Whether you have a birthday, anniversary, holiday, dinner party, or major sweet tooth to curb, these are our best cake recipes to make from scratch. There’s truly never a bad time for a slice of cake, and these are our most delicious desserts you’re going to love. We brought together some of our favorite vintage recipes like Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake, Coconut Chiffon Cake, and our Ultimate Carrot Cake recipe that will wow guests. Some of our best picks are remakes of the classics, like our Red Velvet Ice-Cream Cake, our Mini Bourbon-and-Cola Bundt Cakes, and our Sea Salt-Caramel Cake. So whether you want to keep it old-school with our most timeless choices or mix it up a bit with newer creations, these are our most delicious homemade cake recipes of all time. If you don’t have any events coming up, it’s time to invite company over for a dinner party because you’re going to want to bake every one of these cake recipes from scratch.
Hummingbird Cake
Recipe: Hummingbird Cake
Since it first hit Southern Living’s pages in 1978, the Hummingbird Cake has reigned supreme.
Vintage Fresh Apple Cake
Recipe: Fresh Apple Cake
Nothing says fall like our cozy Fresh Apple Cake that’s filled with apples, cinnamon, and nuts.
Red Velvet Ice-Cream Cake
Recipe: Red Velvet Ice-Cream Cake
This recipe is our summertime-friendly version of our classic Red Velvet Layer Cake.
Coconut Chiffon Cake
Recipe: Coconut Chiffon Cake
The Coconut Chiffon Cake is one of the most storied and gorgeous cakes you can make.
Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
Recipe: Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
There’s a rich history behind this rich cake, and once you make it, you’ll never question whether mayonnaise belongs in a dessert again.
The Ultimate Carrot Cake
Recipe: The Ultimate Carrot Cake
Every cook needs a go-to carrot cake recipe for holidays and gatherings, and this one is our best of all time.
Texas Sheet Cake with Fudge Icing
Recipe: Texas Sheet Cake with Fudge Icing
This classic Southern recipe was made to feed a crowd, but our Texas Skillet Cake brings the same beloved flavor with a smaller yield.
Caramel Apple Coffee Cake
Recipe: Caramel Apple Coffee Cake
The true test of a good coffee cake is in the streusel, and this one is topped with a luscious caramel sauce that makes this fall treat to die for.
Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake
Recipe: Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake
This pound cake recipe is fluffy, flavorful, and totally decadent. The best news? We have a recipe for Mini Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cakes to make serving even easier.
Heavenly Angel Food Cake
Recipe: Heavenly Angel Food Cake
A classic, super-soft Angel Food Cake recipe will never fail at any party.
Honey-Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Recipe: Honey-Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
This classic, eye-catching dessert is made from start to finish in your cast-iron skillet. You’ll love the honey-infused version of Pineapple Upside-Down Cake we came up with.
Mini Bourbon-and-Cola Bundt Cakes
Recipe: Mini Bourbon-and-Cola Bundt Cakes
This mini, boozy recipe is an update on our classic Coca-Cola Cake that we grew up with.
The Lane Cake
Recipe: The Lane Cake
This cake has a history that dates back more than 100 years, and we’ll surely be making it hundreds more.
Key Lime Icebox Cake
Recipe: Key Lime Icebox Cake
Key Lime Pies and Icebox Cakes are both essential to Southern cooks, and this easy recipe combines the two perfectly.
Sea Salt-Caramel Cake
Recipe: Sea Salt-Caramel Cake
Our most recent rift on the classic Caramel Cake Recipe has the ideal amount of salty and sweet.
Strawberry Dream Cake
Recipe: Strawberry Dream Cake
This gorgeous cake is all about presentation that wows—not to mention, it’s absolutely delicious.
Fudge Cake
Recipe: Fudge Cake
You simply can never go wrong with an indulgent fudge cake recipe, like this classic one from Elizabeth Heiskell’s What Can I Bring? cookbook.
Italian Ricotta Cheesecake
Recipe: Italian Ricotta Cheesecake
Ever since this creative, citrus cheesecake recipe ran in our November 1995 issue, it’s been wildly popular with Southern Living readers.
Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans
Recipe: Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans
Spooning still-warm icing over this pumpkin cake will make the prettiest Bundt for your Thanksgiving table.
Banana Pudding Poke Cake
Recipe: Banana Pudding Poke Cake
Poke cakes make for the most rich way to feed dessert to a crowd, and this recipe is one of our favorite ways to eat Banana Pudding.
Snowy Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Buttercream
Recipe: Snowy Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Buttercream
Straight from the cover of our December 2017 issue, this recipe is one of our most popular white cakes for Christmas.
Blueberry-Cornmeal Cake
Recipe: Blueberry Cornmeal Cake
It’s best to make this cornmeal cake in the summer, when fresh blueberries are abundant at the farmers’ market.
Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake
Recipe: Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake
Serve this dreamy cheesecake recipe at Christmas with our White Chocolate Snowflake Garnish, or leave the snowflake off and serve to the chocolate lovers in your family any time.
Mississippi Mud Cake
Recipe: Mississippi Mud Cake
Southerners young and old love this marshmallow-filled cake recipe, which comes with directions to bake Mississippi Mud Cupcakes, too.
Classic Southern Pound Cake
Recipe: Classic Southern Pound Cake
We’ve tried tons of pound cake recipes over the years, and this version is always tried and true.
