85+ Best Birthday Cake Recipes Made for Celebrations

Confetti Cake with Vanilla-Sour Cream Frosting
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

There's nothing worse than the awkward moment an entire room of people sings "Happy Birthday" to you while you sit silently, wondering if you have to hold a smile through the entire song. The good news for uncomfortable birthday honorees is they get to dig into a delicious cake after all the mid-song eye contact. Blow out the candles and make a wish that someone bakes one of these easy cakes for birthdays. If you're looking for a classic option like ice cream cake, strawberry birthday cake, caramel cake, or a homemade chocolate chip cookie cake, you've come to the right place.

Birthday cake recipe ideas with personal portions like cupcakes and mini cakes let you avoid the fight over who got the biggest slice. Southerners love to serve sheet cakes to a crowd, and birthday parties are no exception. We have sheet cake recipes in every flavor so you can easily bake and take them if you're not hosting. And of course, it wouldn't be a Southern Living cake roundup without some stunning layer cakes. We hate to break it to the birthday girl or boy, but these birthday cake recipes are going to be the center of attention at your celebration.

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Pink Champagne Cake

pink champagne cake
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Christine Kelly

Recipe: Pink Champagne Cake

You'll find champagne in both the cake layers and the icing of this recipe. Freeze-dried strawberries give it a pretty pink color.

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Devil's Food Cake with Salted Peanut Butter Frosting and Ganache

Devil’s Food Cake with Salted Peanut Butter Frosting and Ganache
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Recipe: Devil's Food Cake with Salted Peanut Butter Frosting and Ganache

Even though we took a shortcut by using boxed cake mix for this recipe, we made up for it with a homemade ganache and salted peanut butter frosting.

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Caramel Italian Cream Cake

Caramel Italian Cream Cake
Jennifer Davick; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns; Prop Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Recipe: Caramel Italian Cream Cake

We use brown sugar as a shortcut to give this cake a caramel-flavored frosting without the need to use a candy thermometer.

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Lemon Cake with Lemon-Thyme Frosting

Lemon Cake with Lemon-Thyme Frosting
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Recipe: Lemon Cake with Lemon-Thyme Frosting

If the guest of honor prefers citrus flavor over chocolate or vanilla, this layer cake will bring plenty of color and flavor to the birthday celebration.

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Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

For many, there's nothing as nostalgic for a birthday than a chocolate chip cookie cake. Instead of ordering one this year, make your loved one their childhood favorite from scratch.

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Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
Greg DuPree; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey

Recipe: Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

These festive treats are the cutest way to celebrate a birthday.

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Strawberry Birthday Cake

Strawberry Birthday Cake
Southern Living

Recipe: Strawberry Birthday Cake

This layer cake combines delicious homemade elements like strawberry compote and cream cheese frosting.

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Classic Birthday Cake

Classic Birthday Cake
Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Classic Birthday Cake

The flavor of confetti cake simply has no rival, and a sheet cake makes it easy to bake and take.

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White Cake with Berry-Swiss Meringue Buttercream Frosting

White Cake with Berry-Swiss Meringue Buttercream Frosting
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Recipe: White Cake with Berry-Swiss Meringue Buttercream Frosting

Homemade Swiss meringue buttercream is the star of this recipe and gives the cake a beautiful pink finish that resembles a rose.

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Yellow Cake with Malted Chocolate Buttercream

Yellow Cake with Malted Chocolate Buttercream
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Recipe: Yellow Cake with Malted Chocolate Buttercream

Yellow cake with chocolate frosting is a classic combination that is loved by both kids and adults.

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Cookies and Cream Cake

cookies and cream cake
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Christine Kelly

Recipe: Cookies and Cream Cake

This cake is a great option for celebrating cookie lovers.

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Chocolate Chiffon Cake

Chocolate Chiffon Cake
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly Food Stylist: Ali Ramee

Recipe: Chocolate Chiffon Cake

Inverting this cake while it cools is the secret to its delicate texture.

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Lemon-Cheese Layer Cake

Lemon-Cheese Layer Cake
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

Recipe: Lemon-Cheese Layer Cake

This eight-layer cake requires a little extra time, but it's worth it for a special celebration.

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Red Velvet Cake with White Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting

Red Velvet Cake with White Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Recipe: Red Velvet Cake with White Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting

Homemade cream cheese frosting is just the upgrade boxed cake mix needs.

