10+ Quick and Easy Cake Recipes for Every Occasion
Baking a cake can be a delightful experience, especially when you’re short on time. There are many quick and easy cake recipes that make it simple to whip up something delicious with minimal effort. These recipes are perfect for anyone looking to impress guests or satisfy a sweet tooth without spending hours in the kitchen.
With just a few ingredients and straightforward steps, you can create a variety of flavorful cakes. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced baker, you’ll find that these recipes are designed to be easy and enjoyable.
So, get ready to explore some delightful options that make baking a breeze!
Chocolate Lava Cake
Chocolate lava cake is a delicious treat that’s easy to make. The outside is a soft cake, while the inside is rich and gooey chocolate. It’s perfect for impressing guests or treating yourself.
To start, you’ll need a few basic ingredients, which you might already have at home. The best part is that it only takes about 30 minutes to prepare and bake.
Ingredients
- ½ cup (100 g) dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
- 2 tablespoons (15 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) vanilla extract
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Melt chocolate and butter together in a bowl.
- Whisk in eggs and sugar until smooth.
- Stir in flour and vanilla.
- Pour the batter into greased ramekins and bake for about 12 minutes.
- Let cool briefly, then invert onto plates and enjoy!
2) Lemon Drizzle Cake
Lemon Drizzle Cake is a delightful treat that’s easy to make. It combines zesty lemon flavor with a moist texture, making it perfect for tea time or dessert.
To start, gather your ingredients. You’ll need basic items like flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and fresh lemons. This cake is often mixed in one bowl, which saves time and cleanup.
Once baked, you pour a sweet lemon glaze over it, adding extra flavor. The glaze is made with powdered sugar and lemon juice. This step gives the cake a shiny finish and refreshing taste.
Baking this cake takes less than an hour, making it a great option for a quick dessert. It’s enjoyable for family gatherings or a simple afternoon snack.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (115 g) butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) lemon juice
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- A pinch of salt
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a bowl, cream together butter and sugar.
- Beat in eggs, lemon juice, and zest.
- Mix in flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Pour into a greased loaf pan.
- Bake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let it cool before glazing.
3) Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Carrot cake is a delicious treat that combines the sweetness of carrots with warm spices. It’s moist and flavorful, making it great for any occasion. The cream cheese frosting adds a tangy richness that perfectly complements the cake.
To make this cake, you start by mixing the wet ingredients like eggs, sugar, and oil. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Then, blend together until smooth. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 30-35 minutes.
While the cake cools, prepare the cream cheese frosting. Beat together cream cheese and softened butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and a splash of vanilla. Once the cake has cooled, spread the frosting evenly on top.
Ingredients
- 2 cups grated carrots
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large bowl, mix the eggs, sugar, and oil.
- In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until well combined.
- Stir in the grated carrots.
- Pour the batter into a greased cake pan.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool before frosting.
- For the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter together.
- Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, mixing until smooth.
- Frost the cooled cake and enjoy!
4) Classic Victoria Sponge
The Classic Victoria Sponge is a delightful and simple cake to make. It features a light sponge with sweet filling, perfect for any occasion.
To start, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease two round cake tins. You can use butter or oil to make sure the cakes come out easily.
Next, in a mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is important for that perfect texture. Then, add eggs one at a time, mixing well.
Sift together flour and baking powder separately. Gradually fold this dry mixture into your wet ingredients. Finally, pour in a bit of milk to add moisture to the batter.
Pour equal amounts of batter into the tins and bake for 20-25 minutes. They are ready when they spring back when touched.
Let the cakes cool before adding your favorite jam, like raspberry, and a dusting of powdered sugar on top.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (225g) granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2-4 tbsp milk
- Jam (raspberry or strawberry)
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Grease two round cake tins.
- Cream butter and sugar together.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well.
- Sift flour and baking powder together.
- Fold in the flour mixture and milk.
- Pour batter into prepared tins.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Cool and add jam and powdered sugar.
5) Red Velvet Cake
Red velvet cake is a classic treat that’s both colorful and delicious. With its rich flavor and soft texture, it’s perfect for any occasion.
To make red velvet cake, you will need simple ingredients like all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, and buttermilk. The combination of these ingredients gives the cake its unique taste and beautiful red color.
You’ll also want to prepare a creamy cream cheese frosting. This frosting pairs wonderfully with the cake and adds a nice touch of sweetness.
Bake your red velvet cake at 350°F (175°C) for about 25–30 minutes. Once cooled, frost it generously and enjoy a slice!
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon red food coloring
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and baking soda.
- In another bowl, combine oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pans.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow the cakes to cool before frosting with cream cheese frosting.
6) Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake is a classic dessert that’s easy to make. With its sweet, caramelized pineapple and moist cake, it’s a crowd-pleaser.
To start, you’ll want to prepare a baking pan. Melt some butter and add brown sugar to create a sticky topping. Place pineapple slices and maraschino cherries on top for decoration.
Mix up your cake batter using your favorite cake recipe or a box mix. Pour it over the fruit in the pan and bake. The cake will rise above the pineapple, creating a beautiful presentation when you flip it over.
This cake can be served warm or at room temperature. Pair it with whipped cream for a delightful treat!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 can (20 ounces) pineapple slices, drained
- 12 maraschino cherries
- Cake mix (or homemade batter)
Cooking Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Melt the butter and combine it with brown sugar in your baking pan.
- Arrange pineapple slices and cherries on top.
- Prepare cake batter and pour it over the fruit.
- Bake for about 35-40 minutes.
- Allow it to cool briefly before flipping onto a plate.
7) Banana Bread with Walnuts
Banana bread with walnuts is a delicious and simple treat. It’s perfect for using up those ripe bananas sitting on your counter. The walnuts add a nice crunch and a hint of nutty flavor.
To make this bread, start by gathering your ingredients. You’ll need ripe bananas, flour, sugar, baking soda, eggs, and, of course, walnuts. The gathering of ingredients is a good time to preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
Mash the ripe bananas in a bowl. Then mix in the sugar and eggs until combined. Add the flour and baking soda gradually, folding in the walnuts at the end.
Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan. Bake for about 45-55 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when a toothpick comes out clean.
Once it cools, slice it, and enjoy! This banana bread is great with a cup of coffee or tea.
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Mash the bananas in a bowl.
- Mix in sugar and eggs.
- Gradually add flour and baking soda.
- Fold in walnuts.
- Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes.
- Let it cool before slicing.
8) Vanilla Pound Cake
Vanilla pound cake is a classic treat that is simple to make and delicious to enjoy. This cake has a rich, buttery flavor that pairs well with many toppings or can be enjoyed as is.
To start, you’ll need just a few basic ingredients: butter, sugar, eggs, flour, and vanilla extract. You can easily find these in your kitchen.
When baking, it’s important to cream the butter and sugar well. This adds air to the mixture, which helps the cake rise nicely. Bake it at 350°F (175°C) until golden brown.
Serve your vanilla pound cake with a dusting of powdered sugar, fresh fruit, or whipped cream. It’s perfect for any occasion or just as a sweet treat at home.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 5 large eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the flour, mixing until smooth.
- Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan.
- Bake for about 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let it cool before slicing. Enjoy!
9) Strawberry Shortcake
Strawberry shortcake is a delightful treat that is easy to make. It combines fresh strawberries, sweet cake, and whipped cream for a refreshing dessert.
Start by preparing your ingredients. You will need fresh strawberries, sugar, a shortcake or pound cake, and whipped cream. You can also make the cake from scratch or buy it ready-made.
To begin, slice the strawberries and toss them with sugar. Let them sit for about 15 minutes to release their juices. This will enhance their sweetness.
Next, slice your cake into layers. Layer the strawberries on top of the cake and dollop whipped cream over them. Add more strawberries and cream as you like for a beautiful presentation.
Serve your strawberry shortcake immediately for a perfect summer dessert. Enjoy its sweet, fruity flavors!
Ingredients
- Fresh strawberries
- Sugar
- Shortcake or pound cake
- Whipped cream
Cooking Instructions
- Slice fresh strawberries and toss with sugar.
- Let strawberries sit for 15 minutes.
- Layer cake with strawberries and whipped cream.
- Serve immediately.
10) Coconut Layer Cake
Coconut Layer Cake is a delicious treat that’s perfect for any occasion. This cake features soft layers filled with coconut flavor and topped with creamy frosting.
To start, you’ll need some basic ingredients like flour, sugar, and eggs. Don’t forget the shredded coconut for that extra texture and taste!
First, bake your cake layers in two round pans. Make sure to let them cool completely once they come out of the oven. While your cakes cool, you can prepare the frosting.
For the frosting, mix together egg whites, sugar, and a little corn syrup. Whisk until it gets thick and glossy. Once your layers are cooled, stack them up with the frosting in between.
This cake is not only easy to make, but it also looks impressive. Your friends and family will love it!
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and flour two round cake pans.
- Mix flour, sugar, and eggs until smooth.
- Divide the batter into the pans. Then, bake for 25-30 minutes.
- Let the layers cool for 15 minutes before removing them from the pans.
- Prepare the frosting and layer it between the cooled cakes.