These cakes are bursting with old-fashioned charm, but before you get started make sure you have the right cake supplies to set your dessert up for sweet success!
48 Vintage Summer Cakes You Need to Try
Updated on Aug. 31, 2024
Spiced Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
I often bake this beautiful cake in my large cast-iron skillet and turn it out onto a pizza pan. —Jennifer Sergesketter, Newburgh, Indiana
1/48
2/48
Pineapple Pudding Cake
Total Time
40 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother used to love making this easy pineapple sunshine cake in the summertime. It's so cool and refreshing that it never lasts very long! —Kathleen Worden, North Andover, Massachusetts
3/48
Banana Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
18 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
As a mother of three sons, I always have sweets in my kitchen! I buy lots of ripe bananas on sale and freeze them with this cake in mind. I’m often asked to bring it to family picnics and dinners.—Bonnie Krause, Irvona, Pennsylvania
4/48
Coconut Chiffon Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Toasted coconut adds visual appeal to this tall and impressive cake. With an airy texture and heavenly coconut-ginger flavor,it's a lovely end to meals throughout the year.
5/48
Lemon Sheet Cake
Total Time
30 min
Servings
24 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Lemon pie filling lends a splash of citrus flavor to a convenient cake mix, and a rich cream cheese frosting gives the cake sweetness. My family likes this dessert cold, so I cut it into squares and freeze it before serving. —Alyce Dubisar, North Bend, Oregon
6/48
Strawberry-Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I prepare this colorful dessert quite often in the late spring or summer when fresh rhubarb is abundant. I make this rhubarb cake with cake mix and take it to church potlucks. People actually line up for a piece. —Bonnie Krogman, Thompson Falls, Montana
7/48
Pineapple Carrot Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This moist cake with cream cheese frosting is the best I've ever eaten. It's so simple, too, because it uses two jars of baby food instead of fresh carrots that need to be grated. —Jeanette McKenna, Vero Beach, Florida
8/48
Caribbean Coconut Rum Cake
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
12 servings.
From the Recipe Creator:
My take on those boozy treats that weigh down suitcases returning from Jamaica, this moist cake packs a rum punch. You may wish to card your guests before serving. The longer the rum soaks in, the better—overnight is best. —Jenn Hall, Collingswood, New Jersey
9/48
Mamaw Emily’s Strawberry Cake
Total Time
40 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband loved his mamaw's strawberry cake recipe. He thought no one could duplicate it. I made it, and it’s just as scrumptious as he remembers. —Jennifer Bruce, Manitou, Kentucky
10/48
Old-Fashioned Rhubarb Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My great-aunt gave me this rhubarb cake recipe. It's especially delicious when rhubarb is in season, and tastes even better with the old-fashioned milk topping. But you'll love it even with frozen rhubarb and "modern-day" whipped topping! —Marilyn Homola, Hazel, South Dakota
11/48
Banana Pound Cake
Total Time
1 hour 35 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I adapted a basic pound cake recipe from my great-aunt for this treat. It makes a moist cake that pops out of the pan perfectly. —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey
12/48
Lane Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I just love this southern-style dessert, and so do dinner guests. With pecans, cherries and raisins in the filling and topping, this version reminds me of a fruitcake—only so much better! —Mabel Parvi, Ridgefield, Washington
13/48
Peaches & Cream Jelly Roll
Total Time
30 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Cake rolls make a lovely presentation for a party, and they are simple to cut into even slices. My father taught me how to make them, and sometimes we get together and make them for family and friends. —Malena Coleman, Rockville, Indiana
14/48
Streuseled Zucchini Bundt Cake
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
14 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Inspired by an abundance of zucchini, I found a new way to use it up in this spiced and lightly sweet cake. It even won a blue ribbon at our county fair! —Regina Stock, Topeka, Kansas
15/48
Angel Food Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For our daughter's wedding, a friend made this lovely, airy angel food cake from a recipe she's used for decades. It really is one of the best angel food cake recipes I've found. Serve slices plain or dress them up with fresh fruit. —Marilyn Niemeyer, Doon, Iowa
