The Only 7 Cake Recipes You’ll Ever Need

Quick Summary

Looking for go-to cakes that impress every time? This list features 7 timeless cake recipes—from rich chocolate mousse to fluffy mango cake—each with detailed steps, easy-to-find ingredients, and crowd-pleasing flavors. These aren’t just recipes—they’re keepers.

1. Spiced Chai Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Warm, comforting, and packed with cozy chai spices. This cake brings the flavors of your favorite chai latte into a soft, flavorful bite topped with a tangy-sweet cinnamon frosting.

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground cardamom
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp cloves
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter (softened)
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup buttermilk

For the Frosting:

  • 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round pans.
  2. In a bowl, whisk all dry ingredients.
  3. Cream butter and sugars until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time.
  4. Stir in vanilla. Alternate adding dry mix and buttermilk.
  5. Pour into pans and bake 30–35 minutes.
  6. Beat frosting ingredients together until smooth.
  7. Let cakes cool, then frost generously.

2. Best Homemade Layer Cake Recipe

A classic yellow cake that’s moist, rich, and perfect for birthdays or any celebration. Layers beautifully with any filling or frosting.

Ingredients

  • 2½ cups cake flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter (room temp)
  • 1¾ cups granulated sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup whole milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch pans.
  2. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time.
  4. Mix in vanilla. Alternate flour mix and milk.
  5. Divide batter, bake 25–30 minutes.
  6. Let cool, then layer with your favorite frosting.

3. White Chocolate Raspberry Dream Cake

Soft white chocolate cake meets fresh raspberries in this creamy, dreamy favorite. Great for spring, anniversaries, or just when you’re feeling fancy.

Ingredients

  • 2¼ cups cake flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 1¼ cups sugar
  • 4 egg whites
  • ½ cup white chocolate (melted)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen)

Optional Frosting: White chocolate ganache or vanilla buttercream.

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch pans.
  2. Cream butter and sugar. Add egg whites gradually.
  3. Stir in melted white chocolate and vanilla.
  4. Alternate flour mix and milk.
  5. Fold in raspberries gently.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool and frost.

4. Lemon Velvet Cake Recipe

Bright, tangy, and soft as velvet. This one is a summer favorite with the perfect zing.

Ingredients

  • 2½ cups cake flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1½ cups sugar
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • ½ cup oil
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Frosting Idea: Lemon cream cheese frosting or whipped vanilla buttercream.

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare two 8-inch cake pans.
  2. Cream butter, oil, and sugar. Beat in eggs.
  3. Add lemon zest, juice, and vanilla.
  4. Mix dry ingredients separately.
  5. Add dry mix alternately with buttermilk.
  6. Bake for 30–35 minutes. Cool and frost.

5. Mango Cake Recipe

Light, fruity, and perfect with fresh mango chunks. This cake is a tropical delight that works great in summer or for brunch parties.

Ingredients

  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ½ cup oil
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup mango pulp
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup yogurt
  • ½ cup diced mango (optional for folding in)

Optional Topping: Mango whipped cream or mango glaze.

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch round pan.
  2. Whisk dry ingredients.
  3. Beat sugar, oil, and eggs. Add mango pulp and vanilla.
  4. Stir in yogurt. Mix dry and wet.
  5. Fold in diced mango (optional).
  6. Bake 30–35 minutes. Cool and top with mango cream.

6. Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake Bliss

Three layers of chocolate magic—dark, milk, and white mousse on a chocolate base. A no-bake showstopper.

Ingredients

Base:

  • 1½ cups crushed Oreo cookies
  • ¼ cup melted butter

Mousse Layers:

  • 1 cup dark chocolate
  • 1 cup milk chocolate
  • 1 cup white chocolate
  • 3 cups whipped cream (divided)
  • 3 tsp gelatin (1 tsp per layer)

Instructions

  1. Mix crushed Oreos with butter, press into springform pan. Chill.
  2. Melt dark chocolate, mix with whipped cream + gelatin. Pour over base. Chill 30 min.
  3. Repeat with milk chocolate, then white chocolate. Chill fully overnight.
  4. Decorate with chocolate curls or cocoa dusting.

7. Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake

Rich, silky, and intense in chocolate flavor. This one’s for the true chocoholics.

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • ½ cup hot coffee

For the Mousse:

  • 1½ cups dark chocolate
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare an 8-inch cake pan.
  2. Mix dry ingredients. In another bowl, beat eggs, oil, and vanilla.
  3. Add buttermilk, then mix with dry. Stir in hot coffee.
  4. Bake 30–35 mins. Cool completely.
  5. Whip cream, sugar, vanilla. Fold in melted chocolate.
  6. Spread mousse on top and chill for 2 hours.

Final Thoughts

Good cake recipes should always be dependable, easy to follow, and taste as good as they look. Each of these seven cakes offers something a little different—from spice to citrus to triple chocolate—so there’s always something to match the mood. Whether it’s a holiday, birthday, or just a cozy evening, these are the only seven cake recipes you’ll ever need.