Food and Recipes Desserts Cakes 9x13 Cake Recipes So Good You Might Never Make a Layer Cake Again By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 30, 2018 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Photo: Hector Sanchez When it comes to Southern gatherings and celebrations, it's safe to say that bigger is often better. From your batches of biscuits to pitchers of sweet tea, more is actually just right. As much as we love our layered cakes and pies, we get a little edgy when watching the slices disappear quicker than we feel comfortable with. That's why we've come to love our 9x13 cake pan even more than our round ones. The totally underrated, no-fuss 9x13 cake deserves a little more credit, especially considering all of the delicious variations that go well beyond the basics. We're talking old-school classics like chocolate-mayonnaise and cola cakes, as well as fancy new friends like coconut-carrot and chunky apple cakes. These top-rated 9x13 cake recipes make the most of the one-layered dessert that easily feeds a crowd and wins at the cake-to-frosting ratio every time. Plus, they're tasty and pretty enough to pull out for every occasion. Here are our favorite 9x13 cake recipes of all time. 01 of 17 Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake Sure, as kids we gasped at the reveal that this delicious old-fashioned delicacy uses mayonnaise; but we were quick to brush it off. You can't argue with the fluffiest, most moist sheet cake ever. 02 of 17 Sweet Tea-and-Lemonade Cake Hector Sanchez Recipe: Sweet Tea-and-Lemonade Cake You won't find anything quite as Southern as this cake's take on an Arnold Palmer. Tea-infused batter gets topped with a zesty lemonade frosting and lemon slices for garnish. Turn this into a tipsy cake by substituting up to two tablespoons of vodka or bourbon for the lemon juice in the frosting. 03 of 17 Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake When you're looking for an easy cake that somehow looks even better than it tastes, this strawberry-speckled sheet cake is the way to go. It won't disappoint, especially at any spring or summer gathering. 04 of 17 Coca-Cola Cake Southern Living Recipe: Coca-Cola Cake You can instantly tell the difference that the sweet syrup and magical bubbly brew of carbonated cola gives to the cake batter, resulting in an insanely tender texture. We even throw some Coca-Cola in the chocolate frosting for a velvety finish! 05 of 17 Coconut Sheet Cake Southern Living Recipe: Coconut Sheet Cake A towering layered cake can seem a bit daunting, but this 13x9 recipe makes whipping up a coconut cake quick and easy. It uses boxed cake mix, but adds cream of coconut and sour cream for a rich, moist texture. Topped with a coconut-cream cheese frosting, it's an absolute dream. 06 of 17 Banana Pudding Poke Cake Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Banana Pudding Poke Cake You heard it here first: this poke cake made us love banana pudding more than ever before, and we've had a lot of banana pudding! The cake is rich and delicious, bursting with fresh banana flavor and soaked with homemade vanilla pudding. The toppings of banana slices, whipped cream frosting, and crushed vanilla wafers seal the deal. 07 of 17 Texas Sheet Cake Southern Living Recipe: Texas Sheet Cake Every old-fashioned Southern cook knows the power of a basic Texas sheet cake. One of the most versatile cakes you'll ever bake, this chocolatey cake is topped with a to-die-for Fudge Frosting. Top it off with toffee bits or toasted pecans. 08 of 17 Coconut-Carrot Cake with Coconut Buttercream Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Coconut-Carrot Cake with Coconut Buttercream We never have to choose between carrot cake and coconut cake again with this amazing hybrid recipe—cooked in a 13x9 for ease to boot. You'll be sneaking extra tastes of the mouthwatering coconut buttercream frosting too! 09 of 17 Plum-Berry Cornmeal Sheet Cake Alison Miksch Recipe: Plum-Berry Cornmeal Sheet Cake Go ahead and line your 13x9 with parchment paper—because this plum and berry-studded sheet cake looks so happy and bright when displayed on a pretty serving tray. The vanilla-flavored cornmeal batter gives the perfect not-too-sweet base for fresh fruit, and some freshly whipped cream finishes it off. 10 of 17 Heavenly Angel Food Cake Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Heavenly Angel Food Cake It's always good to have this most versatile sheet cake up your sleeve. It makes the perfect fluffy base for desserts aplenty, whether cut into squares for tea-time petit fours or frosted generously for a portable sheet cake. 11 of 17 Pumpkin Spice-Heath Cake Alison Miksch Recipe: Pumpkin Spice-Heath Cake Pairing pumpkin spice with toffee bits and a spice cake mix couldn't be easier or more delicious. Make and serve this dessert in your 13x9 baking pan for ultimate portability for all of your fall parties. 12 of 17 German Chocolate Snack Cake Southern Living Recipe: German Chocolate Snack Cake This simple cake only calls for a whopping six ingredients, making it a no-brainer when you're craving some chocolate. Rich German chocolate cake is finished with a cheesecake topping, ready to be sliced and served. 13 of 17 Cream Soda Confetti Sheet Cake Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Cream Soda Confetti Sheet Cake Cream soda, confetti sprinkles, and a tangy-sweet frosting naturally colored with freeze-dried strawberries make this sheet cake about the most festive thing we've ever seen. It can be your easy staple cake that fits every celebration. 14 of 17 Grapefruit-Pecan Sheet Cake Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Grapefruit-Pecan Sheet Cake The nuttiness from toasted pecans perfectly complements the bright citrus notes of the grapefruit batter, as well as the classic cream cheese frosting. You end up with a totally unique take on your basic sheet cake, great for your next cookout or potluck. 15 of 17 Carrot Sheet Cake Photo: Charles Walton Recipe: Carrot Sheet Cake While the perfectly spiced batter makes a great base as is, we pour a buttermilk glaze over the cake right after it comes out of the oven, letting it soak in for ultimate moistness. Once completely cooled, you get to spread the classic cream cheese frosting generously over the top. 16 of 17 Buttermilk-Glazed Cherry Sheet Cake Photo: Alison Miksch Recipe: Buttermilk-Glazed Cherry Sheet Cake Cherries, lemon juice, and almond extract are the stars in this not-too-sweet sheet cake that works for everything from laidback brunches to elegant afternoon teas. The buttermilk glaze works as a not overly sweet finishing touch. 17 of 17 Chunky Apple Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting Southern Living Recipe: Chunky Apple Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting Packed with Granny Smith apple slices and toasted walnuts—and covered with a thick cream cheese frosting—this rich sheet cake makes the most of the flavors of fall. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit