Food & DrinkTaste Cakebirthday cake
Chocolate, carrot, vanilla, confetti, cheesecake ... what's your favorite?
By
Julie R. ThomsonTaste Senior Editor, HuffPostSome people are cake people. Others are pie people. We’re happy to each both (even at the same time), but it’s hard to argue that pie could ever be as celebratory as cake. It goes hand in hand with celebrations. Birthday cakes. Wedding cakes. Graduation cakes.
Whether it’s the amount of work that goes into a beautiful layer cake or the sprinkling of confetti sprinkles atop a simple sheet cake, there’s just something exciting about a cake.
While most cakes are reserved for an occasion, we found 50 cakes that should be baked and eaten any time -- preferably, all the time, because life is too short to not eat cake. Here are the 50 all-time best cake recipes, go on and have a slice (or four).
1
Half Baked Harvest
Better Together Chocolate Vanilla Birthday Cake
2
How Sweet Eats
Tres Leches Confetti Cake
3
Half Baked Harvest
Coconut Pecan Caramel Butter Cake
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4
Half Baked Harvest
Simple Chocolate Cake With Whipped Chocolate Buttercream
Get the Simple Chocolate Cake With Whipped Chocolate Buttercream recipe from Half Baked Harvest
5
How Sweet It Is
Easy Lemon Cake With Marshmallow Frosting
Get the Easy Lemon Cake with Marshmallow Frosting recipe from How Sweet It Is
6
Bakers Royale
Citrus Olive Oil Cake
Get the Citrus Olive Oil Cake recipe from Bakers Royale
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7
How Sweet It Is
No Bake Milk Chocolate Bailey’s Truffle Cake
Get the No Bake Milk Chocolate Bailey’s Truffle Cake recipe from How Sweet It Is
8
Half Baked Harvest
Almond Honey Cake With Strawberry Ripple Cream
Get the Almond Honey Cake with Strawberry Ripple Cream recipe from Half Baked Harvest
9
How Sweet It Is
Chocolate Pound Cake With Bacon Bourbon Frosting
Get the Chocolate Pound Cake with Bacon Bourbon Frosting recipe from How Sweet It Is
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10
11
Bakingdom
Confetti Cake With Chocolate Filling And Vanilla Buttercream
Get the Confetti Cake with Chocolate Filling and Vanilla Buttercream recipe from Bakingdom
12
The Faux Martha
Carrot Cake With Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
Get the Carrot Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting recipe from The Faux Martha
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13
14
15
Brown Eyed Baker
Coconut-Vanilla Bean Cake With Coconut Meringue Buttercream Frosting
Get the Coconut-Vanilla Bean Cake with Coconut Meringue Buttercream Frosting recipe from Brown Eyed Baker
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16
Leite's Culinaria
Pistachio Lover’s Pound Cake
Get the Pistachio Lover’s Pound Cake recipe from Leite's Culinaria
17
Sweetapolita
6-Layer Chocolate Sprinkle Cake
Get the 6-Layer Chocolate Sprinkle Cake recipe from Sweetapolita
18
Brown Eyed Baker
New York-Style Cheesecake With Fresh Strawberry Topping
Get the New York-Style Cheesecake with Fresh Strawberry Topping recipe from Brown Eyed Baker
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19
Brown Eyed Baker
Six-Layer Chocolate Cake With Toasted Marshmallow Filling And Malted Chocolate Frosting
Get the Six-Layer Chocolate Cake With Toasted Marshmallow Filling And Malted Chocolate Frosting recipe from Brown Eyed Baker
20
Life, Love & Sugar
Funfetti Millionaire Cake
Get the Funfetti Millionaire Cake recipe from Life, Love & Sugar
21
Half Baked Harvest
Red Velvet Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes
Get the Red Velvet Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes recipe from Half Baked Harvest
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22
23
Half Baked Harvest
5-Ingredient Chocolate and Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake
Get the 5-Ingredient Chocolate and Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake recipe from Half Baked Harvest
24
Pineapple & Coconut
Three Layer Pineapple Upside Down Cheesecake Cake
Get the Three Layer Pineapple Upside Down Cheesecake Cake recipe from Pineapple & Coconut
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25
How Sweet It Is
Chocolate Fudge Peanut Butter Cake
Get the Chocolate Fudge Peanut Butter Cake recipe from How Sweet It Is
26
Life, Love & Sugar
Sparkling Cranberry White Chocolate Cake
Get the Sparkling Cranberry White Chocolate Cake recipe from Life, Love & Sugar
27
Annie's Eats
Vanilla Caramel Latte Cake
Get the Vanilla Caramel Latte Cake recipe from Annie's Eats
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28
Apt. 2B Baking Co.
