Easy Cake Recipes
Easy cake recipes for all occasions whether you want a sweet treat in a hurry or to impress guests with something simple but delicious.
Who doesn’t love a good homemade cake? I certainly do! But I admit I’m not one for time-consuming, elaborate affairs. Luckily, it’s possible to get great tasting cakes without spending all day in the kitchen.
So, in this post I’ve rounded up more than 30 of my favourite easy cake recipes, large and small. Perfect for beginners but also experienced bakers looking for fuss-free, sweet delights. There’s even a couple of super-easy cake recipes that don’t require any baking!
COCONUT TRAYBAKE
Proof that simple can be delicious, kids and adults alike will love this light and moist coconut cake. Topped with a quick coconut-flavoured icing, I love its fun retro sprinkle of hundreds and thousands.
FRESH CREAM MUFFINS
Muffins of all kinds are perfect if you’re looking for easy cake recipes. Not just quick to put together, they bake in under 20 minutes. Here, I’ve taken a simple sultana muffin to the next level by splitting it, filling with whipped, vanilla-scented cream and lemony preserve.
APRICOT & ALMOND SCONES
I don’t consider British scones (which require the accompaniments of butter and/or cream and often jam too) to be cake. But American-style ones are a different matter. Sweeter, and needing no adornment they’re like eating a slice of cake but after only 20 – 25 minutes baking. And these are heavenly: plumped apricots, almond flakes and almond extract in a wonderfully light treat.
PORTER CAKE
A traditional Irish fruit cake, spicy with hints of dark beer, this is made via a simple method that’s ideal for beginners. Lovely as a lighter Christmas cake with a glass of booze, or at any time with a cuppa.
CHAI MASALA LOAF CAKE
This light cake is flavoured with the blend of spices used to brew the Indian tea masala chai. It’s studded with chopped walnuts, and has a crunchy streusel-crumb topping.
COCONUT CAKE
This is a properly indulgent treat: two layers of coconutty, moist sponge cake sandwiched and covered in a rich coconut buttercream icing. I think it makes a wonderful birthday cake for coconut lovers.
CHOCOLATE ORANGE MARBLE TRAYBAKE
Wonderfully flavoured and impressive-looking, but actually a very easy cake! Light sponge rich with swirls of dark chocolate and orange zest plus fudgy chocolate-orange frosting.
JAMMY SHORTBREAD SQUARES WITH OAT CRUMBLE TOPPING
I love shortbread. It’s so quick, easy enough for beginners and made with simple, everyday ingredients. So why not take it up a notch with a layer of jam and an oaty crumble topping?
COUNTRY SLICES
Cut from a buttery, light and fruity traybake with a hint of spice, these are an easy homemade version of the popular British favourite. To coin a phrase, they’re ‘exceeding good‘!
BLUEBERRY & LEMON SCONES
This classic flavour combination was what first got me into American-style scones which are much more cake-like than their British cousins. With juicy fresh or frozen blueberries and flavoured with zingy lemon zest, these are a not-too-sweet, easy to make treat.
CHERRY ALMOND OAT SQUARES
Not quite a flapjack, a biscuit, or a cake, but a delicious combination of all three and incredibly easy too! Probably my current top favourite.
CARROT CAKE TRAYBAKE
Soft and moist, warmly spicy with lots of grated carrot plus coconut, pecans, sultanas, and orange zest. I prefer a spiced buttercream topping instead if the traditional cream cheese.
FRUIT TEA LOAF
A traditional loaf cake adaptable to whatever dried fruit you have and whichever flavourings you like. No added fat (other than a little in the egg) but delicious spread with butter. Perfect with a cuppa or part of an afternoon tea.
BANANA & CHOCOLATE MUFFINS
Light, fluffy, packed with banana flavour, chocolate pieces and a hint of cinnamon. Perfect for using up ripe bananas, these easy muffins are quick to put together and bake in less than 20 minutes.
APPLE & OAT QUICK BREAD
With flavours reminiscent of toffee apples, this quick sweet bread is so much easier than traditional cake. With a caramel-like flavour from brown sugar contrasting with tart apple, hints of vanilla and wholesome oats, it’s a wonderful treat thickly sliced with a cuppa.
GENOA CAKE MUFFINS
All the dried fruit, almond, and lemon flavours found in one of Britain’s favourite cakes. But these light and delicate muffins can be ready in a fraction of the time.
