Layer cakes are just as delicious as they are decorative and the perfect dessert for any occasion. Whether you're looking for chocolate or red velvet cake recipes, we've got the luscious layer cakes guests crave.
Strawberry Dream Cake
Recipe: Strawberry Dream Cake
You'll fall in love with this too-good-to-be-true strawberry cake. Fluffy whipped frosting made with marscapone cheese, sugar, whipping cream, and vanilla and almond extracts is the perfect finishing touch. We love the presentation of cake slices with upright strawberries between the layers. When it comes down to the details, this sweet confection takes the cake.
The Lemon Cheese Layer Cake
Recipe: The Lemon Cheese Layer Cake
Expecting a twist on cheesecake? You're in for an even sweeter surprise. These layers are filled with a buttery rich lemon curd instead.
The 50th Anniversary Cake
Recipe: The 50th Anniversary Cake
As we planned the dessert for the Southern Living 50th anniversary party, sweet memories of generously frosted layer cakes from childhood birthdays or Grandmother's kitchen danced in our heads. Inspiration can come from anywhere, as long as the results taste delicious. Our most popular birthday cake recipe made the final party cut: six moist layers of vanilla-almond cake smothered in grand buttercream icing and embellished with glistening sugar sprinkles.
The Coconut Chiffon Cake
Recipe: The Coconut Chiffon Cake
White as a Sunday glove, coconut is the doyenne of Southern layer cakes, a masterpiece of home cookery that has crowned dining room sideboards for more than a hundred years.
The Lane Cake
Recipe: The Lane Cake
In March 1966, Southern Living featured a recipe for Lane Cake in its second issue. Our latest twist? Dried peaches (finely diced and ridiculously delicious) stand in for raisins, and the traditional meringue frosting gets a spirited makeover with a triple shot of peach schnapps.
The Red Velvet Cake
Recipe: The Red Velvet Cake
In 1989, an armadillo-shaped groom's cake in Steel Magnolias kicked off a cult following for red velvet. The craze has continued, fueled in part by the red velvet cakes that have graced the Southern Living Christmas cover three times.
The Jam Cake
Recipe: The Jam Cake
The origins of jam cake lie deep in Appalachia where store-bought sugar was once scarce. Cakes were often sweetened with homemade jams, filled with wild berries and mountain fruits. The payoff for the genius swap? Rich, dense cake layers with a depth of flavor sugar alone can't deliver.
Hummingbird Cake
Recipe: Hummingbird Cake
Thanks to Mrs. L.H. Wiggins of Greensboro, North Carolina, this pineapple-banana spice cake with cream cheese frosting became one of our most requested recipes. We still stand by Mrs. Wiggins' original, indulgent creation.
Luscious Lemon Cake
Recipe: Luscious Lemon Cake
Create an impressive stack of zesty lemon layers that's perfect for any casual gathering. Or frost the entire cake for a more elegant presentation.
Praline Layer Cake
Recipe: Praline Layer Cake
The praline is one of the South's most beloved sweets, and, in this show-stopping layer cake, it certainly does not disappoint. Candied pecans add a toasty crunch to the top of the cake, while the soft layers are held together with a dark, nutty filling and a silky buttercream frosting. Pecans are great all year long, but there is something about the Fall season that makes you want to bake and bake a lot. This cake will truly satisfy your sweet tooth.
Lane Cake
Recipe: Lane Cake
Pecans, raisins, flaked coconut, and of course, a little bourbon, top this classic Southern layer cake.
Red Velvet Layer Cake
Recipe: Red Velvet Layer Cake
This crimson layer cake is the way to anyone's heart, stacked tall for an even more impressive dessert.
Mama Dip’s Carrot Cake
Recipe: Mama Dip’s Carrot Cake
This recipe from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, restaurateur Mildred "Mama Dip" Council is one of the best carrot cakes we've tested. The cake layers can be made ahead and frozen up to one month.
Heavenly Candy Bar Cake
Recipe: Heavenly Candy Bar Cake
Gooey chunks of candy bar really do take this cake recipe to higher realms. Melted candy bars are stirred into the batter, and more are coarsely chopped and sprinkled over the top.
Italian Cream Cake
Recipe: Italian Cream Cake
This cake will surely win rave reviews in your home with its sweet coconut flavors and Nutty Cream Cheese Frosting.
Chocolate Layer Cake with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Recipe: Chocolate Layer Cake with Vanilla Buttercream
This "choco-licious" dessert temptation is impossible to resist. The addition of hot tap water at the end makes for an exceptionally moist cake.
Toasted Almond-Butter Cake
Recipe: Toasted Almond-Butter Cake
This buttery, moist cake has the perfect hint of almonds and coconut. A sweet Cream Cheese Frosting makes it an even more outstanding way to end the meal.
Chocolate-Praline Cake
Recipe: Chocolate-Praline Cake
This chocolate cake is off-the-charts rich. If you like pralines, you'll love this candy-like frosting.
Hummingbird Cake
Recipe: Hummingbird Cake
This is the ultimate recipe for Hummingbird Cake. It's the most requested recipe in Southern Living magazine history and frequents covered dish dinners all across the South, always receiving rave reviews.
