Some days call for candles and sprinkles, and some just need a really good slice of cake. Whether it’s a big birthday bash or just a regular Wednesday, there’s always a reason to bake something sweet. These 27 cake and cupcake recipes are easy to love and even easier to make again and again.
Blueberry Pudding Cake. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Chocolate Chip Applesauce Cake
Go with a classic that’s soft, sweet, and filled with chocolate chips in every bite. The applesauce keeps it moist without making it heavy, and it slices clean without falling apart. This is one of those easy cakes that always gets eaten first, no matter when you serve it.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Applesauce Cake
Cherry Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting
Add a pop of color to dessert with these light cherry cupcakes topped with smooth vanilla frosting. They hold their shape, taste fresh even after sitting out, and bring a fun twist to something simple. These bake up fast and always feel like something you’d grab from a bakery.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting
Red, White, and Blue Bundt Cake
Make dessert feel a little more fun with this colorful Bundt cake that swirls soft layers into one easy bake. The crumb is tender, the slices come out neat, and it holds its shape without needing extra effort. It’s the kind of cake that looks good on the table and disappears just as fast.
Get the Recipe: Red, White, and Blue Bundt Cake
Kit Kat Cake
Let dessert steal the show with a rich chocolate cake wrapped in crisp Kit Kats and filled with soft layers inside. It’s easy to put together, but it always gets a big reaction thanks to how it looks and tastes. This is one of those cakes that makes any day feel a little more fun.
Get the Recipe: Kit Kat Cake
Green Tea Cupcakes
Try something new with these soft cupcakes that blend green tea flavor into a simple batter and get topped with smooth matcha frosting. The flavor is light but still stands out, and the texture stays soft without falling apart. These are great when dessert needs to feel different without being complicated.
Get the Recipe: Green Tea Cupcakes
Double Chocolate Cupcakes with Strawberry Frosting
Mix rich chocolate cake with sweet strawberry frosting for a dessert that brings contrast in both flavor and color. The cupcakes stay soft all the way through and look like they came from a bakery case. This is a go-to treat when you want something bold but still easy to make.
Get the Recipe: Double Chocolate Cupcakes with Strawberry Frosting
Blueberry Pudding Cake
Let the oven do the work with this pudding cake that layers soft cake, juicy berries, and a warm, gooey center underneath. The texture is rich without being too heavy, and the flavor tastes like it took more time than it really did. This is a smart pick when you want dessert to feel special without being hard.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Pudding Cake
Homemade Ice Cream Cake
Stack soft cake and frozen ice cream into a no-bake dessert that looks polished but comes together fast. It holds up in the freezer, slices clean, and works well for birthdays or just something cool after dinner. This is the kind of make-ahead cake that makes life a little easier.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Ice Cream Cake
S’mores Cake
Layer chocolate cake, marshmallow filling, and ganache with graham cracker bits for a dessert that brings it all together. It’s gooey in all the right ways, but still easy enough for someone who doesn’t bake often. This cake always feels like more than the effort it takes to make it.
Get the Recipe: S’mores Cake
Molten Chocolate Cakes
Bake single-serve chocolate cakes with soft outsides and warm, gooey centers that melt when you dig in. They look fancy on the plate but are surprisingly simple to put together at home. These always get noticed first and are perfect when dessert needs to feel a little special.
Get the Recipe: Molten Chocolate Cakes
Individual Blueberry Coffeecakes
Go small with these single-serve blueberry coffeecakes topped with just the right amount of sweet crumb. The cake stays soft, the blueberries burst with flavor, and each one is easy to pick up and pass around. These are great when you want something simple that still feels fresh from the oven.
Get the Recipe: Individual Blueberry Coffeecakes
Carrot Cake
Make a soft carrot cake packed with warm spices, raisins, and topped with thick cream cheese frosting that ties it all together. It slices clean, holds its shape, and brings that homemade flavor that always feels right. This one’s a steady favorite that’s easy to bring out any day of the week.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Cake
Kool-Aid Cupcakes
Bring color and fruity flavor to dessert with cupcakes that use Kool-Aid to brighten the batter. They’re soft and sweet with a fun look that’s ready in less time than most cakes take. This is the kind of easy dessert that gets people talking without needing much work at all.