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Triple-Layer Chocolate-Caramel Cake

Triple-Layer Chocolate-Caramel Cake
Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Triple-Layer Chocolate-Caramel Cake

Make the frosting for this three-layer beauty a day in advance for easier spreading.

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Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting

Cherry-Swirl Frosting
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

Recipe: Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting

Pretty in pink, these cupcakes prove everything is better with a splash of Southern-favorite Cheerwine soda.

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Lemon-Coconut Cake

lemon coconut cake
Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Recipe: Lemon-Coconut Cake

Get the best of both lemon cake and coconut cake in one with this delicious recipe.

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Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

There's nothing better than a no-cook dessert that you can make ahead.

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Buttermilk-Lime Mini Cakes with Vanilla-Mascarpone Buttercream

Buttermilk-Lime Mini Cakes with Vanilla-Mascarpone Buttercream
Greg DuPree

Recipe: Buttermilk-Lime Mini Cakes with Vanilla-Mascarpone Buttercream

Use your biscuit-cutter for the prettiest mini layer cakes your crowd has ever seen.

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Oreo Cheesecake

Oreo Cheesecake
Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Oreo Cheesecake

With Oreos included in the crust, filling, and topping, this cheesecake recipe doesn't skimp on your favorite cookie's flavor.

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Key Lime Icebox Cake

Key Lime Icebox Cake
Hector M Sanchez

Recipe: Key Lime Icebox Cake

If your birthday honoree's favorite dessert is Key Lime Pie, make it big-batch with this no-bake cake recipe.

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Coca Cola Chocolate Cake

Fudgy Coca Cola Cake Frosting
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

Recipe: Coca Cola Chocolate Cake

Southerners know a bit of soda is the secret to the fluffiest desserts.

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Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake

Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake

Recipe: Strawberries-and-Cream Sheet Cake

This pretty-in-pink cake is one of our most popular sheet cake recipes of all time.

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Caramel-Frosted Pound Cake

Caramel-Frosted Pound Cake
Southern Living

Recipe: Caramel-Frosted Pound Cake

Southern-favorite pound cake and caramel cake meet in this recipe that readers have fallen in love with.

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Luscious Lemon Cake

Luscious Lemon Cake
Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Luscious Lemon Cake

If you have a lemon-lover to celebrate, it doesn't get more classic than this layer cake you can decorate however you please.

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Cream Soda Confetti Sheet Cake with Strawberry-Sour Cream Buttercream

Cream Soda Confetti Sheet Cake with Strawberry-Sour Cream Buttercream
Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cream Soda Confetti Sheet Cake with Strawberry-Sour Cream Buttercream

This simple but colorful sheet cake will bring the fun to the party.

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Coconut Chiffon Cake

The Coconut Chiffon Cake
Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Coconut Chiffon Cake

No cake is more worthy of a celebration than this elegant vintage confection.

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Heavenly Angel Food Cake

Heavenly Angel Food Cake

Recipe: Heavenly Angel Food Cake

There's nothing more divine than a fluffy, light-as-air slice of angel food cake.

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Reese's Cake

Reese’s Cake
Alison Miksch

Recipe: Reese's Cake

If your birthday boy or girl can't resist a Reese's at the checkout line, this beyond-decadent Bundt cake will seem too good to be true.

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Strawberry-Lemonade Cake

Strawberry-Lemonade Cake
Jen Causey

Recipe: Strawberry-Lemonade Cake

Dive into refreshing layers of strawberry-lemonade cake that's perfect for a springtime birthday.

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Homemade Yellow Cake

Homemade Yellow Cake
Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

Recipe: Homemade Yellow Cake

Picky eater? Make our homemade yellow cake from scratch and top it with his or her favorite frosting recipe.

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Hummingbird Cupcakes with Candied Pineapple Wedges

Hummingbird Cupcakes with Candied Pineapple Wedges
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Hummingbird Cupcakes with Candied Pineapple Wedges

Get all the flavor of the classic Hummingbird Cake you love in big-batch form that everyone at the party can enjoy.

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Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake with Caramel Buttercream

Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake with Caramel Buttercream
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake with Caramel Buttercream

What's better than fudge cake? Fudge cake topped with chocolate ganache and fluffy caramel buttercream.

