41 Layer Cake Recipes for Every Celebration
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Layer cake recipes give something snacking cakes, cupcakes, sheet cakes, and loaf cakes could never: They give height. And that stature makes a layer cake feel grand. The multiple layers say, “I went the extra mile—mile high, that is—for you.” Whether it’s butter cake with chocolate buttercream, chocolate cake enrobed in ganache, or ice cream cake topped with mousse-like whipped cream, if it’s stacked, it’s special.
But this also means you might want to do the work in batches. We’ve got some tips for how best to store layers of cake, in case the icing and assembly must be tended to another day. (Some keep well at room temperature, but there are definitely exceptions.)
Now, on to our favorite layer cakes for birthdays, holidays—or, really, any day you might need a little lift.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton2/41Fluffy and Fabulous Coconut Cake
Just because it’s for a special occasion doesn’t mean it can’t be fuss-free. If you make any mistakes icing this cake, guess what? They’re going to get covered up with a layer of shredded coconut anyway.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne3/41Super-Moist Yellow Cake With Rich Chocolate Frosting
This may look like any other yellow cake with dark chocolate frosting, but it’s actually got a special trick for achieving light, tender cake that stays moist—so moist, in fact, we had to put it in the title. Speaking of titles, sour cream lovers, try this Yellow Layer Cake with Chocolate-Sour Cream Frosting.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton5/41Tres Leches Cake
Though often served as a sheet cake, this version of the signature Latin American dessert is stacked with a layer of fresh fruit between two layers of sponge cake, sodden with a mixture of heavy cream, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by John Bjostad11/41Double Chocolate Layer Cake
This two-layer masterpiece from Gourmet circa 1999 is one of the most popular and enduring chocolate cake recipes on Epicurious—and for good reason. The crumb is tender and rich, not too dense, while the frosting is deeply chocolaty.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano12/41Easy Chinese Bakery–Style Whipped Cream Cake
This chiffon-esque cake topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit is inspired by those commonly found at Chinese bakeries. If you’ve never used a piping tip, we’ve got a video that will show you how. Alternatively, keep it simple and skip the patterning!
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou15/41Golden Beet Cake With Cream Cheese Ermine Frosting
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Mira Evnine17/41Rainbow Cookie Loaf Cake
Italian rainbow cookies, but make it cake. Be sure to chill it for about 30 minutes before serving; the chocolate frosting will set, allowing you to cut cleaner slices.
Photo by Oriana Koren19/41Hummingbird Cake
This modern Southern classic with speckled with banana, pineapple, and pecans, might have roots in Jamaica, where it’s known as Doctor Bird cake. That’s just one theory behind the name; there are many.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova20/41Inside-Out German Chocolate Cake
The nutty mix of pecans and coconut that typically tops a German chocolate cake acts as the filling for this version, which leaves room for the entire thing to be finished with a glossy chocolate glaze.
Photo by Dana Gallagher21/41Sheet-Pan Lemon Poppy Seed Layer Cake
Would you believe us if we said you don’t need round cake pans to make a layer cake? Well, that’s what we’re telling you. Consider this lemon cake recipe your tutorial. The only other tools you’ll need are cooking spray, parchment paper, and an oven.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Sean Dooley22/41Malted Chocolate Cake With Namelaka and Cherries
Namelaka translates directly to “smooth” or “creamy” in Japanese, a great way to sum up the dreamy frosting that lies somewhere in the Venn diagram of chocolate ganache, crémeux, and pastry cream.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks23/41Vanilla-Buttermilk Layer Cake With Orange Frosting and Raspberries
This layer cake recipe starts with our delicious vanilla-buttermilk cake—a white cake with a touch of tang—brushed with vanilla syrup, spread with tangy orange cream cheese frosting, and layered with fresh raspberries. It's the perfect birthday cake, but we’ve also adapted it into a single-layer version for smaller gatherings, a wedding cake for, well, larger ones, and a sheet cake for an easy take-and-go variation.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks24/41Caramel Apple Drip Cake With Candied Walnuts
Grated apples give this autumnal cake a moist, dense texture, while a caramel glaze and candied walnuts make it party-worthy. Oh—and there’s a cream cheese frosting too.
Photo by Oriana Koren25/41Chocolate Doberge Cake
You’ll need a seven-quart stand mixer (or very large mixing bowl) to make this layer cake recipe. Including the filling and German buttercream, it requires 24 large eggs (in this economy?!)—and no, that’s not a typo.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson26/41Double Chocolate Cake With Peppermint-Chocolate Frosting
This festive cake relies on applesauce and mayonnaise—yes, mayonnaise—to make a dairy-free—and egg-free if you use vegan mayo—chocolate dessert that feels like a pretty perfect way to end Christmas dinner.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson29/41Classic Carrot-Coconut Cake
Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Marc Williams31/41Southern-Style Caramel Cake
Photo by Alex Lau, Food styling by Judy Mancini32/41Brooklyn Blackout Cake
This New York classic comprises three layers of devil’s food cake sandwiching a lush chocolate pudding coated in a dark chocolate ganache-style frosting and cake crumbs. Need we say more?
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca33/41Double Banana Cake
If you can’t say no to a thick slice of banana bread, this banana cake layered with cream cheese frosting will absolutely be your jam. (Wait—is there anyone out there who can say no to a slice of banana bread?) PS: No one is stopping you from mixing in some chocolate chips if you want to.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Sean Dooley, Food Styling by Kendra Vaculin34/41Ice Cream Cake With So Many Sprinkles
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Summer Moore35/41Raspberry Cake With Whipped Cream Filling
This whipped cream, which is flavored with freeze-dried raspberries and dotted with whole fruit, stays stable for a few days, which means this entire raspberry cake can be assembled ahead of time.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kaitlin Wayne, prop styling by Christina Allen36/41Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake
The DIY-ish gluten-free flour blend in this chocolate layer cake consists of nutty oat flour, starchy sweet rice flour, and xanthan gum. In our humble opinion, the combination results in a superior crumb than if the cake were made with a store-bought all-purpose flour alternative.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown37/41No-Mixer Vanilla Cake With Tangy Cream Cheese Frosting
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman38/41Appalachian Apple Stack Cake
Well, that sure is quite a stack. Six layers of spice cake tacked together with apple butter would be dazzling enough, but then there comes a finishing of whipped cream. What a show-off.
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, food styling by Shilpa Uskokovic, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua40/41PB&J Dome Cake
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton, Prop Styling by Christine Keely41/41Neapolitan Cake