Get the Recipe: Kool-Aid Cupcakes
Blueberry Streusel Coffeecake
Bake a soft blueberry cake topped with a sweet, crumbly streusel that gives each slice just the right amount of crunch. The center stays tender and full of berries, while the top bakes up golden and crisp. This is the kind of tray bake that gets finished off faster than you expect.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Streusel Coffeecake
Chocolate Cinnamon Cupcakes
Add a little twist to dessert with chocolate cupcakes that get a warm kick from cinnamon and a smooth ganache finish. The cake stays soft and rich, while the flavor feels bold without being too much. These are easy to make and perfect when you want something different that still works every time.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cinnamon Cupcakes
Yogurt Nutella Cupcakes
Bake soft cupcakes with a slight tang from yogurt and a sweet Nutella center that gives each one a surprise. The mix of flavors feels balanced and gives off a bakery-style bite without needing any fuss. These are the kind of treats that always get asked about once the tray’s empty.
Get the Recipe: Yogurt Nutella Cupcakes
Mini Chocolate Cupcakes
Grab a few of these bite-sized chocolate cupcakes when dessert needs to be fast, easy, and still full of flavor. The soft cake holds up well without drying out, and the size makes it perfect for sharing. These are simple to bake and always disappear faster than full-sized ones.
Get the Recipe: Mini Chocolate Cupcakes
Classic Yellow Cake
Stick with a classic yellow cake that’s soft, buttery, and always tastes like it came straight from the bakery. Every bite melts in your mouth and brings that familiar flavor people love. This one’s a go-to dessert that works for birthdays, slow days, or anything in between.
Get the Recipe: Classic Yellow Cake
Ultra Moist Chocolate Cake
Bake up a deep chocolate cake that stays rich and moist from the first slice to the last one. The cocoa flavor is bold without being too heavy, and the texture stays smooth without falling apart. This is the kind of easy dessert that never lets you down when you want something that feels homemade.
Get the Recipe: Ultra Moist Chocolate Cake
Individual Pineapple Upside-down Cakes
Keep dessert easy to serve with small cakes topped with sticky pineapple and soft buttery cake underneath. Each one holds its shape, tastes sweet without being too rich, and doesn’t need extra dressing up. These are a fun choice when you want something neat and simple that still feels a little fancy.
Get the Recipe: Individual Pineapple Upside-down Cakes
Honey Cake
Bake a soft cake that’s full of honey flavor with a sweet center and a crisp edge that gives it a nice bite. The inside stays moist without being dense, and it holds together well even after slicing. This is a no-fuss dessert that still tastes like you spent time making it from scratch.
Get the Recipe: Honey Cake
Mountain Dew Bundt Cake
Try something different with a Bundt cake that uses Mountain Dew to bring bright lemon flavor and a soft crumb. The sweet icing on top adds a smooth finish that ties the whole cake together. This one’s a good pick when you want something easy but just a little unexpected.
Get the Recipe: Mountain Dew Bundt Cake
Coconut Cupcakes With Coconut Buttercream Frosting
Make dessert easy with these fluffy coconut cupcakes topped with creamy coconut frosting that brings everything together. They start with a box mix but bake up soft and sweet like something made from scratch. This is one of those recipes that’s quick to make but still feels like a treat.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Cupcakes With Coconut Buttercream Frosting
Coconut Cupcake with Lime Frosting
Brighten dessert with soft coconut cupcakes that use pudding mix for extra moisture and a light lime frosting on top. The cake is fluffy but still holds together well, and the citrus flavor cuts through the sweetness. These are a good pick when you want something simple that still feels fresh.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Cupcake with Lime Frosting
Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Make a moist chocolate cake that gets a boost from shredded zucchini and finishes with frosting and a little lemon zest on top. The flavor stays rich, the texture stays soft, and it doesn’t feel heavy like some other chocolate cakes. This is an easy way to mix things up without making it complicated.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Mini Hummingbird Cakes
Bake small cakes that mix banana, pineapple, and a smooth frosting for something sweet, fruity, and soft. Each one has just the right amount of flavor without being too rich or too simple. These are a good choice when you want something that looks nice and tastes even better.
Get the Recipe: Mini Hummingbird Cakes
Peanut Butter Cupcakes
Mix peanut butter cake with caramel frosting and Cracker Jack topping for a cupcake that checks every box. The flavor is salty and sweet with just the right crunch on top to keep it interesting. These are a fun bake that feels like something from a shop but comes together fast.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Cupcakes