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Praline Cake

Praline Cake
Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Emily Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Praline Cake

Pralines are an all-time favorite Southern dessert, but they can be tricky to make for beginner bakers. Nail the praline flavor with this party-ready cake.

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Classic Southern Pound Cake

Classic Southern Pound Cake
Skyler Burt; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Karen Rankin

Recipe: Classic Southern Pound Cake

As the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," and that's how we feel about this ultimate pound cake recipe.

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Banana Pudding Poke Cake

Banana Pudding Poke Cake
Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Banana Pudding Poke Cake

If you didn't think your favorite banana pudding could get better, try this cake on for size.

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Mini Confetti Cakes

Mini Confetti Cakes
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Mini Confetti Cakes

These Instagram-worthy tiny cakes are easier to make than they look.

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Chocolate-Coconut Pavlova Cake

Chocolate-Coconut Pavlova Cake
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Chocolate-Coconut Pavlova Cake

Dietary restrictions are no match for this dairy-free, gluten-free stunner of a cake.

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Lemon Raspberry Cake

Lemon Raspberry Cake
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Recipe: Lemon Raspberry Cake

This elegant layer cake is made with cream cheese-raspberry frosting made with fresh raspberries.

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Butter Toffee-Pecan Layer Cake

Butter Toffee-Pecan Layer Cake
Greg DuPree

Recipe: Butter Toffee-Pecan Layer Cake

This soft vanilla cake with toasted pecans and toffee bits is topped with a brown butter-toffee frosting and all we have to say is, "Wow."

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Strawberry Icebox Cake

Strawberry Icebox Cake
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Recipe: Strawberry Icebox Cake

This no-bake icebox cake is a nostalgic treat your guests will love.

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Lane Cupcakes

Lane Cupcakes
Southern Living

Recipe: Lane Cupcakes

Famed vintage Lane Cake gets personal-portion treatment in this cute cupcake recipe.

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Brown Sugar-Rum Cake

Brown Sugar-Rum Cake
Southern Living

Recipe: Brown Sugar-Rum Cake

If rum is the birthday girl or guy's choice drink, this tender sheet cake is a must-bake.

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Dreamy Lemon Cheesecake

Dreamy Lemon Cheesecake
Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Dreamy Lemon Cheesecake

This bright cheesecake recipe has been a reader-favorite for years.

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Chocolate Mousse Cake

Chocolate Mousse Cake
Micah Leal

Recipe: Chocolate Mousse Cake

This ultra-rich chocolate cake is delicious served with fresh berries and a dollop of homemade whipped cream.

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Coconut Cream Cake

Coconut Cream Cake
Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Recipe: Coconut Cream Cake

Toasted coconut shavings make a pretty but easy topping for a classic coconut cake.

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Banana Pudding Cheesecake

Banana Pudding Cheesecake
Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Banana Pudding Cheesecake

Banana pudding and cheesecake make a beautiful couple in this dessert recipe.

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Chocolate Strawberry Cake

Chocolate Strawberry Cake
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Recipe: Chocolate Strawberry Cake

This layer cake captures all the flavor you love about chocolate-covered strawberries.

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Margarita Cake

Margarita Cake
Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Margarita Cake

Gathering for a birthday fiesta? Raise a glass to this spirited cake recipe.

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Devil's Food Cake

Devil’s Food Cake
Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

Recipe: Devil's Food Cake

When it comes to chocolate, you don't need a fancy recipe. This basic, decadent chocolate cake fits the bill perfectly.

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Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes

Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes
Micah Leal

Recipe: Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes

You won't find a single artificial flavor in these beautiful cupcakes made with fresh spring strawberries.

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Red Velvet Ice-Cream Cake

Red Velvet Ice-Cream Cake
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Red Velvet Ice-Cream Cake

There's no dessert more fitting for a summer birthday party than a cool, colorful ice-cream cake.

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Caramel Cake

Caramel Cake
Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Caramel Cake

Some guests don't like citrus desserts, others chocolate, but everyone can agree on loving caramel cake.

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Mississippi Mud Cake

Mississippi Mud Cake
Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

Recipe: Mississippi Mud Cake

This fudgy sheet cake is topped with marshmallows for a festive finish.

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Lemon Sherbet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

Lemon Sherbet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Lemon Sherbet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

These pastel cupcakes were made for spring parties.

