Celebrating a birthday? Craving something sweet? Hosting a holiday meal? Because of their versatility, cakes are an appropriate (and delicious) dessert option. If there’s time, it can be made completely from scratch. Short on time? Boxed mixes come in handy and will still produce a tasty cake. They can be baked in a 9×13 pan or turned into an impressive layer cake. Whether you’re looking for something completely homemade or need a boxed shortcut, this assortment of easy and elevated cake recipes is worth checking out.
Granny’s Famous Coconut Cake
“My granny was known for her wonderful cakes. This coconut cake is one of them. I can’t help but think of her while making this. I wish that I could have one more day with her. She is teaching the angels how to cook now!” – Cindy
Nine Layered Pineapple Cake
“This layered pineapple cake recipe has been passed down from generation to generation. It is guaranteed to be worth the time and love you put into it. If you want to cheat a little, make it with 2 boxes of cake mix.” – Pamela
Mee Maw’s Chocolate Cake
“My husband’s Mee Maw was a wonderful baker. I don’t even like chocolate cake, but I just can’t help myself with this one.” – Catherine
German Chocolate Sheet Cake (from the 1950’s)
“This recipe came from the 1950s and the cake is very moist, rich, and delicious! It takes a little time, but it is worth it and much better than any mix, even better than any bakery cake I’ve ever tasted. The texture is just perfect.” – Elaine
Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake
“A super moist and tender ricotta cake with an amazing lemon flavour!” – Kevin
Potato Cake
“Another strange old recipe from my grandmother. I used to love this cake.” – Kathleen
Guinness Chocolate Cake
“I’ve used a Bundt pan and springform pan for this cake. Dusted it with confectioners’ sugar for a pretty presentation.” – Linda
Easy Hummingbird Cake
“Our Easy Hummingbird cake is moist and full of tropical flavors from bananas, pineapple, and pecans. It’s topped with a rich cream cheese icing.” – Debbie
Lemon Lovers Layer Cake
“My dad makes this cake, and it is so good and moist and of course, very lemony.” – Patsy
Fudge Brownie Cake
“I made this for our July 4th dinner. One sister said to make a chocolate cake, one sister said fudge brownies. They had me so confused, so I made both, together.” – Kathy
Double Chocolate Coca Cola Cake
“I saw this Double Chocolate Coca Cola Cake recipe from an old friend. Her mother used to make this cake when we were kids, and I remember way back then when she brought it over for us to try. It was so good and brought back happy memories.” – Valeree
Lemon Chiffon Cake
“This is a very light, but rich cake. It’s very versatile as you do not have to stick to using lemon if you do not wish. Pretty much any citrus fruit will yield a yummy cake.” – Tessa
Old Fashioned Multi-Layer Chocolate Cake
“I love making this cake. It seems that young folks, as well as old folks, love this cake. It may not be the most beautiful cake, but it sure is good. This is the kind of cake that our grandmothers and great-grandmothers made.” – Bea
Grandma Cookie’s Carrot Cake
“This recipe came from my mom, a.k.a. Grandma Cookie. When my mom and dad were married back in 1970 my great-grandma gave them a church cookbook and this was a recipe in it. I have changed a few things by adding some ingredients and lightened it up.” – Cara
Caramel-Frosted Hummingbird Cake
“If you enjoy banana bread and pineapple, this cake is a must. The caramel puts it over the top!” – Connie
Auntie’s Red Velvet Cake
“I was always afraid to make this cake because my aunt’s was so good. Well, turns out, mine isn’t so bad either!” – Krista
Chocolate Cavity Maker Cake
“Over-the-top chocolatey-ness! So rich and moist, it doesn’t even need frosting. Don’t let the cake mix component fool you… this is highfalutin deliciousness!” – Lynette
Cheater’s Tres Leches Cake
“I first had this cake at a restaurant in Houston several years ago and loved it. One day the cake sounded so good, so I looked online for a recipe. Baking from scratch is not my forte, so I decided to cheat. It turned out great. I’ve been making it ever since. My friends and family love it, and it couldn’t be easier.” – Jo
Yummy Butterscotch Rum Cake
“This is a melt-in-your-mouth cake. This recipe is a no-brainer, it was given to my mom by a very good friend years ago. It still works, I made it for work this past year and it went over great. Had people wanting me to make one for them to take home.” – JoSele
My Mom’s Butter Cake With Fudgy Frosting
“This cake is bursting with buttery goodness! It’s very moist and good with whatever icing you want to put with it. The fudgy frosting just happens to be my favorite!” – Jill