It is no surprise that cake is one of the best and favorite options for dessert, as well as being excellent as a snack and to celebrate special occasions.
This is because cake comes in many different forms, as there are basically infinite possibilities. Cakes come in different flavors and shapes and are made with different ingredients, methods, and recipes.
Truly, there is a cake out there for everyone, able to suit even the rarest of taste buds and preferences.
With so many different cake options, it can be tricky to choose one to have or bake. Plus, there are probably many types of cakes that you don’t even know about!
Who knows, perhaps your future favorite cake is out there waiting for you!
Here is a list of the top 50 cakes we could think of, with some of the most popular cake options that are loved by many!
Types of Cakes
Angel Food Cake
Angel Food Cake originates from the United States.
It’s a type of sponge cake made with egg whites, flour, and sugar. What makes it special is the lack of butter, and the light and fluffy texture that it has. It’s also typically baked in a tube pan, to give it its iconic shape!
It became popular in the late 19th century, and it is still a favorite to many people nowadays. It’s ideal for serving as a fancy dessert, and it is often served along with a selection of fresh berries.
It is also quite popular to serve it with a coating of fruit syrup on top!
Apple and Strawberry Crumble
Apple and Strawberry Crumble Cake originates from England, in the United Kingdom.
This cake dessert is a variation of the typical crumble dish, which can be done with different ingredients and combinations.
It is done by combining the stewed fruits of your choice, in this case, apple and strawberry, with a crumbly mixture of butter, flour, and sugar.
It is great for any occasion, and it is most often served with either some ice cream, cream, or custard on the side!
One of the reasons that make it such a popular cake, is how simple it is and how few ingredients it requires. That, and the versatility of including the fruits of your choosing!
Apple Cake
Apple Cake originates from England, in the United Kingdom.
It is one of the most popular cake options when it comes to desserts, with its main ingredient being apples.
There are different types of apple cakes, with variations in style, and the addition of spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg in some cases to give it a more unique flavoring.
It is also very popular to decorate the cake with some fresh apple slices!
Banana Cake with Cream Cheese
Banana Cake with Cream Cheese originates from the United States.
A similarly popular option is plain banana cake or banana loaf bread. However, we included the one with cream cheese as it’s extra delicious!
It’s a very simple cake to make, as it requires a simple base with the addition of mashed ripe bananas. You can also include nuts or chocolate with it if you want!
The cream cheese topping is equally simple, and it is often further decorated with some banana slices on top.
Basic Sponge Cake
The Basic Sponge Cake originated during the Renaissance, possibly in Spain.
This is the simplest of simple cakes, which is what makes it a timeless classic loved by all. It has now become more popular within the United Kingdom and the United States.
It is often used as a base cake, meaning once it’s done you can turn it into any type of cake you want by adding extra things to it.
One of the most popular variations of this cake is to cut it in half and add a layer of jam or cream (or both) in the middle so that it is sandwiched between the two parts of the sponge cake.
It is also very popular to decorate it with different ingredients, to create your own unique design!
Black Forest Cake
Black Forest Cake, also known as the Black Forest Gateau, originates from Germany.
This is an incredibly popular cake that can be found almost anywhere, and a huge favorite when it comes to dessert.
It essentially consists of several layers of chocolate sponge cake, with some layers of cream. And one of the most important bits that sets it apart as a forest cake, are the berries used as decoration on top!
There are a few variations, depending on the place, like the addition of some rum to give it an extra kick of flavor.
Blueberry Friands
A blueberry friand is a popular type of friand, originating from Australia and New Zealand.
A friand is a small cake, baked in a small mold, containing flour, egg whites, butter, and powdered sugar. It’s very similar to the French Financier Cake.
The Blueberry friand is one of the most popular, and it is simply a friand with blueberries added into the mix!
You could alternatively use other ingredients such as nuts or chocolate, or anything else that you can think of!
Although they’re great as a dessert, they’re more commonly served as a mid-afternoon snack.
Brownies
Brownies are originated from the United States.
Brownies are incredibly popular, as a dessert, as a snack, and as an easy and fun to bake activity!
They’re incredibly versatile, as you can play around with the ingredients and with the density to create different flavor combinations and textures.
They’re usually served in small squares and are eaten by hand, therefore acting more like a snack than a dessert.
As we’ve said, all sorts of ingredients can be added to them to switch them up, and they can equally be decorated in different ways as desired. It’s why they’re such a fun baking option!
Caramel Mud Cake
Caramel mud cake is a variation of the Mud Cake, which originates from the Southern United States.
Mud cake gets its name from resembling mud due to the color, and it is made with chocolate in a similar way to how brownies are made. Caramel Mud Cake is a variation that uses caramelized sugar.
It is also typical to make it with white chocolate covering, giving it an overall light caramel color. It is ideal for desserts, and is very rich in texture and flavor!
Carrot and Walnut Cake
Carrot and Walnut Cake is a variation of Carrot Cake, originated from the United Kingdom.
Carrot cake is incredibly popular, with carrots as the main ingredient, along with eggs, flour, and sugar.
The Carrot and Walnut Cake is a variation that adds walnuts as another main ingredient, adding texture and crunch to the cake.
It is often coated in a layer of cream cheese or sugar glaze and is sometimes decorated with chocolate pieces or carrots made out of sugar. It is ideal as a dessert, but be wary as it is very filling!
Charlotte Cake
Charlotte Cake originates from England, in the United Kingdom.
The Charlotte Cake is a popular dessert in the United Kingdom, and it can be served both cold and hot.
What sets it apart is that biscuits, usually ladyfinger biscuits, are used to create the mold, by being lined up to form the outside of the cake. This mold is then filled with fruit puree or custard, giving the cake an intense flavor.
Alternatively, the inside of the cake could be made out of breadcrumb layers with added ingredients.
The cake is often decorated with berries or others on top too!
Chocolate Birthday Cake
Chocolate Birthday Cake can’t be pinpointed to a location of origin, as it is incredibly widespread and popular worldwide.
It is essentially just chocolate cake, but it is often known as a birthday cake due to it being incredibly popular amongst children, and with it being often served as a birthday cake.
It’s also very easy to make, as you simply add cocoa powder to the basic sponge cake! Plus you can add some layers of chocolate, a chocolate coating, and some chocolate decorations! Basically, it’s very very chocolatey.
Chocolate Coconut Cake
Chocolate Coconut Cake is a variation of Chocolate Cake, and as such it doesn’t have a pinpointed origin.
Chocolate Coconut Cake is a great variation of chocolate cake, as the coconut gives it a lighter flavor! It is very simple to make, as you simply have to add coconut to the basic chocolate cake.
For example, you can use coconut milk instead of regular milk, and you can add coconut flavoring into the mixture.
It is also typical to coat the cake in a coconut buttercream frosting, with some coconut flakes on top as decoration!
Chocolate Cupcakes
Chocolate cupcakes are a variation of basic cupcakes that originate from the United States.
Cupcakes are essentially tiny cakes, baked in a small mold so that they serve one person. They’re also known as fairy cakes, and they are ideal as a snack and to celebrate special occasions.
They follow the basic sponge cake recipe, and in this case, they have cocoa powder added to the mix to make them the chocolate variation.
They can be decorated in many different ways, and it is typical to make them as pretty and original as possible, creating varied designs.
You can also add other ingredients to the mix to switch up the flavoring!
This is a very popular dessert, especially as it is very simple to make and doesn’t require baking. This cake has a cookie base, buttery, sweet, and crunchy.
On top of this base, you add a thick layer of chocolate mousse, and it is topped up with a coating of chocolate and whipped cream. It can also be switched up with different coatings and decorations.
It is done by being left to set in the refrigerator for a few hours and is then served cold or at room temperature.
Chocolate Mud Cake
Chocolate Mud Cake originates from the Southern United States, specifically from Mississippi.
