There’s a cake for every occasion and an occasion for every cake! Be it the biggest holiday of the year or a small birthday celebration, the right cake for your occasion is here. On this list, you’ll find unbeatable versions of the classics grandma made alongside the most exciting new recipes to come out of our test kitchens. Save Betty’s angel food recipe, if you need a go-to version for your recipe box, but also, don’t forget to try something unexpected. Might we recommend fan-favorite Upside-Down Pecan Pie Cake—it’s perfect for Thanksgiving—or you could impress your kiddo with Butterscotch Pudding Layer Cake—we’d call it the ultimate birthday treat!—either one could be the start of a brand-new tradition.
Cakes We Always Bake from Scratch
4.4 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 288 reviews.Kitchen Tested- Prep time: 20 min
- Total time: 1 hr 5 min
- Ingredients: 16
- Servings: 12
Everyone needs a perfect carrot cake recipe, and this once can be yours. It’s delicious, dependable and surprisingly quick. Completely made from scratch, from the cream cheese frosting to the carrot and walnut-flecked cake itself, this recipe truly earned all five of its stars.
4.3 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 70 reviews.- Prep time: 20 min
- Total time: 2 hr 55 min
- Ingredients: 8
- Servings: 16
Did you know you can whip up a truly heavenly angel food cake with 20 minutes of effort and eight standard ingredients? While there’s nothing wrong with box mix, this sweet, spongy, from-scratch recipe is a must-try for all angel food cake lovers.
4.3 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 26 reviews.Kitchen Tested- Prep time: 35 min
- Total time: 2 hr 10 min
- Ingredients: 14
- Servings: 12
It’s hard to think of a more classic cake combo than yellow cake with chocolate frosting. And passionate bakers will love this completely scratch recipe, which turns out super moist due to the sour cream in the batter. The chocolate buttercream frosting is well worth the effort and creates the party-perfect cake every single time.
4.4 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 48 reviews.Kitchen Tested- Prep time: 20 min
- Total time: 4 hr 0 min
- Ingredients: 9
- Servings: 24
One of the most irresistible of Betty’s classic cakes. This pound cake is buttery, sweet and soft. It’s been refined from the original formula—1 pound each of flour, sugar and butter—so it won’t wipe out your baking supplies (or add quite so many calories to your diet).
4.4 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 28 reviews.- Prep time: 10 min
- Total time: 1 hr 5 min
- Ingredients: 11
- Servings: 9
Old fashioned doesn’t always mean out of fashion or fussy, as this favorite cake proves. Molasses, ginger and cinnamon give this cake its classic gingerbread flavoring and the butterscotch sauce adds just the right amount of decadence. Even better, the whole cake comes together with a mere 10 minutes of prep and 10 ingredients, so don’t discount this time-tested cake.
4.4 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 136 reviews.Kitchen Tested- Prep time: 30 min
- Total time: 2 hr 20 min
- Ingredients: 18
- Servings: 12
Here’s a showstopper perfect for Christmas or any occasion honoring the chocolate lover in your life! This from-scratch chocolate layer cake is filled and topped with a sweet mixture of coconut and pecan that’s totally irresistible. And don’t be intimidated, Betty’s directions are clear and easy to follow, which means you can pull off this elaborate cake, even on your first try.
4.6 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 18 reviews.Kitchen Tested- Prep time: 20 min
- Total time: 2 hr 0 min
- Ingredients: 8
- Servings: 12
Made from scratch, this decadent and supremely satisfying chocolate cake deserves a permanent spot in your recipe box. Excellent for holidays and special occasions, all it takes is one bite and you’ll be hooked on this chocolate-on-chocolate confection. Serve it with ice cream or whipped cream for a cool and creamy contrast.
