11 french cake recipes

Classic French chocolate loaf cake bakes in a water bath for a dense, fudgy crumb with a thin crackly top. Semi-sweet chocolate, espresso, and whipped egg whites do the work. Flourless using cornstarch.

French banana cake using white cake mix, very ripe mashed bananas, and chopped walnuts. A semi-homemade banana cake that improves after 24 hours chilled.

French chocolate cake bakes briefly at high heat to leave a molten, mousse-like center that tastes like a baked truffle. Toasted hazelnuts and semisweet chocolate carry the flavor. Twenty minutes from prep to oven door.

French apple cake with poached apples topped in a light, flourless almond batter with lemon zest and whipped egg whites. Served lukewarm with custard or cream.

French apple cake made with yellow cake mix, lemon pudding, Granny Smith apples, and raisins, finished with a tart lemon glaze. A spiced bundt cake that stays moist thanks to sour cream.

French apple spice cake with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, chopped walnuts, and raisins. An oil-based one-bowl cake that starts by macerating apples in sugar.

French apple cake topped with Granny Smith apples, a brown sugar-cinnamon crumble, and a glossy apricot glaze. A bakery-worthy dessert with a tender crumb.

A decadently rich chocolate cake that contains no flour but has the consistency and density of a chocolate candy bar.

French chocolate cake from a 1953 recipe contest, made with cocoa powder, sour cream, and folded egg whites for a tender, tall crumb. Finished with a soft-ball brown sugar chocolate frosting that sets glossy and rich.

French chocolate cake with a fudgy molten center and barely-set top, built from melted sweet chocolate, butter, and whipped egg whites. A bare-bones flourless-style classic served with unsweetened whipped cream.

Classic French yule log cake with chocolate meringue buttercream, caramel mushrooms, and orange-almond sponge. This stunning Buche de Noel is a traditional Christmas centerpiece.