It is called a mud cake due to the dark chocolate color that resembles the color of mud.
It is also denser than other chocolate cakes and is more similar to brownies. It is incredibly chocolatey and filling, coated in a layer of chocolate to complete the look.
It can also be decorated with different toppings, and you can add different extra ingredients to switch up the flavoring if so desired.
Christmas Cake
Christmas Cake originates from the United Kingdom.
As the name indicates, this cake is typically served during the Christmas holidays. It is a chocolate cake containing dried fruit and nuts, and that is often heavily soaked in rum for a strong rum flavoring.
It is then coated in white icing, decorated with some Christmas mistletoe to finish it up.
Be careful because some Christmas cakes contain so much rum that they can get you drunk!
Cinnamon Tea Cake
Cinnamon Tea Cake is a variation of the traditional sponge cake, popular in many different places.
It is very simple to make, as it is done just like a basic sponge cake. The difference is the addition of cinnamon into the mix, to add it as a flavoring.
It’s great for adding further personalizations, as you can easily add other ingredients and flavors, as well as being able to decorate it in a huge number of different ways.
If you like coffee and need it on a daily basis, then you’ll definitely enjoy a slice of coffee cake. It comes in many different varieties, as any cake with coffee flavoring can be classed as a coffee cake.
However, traditionally, a coffee cake is a sponge cake with coffee flavoring and layers of coffee butter icing. It is also intended to be eaten alongside a nice cup of coffee, so it will be like a double dose!
Colomba Cake
Colomba Cake, also known as the Easter Dove Cake, originates from Italy.
This cake is a traditional Italian Easter bread that is baked in a traditional dove shape to celebrate the occasion.
It is made with flour, eggs, sugar, butter, and candied peel. The topping is then made with pearl sugar and almonds, and it can sometimes also be coated in chocolate!
It’s definitely a cake worth trying, even if it’s traditionally only served at Easter.
Dundee Cake
Dundee Cakeis originally from Scotland, in the United Kingdom.
Dundee Cake is a traditional Scottish cake, and it is a popular saying that the cake was first made for Mary Queen of Scots, as she did not like other types.
It’s a fruit cake that also includes currants, sultanas, and almonds, giving it an intense and rich flavor.
It’s ideal as a dessert or as a mid-afternoon snack with tea, and it is also quite popular to celebrate special occasions in Scotland.
Flourless Orange Cake
Flourless Orange Cake is a great gluten-free option, which can’t be pinpointed to a specific location.
You might be wondering whether a cake can be baked without flour, but trust us, this cake is as delicious as they come! Instead of flour, it uses almond meal, for a tender crumb that is light and full of flavor.
The main ingredient is, of course, oranges, which are boiled and added to the mix. The cake can also be further decorated with orange or almonds, and it is perfect for a light dessert.
Gingerbread Cake
Gingerbread Cake originates from the United Kingdom, along with many other Gingerbread foods.
Gingerbread Cake is incredibly flavorful, and ideal for those that enjoy Ginger. It is essentially a sponge cake, with a lot of added ginger root, molasses, and honey.
It has quite a moist texture, and it is popular as both a dessert and as a mid-afternoon snack. It’s good to have a drink nearby, as the flavor is intense and the cake is rich and filling!
Gluten-free Chocolate Loaf
We can’t pinpoint this Chocolate Loaf Cake to a specific location, but it is completely gluten-free and therefore a great option!
This cake has a very moist texture, with a rich chocolate flavor that is highly filling, and topped up with a gooey chocolate icing layer.
Instead of flour, it uses ground almonds, although you could also just use gluten-free flour.
It is also quite common to add little chocolate chips and pieces into the mixture so that they’re scattered around the inside of the cake for extra flavoring.
It’s ideal as a dessert and perfect for chocoholics!
Gluten-free Persian Cake
The Gluten-Free Persian Cake is a gluten-free version of the traditional Persian Love Cake, which originates from Persia.
