Layered cakes are the new trend in celebration cakes. And, the taller the cake the prettier it looks. Hence, due to my professional cake decorating background, these layer cakes have now become my absolute favorite type of cakes. I love coffee cakes but you must admit there is something grand about tall layers of cakes.
Table of Content
About my layer cakes
If you see my layer cake recipes, I usually have two recipes, sometimes three. One is an oil-based cake, while the other is a butter-based cake. And, there are times when one is better than the other, right?
For example, for my wedding cakes, that need to travel or in the summer humidity, I go with my butter-based recipes. And yet, my small cakes, single-tier cakes, two-tier cakes, and in winter I use my oil-based cakes.
In addition, I love the moisture component that oil-based cakes bring, but I also love the rich flavor component that butter-based cakes have. And, while I want to be a successful cake decorator, serving delicious cakes to my customers, I also want a stress free profession. So, these little things can make a huge difference.
So, here is a list of almost 50 of my layer cakes recipes that I use as a cake decorator. In addition, I also have a huge selection of coffee cakes, which I often use when I need to make cakes for family and friends.
50 plus layer cakes recipes
Classic vanilla cake recipes
One Bowl Vanilla Cake Recipe
This one-bowl vanilla cake recipe is a simple, easy and effortless recipe and ideal when you need a quick and easy cake. It's baked from scratch and taste delicious on its own. Works as a great tea time treat, frost it for a quick dessert or decorate to create a celebration cake. Add flavor or fillings to create more variations of this classic.
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BEST Vanilla Birthday Cake with Vanilla Buttercream
A moist butter-based vanilla cake paired with a silky, smooth bakery-style vanilla buttercream. It makes for a perfect homemade vanilla birthday cake. Baked from scratch, this cake is surprisingly simple and easy to make from baking to frosting. And a few sprinkles make this a celebration cake for any occasion whether you are five or fifty.
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Fluffy Vanilla Cake
This is the best moist, light and fluffy vanilla cake recipe you will ever make. Made using a butter-based cake batter with whipped egg whites that gives it a light and fluffy texture and a delicate soft crumb. A surprisingly simple and easy recipe that takes 10 minutes to mix and 30 minutes to bake. Perfect for any special occasion or celebration cake.
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Mom's Vanilla Cake Recipe
This vanilla cake recipe is moist, rich with a tender crumb. A butter-based cake made with fresh cream in the batter which makes it absolutely irresistible. Perfect on its own or frosted and decorated as a celebration cake.
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Moist Vanilla Bean Cake
This moist vanilla bean cake is my butter-based cake batter flavored with wonderful vanilla bean paste. Delicious on its own and can also be accompanied by many different fillings and frostings. Today, I make it a naked cake so the rich vanilla flavor can shine through.
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Bakery Style White Wedding Cake
This wedding cake is a classic and most popular wedding cake flavor also know as a bakery-style wedding cake. A Light and airy cake using only egg whites and vegetable shortening or white butter for that beautiful white color. Often frosted with white Ermine frosting, today, I am using white Italian meringue buttercream.
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White Cake Recipe
This delicate, light, and airy white cake recipe is frosted with my white Ermine frosting. Made with whipped egg whites, this cake is surprisingly simple and easy to make using my step-by-step tutorial.
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Vanilla Kahlua Cake with Kahlua Chocolate Buttercream
This Vanilla Kahlua cake is rich, creamy and decadent frosted with a Kahlua chocolate buttercream. A surprisingly easy recipe, perfect for a weekend dessert or special celebration.
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Eggless Vanilla Cake (No-condensed milk)
This eggless vanilla cake recipe is moist with a soft crumb. It is made without condensed milk and tastes absolutely delicious. Great on its own with tea or dressed with frosting for an elegant celebration cake. It can also be used to carve as a novelty cake or tweaked to make many different flavors and combinations.
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Easy Rainbow Cake - 7 layers
Make a perfect rainbow cake with all the seven colors of the rainbow. A simple and easy butter-based vanilla cake that's moist, light, and airy. Frosted with my delicious Swiss meringue buttercream and chocolate drip. Then topped with kids' favorite candy.
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Chocolate cake recipes
One Bowl Chocolate Cake
A one-bowl chocolate cake recipe is a must-have recipe on hand. What can be easier than add everything to the bowl, mix it up and bake it? No need for mixers or fancy equipment. Taste delicious on its own and yet a versatile cake with so many variations to try.
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Chocolate Birthday Cake
This homemade chocolate birthday cake is the best chocolate cake you can make to celebrate with the family on a special day. Frosted with chocolate buttercream and chocolate ganache this cake is rich, moist, and chocolaty. Simple and easy recipe with my step by step video and you will be a pro at decorating this cake.
