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If you’re a fan of cake, you know you don’t really need a reason to enjoy a slice. And with so many delicious types of cakes out there, it would be a shame to have to wait for a holiday or celebration to bake up a recipe and dig in, right? Sheet cakes, Bundt cakes, cheesecakes, and even individual mug cakes—they are worth every delectable bite. But when those special occasions do roll around, perhaps the most popular choice is a layered cake. It’s what most people think of when they picture birthday cakes or super fancy wedding cakes.
With tier after tier of cake and frosting, layer cake recipes look as impressive as they taste. And while they can take some time to assemble, they aren’t necessarily hard to make. Follow a few tips for frosting cakes, rely on decorations like coconut and edible flowers to gussy up the outside, and you’ll have a masterpiece in no time. There are even some no-bake desserts that remove the oven from the equation entirely but still keep those layers of deliciousness.
No matter what flavor you like, there's a layer cake for you. There are chocolate desserts, lemon desserts, strawberry desserts, and more. You'll even find both traditional and nontraditional carrot cake recipes. So no matter the season, even if there's nothing special on your social calendar, isn't the fact that there are so many yummy layered cakes to try reason to celebrate anyway? Good, now go bake yourself a cake!
Lemon Cake
The perfect balance of sweet and tart, a lemon cake is a classic you can make anytime. Both the cake and the frosting zing with bright citrusy flavor, so every bite will be just as juicy as the last.
Get the Lemon Cake recipe.
Birthday Cake
Layers of chocolate cake, vanilla buttercream, and a healthy dose of sprinkles make this a classic, go-to recipe no matter who might be blowing out the candles. The cake is super moist thanks to the buttermilk and oil in the batter. You'll be celebrating for days (if it lasts that long)!
Get the Birthday Cake recipe.
Hummingbird Cake
Do you like banana bread? Then you'll love hummingbird cake. It's loaded with warm spices, pineapple, and banana for a dense and flavorful cake, which is then topped with delectable cream cheese frosting. Hello, sweet, sweet comfort food!
Get the Hummingbird Cake recipe.
Ice Cream Cake
Ice cream lovers, rejoice! This is the best way to get a taste of three different ice creams and loads of toppings all in one bite. This recipe is endlessly flexible, so you can use whatever flavors you like best to customize.
Get the Ice Cream Cake recipe.
Coconut Layer Cake
This fluffy cake gets a double dose of coconut on the inside with extract in both the cake and frosting, plus loads on the outside. That shredded coconut not only adds flavor but makes the decorating so easy.
Get Ree's Coconut Layer Cake recipe.
Chocolate Raspberry Cake
Rich chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting gets an extra flavor boost thanks to fresh raspberries and crunchy pistachios. This stunner is especially perfect for special occasions because it also has chocolate curls on top!
Get the Chocolate Raspberry Cake recipe.
German Chocolate Cake
If you want a cake that's a bit more of a challenge but worth the effort, look no further than decadent German chocolate cake. That ooey-gooey coconut and pecan filling pairs perfectly with chocolate cake for an irresistible dessert.
Get the German Chocolate Cake recipe.
Coffee-Toffee Crunch Cake
If you like coffee as much as Ree Drummond does, you have to try this cake! The secret is instant coffee granules in both the cake and the frosting for that double dose. Top with Heath candy bars for added crunch, and you'll definitely love this buzzy cake.
Get Ree's Coffee-Toffee Crunch Cake recipe.
Chocolate Strawberry Nutella Cake
A simple chocolate cake only needs a few things to elevate it to greatness. In this case, those things are Nutella, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream. We love that it is left "naked" so you can see all the decadence as you serve it!
Get Ree's Chocolate Strawberry Nutella Cake recipe.
Sigrid's Carrot Cake
Ree's recipe is from her mom's dearest friend and it's easy to see why it's so popular. The moist cake is delectably "carrot-y" as Ree puts it and the frosting is the best combination of sweet and tangy. A second slice is a must!
Get Ree's Sigrid's Carrot Cake recipe.
Granny's Million Dollar Cake
You can thank Vallery Lomas' grandma for this winner! Layers of almond and vanilla-scented cake are filled with a sweet pineapple filling and topped with cream cheese frosting. It's bright and sweet and oh-so-delicious.
Carrot Cake Cheesecake
Okay, so this is a little different than a traditional layer cake. Instead of frosting, a layer of carrot cake gets topped with cheesecake instead! It's the best way to enjoy two desserts in one.
Get the Carrot Cake Cheesecake recipe.
Blackberry Icebox Cake
Want cake without turning on the oven? Try this recipe! It uses store-bought pound cake that's sliced horizontally and then filled with blackberries, jam, and whipped cream. Oh, and then you sprinkle toasted cake crumbs on top. Yum!
Get Ree's Blackberry Icebox Cake recipe.
Gingerbread Layer Cake
Hello, lots of layers! If you want a holiday stunner, try this spicy gingerbread cake. Six layers of cake and six layers of cream cheese frosting make 12 layers of absolute bliss.
Get the Gingerbread Layer Cake recipe.
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