 9-inch square pan. —Bee Engelhart, Bloomfield Township, Michigan
20/57
Black Forest Cake
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
As far as I know, this cake recipe can be traced back to my German great-grandma. When I got married, my mother gave me a copy and I hope to someday pass it down to my children. —Stephanie Travis, Fallon, Nevada
21/57
Banana Split Cake
Total Time
30 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
One day a friend showed me how to make a traditional icebox cake with just cream and graham crackers. I make it extra special with the fruit. Now everyone at your potluck can have a banana split with no fuss! —Shelly Flye, Albion, Maine
22/57
Strawberry Mascarpone Cake
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Don't let the number of steps in this recipe fool you —it's easy to assemble. The cake bakes up high and fluffy, and the berries add a fresh fruity flavor. Cream cheese is a good substitute if you don't have mascarpone cheese handy. —Carol Witczak, Tinley Park, Illinois
23/57
Mille Crepe Cake
Total Time
2 hours
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
No other dessert has wowed family and friends the way this stunning crepe cake did the first time I made it. A showstopper in every sense of the word, it features layers of tender chocolate crepes and rich white chocolate buttercream frosting draped in a semisweet chocolate ganache. —Tina Sawchuk, Ardmore, Alberta
24/57
Banana Skillet Upside-Down Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandmother gave me my first cast iron skillet, and I've been cooking and baking with it ever since. Sometimes I add drained maraschino cherries to this banana skillet dessert and serve it with a ice cream. —Terri Merritts, Nashville, Tennessee
25/57
Toffee Angel Food Cake
Total Time
1 hour 35 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Chopped toffee bits and whipped cream make the sweet flavor and light, moist texture of angel food even more indulgent. For best results, refrigerate the cake for at least an hour before serving. —Collette Gaugler, Fogelsville, Pennsylvania
26/57
Raspberry Fudge Torte
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This special-occasion cake impresses all who see and taste it. People are surprised to hear that this torte starts with a simple cake mix—they're sure I bought it at a bakery. —Julie Hein, York, Pennsylvania
27/57
Marble Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Pound cake and chocolate make the best marble cake. — Ellen Riley, Birmingham, Alabama
28/57
Cherry Cola Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Cherry cola and marshmallows make a zippy chocolate dessert that is scrumptious topped with vanilla ice cream. — Cheri Mason, Harmony, North Carolina
29/57
Cinnamon Twirl Roly-Poly
Total Time
50 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My whole house smells incredible when this cake is in the oven. Change it up with other extracts—maple is heavenly. —Holly Balzer-Harz, Malone, New York
30/57
Red Velvet Marble Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I watched my grandma prepare her red velvet showstopper many times for family get-togethers. The fluffy butter frosting perfectly complements the flavor of this gorgeous cake.—Jodi Anderson, Overbrook, Kansas
31/57
Sacher Torte
Total Time
55 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Guests will be surprised to hear that this Sacher torte recipe starts with a convenient cake mix. Each bite features chocolate, almonds and apricots. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
32/57
Maple Walnut Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This maple-flavored cake with candied walnuts honors beloved my grandpa, who made maple syrup when I was a child. It honors his memory and has proven to be a favorite with family and friends throughout the years. —Lori Fee, Middlesex, New York
33/57
Blackberry-Orange Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandmother made luscious fruit pies and cobblers using blackberries from her garden. I decided to follow her lead and create a blackberry cake that's always lovely with a summer meal. —Lisa M. Varner, El Paso, Texas
34/57
Coconut Pound Cake
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
“This cake is easy to make and is always a big hit,” writes Lisa Varner from Charleston, South Carolina. “I like to serve it with ice cream for a double-dose treat!”