This cake is known as the love cake because it is said that, once upon a time, a Persian woman baked it and infused it with love powers, to then give it to a prince so that he would fall in love with her.
It is made with almond meal and Greek yogurt, as well as having plenty of spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon.
It is typically served with a topping of pistachios, greek yogurt, and rose petals to symbolize the love powers.
Honeycomb and Chocolate Ice-cream Cake
Honeycomb and Chocolate Ice-cream Cake is an ice-cream cake that is served cold.
Cakes can be a bit much, especially those that are extra rich in texture. That is why an ice-cream cake can be a great option for a lighter dessert or for those that want something to help the rest of the food go down.
It is essentially a cake made entirely out of ice-cream, with the added flavors of your choice. In this case, you can use a chocolate ice-cream and add honeycomb to it!
You can switch this up as desired, with the possibilities being endless! However, remember to serve it cold and before the ice-cream melts!
Hummingbird Cake
Hummingbird Cake is originally from the Southern United States.
Although popularly original from the Southern United States, this cake was created on the island of Jamaica, and it is named after its national bird: the Hummingbird.
Amongst the basic ingredients for a cake, it also includes ripe banana, pineapple, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and others. It is incredibly flavorful and rich.
It is usually served with a topping layer of cream cheese frosting. It’s great as a dessert, and it once even won a Favorite Cake Award!
Lamingtons
Lamingtons have their origin in Australia, specifically in Queensland.
They are small square pieces of sponge cake, designed for small or individual servings, very much like brownies.
The sponge cake interior is coated with chocolate sauce on the outside, and they are then rolled in desiccated coconut as a final layer.
They’re very easy to make and can be done in different variations too. One of the most popular is to add a layer of jam in the middle of a lamington, by cutting it in half and then eating it like a sandwich!
Layered Rainbow Cake
The Layered Rainbow Cake can’t really be pinpointed to a location of origin, but it can be pinpointed as a celebratory symbol of the LGBTQ+ community, thanks to the rainbow of colors that it displays within it.
What’s great about this cake, is that it is very easy to make, and it looks amazing. You can also customize it to have the number of colors and the combination of colors of your choosing, making it super versatile.
It consists of several layers of sponge cake, made into a specific color by using food dye in the mixture.
The entire cake is then coated in a layer of chocolate, usually white, but then can be adapted to be anything you want. When you cut into the cake the colors will be revealed!
Lemon Cheesecake
Lemon Cheesecake is a variation of cheesecake, which has its origins in Ancient Greece. Meaning it’s been around for quite some time!
Lemon cheesecake is one of the most popular cakes when it comes to dessert, as it’s delicious and light.
It features a bottom layer of solid cookie or crumb, with a middle thick layer of a soft cheese mixture, and a top layer of lemon. It is also usually decorated with a slice of lemon or some mint.
Cheesecakes come in many flavors, so you could switch this lemon variation for another, as desired!
Lemon Coconut Cake
Lemon coconut cake is a variation of coconut cake, which originates from the Southern United States.
Lemon is an incredibly popular flavor when it comes to cakes, so it’s no wonder that it is also added as a variation to a basic coconut cake.
It has a dense and fluffy texture thanks to the sponge cake base, and it has the addition of coconut and lemon into the mix, plus a coating of frosting with coconut flakes on top!
It’s light with a refreshing flavor, and you can balance out the lemon and coconut in the desired amounts.
Lemon Yoghurt Cake
Lemon Yoghurt Cake is common in many different places, but it can especially be pinpointed to France.
The cake is essentially a basic sponge cake, with the addition of yoghurt into the mix, which gives it a lighter texture, and the addition of lemon zest for the flavoring.
It’s ideal as a dessert and as a mid-afternoon snack, and it’s popular to serve it with a top coating of sugar or icing.
Marble Cake
Marble Cake has its origins in Denmark.
The name for this cake comes from the brown and yellow pattern of swirls that it features, which resembles that of marble.