Orange-Almond Upside-Down Cake
Get the Orange-Almond Upside-Down Cake recipe from Apt. 2B Baking Co.
29
How Sweet It Is
Spiked Almond Joy Poundcake
Get the Spiked Almond Joy Poundcake recipe from How Sweet It Is
30
Sally's Baking Addiction
Lemon Blueberry Layer Cake
Get the Lemon Blueberry Layer Cake recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction
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31
Cooking Classy
Carrot Cake Cheesecake
Get the Carrot Cake Cheesecake recipe from Cooking Classy
32
Life, Love & Sugar
Oreo Layer Cake
Get the Oreo Layer Cake recipe from Life, Love & Sugar
33
James Ransom/Food52
Cold Oven Pound Cake
Get the Cold Oven Pound Cake recipe from Muffinj via Food52
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34
Kitchen Confidante
Nutella Ganache Covered Cheesecake
Get the Nutella Ganache Covered Cheesecake recipe from Kitchen Confidante
35
nannydeb/Food52
Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit Cake With A Hint Of Mint
Get the Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit Cake with a Hint of Mint recipe from nannydeb via Food52
36
Hungry Rabbit
Pistachio Baklava Cake
Get the Pistachio Baklava Cake recipe from Hungry Rabbit
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37
Annie's Eats
Yellow Butter Cake With Chocolate Frosting
Get the Yellow Butter Cake with Chocolate Frosting recipe from Annie's Eats
38
39
Life, Love & Sugar
Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Layer Cake
Get the Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Layer Cake recipe from Life, Love & Sugar
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40
Half Baked Harvest
Fudgy One-Bowl Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Pretzel Cake
Get the Fudgy One-Bowl Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Pretzel Cake recipe from Half Baked Harvest
41
The Hungry Housewife
Blue Ombre Petal Cake
Get the Blue Ombre Petal Cake recipe from The Hungry Housewife
42
Seasaltwithfood
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Get the Pineapple Upside-Down Cake recipe from Seasaltwithfood
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43
Half Baked Harvest
Meringue Encased Chocolate Mousse S’more Cakes
Get the Meringue Encased Chocolate Mousse S’more Cakes recipe from Half Baked Harvest
44
How To: Simplify
Mini Fruit And Chocolate Bundt Cakes
Get the Mini Fruit and Chocolate Bundt Cakes with Chocolate Cream Cheese Glaze recipe from How To: Simplify
45
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46
Sugar Hero
Doughnut Layer Cake With Mocha Whipped Cream
Get the Doughnut Layer Cake With Mocha Whipped Cream recipe from Sugar Hero
47
Handle The Heat
3-Layer Pistachio Cake
Get the Three-Layer Pistachio Cake recipe from Handle The Heat
48
Life, Love & Sugar
Nutella Chocolate Cake
Get the Nutella Chocolate Cake recipe from Life, Love & Sugar
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49
50
Brown Eyed Baker
Meyer Lemon Pound Cake
Get the Meyer Lemon Pound Cake recipe from Brown Eyed Baker
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Before You Go
The Best Cupcake Recipes
Perfect Yellow Cupcakes With Milk Chocolate Frosting(01 of49)
Get the Perfect Yellow Cupcakes With Milk Chocolate Frosting recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction (credit:Sally's Baking Addiction)
Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie Cupcakes With Butter Pecan Frosting(02 of49)