Related: 4 Ways with Hummingbird Cake
Triple-Decker Strawberry Cake
Recipe: Triple-Decker Strawberry Cake
Layers of moist strawberry cake and Strawberry Buttercream Frosting make this three-layer cake a must for strawberry lovers.
Chocolate Cake IV
Recipe: Chocolate Cake IV
Coffee and chocolate lovers everywhere will find this cake to die for! Between each layer of chocolate cake is a delicious Mocha-Chocolate Cream Filling, and it's topped with Coffee Liqueur Ganache Icing.
Gingerbread Cake with Stout Buttercream
Recipe: Gingerbread Cake with Stout Buttercream
The bold flavor of a stout complements the spices in the German-inspired gingerbread cake. Spread a simple buttercream icing over the cake and garnish with toasted pecans.
Lightened Hummingbird Cake
Recipe: Lightened Hummingbird Cake
We lowered the fat and calories by substituting applesauce for some of the oil, using less butter and sugar, fewer eggs, and substituting light for regular cream cheese.
Caramel Cream Cake
Recipe: Caramel Cream Cake
This three-layer butter cake has a pecan-pie filling in between the cake layers, a rich cream cheese frosting, and a topping of sweet coconut and chopped pecans. It's a great dessert for holiday entertaining.
Blackberry-Raspberry Truffle Cake
Recipe: Blackberry-Raspberry Truffle Cake
Lavish amounts of semisweet chocolate and sour cream give rise to these luscious cake layers. No one will ever guess the recipe begins with a mix. A simple coating of coarsely chopped pecans and a handful of colorful berries will send this towering treat to the table in high style.
Four-Layer Coconut Cake
Recipe: Four-Layer Coconut Cake
Layer upon layer of tropical coconut and soft whipped cream topping make this a year-round favorite indulgence.
Blackberry-Raspberry Truffle Cake
Recipe: Blackberry-Raspberry Truffle Cake
Berries and chocolate have never mixed so well. A simple whipped cream cheese frosting and a coating of chopped toasted pecans give this indulgent dessert an elegant finish.
Coconut-Almond Cream Layer Cake
Recipe: Coconut-Almond Cream Cake
This decadent layer cake is deliciously rich as well as moist. For a colorful presentation, garnish with kumquats, currants, and fresh mint sprigs.
White Chocolate-Almond Cake
Recipe: White Chocolate Almond Cake
Using square rather than round cake pans gives this layer cake a wonderfully unique presentation. The combination of sour cream, light brown sugar and hot water make this cake extra delightful and moist.
Chocolate Italian Cake
Recipe: Chocolate Italian Cake
Finely chopped pecans and a hint of cinnamon in the Chocolate-Cream Cheese frosting gives this chocolate spin-off the classic Italian Cream Cake that something extra. Garnish with pecan halves for a pretty presentation.
Bourbon-Chocolate Cake With Praline Frosting
Recipe: Bourbon-Chocolate Cake With Praline Frosting
Chocolate Ganache smoothed between layers of rich chocolate cake topped with Praline Frosting and a warm Bourbon Glaze make this recipe fit for special occasions. Serve alongside a warm cup of coffee or tea.
Best Carrot Cake
Recipe: Best Carrot Cake
Make this classic favorite for a crowd and you might not have any leftovers to bring home. Simply adding a can of crushed pineapple and the luscious Buttermilk Glaze makes this truly the Best Carrot Cake.
Step-by-Step Video: Best Carrot Cake Ever
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Mousse Cake
Recipe: Chocolate-Peanut Butter Mousse Cake
Starting with a boxed cake mix makes this cake both easy and delicious. Kids and adults alike will love the creamy peanut butter mousse between layers of chocolate cake. Garnish with chopped roasted peanuts and serve with a scoop of ice cream.
Decadent Banana Cake with Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting
Recipe: Decadent Banana Cake with Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting
Bananas and coconut pair perfectly in this delicious dessert. Top with toasted coconut and banana slices for an impressive presentation.
Fig Cake
Recipe: Fig Cake
A delicious twist on our favorite Hummingbird Cake, this recipe is so simple to make you won't believe you started from scratch. This recipe can be made with fresh figs or with good quality preserves. Sweet cream cheese frosting covers the cake and is a nice balance to the spicy fall flavors.
Fresh Orange Italian Cream Cake
Recipe: Fresh Orange Italian Creme Cake
Reviewers have touted this one of the best cakes they’ve ever tasted. Our recipe takes ordinary Italian Cream Cake up a notch by spreading flavorful Fresh Orange Curd between each layer. Be sure to chill the Fresh Orange Curd for 8 hours; it helps keep the layers together which makes it easier to frost.
Best Carrot Cake
Recipe: Best Carrot Cake
Truly our best-ever carrot cake recipe, make this classic favorite for a crowd and you might not have any leftovers to bring home. Layers of delicious carrot cake are moistened with a Buttermilk Glaze and topped off with a sweet Cream Cheese Frosting.
Cooking Video: Best Carrot Cake Ever
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Mousse Cake
Recipe: Chocolate-Peanut Butter Mousse Cake
Starting with a package of cake mix makes this cake both easy and delicious. Kids and adults alike will love the creamy peanut butter mousse between layers of chocolate cake. Garnish with chopped roasted peanuts and serve with a scoop of ice cream.