It is done by mixing chocolate cake and yellow cake batter together to create the swirls. It is then usually coated with a layer of chocolate frosting, although it can be decorated in plenty of different ways.
It’s incredibly popular, not only in Denmark, but all around the world.
Molten Chocolate Cake
Molten Chocolate Cake has its origins in the United States.
This cake is incredibly popular as a dessert and for special occasions, and it is best served hot so that the melted interior oozes out.
It is also known as a lava cake, as the molten chocolate can resemble lava falling out of a volcano. It’s essentially a cross between a souffle and a flourless cake.
It is also common to serve it with some ice-cream on the side, as the contrast of cold and hot is very enjoyable!
New York Baked Cheesecake
New York Baked Cheesecake, as the name indicates, originates in New York, in the United States.
This New York special cheesecake recipe is incredibly popular and one of the best desserts you can choose while in the city.
What sets it apart from a regular cheesecake, is that the New York version makes it a lot denser and richer, for an enhanced texture and flavor.
This is accomplished by adding extra cream cheese into the mix. It can come in different variations by adding other flavorings or ingredients, but the traditional New York cheesecake is basic and simple.
Orange and Almond Cake
Orange and Almond Cake is too widespread to pinpoint an origin, but it is especially popular in countries such as Spain.
You can add almonds in the mix too, but some prefer to just add them as a top layer of coating, along with some sugar frosting.
It can also feature many variations depending on preferences, but oranges and almonds by themselves is the most common.
Pavlova Cake
Pavlova Cake has its origins in New Zealand.
This cake is named after a famous Russian ballerina named Anna Pavlova, and the cake is said to have been created during one of her tours to Australia and New Zealand during the 1920s.
It’s a meringue-based dessert, layered in circles, that is then filled with fresh fruits and berries, and topped up with whipped cream.
It’s an incredibly sweet cake that has gone on to become popular worldwide.
Raspberry and Almond Cake
Raspberry and Almond Cake can’t be pinpointed to a specific place of origin.
This cake has a thick and rich texture, with an intense flavor that is sweetened by the addition of the raspberry. It’s a very easy cake to make, and therefore, it’s very popular as a household dessert.
It can also be done in many variations, as you can easily substitute the raspberries for something else of your choosing.
The raspberries are added fresh into the mixture, which adds a richer texture. The almonds are included as a top layer, and are often coated in sugar frosting for a sweeter finish.
Red Velvet Cake
Red Velvet Cake has its origins in the United States, and it has gone on to become one of the most popular cakes worldwide.
It’s very easy to make, as it is a basic sponge cake infused with either beet root juice or red food coloring, and some cocoa powder.
This is what gives it the iconic red velvet appearance. It is then covered in a layer of thick white frosting. It’s ideal as a fancy dessert, and is also often used in special occasions.
Rock Cakes
Rock Cakes originate from the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Also known as a rock bun, these cakes get their name from resembling roks due to their rough surface.
They became popular during the Second World War, as they were promoted by the Ministry of Food to help save food and rationing.
This is because they require very few ingredients, and are traditionally made with oatmeal rather than flour, which was far more available back then.
Some traditional recipes have them with black currants, but nowadays a lot of people substitute this with chocolate pieces, to make them sweeter.
Spiderweb Cheesecake
The Spiderweb Cheesecake originates from the United States, and is typical during the celebration of Halloween.
This cake is a variation from normal cheesecake, and it is set apart by being decorated as a spiderweb in honour of Halloween and all things spooky.
It’s very easy to make, as it is done as a normal cheesecake, and the one thing that changes is the top layer of decoration.
You can use chocolate to draw on a spiderweb, and then add chocolate pieces to create spiders. Some people like to add some pumpkin spice into the mixture too, as it is typical of the season.
Strawberry Cheesecake
Strawberry Cheesecake is a variation of a basic Cheesecake and can’t be pinpointed to a specific origin.
It is very easy to make, as it is a very simple variation from a basic cheesecake.