TRIPLE CHOCOLATE TIFFIN
Any time is tiffin time! An easy indulgent, no-bake treat with milk, dark, and white chocolate, crushed biscuits and juicy raisins.
VICTORIA SPONGE CAKE
Victoria Sponge always comes near the top in surveys of Britain’s favourite cakes. Buttery sponge cakes sandwiched with fruity jam and, in my version, plenty of buttercream with a hint of vanilla.
CHERRY & COCONUT MUFFINS
Combining buttery, light and fluffy texture with a well-loved flavour combination, these muffins are quick to put together and bake in under twenty minutes. Wonderful little cakes or even warmed and served with custard for an easy pudding.
BANANA & CHOCOLATE CAKE
Two layers of wonderfully moist, banana-flavoured sponge studded with chunks of chocolate, sandwiched together with a simple vanilla-flavoured buttercream. Easy to make, but such a treat!
JAM & COCONUT TRAYBAKE
Soft and fluffy coconut sponge topped with jam and more coconut: a simple old-fashioned treat. Whether you remember it as an old school favourite or you’re looking for a quick and easy sweet bake, everyone will love it.
ORANGE VICTORIA SPONGE CAKE
A citrussy take on the British classic. Buttery sponge cakes flavoured with orange zest are sandwiched with rich, smooth orange curd and plenty of vanilla buttercream.
CHOCOLATE PEANUT OAT BALLS (NO BAKE RECIPE)
Not really cakes at all, but these no-bake treats are so good I just had to include them! Oats, peanut butter, chocolate, peanuts, vanilla, coconut, and maple syrup rolled into balls and dipped in melted chocolate.
FRUIT & SEED FLAPJACKS
If you’re looking for a healthier sweet treat or energising snack, these nutritious flapjacks will fit the bill. Containing the slow-release energy of oats with apple and bananas, dried fruit, seeds, plus tahini or nut butter.
CHOCOLATE COCONUT CRUNCH CAKE
A super-simple, easy, egg-free bake with a crispy, biscuity chocolate-coconut base and rich melted chocolate topping. Even kids could join in making this.
FRUIT & SPICE BUN RING
With currants, cinnamon, and a maple syrup glaze, pull-apart bun ring looks impressive and tastes just as good. But it’s easily made and bakes in little more than half an hour.
COCONUT & LIME CAKE
A classic flavour combination in a moist, buttery cake. Sweet coconut, tart lime, and a simple lime icing. Easy enough to be an everyday cake or even dessert.
APPLE & CINNAMON CAKE
A lovely, rustic and homely cake that’s great for beginners. There’s no creaming of the butter and sugar, just beat melted butter and eggs into the dry ingredients, fold in chopped apples, and top with sliced apple before baking.
RASPBERRY & COCONUT SCONES
Another American-style scone you eat just like a slice of cake. This one’s bursting with raspberries, fresh or frozen, plus the sweet taste of coconut brought by desiccated coconut, coconut milk and a light coconut drizzle. Irresistible!
DOUBLE CHOCOLATE MUFFINS
Got the urge for chocolate cake? Well you can get you fix in a fraction of the time with these super-quick muffins. Rich, moist chocolate sponge containing chunks of chocolate, drizzled with melted chocolate.
CARROT CAKE OAT BARS
All the spicy flavour and moist richness of carrot cake, but in a fraction of the time. Studded with sultanas, nuts and coconut, with the scent of orange and spice. I like them with an optional drizzle of orange icing too.
RASPBERRY & WHITE CHOCOLATE MUFFINS
Wonderfully buttery muffins with the perfect flavour combination. Tart, fruity raspberries (you can use fresh or frozen) and creamy, sweet white chocolate.
MINCEMEAT SHORTBREAD SQUARES WITH ALMOND CRUMBLE
A seasonal version of my Jammy Shortbread Squares. Substantial, buttery shortbread base covered in fruity mincemeat, topped with a spiced oat and nut crumble. Quick, easy, and an alternative to Christmas mince pies. Lovely hot with custard as well as cold.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my round-up of easy cake recipes and found lots you want to try. If you make any of these easy cake recipes, do let me know how it went by leaving a comment and rating on the recipe pages.
MORE RECIPE ROUND-UPS
