The Best Cake Recipes You Can Make For Any Occasion

There are plenty of delicious cake flavors out there, and everyone inevitably has their favorite. Whether you're a diehard chocolate lover, a fan of something light and fruity, or you prefer a Funfetti vanilla cake with plenty of frosting and sprinkles, there's a cake out there for everyone. Digging your fork into a fluffy, moist slice of cake, whatever the flavor, is as satisfying as can be. And whether you're enjoying cake for a celebration, or simply munching on a slice for breakfast or as an afternoon snack, there's no judgment here. We're right there with you, loving all sorts of cake in every variation of shape, form, and flavor.

If you're on the hunt for some new cake recipe inspiration, we, therefore, have plenty of options to allow you to whip up your own cake at home. These easy-to-follow recipes will help you to bake a moist, delicious cake to serve for any occasion. And hey, you may even find a new favorite flavor along the way.

What could be better than a cross between banana bread and cake? This banana cake is as moist as can be, and it's naturally jam-packed with banana flavor. 

This recipe utilizes a rectangular pan to prove that cake can properly be enjoyed as just a snack, but it can be adapted to bake in any shape if you're feeling a bit fancy and want to change the look with a round pan, for instance. With a generous topping of cream cheese frosting, paired with a sprinkle of crushed pecans, this everyday cake is a banana lover's dream come true.

Feeling up for something fun and fruity? Embrace your love for summertime fruits with this strawberry cake. This cake, originally cooked in a round bundt pan, is full of flavor, with chunks of real, fresh strawberries mixed into the batter before baking. But the strawberry flavor doesn't stop there. Top your cake with a fresh and visually attractive strawberry glaze to really take this cake home. 

It's beautiful as a bundt cake, but it can be turned into a simple square cake, or even a few layers of stacked cake rounds fancied up with a buttercream frosting, depending on the occasion. Dress it up with a dusting of powdered sugar and additional fresh strawberries for a stunning social media-ready look.

Black forest cake is definitely a popular cake choice and one that often makes it onto dessert bucket lists, but making this classic confection at home can seem daunting. With layers of chocolate cake, a dreamy cherry filling in the middle, and plenty of fresh whipped cream for the filling and topping, there are definitely quite a few steps involved. But have faith and try your hand at making a black forest cake. 

With a little time and perseverance, it's absolutely possible to pull off this beautiful black forest cake recipe at home. Follow the step-by-step instructions and you'll be able to put together an impressive cake, ready to share with the family or a group of friends on the next occasion.

When it comes to carrot cake, you either love it or you hate it. Some people can't get over the addition of vegetables to a cake, though carrots have enough sugar in them to play well with this cake (and even sweeten pasta sauce). But if you're a lover, you'll want to make this carrot cake recipe time and time again.

This carrot cake is full of flavor, thanks to those freshly grated carrots, paired with baking spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. A three-layered cake comes together fairly simply by following this recipe. And the best part? Three layers of cake mean three layers of opportunity for dreamy cream cheese frosting as the perfect topping. Whip up this cake for a weeknight dinner, or turn it into a birthday cake for the carrot cake lover in your life.

Coconut fans, we're calling your name! If you love coconut, then you know you simply can't avoid going all out on coconut flavor when it comes to a cake. This coconut cake utilizes flaked coconut and coconut extract in the cake batter to add delicious flavor and beautiful texture. 

Then, this cake is topped with a generous helping of luscious coconut frosting and covered in toasted coconut. Is that enough coconut for you? Make this tropical cake for any celebration for a coconut lover.

Lemon cake can sometimes get a bad rap. It's typically not the most popular flavor of cake options unless it's for a wedding, and even then guests might just tolerate it because the happy couple went with the flavor instead of different favorite. Don't get so down on lemon cake, though. We're here to change its reputation with a genuinely delicious recipe. 

This lemon cake is truly as moist as can be, with the addition of sour cream in the batter to create a beautiful texture. The strong lemon flavor in the recipe is tart but well-balanced, thanks to the addition of lemon zest, lemon juice, and, of course, a good hit of sweet, sweet sugar. Make this to go with tea in the afternoon, or simply switch up the shape with a different cake pan to fit any occasion.

Let's first get one thing straight. Red velvet cake isn't just chocolate cake with red food coloring. This classic cake deserves to sit in its very own category, and has continued to remain popular and has stood the test of time, according to The New York Times and, of course, this classic cake's many, many other supporters. 

Real buttermilk is what adds the delicious tang to this lightly cocoa-flavored cake. Paired with the tanginess of cream cheese frosting, it's a dream come true. With a few simple ingredients and step-by-step instructions, this red velvet cake can be dressed up and ready to party for any occasion.

Costco decided to ditch its classic sheet cake in June 2020, and shoppers were not happy. How else were you supposed to get that giant-sized sheet cake with delicious custard filling for a birthday party? Now, thankfully, you can make your own in the comfort of your own home. 

This Costco copycat sheet cake recipe pairs two layers of simple vanilla cake with a whipped vanilla frosting. And while that's delicious on its own, it's the custard filling that, well, truly takes the cake here. With a bit of creativity and a hint of patience, you'll be able to put together your own giant Costco sheet cake at home. Don't forget the sprinkles!

This is the perfect option for those who want to party, but hate cake. We know, the idea of someone hating cake is a concept that's hard to swallow. But still, if you have someone like that in your life, we have a solution. 

If you're a person who prefers cookies to a slice of cake, or you're baking for someone who does, why not marry the two classic desserts? This cookie cake recipe walks you through the process of making a giant, round cookie to serve as a cake. It's ideal with chocolate chips or other mix-ins, and it will serve as the perfect canvas to decorate with festive frosting and sprinkles.

This easy 3-ingredient vanilla cake is perfect for when you want cake in a jiffy. When that craving strikes, you can pull just three ingredients out for a moist, delicious treat that is sure to please. 

Made with only a boxed white cake mix, vanilla ice cream, and a few eggs, this sweet comes together in a matter of minutes. Once baked, it can be topped with a simple vanilla glaze or frosted with your favorite icing. Talk about the perfect vessel for rainbow sprinkles!

Calling all pumpkin sweets lovers! This is a dream come true for you. What do you do when you want an easy dessert that's also jam-packed with pumpkin flavor? Typically, pumpkin desserts require quite a few ingredients, plenty of pumpkin spice, and a fair amount of time and effort to come together. 

Instead, you can make a 3-ingredient marshmallow pumpkin cake that carries a ton of flavor with little work required. With just a boxed white cake mix, marshmallow cream, and pumpkin pie mix, you can whip up a fluffy, dreamy cake perfect for fall or any season to follow.

If you're a fan of apple-flavored desserts, this should definitely be the next cake to bake on your list. This 3-ingredient apple cake is packed with delicious fall and baking spice flavors and comes together in just a few easy steps. 

This recipe ideal for a cozy afternoon at home or a slice shared with a friend over a cup of tea or coffee. Simply gather a box of cake mix, apple pie filling, and four eggs, and you'll have a delicious cake baked in no time.

Huge fan of Nothing Bundt Cakes? These lovely cake shops have quite a few locations, but of course, they're not everywhere. What's a bundt cake obsessive to do, then?

When you need to curb a bundt cake craving, this is the ideal solution. This Nothing Bundt Cakes copycat recipe requires quite a few ingredients, including mayonnaise, which makes the cake super moist. But with step-by-step instructions, you'll be able to whip this copycat cake up in no time. Top the cake with luscious cream cheese frosting to add a decorative look for any occasion.