Get the Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie Cupcakes with Butter Pecan Frosting recipe from Half Baked Harvest (credit:Half Baked Harvest)
Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes With Lemon Curd Filling And Blueberry Cream Cheese Frosting(03 of49)
Get the Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes With Lemon Curd Filling And Blueberry Cream Cheese Frosting recipe from Adventures in Cooking (credit:Adventures in Cooking)
Dark Chocolate Fudge Merlot Cupcakes(04 of49)
Get the Dark Chocolate Fudge Merlot Cupcakes recipe from How Sweet It Is (credit:How Sweet It Is)
Strawberry Milkshake Cupcakes(05 of49)
Get the Strawberry Milkshake Cupcakes recipe from Hummingbird High (credit:Hummingbird High)
S'mores Cupcakes(06 of49)
Get the S'mores Cupcakes recipe from Pastry Affair (credit:Pastry Affair)
Nutella Stuffed Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes(07 of49)
Get the Nutella Stuffed Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes recipe from Handle The Heat (credit:Handle The Heat)
Buttered Rum Cupcakes(08 of49)
Get the Buttered Rum Cupcakes recipe from Adventures in Cooking (credit:Adventures in Cooking)
Death By Butterbeer Cupcakes With Treacle Butter Frosting(09 of49)
Get the Death By Butterbeer Cupcakes With Treacle Butter Frosting recipe from Half Baked Harvest (credit:Half Baked Harvest)
Blueberry Muffin Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting(10 of49)
Get the Blueberry Muffin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting recipe from Completely Delicious (credit:Completely Delicious)
Hi-Hat Cupcakes(11 of49)
Get the Hi-Hat Cupcakes recipe from Brown Eyed Baker (credit:Brown Eyed Baker)
Cookies And Cream Cupcakes(12 of49)
Get the Cookies and Cream Cupcakes recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction (credit:Sally's Baking Addiction)
Raspberry Rosé Wine Cupcakes(13 of49)
Get the Raspberry Rosé Wine Cupcakes recipe from Completely Delicious (credit:Completely Delicious)
Pumpkin S'mores Cupcakes(14 of49)
Get the Pumpkin S'mores Cupcakes recipe from How Sweet It Is (credit:How Sweet It Is)
Coffee And Donuts Cupcake(15 of49)
Get the Coffee And Donuts Cupcake recipe from Always With Butter (credit:Always With Butter)
Creme Brûlée Cupcakes(16 of49)
Get the Creme Brûlée Cupcakes recipe from Annie's Eats (credit:Annie's Eats)
Chicory Coffee Chocolate Cupcakes With Chocolate Amaretto Buttercream (17 of49)
Get the Chicory Coffee Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Amaretto Buttercream recipe from Adventures in Cooking (credit:Adventures in Cooking)
Raspberry Chocolate Cupcakes(18 of49)
Get the Raspberry Chocolate Cupcakes recipe from Handle The Heat (credit:Handle The Heat)
Angel Food Cupcakes With Chocolate Whipped Coconut Frosting And Crispy Phyllo Nest(19 of49)
Get the Angel Food Cupcakes with Chocolate Whipped Coconut Frosting And Crispy Phyllo Nest recipe from Half Baked Harvest (credit:Half Baked Harvest)
Death By Chocolate Cupcakes(20 of49)
Get the Death By Chocolate Cupcakes recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction (credit:Sally's Baking Addiction)
Red Velvet Cupcakes(21 of49)
Get the Red Velvet Cupcakes recipe from Completely Delicious (credit:Completely Delicious)
Sugared Almond Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting(22 of49)
Get the Sugared Almond Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting recipe from How Sweet It Is (credit:How Sweet It Is)
Caramel Creme Cupcakes (23 of49)
