14 stick vanilla cake recipes

Red and white peppermint cake made with white cake mix and crushed candy canes, topped with vanilla frosting and more peppermint. A festive holiday cake with cool minty crunch.

Christmas tree cake cut from a 13x9 sheet cake into a tree shape, frosted green and decorated with peppermint candies, pretzel rod trunk, and a gumdrop star. Festive holiday show-stopper from one boxed mix.

Dense, buttery sweet potato pound cake with sour cream and warm spices, served with a vanilla bean-cinnamon custard sauce and praline ice cream. This is dinner party dessert that earns a standing ovation.

Halloween black cat cookies turn rich chocolate cookie dough into spooky-cute pops, with pinched ears, fork-pressed whiskers, candy corn eyes, and red-hot noses. A fun bake the kids can help shape.

Old-fashioned chocolate cake with crushed peppermint stick candy folded right into the batter. A tender cocoa layer cake with a cool, pepperminty crunch. Straight out of a mid-century church cookbook.

Apricot white chocolate muffins with cinnamon-poached apricots, nutmeg, and good quality white chocolate. The poaching liquid adds apricot flavor right into the batter.

Revani is a Greek semolina cake soaked in cinnamon-clove-orange syrup and scattered with almonds. Dense, honey-wet crumb with a warm spiced finish. A true Mediterranean sweet.

Greek semolina cake with almonds soaked in cinnamon-orange syrup, scored into diamonds. Traditional Mediterranean dessert.

Peanut butter cookie dough wrapped around mini Snickers or Mars bars on a stick. Golden, chewy, and loaded with candy bar surprise in every bite. A total showstopper for bake sales and holiday parties.

Spooky chocolate cookies with pretzel stick legs coated in melted chocolate and sprinkles with candy eyes. These Halloween tarantula treats are fun to make with kids.

Chocolate peppermint pinwheel cookies swirl cocoa-rich chocolate dough with crushed peppermint candy dough into a spiral slice-and-bake Christmas cookie. A holiday tin classic with bracing mint and deep chocolate.

Cat-shaped chocolate chip cookies with pecan ears, pretzel whiskers, and candy eyes. A fun baking project kids will love decorating and eating.

Peach tres leches cake soaked in three milks and peach schnapps, topped with star anise and cinnamon poached peaches, vanilla whipped cream, and crispy meringue strips.

Fresh gingerbread cake paired with whole pears poached in ruby port with ginger, cinnamon, and vanilla. Served with ginger-scented whipped cream for an elegant holiday dessert plate.