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Simple Moist Chocolate Cake
This simple and easy recipe makes an irresistible simple moist chocolate cake. All you need are two bowls and a whisk. The light and airy texture of this cake mean you can be served on its own. Try whipped cream for a light dessert or with any of my frostings for a more indulgent affair.
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Death by Chocolate Cake
Death by chocolate cake is the ultimate cake for chocolate lovers. Three layers of rich, decadent, cake with velvety smooth rich chocolate Swiss meringue buttercream and chocolate ganache.
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Chocolate Chiffon Cake
Rich, decadent, light, and airy chocolate chiffon cake is an oil-based cake made with whipped eggs then layered with a melt in your mouth Kahlua buttercream frosting.
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Coffee Chocolate Cake
This coffee chocolate cake is perfect for anyone that loves coffee and a rich, dense chocolate cake. We've got coffee in the cake, in the simple syrup, in the chocolate frosting, and in the chocolate drip. A simple and easy recipe perfect for the weekend, a festive dinner or a special celebration cake.
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Moist Chocolate Fudge Cake Recipe
This moist chocolate fudge cake is rich and dense. Made with both chocolate and cocoa powder from scratch then frosted with a rich chocolate fudge frosting.
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BEST Chocolate Mud Cake Recipe
If you looking for a rich, dense, and easy chocolate mud cake? This is it! Three layers of dense chocolate cake layered with wonderful caramel buttercream that's finger-licking good. Perfect for any birthday, celebration or just went you are in a chocolate mood. A treat on its own with or without frosting.
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Cardamom Cake with Mocha Buttercream
Cardamom and coffee is a wonderful combination in this cardamom cake. A light and airy butter-based coffee cake delicately flavored with cardamom and nutmeg. Then, generously frosted with mocha buttercream. Perfect for a festive celebration or special occasion.
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Devils Food Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache
This rich, dark and delicious devils food chocolate cake is simple and easy to make, and also light and decadent. Filled with my five minutes vanilla buttercream and frosted with a chocolate ganache this is the ultimate chocolate cake for any chocolate lover. This simple recipe takes five minutes to mix and 40 minutes to bake.
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Chocolate Cake with Whipped Cream
This light and refreshing chocolate cake with whipped cream is simple, and yet decadent. Three layers of incredibly moist chocolate cake layers with whipped cream filling and a light sprinkle of grated chocolate. An easy recipe that takes five minutes to mix with a bowl and whisk before you bake it for 30 minutes. Perfect for a weekend dinner or for a family celebration.
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Chocolate Ganache Cake
A chocolate ganache cake for a true chocolate lover. Delicious layers of rich chocolate cake frosted with chocolate ganache and chocolate glaze for that ultimate finish. Whether you make this for a birthday celebration or for a simple weekend dinner. This chocolate cake is truly a dessert to be enjoyed guilt-free.
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Eggless Chocolate Fudge Cake
This moist eggless chocolate fudge cake has a firm texture with a soft crumb. Made without condensed milk this is a very versatile cake with so many flavor variations. Try it with your favorite buttercream frosting, light whipped cream, or fill it with a chocolate mousse filling as I have.
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Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Recipe
If you need to celebrate with a gluten-free chocolate cake, then this is it! Rich, and moist, yet light and airy this decadent flourless chocolate cake is decorated with a rich bakery style chocolate frosting. A surprisingly simple and easy recipe that looks impressive. Perfect for any occasion.
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Fruit flavored cake recipes
Raspberry White Chocolate Cake
Tart raspberries and sweet white chocolate are an amazing combination. This Raspberry white chocolate cake is made with raspberry cake layers and white chocolate buttercream.
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Pina Colada Cake, Pineapple Coconut Cake
This pina colada cake brings your favorite cocktail to life. With crushed pineapple and coconut in both the rum-flavored cake and the filling, this is truly a celebration of tropical flavors.
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Mango Cake Recipe
Give your next layer cake a seasonal flavor with this fresh mango cake. Made with moist layers of mango sponge filled with sweet mango puree, and frosted with mango Swiss meringue buttercream. And, of course, topped with slices of fresh mangoes for that ultimate finish.
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Zesty Lemon Cake with Lemon Swiss Meringue Buttercream
This light and refreshing butter-based zesty lemon cake is surprisingly easy and simple to make. Takes no more than 10 minutes to mix and 25 minutes to bake. Frosted with lemon flavored Swiss meringue buttercream and some pretty yellow ruffles. Ideal for a weeknight dessert with a lighter cream cheese frosting or can be made into a celebration cake for a birthday, anniversary or wedding with fondant and more.