16/48
Banana Bread Cake
Total Time
40 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This banana bread snack cake doesn't need any frosting—just a dusting of powdered sugar. Guests are always amazed that I made this treat from scratch. —Denise Loewenthal, Hinckley, Ohio
17/48
Raspberry Custard Kuchen
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Back where I grew up in Wisconsin, people have been baking this German treat for generations. We love it for breakfast or as a special dessert. It's no fuss to fix and impressive to serve. —Virginia Arndt, Sequim, Washington
18/48
Mississippi Mud Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This cake features a fudgy brownielike base topped with marshmallow creme and a nutty frosting. Serve big slices with glasses of cold milk or steaming mugs of coffee. —Tammi Simpson, Greensburg, Kentucky
19/48
Banana Upside-Down Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For a fun and distinctive way to use bananas, try this banana upside down cake. Every time I serve this treat, someone requests the recipe. —Ruth Andrewson, Leavenworth, Washington
20/48
Cherry Pudding Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A cross between a cake and a cobbler, this cherry dessert is awesome. Add it to your list of trusty potluck recipes, because this one is sure to go fast. —Brenda Parker, Kalamazoo, Michigan
21/48
Angel Food Cake Roll
Total Time
45 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
There's always room for dessert—especially when it's this eye-catching angel food cake roll. We like strawberry yogurt in the filling, but other flavors work well, too. —Joan Colbert, Sigourney, Iowa
22/48
Banana Split Icebox Cake
Total Time
30 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
One day a friend showed me how to make traditional icebox cakes with just cream and graham crackers. I make it extra special with the fruit. Now everyone at your potluck can have a banana split, no muss, no fuss! —Shelly Flye, Albion, Maine
23/48
Grandma’s Blackberry Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A lightly seasoned spice cake lets the wonderful flavor of blackberries shine through in this delectable blackberry cake recipe. —Diana Martin, Moundsville, West Virginia
24/48
Hummingbird Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
14 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This impressive hummingbird cake is my dad’s favorite, so I always make it for his birthday. It makes a memorable dessert for any celebration and is lovely with a summer meal. —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey
25/48
Apricot Upside-Down Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My Aunt Anne, who is a great cook, gave me a taste of this golden upside-down cake and I couldn't believe how delicious it was. Apricots give it an elegant twist from traditional pineapple versions. —Ruth Ann Stelfox, Raymond, Alberta
26/48
Raspberry Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Jazz up plain cake with raspberry gelatin and frozen berries. Spread with a light, fruity whipped topping (or this whipped topping substitute), the festive results make a cool and refreshing dessert. —Marion Anderson, Dalton, Minnesota
27/48
Rustic Honey Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When my boys were young, they couldn’t drink milk but they could have yogurt. This was a cake they could eat. And it’s one dessert that doesn’t taste overly sweet, which is always a nice change of pace. —Linda Leuer, Hamel, Minnesota
28/48
White Texas Sheet Cake
Total Time
40 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This cake gets better the longer it sits, so I try to make it a day ahead. My mother-in-law introduced this deliciously rich sheet cake to me. With its creamy frosting and light almond flavor, no one can stop at just one piece! —Joanie Ward, Brownsburg, Indiana
29/48
Red Velvet Pound Cake
Total Time
1 hour 40 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This delicious red velvet pound cake is the perfect combination of flavors. Make sure the cake has cooled before icing it; for extra crunch sprinkle some roasted pecans on top. —Robin Smith, Old Fort, North Carolina
30/48
Apricot Mud Hen Cake Bars
Total Time
50 min
Servings
24 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These mud hen bars have been in my family for generations. My maternal grandmother gave this recipe to my mother, who shared it with me. I’ve been told the name comes from the speckled meringue topping that resembles the coloring of hens. —Kristine Chayes, Smithtown, New York
31/48
Kentucky Butter Cake
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I found this Kentucky butter cake recipe in an old cookbook I bought at a garage sale and couldn’t wait to try it. I knew it had been someone’s favorite because of the well-worn page. —Joan Gertz, Palmetto, Florida