Along with the lemon cheesecake, it is one of the most popular versions of cheesecake worldwide.
You simply add a top layer of strawberry, whether it’s by using strawberry jam, strawberry flavoring, or fresh strawberries as a pile. You can then top it off by adding strawberry syrup too!
Swiss Roll
Swiss Roll originates from Central Europe, perhaps Austria, but it is now more traditional in the United Kingdom as that is where it is most popular.
It is very easy to make and very common as a simple and fast dessert, as well as being common during mid-afternoon tea.
It is essentially a sponge cake that has been rolled up into the shape of a tube, and then filed with whipped cream, jam, or icing.
It is also often covered in a layer of sugar frosting. One of its variations is known as the Yule Log, and it is traditionally served during Christmas time.
Tiramisu
Tiramisu cake is originally made in Italy, and is now widespread across the world.
Tiramisu now has many variations, and can come in many flavorings. However, originally, it is an Italian coffee-flavored dessert, that usually accompanies the cup of coffee after a meal.
It consists of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, that are then layered between a mixture of mascarpone cheese with cocoa powder.
The top layer is usually covered in more cocoa powder and might sometimes feature some pieces of chocolate. It’s a very soft cake with a dense texture.
Traditional Fruitcake
Traditional Fruitcake has many places of origin, but it is thought to have been created during the Roman times.
Fruitcake is typically served during celebrations, special occasions, and during Christmas time. It is made with candied or dried fruits, as well as nuts and spices.
It is also very common to soak it in different spirits to make it alcoholic.
Fruitcase is also usually served by itself, without any sides. In some places, it is common to add icing as a top layer to the cake, like how they do in the United Kingdom.
Triple Chocolate Cheesecake
Triple Chocolate Cheesecake is a variation of traditional cheesecake, and does not have a pinpointed location of origin.
This is the perfect cake for those that love cheesecake, but that also love chocolate cake. It’s the perfect blend of both.
It is essentially a normal cheesecake, but the cookie base is made from chocolate, and the cheese cream layer is sandwiched between layers of chocolate cream.
And to top it off, the coating layer is even more chocolate! Definitely a cake for those with a very sweet tooth.
Vanilla Cupcakes
Vanilla cupcakes are a variation of basic cupcakes that originate from the United States.
Cupcakes are essentially tiny cakes, baked in a small mold so that they serve one person. They’re also known as fairy cakes, and they are ideal as a snack and to celebrate special occasions.
They follow the basic sponge cake recipe, and in this case, they have vanilla added to the mix to make them into the vanilla variation.
They can be decorated in many different ways, and it is typical to make them as pretty and original as possible, creating varied designs. You can also add other ingredients to the mix to switch up the flavoring!
Vanilla No-Bake Cheesecake
Vanilla No-bake Cheesecake is a variation of traditional cheesecake, with no specific place of origin.
It is incredibly easy to make, as it is just a normal cheesecake, with the addition of vanilla flavoring.
It is one of the most popular variations on cheesecake, and it makes for a good light and sweet dessert. It is quite popular to serve it with a side of fresh berries too!
White Chocolate Mud Cake
White chocolate mud cake is a variation of traditional chocolate mud cake, which has its origin in the Southern United States.
Unlike normal mud cake, white chocolate mud cake does not feature the brown mud color. Instead, it contains white chocolate, and it is topped with a layer of white chocolate icing.
It’s a fairly straightforward counterpart to the normal chocolate mud cake, and is a popular dessert choice.
Zucchini and Walnut Cake
Zucchini and Walnut Cake does not have a specific place of origin, but it is popular in many different countries.
What sets it apart from other cakes, is the addition of zucchini, walnuts, and a sprinkle of coconut, into the mixture. This gives it a rich texture and a unique flavoring, that is perfect to enjoy with a cup of tea.
The types of cake are many and varied. Buttercake, pound cake, chiffon cake, and vanilla cake are a few of my favorites. And who doesn't like a good Bundt cake or cupcake with royal icing.
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
