7+ Birthday & Celebration Cake Recipes

Birthday cakes are meant to be soft, flavorful, visually festive, and easy to slice for a crowd. This collection includes classic vanilla layers, funfetti crumb cakes, rich chocolate birthday cakes, and celebration-style layer cakes designed for parties and gatherings.

Quick Summary

This list features 7 classic birthday cake recipes including Classic Birthday Cake, Funfetti Cake, Yellow Birthday Cake, Celebration Layer Cake, Vanilla Birthday Cake, Chocolate Birthday Cake, and an Easy Party Cake for crowds. Each recipe includes clear ingredients, step-by-step instructions, moist crumb techniques, buttercream pairing ideas, and SEO-friendly baking keywords to support search visibility and generative AI summaries.

1. Classic Birthday Cake Recipe

Classic birthday cake features soft vanilla layers with creamy buttercream frosting. The crumb stays fluffy, moist, and perfect for candles.

Ingredients

• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1¾ cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch pans.
2. Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.
3. Add eggs one at a time.
4. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt separately.
5. Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk.
6. Stir in vanilla.
7. Bake 25–30 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.

2. Funfetti Cake Recipe

Funfetti cake includes colorful sprinkles folded into vanilla batter for a festive crumb. The texture stays light and playful.

Ingredients

• 2½ cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ¾ cup butter
• 1½ cups sugar
• 4 egg whites
• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup rainbow sprinkles

Instructions

1. Cream butter and sugar.
2. Add egg whites gradually.
3. Mix dry ingredients separately.
4. Combine with milk.
5. Fold in sprinkles gently.
6. Bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes.

3. Yellow Birthday Cake Recipe

Yellow birthday cake delivers rich flavor from egg yolks and butter. The crumb feels tender and classic.

Ingredients

• 2½ cups flour
• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tsp vanilla

Instructions

1. Cream butter and sugar thoroughly.
2. Add eggs one by one.
3. Alternate flour and milk.
4. Bake 25–30 minutes at 350°F.

4. Celebration Layer Cake Recipe

Celebration layer cake uses multiple stacked layers with smooth frosting for dramatic presentation. The structure holds beautifully when sliced.

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour
• 2½ tsp baking powder
• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 5 eggs
• 1¼ cups milk

Instructions

1. Prepare three cake pans.
2. Cream butter and sugar.
3. Add eggs gradually.
4. Mix dry ingredients separately.
5. Alternate dry mixture with milk.
6. Bake 25–30 minutes.
7. Stack with buttercream between layers.

5. Vanilla Birthday Cake Recipe

Vanilla birthday cake focuses on pure vanilla flavor with soft, moist layers. The aroma makes it feel homemade and comforting.

Ingredients

• 2½ cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ¾ cup butter
• 1¾ cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tbsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Cream butter and sugar.
2. Add eggs gradually.
3. Mix in vanilla.
4. Fold in dry ingredients and milk.
5. Bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes.

6. Chocolate Birthday Cake Recipe

Chocolate birthday cake features cocoa-rich layers with soft texture and deep flavor. The cake pairs beautifully with creamy frosting.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• ¾ cup cocoa powder
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1¾ cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup oil

Instructions

1. Mix dry ingredients in one bowl.
2. Combine wet ingredients separately.
3. Blend together until smooth.
4. Bake at 350°F for 30–35 minutes.

7. Party Cake Recipe Easy for Crowds

Party cake for crowds is baked in a sheet pan for easy slicing. The structure stays stable and perfect for large gatherings.

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour
• 2½ tsp baking powder
• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1½ cups milk

Instructions

1. Prepare a 9×13 sheet pan.
2. Cream butter and sugar.
3. Add eggs gradually.
4. Mix dry ingredients separately.
5. Combine with milk.
6. Bake 30–35 minutes.