35/57
Butter Pecan Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 pieces
From the Recipe Creator:
Pecans and butter give this cake the same irresistible flavor as the ever-popular butter pecan ice cream flavor. —Becky Miller, Tallahassee, Florida
36/57
Mamaw Emily’s Strawberry Cake
Total Time
40 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband loved his mamaw's strawberry cake recipe. He thought no one could duplicate it. I made it, and it’s just as scrumptious as he remembers. —Jennifer Bruce, Manitou, Kentucky
37/57
Carrot Cake with Pecan Frosting
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband constantly requests this homey, old-fashioned version of carrot cake. The frosting is still tasty even without the pecans. —Adrian Badon, Denham Springs, Louisiana
38/57
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe won several blue ribbons at our state fair. The made-from-scratch chocolate layer cake topped with a fudgy homemade frosting is truly a can't-miss dessert. —Donna Carman, Tulsa, Oklahoma
39/57
Moist Lemon Angel Cake Roll
Total Time
45 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Tart and delicious, this pretty cake roll will tickle any lemon lover's fancy. Its feathery, angel food texture enhances its guilt-free goodness. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
40/57
Red Velvet Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
14 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
It's just not Christmas at our house until this festive cake appears. This is different from other red velvets I’ve had; the icing is as light as snow. For quicker assembly, you can leave the layers untrimmed and simply frost the top and side of the cake with icing. —Kathryn Davison, Charlotte, North Carolina
41/57
Skillet Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For a change of pace, you can substitute fresh or frozen peach slices for the pineapple in this old-fashioned recipe. —Bernardine Melton, Paola, Kansas
42/57
Jam Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I remember my Aunt Murna telling me she made this old-fashioned jam cake often when she was a young girl. Through the years, she made improvements to it, and her cake became a real family favorite. It has been a popular staple at our reunions. —Janet Robinson, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
43/57
Lemon-Blueberry Pound Cake
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Pair a slice of this moist lemon-blueberry cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It's a staple at our family barbecues. —Rebecca Little, Park Ridge, Illinois
44/57
Peeps Sunflower Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The inspiration for this cake came from one of my favorite flowers, the sunflower. The yellow peeps make eye-catching flower petals, and I carefully placed chocolate chips in a circular pattern to resemble the seeds in the middle of a sunflower. This cake is easy, but looks quite impressive. —Bethany Eledge, Cleveland, Tennessee
45/57
Raspberry Custard Kuchen
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Back where I grew up in Wisconsin, people have been baking this German treat for generations. We love it for breakfast or as a special dessert. It's no fuss to fix and impressive to serve. —Virginia Arndt, Sequim, Washington
46/57
Lemon Meringue Angel Cake
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
14 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I've been told that this dessert tastes exactly like a lemon meringue pie and that it's the best angel food cake anyone could ask for. I'm not sure about all of that, but it is delightful to serve, and each slice is virtually fat free. —Sharon Kurtz, Emmaus, Pennsylvania
47/57
Lemon Pound Cake
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Citrus trees grow abundantly in California, and I'm always looking for new recipes which use the fruit from the orange and lemon trees in my yard. This lemon pound cake is one of my favorites! My mother passed this recipe down to me. —Richard Killeaney, Spring Valley, California
48/57
Pumpkin Torte
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This beautiful layered cake has a creamy filling with a mild pumpkin flavor and a little spice. It is quick and always turns out so well. The nuts and caramel topping add a nice finishing touch. —Trixie Fisher, Piqua, Ohio
49/57
Peach Upside-Down Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Folks have been flipping over this peach upside-down cake for generations. This dessert is very popular with my family and guests. —Terri Kirschner, Carlisle, Indiana
50/57
Strawberry Shortcake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I grew up helping my mom make a lot in our farmhouse kitchen; strawberry shortcakes, roasts, soups and pies. This sunny strawberry shortcake recipe brings back memories of family summers on the farm. —Janet Becker, Anacortes, Washington
51/57
Ice Cream Cake
Total Time
20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This eye-catching dessert is actually easy to prepare and keeps well in the freezer for days. It's nice to be able to serve cake and ice cream in one slice.—Anne Scholovich, Waukesha, Wisconsin
52/57
Orange Dream Angel Food Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A basic angel food cake becomes a heavenly indulgence, thanks to a hint of orange flavor swirled into every bite. The orange color makes slices of the cake look so pretty when arranged on individual dessert plates.—Lauren Osborne, Holtwood, Pennsylvania
53/57
Mocha Yule Log
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This eye-catching dessert is guaranteed to delight holiday dinner guests. Chocolate lovers will lick their lips over the yummy cocoa cake, mocha filling and frosting. For a festive touch, I garnish the log with marzipan holly leaves and berries. —Jenny Hughson, Mitchell, Nebraska
54/57
Chocolate Bavarian Torte
Total Time
45 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Whenever I take this eye-catching torte to a potluck, I get so many requests for the recipe. —Edith Holmstrom, Madison, Wisconsin
55/57
Lemon Blueberry Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 slices
From the Recipe Creator:
Showcase the bright flavors of spring with this delightfully refreshing lemon blueberry cake. Lemon juice and zest give a citrusy punch, while sprinkled blueberries give a touch of sweetness. —Sarah Farmer, Waukesha, Wisconsin
56/57
Chocolate Bundt Cake
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Our chocolate Bundt cake recipe calls for melted chocolate, baking cocoa and espresso powder in the batter to ensure each slice is rich and decadent. Make this cake for guests who are chocolate lovers—it will be a hit! —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
57/57
Mango Mousse Cake
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This light and moist cake's fruitful flavors will take you right to the tropics. Dallops of mango puree and a heavy whipping cream-based mousse make each bite melt-in-your-mouth delicious. —Sue Draheim, Waterford, Wisconsin