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Best Orange Cake
This moist, light, and airy orange cake is made with reduced orange juice, zest and extract for maximum flavor before being frosted with Swiss meringue buttercream in a pretty leaf pattern. Perfect to decorate as a layer cake for a birthday, celebration, or special occasion.
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Moist Strawberry Cake
This moist strawberry cake is an oil-based cake, deliciously moist with a tender crumb. Frosted with my popular velvet American buttercream this can be made with fresh or frozen strawberries.
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Moist Strawberry Cake
Packed with real strawberry flavor, this strawberry cake is moist, light, and airy. And, frosted with Swiss meringue buttercream this cake is perfect at any time of the year using fresh or frozen strawberries. Make it for the weekend or to celebrate a special occasion.
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Strawberry Cream Cake
Strawberry and cream is always a classic combination, which makes this strawberry cream cake the perfect dessert. A light genoise sponge filled with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
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Red velvet cake recipes
Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
This rich, moist red velvet cake has a hint of cocoa and deep rich red color. An oil-based cake baked from scratch using buttermilk with baking soda, making it extra light and airy. A simple and easy recipe frosted with a light and fluffy cream cheese frosting.
Total Time - 30 mins
Read MoreBest Red Velvet Cake
This is the best red velvet cake recipe EVER. Moist, light, and fluffy with a hint of cocoa. A simple butter and oil-based recipe that needs only 10 minutes to prep and 20 minutes to bake. Today, I have used an Italian meringue buttercream. But, try also the classic cream cheese.
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Carrot cake recipes
Moist Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Delicious moist carrot cake baked from scratch with crisp walnuts and sweet raisins, layered with rich delicious cream cheese frosting. A simple, easy and effortless one bowl recipe that you will enjoy making over and over again. Delicious on its own as a tea time snack or dressed for any celebration with my luscious cream cheese frosting to create an exotic dessert.
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Carrot Cake with Swiss Meringue Buttercream
This is my favorite carrot cake recipe. It's decadent, moist, light, and airy, yet loaded with shredded carrots, fruits, and nuts. Today, I filled this layer cake with delicious apricot filling and frosted it with my Swiss meringue buttercream.
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Other flavors
BEST Coconut Cake Recipe
Coconut is such a versatile flavor and can be used in savory or sweet dishes. This simple, easy and effortless coconut cake recipe makes a delicious cake from scratch that you can whip in five minutes. It tastes great unfrosted as a coffee cake, served with whipped cream for a light dessert or some decadent buttercream for a more indulgent treat or celebration cake.
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Caramel Apple Cake Recipe with Caramel Buttercream
Celebrate the apple season with this caramel apple cake. Made with fresh apples, a hint of spice, layered with caramel buttercream and drizzled with more delicious homemade caramel sauce. Whether you make this for a celebration or festive dinner this will have everyone talking about it for days.
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Best EVER Butterscotch Cake
Butterscotch has a distinct rich flavor that's hard to resist. This simple and easy recipe makes the most decadent butterscotch cake with a moist texture and a soft crumb. Frosted with Swiss meringue buttercream and a butterscotch drip.
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Classic Gingerbread Cake Recipe
This holiday season place this classic gingerbread cake at the center of the dessert table. It's a perfect cake to serve during the fall and winter months. Infused with warm gingerbread spice and the rich flavor of molasses. Sweet vanilla buttercream between layers and a light chocolate ganache frosting makes an elegant presentation to impress guests or serve as a celebration cake.
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Cadbury Creme Egg Cake
Make a special cake this Easter with this Cadbury creme eggs cake. These chocolate eggs are in the cake, between layers, and also on top. Perfect to celebrate Easter, a special occasion, or a birthday cake for a chocolate egg fan.
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Pumpkin cake recipes
BEST Ever Pumpkin Cream Cake
This pumpkin cream cake recipe is rich, moist, and delicious. Made with whipping cream in the batter as well as in the buttercream. A light and airy butter-based cake with pumpkin puree, and pumpkin spice mix. Perfect layer cake to adorn a festive dinner table, birthday cake, or to impress family and friends.
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Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake
The rich flavor of pumpkin spice latte beverage in a cake makes a delicious pumpkin spice-latte cake. Frosted with maple buttercream this is a light and airy oil-based cake with pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice, and coffee. Perfect layer cake to adorn a festive dinner table, birthday cake, or to impress family and friends.
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Pumpkin Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Celebrate this holiday season with this pumpkin spice cake frosted with delicious no-butter cream cheese frosting that just melts in your mouth. A rich butter-based cake made with pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice. Perfect layer cake to adorn a festive dinner table, birthday cake, or to impress family and friends.
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Coffee & tea flavored cakes
Earl Grey Cake with Italian Meringue Buttercream
I have the perfect cake for that tea lover in your life. This 6-inch Earl Grey cake has just the right balance of tea-infused with bergamot essence. Delicious on its own, or frosted with Italian meringue buttercream.
