Start with a mix or make the whole thing from scratch—it takes just 15 minutes (or less!) of hands-on time to whip up each one of these deliciously easy cakes. The hardest part: waiting for dessert.
53 Easy Cake Recipes for Last-Minute Entertaining
Updated on Sep. 20, 2024
1/53
Peanut Butter Chocolate Poke Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When my family is planning a get-together, I can count on three or four people to ask if I’m bringing this dessert. If you don’t have a chocolate cake mix, use a white or yellow one and stir in 3 tablespoons baking cocoa. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas
2/53
Peach Cobbler Dump Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is one of the best peach dump cake recipes in the world. It's sweet, tender cake with a beautifully crisp cobbler topping. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side, and dessert's golden. —Keri Sparks, Little Elm, Texas
3/53
Pineapple Sheet Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
about 24 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This sheet cake is perfect for serving to a crowd. It keeps so well that you can easily prepare it a day ahead and it will stay moist. I often bring it to church potlucks, and I have yet to take much of it home. —Kim Miller Spiek, Sarasota, Florida
4/53
Black Forest Dump Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I make a black forest cake the easy way: Dump everything into a dish and let the magic happen. Give it a cherry topping by reserving two tablespoons of juice from the canned cherries and stir into whipped cream. —Meghan McDermott, Springfield, Missouri
5/53
6/53
Blueberry Angel Dessert
Total Time
10 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Make the most of angel food cake, pie filling and whipped topping by creating this light impressive dessert that doesn't keep you in the kitchen for hours. It's the perfect way to end a summer meal. —Carol Johnson, Tyler, Texas
7/53
Pig Pickin’ Cake
Total Time
40 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is one of my favorite cakes. It’s moist and light yet so satisfying. I’ve been adapting it for years and now it’s almost guilt-free. —Pam Sjolund, Columbia, South Carolina
8/53
Boston Cream Angel Cake
Total Time
10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
You can prepare this delectable dessert in no time. To change this cake to your family's liking, try different flavors of instant pudding or different ice cream toppings. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
9/53
Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Frosting
Total Time
40 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This moist chocolate cake recipe with coffee reminds me of my grandmother because it was one of her specialties. I bake it often for family parties, and it always brings back fond memories. The cake is light and airy with a delicious chocolate taste. This recipe is a keeper! —Patricia Kreitz, Richland, Pennsylvania
10/53
Sour Cream Pound Cake
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Because I'm our town's postmaster, I can bake only in my spare time. I especially enjoy making desserts such as this one. It tastes amazing as is, or tuck it under ice cream and chocolate syrup like a hot fudge sundae! —Karen Conrad, East Troy, Wisconsin
11/53
One-Bowl Chocolate Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This cake mixes up quickly and bakes while we enjoy our dinner. My son, David, loves to help decorate it. —Coleen Martin, Brookfield, Wisconsin
12/53
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
14 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The combination of mocha and peanut butter will satisfy every sweet tooth at your table. The garnish is a little extra work, but what are special occasions for? —Tammy Bollman, Minatare, Nebraska
13/53
Mamaw Emily’s Strawberry Cake
Total Time
40 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband loved his mamaw's strawberry cake recipe. He thought no one could duplicate it. I made it, and it’s just as scrumptious as he remembers. —Jennifer Bruce, Manitou, Kentucky
14/53
Slow-Cooker Dump Cake
Total Time
2 hours 10 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
No matter the season, this dump cake recipe is wonderful! It works well with gluten-free and sugar-free cake mixes too. —Karin Gatewood, Josephine, Texas
15/53
German Apple Cake
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother made this German apple cake for my brothers and me when we were kids. It's an excellent choice for a Christmas potluck or actually any time of year. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah
16/53
Pear Bundt Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Next time you make cake from a mix, try my easy and delicious recipe. The pears and syrup add sweet flavor and prevent the cake from drying out. And since there's no oil added to the batter, this tender fall-perfect cake is surprisingly low in fat. —Veronica Ross, Columbia Heights, Minnesota
17/53
Apple-Pumpkin Upside-Down Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We love the combination of classic fall fruits in this cake. I bake the apples on the bottom to keep them plump and moist, then flip the cake so they're on top. This is best served warm with vanilla ice cream, but we enjoy digging in any time of day. —Christina Yahraes, San Francisco, California
18/53