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Toasted Almond Butter Cake

Toasted Almond-Butter Cake
Southern Living

Recipe: Toasted Almond Butter Cake

No nut allergies in your family? Try out this buttery cake with cream cheese frosting.

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Chocolate Bundt Cake

Chocolate Bundt Cake
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Chocolate Bundt Cake

This creatively easy cake mixes boxed cake and brownie mixes for the most decadent result.

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Strawberry Dream Cake

Strawberry Dream Cake Cover
Greg Dupree

Recipe: Strawberry Dream Cake

Cutting into this cake to find a layer of fresh strawberries is a true springtime dream.

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Praline Mini Cakes

Praline Mini Cakes
Southern Living

Recipe: Praline Mini Cakes

No sharing is required when it comes to these toffee-filled and brown sugar icing-topped cakes.

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Football Cake

football cake
Photgrapher: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

Recipe: Football Cake

If you have a little one who loves all things football, this adorable cake is for your celebration. Even though it looks professional, all you need to create the football shape is a round cake pan.

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Strawberry Crunch Ice Cream Cake

Strawberry Crunch Ice Cream Cake
Joy Howard

Recipe: Strawberry Crunch Ice Cream Cake

Would you believe this refreshing dessert comes together with just five ingredients? You better! It will bring you back to the days of the ice cream man visiting your neighborhood.

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Chocolate Marble Cake

Chocolate Marble Cake
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Recipe: Chocolate Marble Cake

This classic vanilla cake with chocolate swirls has the best of both worlds. Our Test Kitchen recommends using a kitchen scale or measuring cups for the batter to ensure your layers are the same size.

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Cherries-and-Cream Icebox Cake

Cherries-and-Cream Icebox Cake
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

Recipe: Cherries-and-Cream Icebox Cake

Since this pretty confection needs time to chill in the fridge, it's the ultimate make-ahead dessert for summer birthday parties. It will be the cherry on top of a great day!

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Lemon-Lime Poke Cake

Lemon-Lime Poke Cake
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Lemon-Lime Poke Cake

Lemon and lime slices not only make a precious summer garnish, but they also help the host get just the right slice size when serving.

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Watermelon Cake

Watermelon Cake
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Watermelon Cake

We can't think of a cuter way to celebrate a summer birthday than with this festive watermelon cake studded with chocolate chip "seeds."

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Margarita Cupcakes

Margarita Cupcakes
Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Margarita Cupcakes

You don't have to choose between drinks and dessert with this fun cupcake recipe! These are the perfect way to finish off a taco Tuesday birthday party.

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Blueberry-Lemon Cake

Blueberry-Lemon Cake
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Blueberry-Lemon Cake

Skip the food coloring and serve a fluffy frosting with the natural hue of puréed blueberries for your spring birthday celebration.

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Strawberry-Lemon Cupcakes

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes
Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Strawberry-Lemonade Cupcakes

If you're short on time, no party guests will realize these delicious cupcakes are actually an upgraded box of cake mix.

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Banana Split Cake

Banana Split Cake
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck

Recipe: Banana Split Cake

This icebox sheet cake was made for serving a crowd. The whimsical presentation will delight a birthday honoree of any age.

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Carrot Bundt Cake

Carrot Bundt Cake
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck

Recipe: Carrot Bundt Cake

Don't fool with stacking layers and intricate icing this birthday. Our warm carrot cake Bundt cake is beautiful with loops of frosting.

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Peanut Butter Cake

Peanut Butter Cake Recipe
Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Peanut Butter Cake

We all have a peanut butter lover in our lives, and this cake was made for them. Buttermilk is the secret to making this sheet cake ultra-tender.

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German Chocolate Cake

German Chocolate Cake with Coconut-Pecan Frosting
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: German Chocolate Cake

Every Southern baker should make a German chocolate cake at least once, and our latest iteration is insanely rich and delicious for a birthday celebration.

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Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream

Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream
Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream

We love the cute presentation of these sweet cupcakes that come together with very little hands-on time.

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Butterscotch-Bourbon Lava Cakes

Butterscotch-Bourbon Lava Cakes
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell

Recipe: Butterscotch-Bourbon Lava Cakes

If you're hosting an adults-only birthday dinner, this elegant dessert will wow your friends. For over-the-top flavor, we amped up classic homemade whipped cream with a touch of bourbon.

