- Food
- Desserts
You don't need to be a pastry chef to bake the perfect cake.
By
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Updated on August 25, 2023
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If you're anything like the participants on Worst Bakers in America, you know you can mess up a cake recipe in many ways, even if you thought you were precise with your measurements. Fortunately, a homemade cake doesn't have to be daunting.
Try one of these quick and easy cake recipes if you're a beginner baker and want to boost your confidence. Each recipe was hand-selected to be simple and relatively painless. In one short afternoon, you'll be able to perfect a delicious crumb cake, cheesecake, chocolate cake, and more.
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Easy Ice Cream Cake
The secret to this astonishingly simple four-ingredient dessert? Using ice cream sandwiches to build your cake.
Get the recipe: Easy Ice Cream Cake
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Strawberry Ice Cream Cake
Ripe strawberries give vanilla ice cream a beautiful pink hue; top the dessert with fresh whipped cream before serving.
Get the recipe: Strawberry Ice Cream Cake
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Slow Cooker Apple Spice Cake
Cinnamon, cloves, and grated fresh ginger give this dessert a warm, comforting spiciness.
Get the recipe: Apple Spice Cake
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Glazed Lemon Pound Cake
This citrusy, buttery cake can be baked and glazed up to a day in advance.
Get the recipe: Glazed Lemon Pound Cake
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Chocolate-Earl Grey Cake
Add a cup of Earl Grey tea into the batter to infuse the cake with bergamot flavor and fragrance.
Get the recipe: Chocolate-Earl Grey Cake
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Gingersnap Cherry Cheesecake
The gingersnap crust is easy to make—just grind the cookies in a food processor, then combine with melted butter and press into a pan.
Get the recipe: Gingersnap Cherry Cheesecake
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Classic Cheesecake
This ultra creamy, fabulously rich cheesecake takes just 30 minutes to prep.
Get the recipe: Classic Cheesecake
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Berry Oat Crumble Cake
Sprinkle the berry filling with a tasty oat mixture before baking; the oats will become crumbly, complementing the sweet and juicy berry layer.
Get the recipe: Berry Oat Crumble Cake
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Plum Cake
This gorgeous seven-ingredient cake boasts a delightfully sticky, juicy fruit topping.
Get the recipe: Plum Cake
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Strawberry Shortcake
You don't even need to prep anything for this easy strawberry shortcake recipe—simply pick up a tube of homestyle biscuits, strawberries, and whipped cream.
Get the recipe: Strawberry Shortcake
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Slow Cooker Angel Food Cake
Both strawberries and whipped cream provide a decadent topping for this light and easy angel food cake.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Angel Food Cake
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Nectarine Olive Oil Cake
Top this deceivingly easy cake with powdered sugar and serve with sliced nectarines.
Get the recipe: Nectarine Olive Oil Cake
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Marbled Pound Cake
Add a rich chocolate frosting to turn this baked treat into a decadent dessert.
Get the recipe: Marbled Pound Cake
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Toasted Coconut Refrigerator Cake
With just four ingredients—sweetened coconut, heavy cream, vanilla pudding, and ready-made pound cakes—you can create this easy crowd-pleasing dessert.
Get the recipe: Toasted Coconut Refrigerator Cake
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Slow Cooker Chocolate Pudding Cake
This dump cake is incredibly straightforward. Simply drop in the ingredients, set the slow cooker, and forget about it for three hours.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Chocolate Pudding Cake
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Chocolate Hazelnut Swirl Cake
A cross between a decadent dessert and a breakfast-like coffee cake, this confection gets its zebra-like stripes from hazelnut and chocolate. The crunchy streusel topping ties the entire dish together and makes this dinner party-worthy.
Get the recipe: Chocolate-Hazelnut Swirl Cake
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