Contest-Winning Moist Chocolate Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
You don't have to spend a lot of time to serve an elegant and delicious dessert. Just mix up the batter in one bowl, bake and get ready for people to love this moist dark chocolate cake recipe. —Christa Hageman, Telford, Pennsylvania
19/53
Chocolate Bavarian Torte
Total Time
45 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Whenever I take this eye-catching torte to a potluck, I get so many requests for the recipe. —Edith Holmstrom, Madison, Wisconsin
20/53
Cherry Poke Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I serve this cherry cake for holidays because it's so festive and easy. No one will know your secret is adding a package of cherry gelatin to a boxed cake mix! —Margaret McNeil, Germantown, Tennessee
21/53
Caramel-Fudge Chocolate Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
To satisfy the chocolate lovers in our family, I added hot fudge topping and chocolate chips to a caramel-covered dessert that's quite popular in our area. The moist cake layer is a breeze to prepare using a boxed mix, and the rich toppings make it especially decadent. —Karen Stucky, Freeman, South Dakota
22/53
Carrot Dump Cake
Total Time
35 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Because our family adores carrot cake, I experimented to find an easy way to make it so we could enjoy it all the time. This super moist dump cake version makes my family smile when it suddenly appears on the table. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
23/53
Easy Apple Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
After testing many apple cake recipes with fresh apples, I found this old-fashioned easy apple cake that is moist, dense and down-home delicious. Even better, it's quick to fix, and when it's served warm with whipped cream or a dollop of frozen custard, it's one of my family’s very favorites. —Sherry Ashenfelter, Waterville, Ohio
24/53
Down East Blueberry Buckle
Total Time
45 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This buckle won a contest at my daughter’s college. The prize was four lobsters, but the real reward was the smile on our daughter’s face. —Dianne van der Veen, Plymouth, Massachusetts
25/53
Chocolate Pudding Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe came from my Aunt Vera. She loved sweets, and this was one of her favorites. It's a terrific way to warm up on a chilly day.
26/53
Buttermilk Pound Cake
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Now that I've retired from teaching, I have more time to bake. This buttermilk pound cake is the one I make most often. It is a truly southern recipe, and one I think can't be topped—once people taste it, they won't go back to their other recipes with buttermilk. —Gracie Hanchey, De Ridder, Louisiana
27/53
Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Total Time
40 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Our family absolutely loves zucchini, especially when we grow it ourselves. We’ve found many ways to use it, including this spiced cake that’s super moist and chocolaty good. —Sue Falk, Warren, Michigan
28/53
Apple-Spice Angel Food Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I dressed up an angel food cake mix with some nuts, spice and applesauce to make an easy and light dessert. I serve it with a dollop of whipped topping mixed with a half cup of sour cream. —Joan Buehnerkemper, Teutopolis, Illinois
29/53
Banana Chocolate Cake
Total Time
40 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This light-as-air chocolate cake has a yummy banana flavor. It’s scrumptious as is, but you can also dress it up with nuts or light frostings. —Tina Bellows, Racine, Wisconsin
30/53
Ho Ho Cake
Total Time
15 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This treat serves up appealing flavor in big fluffy wedges of chocolate and cream. It's like a giant Ho Ho snack cake. —Edna Miller, Mount Hope, Ohio
31/53
Coconut Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I found this coconut cake recipe in a newspaper many years ago and modified it to suit my taste. This is my all-time favorite cake, and my family and friends absolutely love it. —Lynne Bassler, Indiana, Pennsylvania
32/53
Cherry Pudding Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A cross between a cake and a cobbler, this cherry dessert is awesome. Add it to your list of trusty potluck recipes, because this one is sure to go fast. —Brenda Parker, Kalamazoo, Michigan
33/53
Pineapple Carrot Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This moist cake with cream cheese frosting is the best I've ever eaten. It's so simple, too, because it uses two jars of baby food instead of fresh carrots that need to be grated. —Jeanette McKenna, Vero Beach, Florida
34/53
Apple Snickerdoodle Dump Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
With an apple farm just down the road, I'm always looking for creative ways to use up those bushels. We love this cozy apple snickerdoodle dump cake with caramel drizzle and a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream. —Rachel Garcia, Honolulu, Hawaii
35/53
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A classic recipe like this never goes out of style! It’s delicious with the traditional pineapple, but try it with peaches or a combination of cranberries and orange. —Bernardine Melton, Paola, Kansas
36/53
