23 Easy Cake Recipes for Beginner Bakers

Updated on Feb. 18, 2024

Beginner baker (or just looking for something simple)? These easy cake recipes use basic techniques to deliver on over-the-top flavor.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Poke Cake

When in doubt, top a simple recipe with your favorite flavor combos. This quick chocolate cake gets a major upgrade thanks to crumbled peanut butter cookies and peanut butter cups. While you’re at it, check out what our favorite peanut butter cup is—the result of our taste test will surprise you.

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1/23
2/23

Hazelnut Cake Squares

Total Time 35 min
Servings 15 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This one-bowl recipe makes use of a few packaged ingredients, like Nutella (yum!) and a box of cake mix. There’s no shame in using this shortcut when you’re just starting to bake or don’t have the time to whip up something from scratch. Just be sure you’re using a good cake mix like our Test Kitchen’s favorite.

3/23

Coconut Pound Cake

Total Time 1 hour 15 min
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: “This cake is easy to make and is always a big hit,” writes Lisa Varner from Charleston, South Carolina. “I like to serve it with ice cream for a double-dose treat!”

4/23

Carrot Cake Sheet Cake

Total Time 55 min
Servings 30 servings
From the Recipe Creator: No need to make a fancy layer cake when you’re just developing your craft. Classic recipes, like carrot cake, can be made easily in a sheet pan. Just bake and frost with a layer of cream cheese icing.

5/23

Pistachio Bundt Cake

Total Time 1 hour 10 min
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Pistachio pudding mix gives this moist cake a pretty tint of green. As it bakes, the outside browns nicely to form a slightly crunchy crust. The cake slices beautifully and would make a fun dessert for St. Patrick's Day. -Becky Gant, South Bend, Indiana

6/23

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

7/23

One-Bowl Chocolate Cake

Total Time 50 min
Servings 15 servings
From the Recipe Creator: When it comes to easy cake recipes, you can’t beat a delicious (and top-rated) one-bowl recipe. This cake doesn’t require any special tools—just a good 13×9 pan and 15 minutes of prep time.
8/23

Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf Recipe

Total Time 50 min
Servings 3 mini loaves (6 pieces each)
From the Recipe Creator: Having a good pound cake recipe to turn to is a must for any baker. We love this recipe because it’s simple and refreshing, thanks to all that lemon zest. What’s more, it tastes just like Starbucks’ lemon loaf.
9/23

Red Velvet Cake

Total Time 50 min
Servings 14 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Believe it or not, this iconic cake recipe is simple to pull together with a bit of patience. Avoiding these common pitfalls will ensure you get a gorgeous and delicious cake deserving of a special occasion.
10/23

Icebox Cake

Total Time 15 min
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Sometimes a great cake isn’t really a cake at all. This icebox cake uses chocolate wafers and whipped cream to get a cakey texture. This is a great easy recipe to have on hand for when it’s too hot to turn on the oven.

If icebox cakes are your thing, you can also make Ina Garten’s mocha chocolate icebox cake.

11/23

Cherry Pudding Cake

Total Time 50 min
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This pudding cake is truly a no-fuss dessert. Mix your ingredients in one bowl then top with tart cherries. To give it a professional touch, dust with powdered sugar.

If you like trying unique cake recipes, also try making Faith Hill’s coca-cola cake!

12/23

Kentucky Butter Cake

Total Time 1 hour 15 min
Servings 16 servings
From the Recipe Creator: A basic butter cake is a must-have recipe, even for newbie bakers. This recipe uses buttermilk—a baker’s secret weapon when it comes to adding rich flavor to basic recipes.
13/23

Slow-Cooker Dump Cake

Total Time 2 hours 10 min
Servings 10 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Looking for the ultimate beginner cake recipe? You’ve found it! This dump cake requires you to just dump all the ingredients into a slow cooker. Then you get to walk away for two hours as it turns into an easy tropical dessert. Once you’ve mastered this recipe, try these other slow cooker desserts.
14/23

Classic Chocolate Cake

Total Time 50 min
Servings 15 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Every baker—novice and pro—needs a staple chocolate cake recipe. This one is a reader-favorite but is simple enough for new bakers to tackle with ease.
15/23

Raspberry Custard Kuchen

Total Time 1 hour
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: An impressive-looking dessert that’s secretly simple? That’s music to any baker’s ears (especially for newer ones). The fresh fruit in this German-style cake really makes the dessert pop.
16/23

Blueberry-Lemon Upside-Down Cake

Total Time 45 min
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Gain a little confidence in the kitchen and you’ll want to start turning things upside down. There’s no reason to fear these topsy-turvy cakes. Just have a big enough pan to turn your cake out and be quick!

17/23

Yellow Cake Recipe

Total Time 40 min
Servings 16 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This yellow cake will become your go-to recipe for birthdays, but the tender cake with flavorful chocolate buttercream is truly perfect for any occasion. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

18/23

Fresh Raspberry Icebox Cake

Total Time 25 min
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Icebox cakes give you the texture and wow-factor of cake without the work. This stunning version piled high with fresh berries is just as gorgeous as any layered cake, but it doesn’t require any special skills. All you need to know is how to whip cream—and we’ve got you covered with this how-to.
19/23

Contest-Winning Moist Chocolate Cake

Total Time 1 hour
Servings 12 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This rich cake is another one-bowl wonder. You just need 15 minutes to stir up the batter. Plus, you can dress up the look of this cake with a variety of fluted cake pans.
20/23

Pineapple Sheet Cake

Total Time 50 min
Servings about 24 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This cake might look complicated, but it couldn’t be easier. Add all the ingredients to one bowl in a single step and mix. Spread that into a sheet pan and bake for a tropical-inspired dessert. This one is a great place to start for beginners (and a good recipe to have on hand for experienced bakers who are short on time).
21/23

Malted Milk Cake

Total Time 50 min
Servings 15 servings
From the Recipe Creator: When you’re just starting to bake, having an arsenal of versatile recipes is key. This easy cake can go from a 13×9 recipe to a cupcake variation in a snap—just swap the pans!
22/23

Peanut Butter Sheet Cake

Total Time 35 min
Servings 24 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Another simple sheet cake recipe! This one stretches beginning baking skills with a creamy, peanut butter glaze (don’t worry—it’s easy to get the hang of).