We love making a cake with boxed cake mix (find 25 desserts that begin with them here). But sometimes, we like to take the time to make a cake from scratch. If you’re celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or just because it’s Sunday, any of these 21 from-scratch cake recipes will make for a festive day. Some are easy cake recipes with only a few ingredients, while others require a few steps. The outcome of them all, though, is a delicious from-scratch dessert.
Bust Your Buttons Butter Cake
"I named it that because one bite of this cake and you can't stop eating it until you feel like you are going to Bust Your Buttons!" - Angela
Great Grandma Young's Homemade Chocolate Cake
"This cake recipe I found going through my grandmother's recipe books. This recipe was written in old handwriting in a book dated 1923. It is a family hit and I get begged to make it for every family get-together. You can't go wrong with this one!" - Ted
Southern Lemon White Cake With Lemon Curd
"This lemon white cake is phenomenal. Dense and moist, the cake's not overly sweet. The tart lemon curd helps to balance out the sweetness of the buttercream frosting." - The Kitchen Crew
Best Toffee Banana Layer Cake
"Best Toffee Banana Layer Cake is the tastiest banana cake recipe EVER! It’s moist and sweet and topped with a nutty, rich brown butter frosting!" - Paula
Chocolate Molten Cakes
"Everyone loves these cakes! They are the bomb for a chocolate lover." - Kathleen
Two Egg Cake
"This was my go-to recipe when I needed dessert and we were 'poor as church mice!' newly wed and now retired with SS...guess we've come full circle! These recipes are coming in hand." - Lyn
Addictive Carrot Cake
"My mom has been making this cake since I can remember and it's always a special treat. I rarely eat cake but I cannot stop eating this cake when she makes it." - Amanda
Banana Upside Down Cake With Chocolate Chips
"A moist and tender upside down chocolate chip banana cake smothered in caramel!" - Kevin
World's BEST Sock-It-To-Me Cake
"Ever since I was a little girl, Sock-It-To-Me cake has been my favorite cake. The brown sugar and cinnamon walnut clusters are my favorite part." - Jennifer
Greek New Year's Cake
"My mom makes this cake every New Year. You slice the cake from oldest to youngest and that is the piece they eat. If you find the hidden coin, you will have good luck for the year." - Nicole
Black Magic Cake (Best Chocolate Cake Ever!)
"When my mother passed away, a close family friend made us two wonderful cakes. One was the Kentucky Apple cake, which was a hit with the big guys. The other was this moist, dense chocolate cake, which was a hit with my three sons and their friends. My twin boys requested this for their birthday with one stipulation - they each wanted their own cake, just for them!" - Lisa
Gentilly Cake
"What really makes this cake special is the light and airiness to the cake with almond flavoring. Then it would be the frosting, a mascarpone whipped cream that is stiff enough to pipe. The first time I tasted a Gentilly cake it reminded me of a classic wedding cake." - Debbie
Cubano Espresso Dark Chocolate Cake
"This chocolate cake is made to impress! The cake itself is tender and rich. Dark chocolate and espresso are perfectly paired in this cake. The coffee flavor is subtle. Alone, the cake is great but paired with the rich frosting you have a bakery-quality cake. The frosting is creamy and has a slight caramel flavor from the dulce de leche." - The Kitchen Crew
Italian Creme Bundt Cake
"Make this Bundt cake the next time you need a special dessert. It has all the flavor of an Italian Creme Cake without all the work. The cake itself is airy, fluffy, and moist. We love how the coconut and walnuts flavor to the cake." - The Kitchen Crew
Fresh Apple Butter Cake
"This fresh apple butter cake is melt in your mouth tender with the perfect balance of sugar and spices. The outside has a little bit of a sugary crust. Inside, it's moist and full of apples in every bite." - The Kitchen Crew
Peanut Butter Meltaway Cake
"If you love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate this cake is a dream. It's an old-fashioned chocolate cake that's fluffy and delicate. Then, there's a layer of peanut butter. On top is a cooked chocolate frosting that's rich and fudge-like. When all three layers are combined in a bite, it is heavenly." - The Kitchen Crew
Preacher Cake
"My Dad (Edward Kielpikowski) loved to make this cake for company, potlucks, and for just general eating. He always said it was easy to remember because it took 2 of everything." - Susan
The Original Easiest Pineapple Cake
"I love one-bowl recipes, and this one is no exception. You spread the cream cheese frosting over it while it’s still hot. The frosting melts and seeps into the cake making it a little gooey and dense." - Cassie
Missy's Peanut Butter Passion Cake
"his cake is pure peanut butter heaven. It's a classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate. Adding coffee really enhances the chocolate flavor. The cake is dense but so moist. The frosting is light and fluffy, almost like a creamy mousse." - The Kitchen Crew
Banana Cake
"My Aunt Maxine gave me this recipe and it is so good and moist. The recipe is over 100 years old. I've so cherished her giving it to me. She only made it on special occasions and everyone looked forward to it." - Audra