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Mint Chocolate Chip Cake

Mint Chocolate Chip Cake
Southern Living

Recipe: Mint Chocolate Chip Cake

We created this mint chocolate chip cake using fresh mint leaves, not extract, for the most authentic flavor. A simple topping of mini chocolate chips and fresh mint leaves makes for pretty but easy presentation.

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Rainbow Sherbet Cake

Rainbow Sherbet Cake
Photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Rainbow Sherbet Cake

Cut open what looks like a frosted pound cake to reveal colorful layers and nostalgic sherbet flavors.

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Bourbon-Chocolate Cake with Browned Buttercream Frosting

Bourbon-Chocolate Cake with Browned Buttercream
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop styling: Lydia Pursell

Recipe: Bourbon-Chocolate Cake with Browned Buttercream Frosting

A splash of bourbon makes classic chocolate cake even richer. Bourbon lovers will be thrilled to know it's also featured in the frosting.

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1234 Cake with Chocolate Frosting

1234 Cake
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

Recipe: 1234 Cake with Chocolate Frosting

Don't grab that box of cake mix: Even novice bakers can pull of this oh-so-easy cake. Make it up to two days ahead of the birthday party and store, loosely covered, in the refrigerator.

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Sunflower Cupcakes

Sunflower Cupcakes
Photographer: Alison Miksch Food Stylist: Erin Merhar Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee

Recipe: Sunflower Cupcakes

End your celebration on a sunny note with the sweetest cupcakes we ever did see. They start with a box of cake mix, but the real magic happens with your piping bag.

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Brown Sugar Layer Cake with Peach Buttercream

Brown Sugar Layer Cake with Peach Buttercream
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Brown Sugar Layer Cake with Peach Buttercream

This recipe has the sweet peach flavor of summer with beautiful presentation made for a party.

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Carrot-Pineapple Mini Bundt Cakes with Buttermilk-Vanilla Glaze

Carrot-Pineapple Mini Bundt Cakes with Buttermilk-Vanilla Glaze
Cedric Angeles; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Carrot-Pineapple Mini Bundt Cakes with Buttermilk-Vanilla Glaze

Though they look like you bought them from the bakery up the street, these mini Bundt cakes are easy to make at home. Pineapple flower toppers are a beautiful, natural garnish.

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Key Lime Sheet Cake

Key Lime Sheet Cake
Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Margaret Dickey, Prop Styling: Kay E Clarke

Recipe: Key Lime Sheet Cake

If you're hosting a crowd, sheet cakes are the way to go at dessert. Our readers have raved over this recipe for how easy it is to pull off.

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Dreamsicle Cupcakes with Lighthouse Ice Cream Cones

Dreamsicle Cupcakes with Lighthouse Ice Cream Cones
Emily Mingledorff, Pie Crust & Pixie Dust

Recipe: Dreamsicle Cupcakes with Lighthouse Ice Cream Cones

If your child is obsessed with everything nautical, look no further for a birthday cake than these oh-so-festive cupcakes.

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Berry Chantilly Cake

Berry Chantilly Cake
Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Berry Chantilly Cake

End an elegant birthday affair with this masterpiece of a summer cake. Cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, and whipping cream are a triple threat for the dreamiest frosting you've ever made.

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Flourless Pecan-Chocolate Cake

Flourless Pecan-Chocolate Cake
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Flourless Pecan-Chocolate Cake

This flourless cake is insanely fudgy and full of chocolate flavor. A few tips from the Test Kitchen: Be careful not to overbake your cake—it will set up when chilled. For the smoothest top, pour the warm glaze over the chilled cake and gently spread it with a spatula.

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Better Boxed Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting

Better Box Mix Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting
Brian Hagiwara/Getty Images

Recipe: Better Boxed Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting

This recipe is proof that a box of yellow cake mix can be turned into something fantastic. Top the classic chocolate frosting with sprinkles of your choice for a cake fit for a birthday.

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Confetti Cake with Vanilla-Sour Cream Frosting

Confetti Cake with Vanilla-Sour Cream Frosting
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Recipe: Confetti Cake with Vanilla-Sour Cream Frosting

Confetti cake mix and plenty of sprinkles make this easy cake fit for a celebration.

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