32/48
Cherry Nut Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandmother made up this recipe for her children. Using Ozark-grown cherries and walnuts, she invented one they all liked. Granny always used cream from the dairy farm near her home, but the half-and half works well and is easier to find. —Diana Jennings, Lebanon, Missouri
33/48
7UP Pound Cake
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandmother gave me my first cake recipe—a pound cake using 7UP—which her grandmother had given to her. On top of being delicious, this cake represents family tradition, connection and love. —Marsha Davis, Desert Hot Springs, California
34/48
Coca-Cola Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We live in Coca-Cola country, where everyone loves a chocolaty, moist sheet cake made with the iconic soft drink. Our rich version does the tradition proud. —Heidi Jobe, Carrollton, Georgia
36/48
Citrus Pound Cake
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Moist and tender, this gorgeous classic has a refreshing taste of sunshine. —Lisa M Varner, El Paso, Texas
37/48
Roasted Strawberry Sheet Cake
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
24 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My Grandma Gigi loved summer berry cakes. Almost any time I’d call her during the warmer months, she’d invite me over to taste her latest masterpiece. This cake is a tribute to her. —Kristin Bowers, Rancho Palos Verdes, California
38/48
Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I’ve baked this cake every spring for many years, and my family loves it! As a potluck dessert it gets eaten up quickly, even by folks who don’t normally go for rhubarb. Use your own fresh rhubarb, hit up a farmers market or find a neighbor who will trade stalks for the recipe! —Helen Breman, Mattydale, New York
39/48
Lemon Chiffon Cake
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This moist, airy chiffon cake was my dad's favorite. Mom revamped the original recipe to include lemons. I'm not much of a baker, but whenever I make this dessert my family is thrilled! —Trisha Kammers, Clarkston, Washington
40/48
Plum Upside-Down Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Since my husband liked pineapple upside-down cake, I decided to give this recipe a try one night when we were expecting guests for dinner. Everyone pronounced this cake “Delicious!” and asked for seconds.—Bobbie Talbott, Veneta, Oregon
41/48
Rainbow Sherbet Angel Food Cake
Total Time
25 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Talk about a dessert that pops off the plate! Sometimes I make this easy cake even more eye-catching by tinting the whipped cream. Use whatever sherbet flavor combination you like. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
42/48
Fluted Lemon Cake with Fresh Fruit
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This citrusy, golden-brown cake looks especially beautiful baked in a fancy fluted cake pan. Serve each slice with a dollop of whipped cream and fresh fruit.—Donna Pochoday, Morristown, New Jersey
43/48
Strawberry Ladyfinger Icebox Cake
Total Time
35 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This cake is inventive and yet familiar. Be sure to use a springform pan; otherwise you cannot invert the cake or remove it from the pan. If it breaks while you’re transferring the cake to the serving plate, just push it back together and press gently. —Stella Ohanian, Porter Ranch, California
44/48
Jam Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I remember my Aunt Murna telling me she made this old-fashioned jam cake often when she was a young girl. Through the years, she made improvements to it, and her cake became a real family favorite. It has been a popular staple at our reunions. —Janet Robinson, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
45/48
Moist Lemon Angel Cake Roll
Total Time
45 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Tart and delicious, this pretty cake roll will tickle any lemon lover’s fancy. Its feathery, angel food texture enhances its guilt-free goodness. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
46/48
47/48
Rum Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We like a touch of rum for the holidays, and this orangy rum cake is decadent alone or with big swoops of whipped cream. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
48/48
Lemon Meringue Angel Cake
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
14 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I've been told that this dessert tastes exactly like a lemon meringue pie and that it's the best angel food cake anyone could ask for. I'm not sure about all of that, but it is delightful to serve, and each slice is virtually fat free. —Sharon Kurtz, Emmaus, Pennsylvania
