7 Refreshing Fruity Cakes to Brighten Your Table

Fruit-forward cakes bring a burst of freshness and color to any occasion, making them perfect for warm-weather gatherings, family celebrations, or just a sweet treat to enjoy with tea. From citrusy delights to berry-filled layers, these cakes taste as good as they look.

Quick Summary

These 7 fruity cake recipes are perfect for dessert lovers who enjoy fresh, light, and vibrant flavors. Recipes include Key Lime Cake, Strawberry Shortcake Cake, Peaches and Cream Layer Cake, Fresh Apple Cake, Mango Cake, Orange Loaf Cake, and Strawberry Lemon Cake—all with step-by-step ingredients and instructions to make at home.

1. Key Lime Cake Recipe

Key lime cake delivers a tangy punch with its zesty lime flavor balanced by sweet cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • ½ cup fresh lime juice
  • 1 tbsp lime zest
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • Cream cheese frosting

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour cake pans.
  2. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in one bowl.
  3. Beat sugar, oil, and eggs until smooth. Add lime juice, zest, and buttermilk.
  4. Combine wet and dry mixtures, then divide batter into pans.
  5. Bake 25–30 minutes. Cool before frosting with cream cheese frosting.

2. Strawberry Shortcake Cake Recipe

Strawberry shortcake cake combines fluffy vanilla layers, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream for a light yet indulgent treat.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ½ cups cake flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries
  • Whipped cream

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare cake pans.
  2. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla.
  3. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Add alternately with milk.
  4. Bake 25–30 minutes. Cool completely.
  5. Layer cake with whipped cream and sliced strawberries.

3. Peaches and Cream Layer Cake Recipe

Peaches and cream cake brings juicy peach slices together with rich cream frosting for a refreshing dessert.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups sliced peaches
  • Whipped cream or cream cheese frosting

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease cake pans.
  2. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs and vanilla.
  3. Mix dry ingredients separately. Alternate adding dry mixture and sour cream.
  4. Bake 25–30 minutes. Cool before frosting.
  5. Layer with whipped cream and peach slices.

4. Fresh Apple Cake Recipe

Fresh apple cake is a cozy, spiced dessert with chunks of apple that add both sweetness and moisture.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups diced apples
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a bundt or loaf pan.
  2. Mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  3. Beat sugar, oil, and eggs together. Fold in apples and nuts.
  4. Combine mixtures and pour batter into the pan.
  5. Bake 45–50 minutes. Cool before serving.

5. Mango Cake Recipe

Mango cake delivers tropical sweetness with light sponge layers filled with mango puree and cream.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup mango puree
  • ½ cup yogurt or buttermilk
  • Whipped cream or mango buttercream

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease cake pans.
  2. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, mango puree, and yogurt.
  3. Mix dry ingredients and fold into wet.
  4. Divide batter into pans and bake 25–30 minutes.
  5. Frost with mango-flavored cream.

6. Orange Loaf Cake Recipe

Orange loaf cake is soft, fragrant, and bursting with citrus flavor, topped with a sweet glaze.

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ½ cup butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup fresh orange juice
  • 1 tbsp orange zest
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • Orange glaze (powdered sugar + orange juice)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan.
  2. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, orange juice, and zest.
  3. Mix dry ingredients, then fold into wet mixture with sour cream.
  4. Pour into loaf pan and bake 45–50 minutes.
  5. Cool and drizzle with orange glaze.

7. Strawberry Lemon Cake Recipe

Strawberry lemon cake pairs tangy lemon layers with sweet strawberry filling for a bright, flavorful dessert.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ½ cups cake flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • ¾ cup butter
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 tbsp lemon zest
  • ½ cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 cup strawberry jam or fresh strawberry puree
  • Lemon buttercream

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease cake pans.
  2. Beat butter and sugar until light. Add eggs, zest, and lemon juice.
  3. Mix dry ingredients and add alternately with buttermilk.
  4. Bake 25–30 minutes. Cool before frosting.
  5. Fill with strawberry puree and frost with lemon buttercream.