Applesauce Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This moist applesauce cake recipe is a treasured heirloom passed down from my Grandma Stuit, who cooked for a family of 13 during the Depression. At reunions, it's the first dessert gone...including the crumbs! —Joanie Jager, Lynden, Washington
37/53
Chocolate Almond Cake
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Fluffy white homemade frosting tops this rich chocolate almond cake. Sliced toasted almonds on top add a little crunch. —Sherri Gentry, Dallas, Oregon
38/53
Mocha Cake
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Without a doubt, this is the best cake I've ever made. It's a decadent dessert that I share with everyone I can! —Katherine DeLoach, Visalia, California
39/53
Pina Colada Tube Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We named this a “pina colada” cake because it has coconut, pineapple and rum. It’s a soothing finish at the end of a big spread. —Debra Keil, Owasso, Oklahoma
40/53
Coke Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
8-10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I get a great response every time I serve this cake, and it seems like I'm forever sharing the recipe! Folks are always curious about the ingredients, and when I tell them the cake has cola in it, they are really surprised. The unusual combination of ingredients makes it moist and delicious. —Anna Baker, Blaine, Washington
41/53
Cranberry Layer Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I adapted a Bundt cake recipe to create this layer cake. Cranberries, walnuts and homemade frosting make it taste so delicious that you'd never guess it starts with a convenient cake mix. —Sandy Burkett, Galena, Ohio
42/53
Pistachio Bundt Cake
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Pistachio pudding mix gives this moist cake a pretty tint of green. As it bakes, the outside browns nicely to form a slightly crunchy crust. The cake slices beautifully and would make a fun dessert for St. Patrick's Day.
-Becky Gant, South Bend, Indiana
43/53
Lemon Chiffon Cake
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This moist, airy chiffon cake was my dad's favorite. Mom revamped the original recipe to include lemons. I'm not much of a baker, but whenever I make this dessert my family is thrilled! —Trisha Kammers, Clarkston, Washington
44/53
Blueberry-Lemon Upside-Down Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I was young when I married, so I watched my mother-in-law to learn baking. This cake with fresh blueberries is one of her beauties. —Bonnie Roberts, Newaygo, Michigan
45/53
Plum Poppy Seed Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe uses plums and poppy seeds for the most traditional Polish version of this dessert, but you can also use nectarines or even apricots. One tip: Do not push the plums into the batter. Just let them sit on top. They will sink in a bit as they bake. —Lisa Kaminski, Wauwatosa, WI
46/53
Crock-Pot Lava Cake
Total Time
3 hours 15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Everyone who tries this dessert falls in love with it. Using a slow cooker liner makes cleanup a breeze. —Latona Dwyer, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
47/53
Pumpkin Bundt Cake
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This pumpkin bundt cake recipe is perfect for fall. As it bakes, the aroma fills the house with a spicy scent. —Virginia Loew, Leesburg, Florida
48/53
Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother-in-law loves chocolate-covered cherries, and I used to make this chocolate cherry dump cake every year for her birthday. Now we've moved away, but I make this for my kids on her birthday and they still feel near her. —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas
49/53
Lemon Pound Cake
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Citrus trees grow abundantly in California, and I'm always looking for new recipes which use the fruit from the orange and lemon trees in my yard. This lemon pound cake is one of my favorites! My mother passed this recipe down to me. —Richard Killeaney, Spring Valley, California
50/53
Elvis’ Pudding Cake
Total Time
3 hours 10 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I love the flavors of peanut butter and banana together, and this slow-cooker pudding cake is just like eating an Elvis sandwich, only sweeter! Banana chips add a surprisingly crunchy texture; find them near the dried fruit in your grocery store. —Lisa Renshaw, Kansas City, Missouri
51/53
Lemon Blueberry Dump Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
15 servings (3 cups lemon topping)
From the Recipe Creator:
This sweet-tart cake recipe is so much fun to make with my grandkids. They love just "dumping it all in" and watching it magically become a pretty, delicious dessert. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
52/53
Mini Rum Cakes
Total Time
10 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother and I tried many different types of rum cake to find the best one, and finally hit on this cake that doesn't dry out and imparts the most flavor. For a really moist cake, brush rum over the individual sponge cakes before topping them with the filling. —Dona M. Hoffman, Addison, Illinois
53/53
Fudge-Filled Vanilla Cake
Total Time
40 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For my husband’s birthday cake, I used white chocolate pudding mix as part of the cake’s topping. Guests rated this fluffy cake excellent. —Linnea Ledgister, Wausau, Wisconsin