Get the Caramel Creme Cupcakes recipe from Life, Love & Sugar (credit:Life, Love & Sugar)
Snickers Chocolate Cupcakes(24 of49)
Get the Snickers Chocolate Cupcakes recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction (credit:Sally's Baking Addiction)
Banana Bourbon Cupcakes(25 of49)
Get the Banana Bourbon Cupcakes recipe from How Sweet It Is (credit:How Sweet It Is)
Salted Dark Chocolate Cupcakes(26 of49)
Get the Salted Dark Chocolate Cupcakes recipe from Gimme Some Oven (credit:Gimme Some Oven)
Strawberry Margarita Cupcakes(27 of49)
Get the Strawberry Margarita Cupcakes recipe from Eclectic Recipes (credit:Eclectic Recipes)
Cinnamon Bun Cupcakes(28 of49)
Get the Cinnamon Bun Cupcakes recipe from AllisonRobicelli via Food52 (credit:Eric Isaac/Food52)
Mint Chocolate Cupcakes(29 of49)
Get the Mint Chocolate Cupcakes recipe from How Sweet It Is (credit:How Sweet It Is)
Toffee Crunch Cupcake(30 of49)
Get the Toffee Crunch Cupcake recipe from Bakers Royale (credit:Bakers Royale)
Coconut Tres Leches Cupcakes(31 of49)
Get the Coconut Tres Leches Cupcakes recipe from How Sweet It Is (credit:How Sweet It Is)
Chocolate Swirled Peanut Butter Blast Cupcakes(32 of49)
Get the Chocolate Swirled Peanut Butter Blast Cupcakes recipe from Kevin & Amanda (credit:Kevin & Amanda)
Homemade Lemon Cupcakes With Vanilla Frosting(33 of49)
Get the Homemade Lemon Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction (credit:Sally's Baking Addiction)
Cinnamon Sugar Almond Cupcakes(34 of49)
Get the Cinnamon Sugar Almond Cupcakes recipe from Life, Love & Sugar (credit:Life, Love & Sugar)
Peppermint Mocha Cupcakes(35 of49)
Get the Peppermint Mocha Cupcakes recipe from Handle The Heat (credit:Handle The Heat)
Strawberry Balsamic Cupcakes(36 of49)
Get the Strawberry Balsamic Cupcakes recipe from Annie's Eats (credit:Annie's Eats)
Banoffee Cupcakes(37 of49)
Get the Banoffee Cupcakes recipe from Life, Love & Sugar (credit:Life, Love & Sugar)
Peanut Butter Cupcakes With A Marshmallow Swirl(38 of49)
Get the Peanut Butter Cupcakes with a Marshmallow Swirl recipe from How Sweet It Is (credit:How Sweet It Is)
Mint Chocolate Andes Cupcakes(39 of49)
Get the Mint Chocolate Andes Cupcakes recipe from Handle The Heat (credit:Handle The Heat)
Eggnog Cupcakes With Spiced Rum(40 of49)
Get the Eggnog Cupcakes with Spiced Rum recipe from Bakers Royale (credit:Bakers Royale)
Brownie Banana Bread Cupcakes(41 of49)
Get the Brownie Banana Bread Cupcakes recipe from How Sweet It Is (credit:How Sweet It Is)
Samoa Cupcakes(42 of49)
Get the Samoa Cupcakes recipe from Annie's Eats (credit:Annie's Eats)
Spiced Butternut Squash Cupcakes (43 of49)
Get the Spiced Butternut Squash Cupcakes recipe from Gimme Some Oven (credit:Gimme Some Oven)
Blackberry Cupcakes(44 of49)
Get the Blackberry Cupcakes recipe from Call me Cupcake (credit:Blackberry Cupcakes)
Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes(45 of49)
Get the Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes recipe from Faux Martha (credit:Faux Martha)
Homemade Funfetti Cupcakes(46 of49)
Get the Homemade Funfetti Cupcakes recipe from How Sweet It Is (credit:How Sweet It Is)
Mardi Gras Hi-Hat Cupcakes(47 of49)
Get the Mardi Gras Hi-Hat Cupcakes recipe from I Am Baker (credit:I Am Baker)
Vanilla Chai Cupcakes(48 of49)
Get the Vanilla Chai Cupcakes recipe from Gimme Some Oven (credit:Gimme Some Oven)
Turtle Cupcakes(49 of49)
Get the Turtle Cupcakes recipe from Annie's Eats (credit:Annie's Eats)
