52 top cake recipes

Spirited fruit macerated in orange liqueur, lemon juice, and sugar. A boozy fruit topping for cheesecake, pound cake, ice cream, or sherbet.

Angel food ice cream cake layered with vanilla ice cream and topped with sweetened fresh strawberries. A no-bake summer dessert that serves a crowd of 15 in 15 minutes of active prep.

Easy Boston cream pie made the no-bake way: a split yellow cake layer sandwiched with silky vanilla pudding, then crowned with a glossy chocolate-cream topping spiked with almond extract.

It was indeed very easy to make. I added about 1/2 cup chopped walnuts to the topping, and the cake came out quite delicious.

A moist Bundt cake blending vanilla mix with pistachio pudding and whiskey, studded with cherries, walnuts, and chocolate chips. Topped with a simple vanilla glaze.

Layered chocolate pound cake soaked in kirsch, topped with sour cherries, rich homemade chocolate custard, and clouds of whipped cream. A showpiece trifle for 18.

Retro sheet cake soaked with crushed pineapple frosting and topped with coconut, mandarin oranges, and cherries. A potluck favorite that's easy, colorful, and gone in minutes.

Flourless raspberry truffle cake made with a full pound of melted chocolate, whipped egg whites, and butter. Topped with sweetened cream, fresh raspberries, and chocolate curls.

Pineapple coconut coffee cake with a yeasted dough base, pineapple preserves, and flaked coconut topping. Only 3 ingredients plus the dough. Great warm or at room temperature.

Emeril-inspired masa corn cakes with chili powder, topped with white wine chive cream and caviar. An elegant appetizer that turns simple corn into something show-stopping.

Quick praline peach topping with brown sugar, chopped almonds, and butter spooned over angel food cake. A 5-minute warm dessert sauce with fresh or frozen peaches.

Mini rice cake snacks topped with herbed cream cheese and sour cream, baked until warm and bubbly. A quick 10-minute appetizer with tarragon, rosemary, oregano, and dill.

Orange pecan gems: shortcut cake-mix cookies with orange flavor, yogurt, and a pecan half pressed on top. Three dozen tender cookies from one bowl in 30 minutes.

Strawberry brownie cake layered with reduced-fat fudge brownies, almond-spiked whipped topping, fresh strawberry halves, and chocolate drizzle. A no-fuss layered dessert built from a brownie mix.

Old-fashioned rhubarb pudding with a stale cake or bread base, sweetened stewed rhubarb filling, and golden meringue topping. A Pennsylvania Dutch-style baked dessert that uses up leftover bread.

A no-bake ice cream cake with a chocolate chip cookie crust, fudge layer, and scoops of your favorite ice cream. Topped with whipped cream and strawberries. Easy enough for kids to help make.