Cake Recipes for Beginners That'll Make You Look Like a Pro

Recipe: Lemon-Lime Poke Cake

Bursting with bright citrus notes, this Lemon-Lime Poke Cake is an easy summer dessert, made with the assistance of cake mix. As for the topping, you can absolutely grab your favorite whipped cream spread at the grocery store.

Recipe: Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake

As the name implies, all you have to do is dump your cherry-pie filling and canned pineapple into a dish with the rest of the ingredients, and you're set. No chopping and one pan — that's the beauty of this dump cake.

Recipe: Jocelyn Delk Adams' Pound Cake

Grandbaby Cakes founder Jocelyn Delk Adams shares her simple pound cake recipe. The ingredients are few, but the result is rich.

Recipe: Applesauce Cake

This loaf cake is soft, fluffy, and will take you 20 minutes to throw together. No need to worry about frosting; opt for a dusting of powdered sugar to elevate this humble dessert.

Recipe: Wacky Cake

The only thing wacky about this cake (besides leaving out milk and eggs) is how easy it is. You won't even need a mixer; everything can be done by hand and mixed in the baking pan.

Recipe: Sweet Potato Sheet Cake

This Sweet Potato Sheet Cake is equal parts sweet and salty thanks to the bacon cream cheese frosting. No bacon on hand? No problem. Stick with the pecans for the fun crunch.

Recipe: Chocolate Bundt Cake

Double-chocolate brownie mix and chocolate fudge cake mix serve as your base for this decadent Bundt cake. With the addition of some extra chocolate and a little sugar, this cake is out of the oven in no time.

Recipe: Cranberry Upside Down Cake

With the assistance of some pound cake mix, you'll create a buttery base for this Cranberry Upside Down Cake. The real winning secret? You do it all in the slow cooker.

Recipe: Apricot Almond Coffee Cake

This Apricot Almond Coffee Cake is a breeze thanks to a three-ingredient vanilla glaze, apricot preserves, and pound cake mix. You probably have the remaining ingredients in your fridge and pantry.

Recipe: Chocolate-Cinnamon Latte Cake

A gorgeous batter that utilizes white cake mix creates an irresistibly fudgy result. The kick of cinnamon is tapered by the slathering of some whipped cream or coffee ice cream. Both would also be a fine idea.

Recipe: Honey Bun Cake

The Bundt pan makes this Honey Bun Cake feel fancy with its regal ridges, but all you need is some yellow cake mix and a handful of pantry staples to see you on your way.

Recipe: Apple Pie Cake

This cake is apple pie without the hassle of the crust. Packed with tart Granny Smith apples and a generous handful of pecans, this cake comes together before you can say, "easy as pie," thanks to the addition of white cake mix.  

Recipe: Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Incredibly dense and compact and perfect with a side of whipped cream, this Cream Cheese Pound Cake has only seven ingredients, and you probably have all of them in your pantry right now.

Recipe: Coconut Pound Cake

A cream cheese pound cake gets dressed up with the addition of shredded coconut and pecans for crunch. Splash in a half cup of bourbon and you've got a tropical cake with all the textures.

Recipe: Buttermilk Pound Cake

Cream cheese pound cake, traditional pound cake, and now buttermilk pound cake. Why should you bother? Because you don't want to miss out on the buttermilk custard sauce, which comes together just as easy as the cake does.

Recipe: Old-Fashioned Pound Cake

We can't leave out an old-fashioned pound cake. This one has heavy cream and evaporated milk in addition to butter and shortening, guaranteeing a rich, moist crumb.

Recipe: Lemon-Vanilla Pound Cake with Lavender Glaze

This cake is summer in a Bundt pan, made decadent with a container of sour cream. The lavender glaze will dance with the citrus notes of the cake for floral fun on your tastebuds.

Recipe: Classic Chocolate Pound Cake

The only thing better than a beloved pound cake is the addition of chocolate. This one's the real deal, with two baking bars requested for the recipe. Buttermilk and a generous amount of butter and sugar ensure a dense crumb, and you'll finish off with a sprinkle of powdered sugar.