Cake

19 Lovable Loaf Cakes for Simple Snacking

These cakes can be fancy enough for a dinner party or low-key enough for anytime nibbling.
Herbinfused lemonstrawberry loaf with two slices on separate plates.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens

Humble loaf cakes deserves our love. These easy cake recipes transform pantry staples into immensely satisfying desserts, whether you’re craving a super-lemony slice or a warmly spiced apple number. But let’s be clear: Loaf cakes—even one-bowl options—are anything but basic. Take our herb-infused lemon-strawberry cake, or Cheryl Day’s clementine cake with its honey-chocolate glaze, for example. Or try a grapefruit-scented take on the classic poppyseed cake, drizzled with a tangy yogurt glaze. Grab a loaf pan (and some of this zero-stick spray) and start making your baking plans.

  • Sliced loaf of apple olive oil cake on a white tray.
    Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    1/19

    Olive Oil Apple Cake With Spiced Sugar

    In the new Epicurious iOS app, you can find the best loaf cakes for every season. This fall favorite was made for apple dessert aficionados. Earthy olive oil pairs well with cozy spices, and its lush texture is the perfect backdrop for the brown-sugar-sweetened fruit.

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  • Photo by Squire Fox
    2/19

    Clementine Pound Cake

    This rich loaf, featuring sweet-tart clementines, dreamy amounts of butter and cream cheese, and a honey-chocolate glaze, takes the classic orange-chocolate pairing to another level.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    7/19

    Orange Chocolate Loaf Cake From Florida

    Whipped cream replaces butter in this chocolate cake, and the orange zest and juice really shine through.

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  • Photo by Zach & Buj
    8/19

    Castella Cake

    A mere six ingredients (including salt) make for this delicate sponge cake, which came to Korea by way of Japan.

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  • Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
    11/19

    Lemon-Pistachio Loaf

    This delicate vegan cake goes hard on the fresh lemon juice, but the tartness is balanced out with smooth, rich pistachios.

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  • Photo by Ditte Isager
    12/19

    Chocolate-Coconut Pound Cake

    Buttermilk, butter, cocoa, and coconut (flakes and oil!) make this fragrant, flavorful pound cake a surefire hit with chocolate lovers.

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  • photo by Tina Rupp
    13/19

    Lemon Lemon Loaf

    No nuts. No seeds. No distractions. Behold a clear lemon vision. Made with lemon juice, lemon zest, and lemon syrup, this loaf actually deserves a third “lemon” in its name.

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  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca
    14/19

    Double-Chocolate Zucchini Bread

    This luscious chocolate cake isn’t just a way to hide some overabundant vegetables.

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  • Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Stephanie Yeh
    15/19

    Preserved-Lemon Tea Cake

    Rich olive oil and sour cream help the alluring brininess of preserved lemon shine in this recipe.

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  • Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by D’mytrek Brown, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime
    16/19

    Flourless Chocolate Cake With Café de Olla Ganache

    Looking for a gluten-free dessert for your next gathering? This loaf is here for it. The ganache throws down with cream, espresso, and chocolate over an almond flour, pecan, and chocolate batter.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jaime
    17/19

    Grapefruit–Poppy Seed Loaf Cake With Yogurt Glaze

    Amid the sea of loaf cakes, this one celebrates one of the more under-used fruits in the baking world—grapefruit. Poppy seed confetti adds some nice textural contrast. Just be sure your seeds are fresh, since they go rancid if kept around too long.

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  • Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by D'Mytrek Brown
    18/19

    Ginger-Cardamom Zucchini Bread

    Ginger, cardamom, and turmeric complement the oat streusel crumbles of this cozy loaf, while grated zucchini delivers ample moisture.

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  • Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Micah Morton
    19/19

    Spiced Chocolate-Pumpkin Cake With Pumpkin Glaze

    This pumpkin-chocolate combo is covered with a fragrant glaze spiced with cinnamon, clove, and cayenne. It's one of our best loaf cake recipes to double so you can give a loaf to friends. Still haven’t picked a cake? Click through if you’re looking for more elaborate cake recipes →

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Julia Price Baron has been a creative director, writer, producer, and occasional filmmaker for over 15 years. She’s collaborated on projects for Food Network/Discovery+, CNN, Etsy, Universal, Spotify, Audible, Netflix, Nickelodeon, IFC, and Elle Decor among others. While she’s a one-pot kind of cook, she’s a passionate all-the-pots kind of ... Read More
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