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Chai Cake with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Bring your favorite chai latte beverage to your cake with this chai cake. A light and fluffy vanilla cake batter infused with perfectly balanced chai spice mix and freshly prepared tea. Accompanied by vanilla buttercream frosting to enhance and preserve the chai flavors. The recipe is surprisingly simple and easy to make too.
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Vanilla Cafe Latte Cake with Coffee Buttercream
Add your favorite vanilla cafe latte beverage to cake and make this cafe latte cake. And to enhance the coffee flavor, even more, frost it with coffee buttercream. This cake is a coffee lovers cake using light and airy vanilla based cake that simple and easy to make. The cake takes only 35 minutes to bake, and the coffee frosting takes as little as five minutes to whip. Layer cakes don't get easier than that. Do they?
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Espresso Cake with Whipped Chocolate Ganache
This is the ultimate espresso cake. Moist, rich vanilla cake layers infused with espresso and frosted with a light and fluffy whipped espresso chocolate ganache. Perfect for weekend dessert, entertaining with friends or as a celebration cake. A surprisingly simple and easy recipe with everything you can make ahead of time so you don't have to rush.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I adjust serving sizes for each cake recipe?
Not many people understand that the number of servings in the recipe card below can calculate the recipe for you.
See that little box that says "adjust servings here"? Just change that to the number of people you need to serve or the cake pan serving you need.
For example, if you need a 10-inch cake that serves 36 people, simply change the number from 8 to 36.
How do you know what is the servings size of a cake pan?
I already shared this with you previously in my post with all the charts. Cake Serving Chart Guide and Popular Cake Tiers. And, here are a few examples to help you. However, these are wedding cake portion sizes, not party cake sizes. In fact, I use these when I make fondant or buttercream cakes for wedding and celebrations.
6"x 2 round - 12 servings
7 x 2 round - 18 servings
8"x 2 round - 24 servings
9 x 2 round - 32 servings
10 x 2 round - 26 servings
How do I convert grams to cups for each cake recipe?
Additionally, you can also change the measure from metrics to US customary. So, for those of you in the US, you have your cups and ounces. And, those of you in Europe, Asia, UK, and India can have the gram measurement. Can you see those two black boxes that say - Metric and US Customary? Just play with those to get the measure that suits you best.
How do you adapt a recipe for different cake pan sizes?
A general guide for cake batters and size:
4 cups cake batter - (1 x 8-inch round), (8 x 4 loaf pan), (1 x 7-inch square cake).
8 cups cake batter - ( 2 x 8-inch round cakes) (1 x 9-inch tube pan) (10-inch bundt pan), (2 x 7-inch square cakes).
6 cups cake batter - (1 x 9 inch round cakes) (1 x 8-inch square cakes).
11 cups cake batter makes - (1 x 10-inch round cake) (2 x 8-inch square cake) (3 x 8-inch round cakes).
How do you adapt a recipe for different cupcakes?
For cupcakes:
4 cups batter makes 12 cupcakes
6 cups batter makes 15 cupcakes
8 cups batter makes 24 cupcakes
12 cups batter makes 35 cupcakes
How do I make my cakes cost-effective?
Some cake decorators tell me that my cake recipes are great, but they are not cost-effective. And, as a business, they want to make money. However, that's not how I work.
I'm in the business of providing my customers great value and memorable moments. Therefore, I give my customers what I give my family: Rich, decadent and indulgent desserts. Like they are supposed to be. In addition, there is a time for low-fat and there is a place for a diet. So, when it comes to my customers they get the best. Therefore, unless a customer specifically orders something else, I will make them my standard cakes.
First, I make great cakes. Then, I calculate the cost and set the price. And, yes, it makes the cakes expensive. However, it also brings the right customers to me. And, brings them back for more cakes. Most important, I am proud of my cakes and I want to make them for customers who appreciate good quality, not low cost.
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Danielle Thompson Abney
Week 2 day 2 done
Delphia
Week 2 Day 2 Done
Preethi NaveenKumar
Week2 day 2 done
Preethi NaveenKumar
Hello Veena. I have a few doubts in measuring the ingredients. I enrolled in your master baking classes too. Your tips on how to measure the ingredients were highly useful. But I have a doubt. When I choose to measure the ingredients by weight, how do I go with baking powder and baking soda? Those are usually given in tsp or tbsp measurings. US tsp and tbsp are little smaller when compared to the Indian ones. Can you please clarify? Thanks.
Veena Azmanov
Preethi. Baking powder and baking soda are always measured by tsp and tblsp. I am not aware that in India these are different. I use US measurements in my tsp, tbsp, and mls. I hope this helps