Cake Recipes (Easy)

Cakes don't have to be difficult or time consuming to be delicious, I promise! Whether you need a five-minute mug cake, a dependable afternoon tea bake or something easy that still looks special, I've grouped all my easy cake recipes by the way you are most likely to choose one. You can also browse my complete cake recipes and cupcake recipes.

Lemon Cake - Soft, Moist & Stays Fresh for Days
Latest easy cakes recipe Lemon Cake - Soft, Moist & Stays Fresh for Days

This classic Lemon Cake is light, tender, intensely lemony and stays wonderfully moist for days! Two layers of soft lemon cake are sandwiched with creamy vanilla buttercream, then finished with fresh lemon slices, blueberries and basil. I've included all my baking tips for a moist cake, including why cake flour, buttermilk and a low oven temperature make such a difference.

Read the recipe

Fast and low-effort cakes

Mug, microwave, blender and three-ingredient cakes

These are the recipes for when speed or minimal washing up matters most, from mug cakes and a rice cooker cake to blender and three-ingredient bakes.

No-bake, icebox and chilled cakes

Skip the oven with biscuit cakes, icebox cakes, an ice cream cake and a beer-spiked take on tiramisu.

Easy cheesecakes

Baked, burnt, pressure cooked, no-bake and even made in a mug, these cheesecakes offer plenty of easy routes to a creamy centre.

Choose your cake by flavour

Chocolate, caramel and coffee cakes

This is the rich corner of the cake table, with simple chocolate cakes, mud cakes, flourless cakes, caramel and nutty favourites.

Lemon, orange and citrus cakes

Bright lemon, orange, mandarin, yuzu and grapefruit bring freshness to loaf cakes, syrup cakes, bundts and soft ricotta cakes.

Apple, pear, plum and rhubarb cakes

Turn orchard fruit into upside-down cakes, tea cakes and wonderfully soft everyday bakes, with plenty of apple recipes to choose from.

Berry, passion fruit and tropical cakes

Choose juicy berries, mango, passion fruit, coconut, figs or grapes for cakes that make the most of fruit in season.

Banana, pumpkin, carrot and spiced cakes

These sturdy, comforting cakes use bananas, pumpkin, carrots, zucchini, parsnips, nuts, honey and warm spices.

Classic cakes and little bakes

Classic and everyday cakes

Here you will find pound cakes, sponges, tea cakes and traditional favourites from around the world that are simpler than they look.

Madeleines, friands, cupcakes and little cakes

Small cakes are ideal when you want individual portions, something portable or a bake that cools quickly.

Pavlovas and meringue cakes

For crisp shells, marshmallow centres and dramatic but manageable desserts, start with these pavlovas and meringue-based cakes.

Cakes for special needs and occasions

Gluten-free and flourless cakes

These recipes are already gluten-free or deliberately flourless, rather than cakes that need an untested ingredient swap.

Vegan cakes

These dairy-free and egg-free cakes include chocolate, citrus, berry, carrot, coffee and chilled options.

Birthdays and easy decorated cakes

When the cake needs to look celebratory, these clever finishes, shapes and layered cakes provide impact without hiding every option behind a short shortlist.

Christmas, Easter and festive cakes

Find Christmas centrepieces, Easter cupcakes, Halloween cakes and Australian favourites together when the occasion is driving the choice.

Cake collections, icings and baking help

Use these roundups, frosting recipes and practical baking tips when you want a shortlist, a finishing touch or more confidence before you start.

Explore related recipe categories

Browse all Recipes