41 Layer Cake Recipes for Every Celebration
Layer cake recipes give something snacking cakes, cupcakes, sheet cakes, and loaf cakes could never: They give height. And that stature makes a layer cake feel grand. The multiple layers say, “I went the extra mile—mile high, that is—for you.” Whether it’s butter cake with chocolate buttercream, chocolate cake enrobed in ganache, or ice cream cake topped with mousse-like whipped cream, if it’s stacked, it’s special.
But this also means you might want to do the work in batches. We’ve got some tips for how best to store layers of cake, in case the icing and assembly must be tended to another day. (Some keep well at room temperature, but there are definitely exceptions.)
Now, on to our favorite layer cakes for birthdays, holidays—or, really, any day you might need a little lift.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton2/41Fluffy and Fabulous Coconut Cake
Just because it’s for a special occasion doesn’t mean it can’t be fuss-free. If you make any mistakes icing this cake, guess what? They’re going to get covered up with a layer of shredded coconut anyway.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne3/41Super-Moist Yellow Cake With Rich Chocolate Frosting
This may look like any other yellow cake with dark chocolate frosting, but it’s actually got a special trick for achieving light, tender cake that stays moist—so moist, in fact, we had to put it in the title. Speaking of titles, sour cream lovers, try this Yellow Layer Cake with Chocolate-Sour Cream Frosting.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton5/41Tres Leches Cake
Though often served as a sheet cake, this version of the signature Latin American dessert is stacked with a layer of fresh fruit between two layers of sponge cake, sodden with a mixture of heavy cream, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by John Bjostad11/41Double Chocolate Layer Cake
This two-layer masterpiece from Gourmet circa 1999 is one of the most popular and enduring chocolate cake recipes on Epicurious—and for good reason. The crumb is tender and rich, not too dense, while the frosting is deeply chocolaty.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano12/41Easy Chinese Bakery–Style Whipped Cream Cake
This chiffon-esque cake topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit is inspired by those commonly found at Chinese bakeries. If you’ve never used a piping tip, we’ve got a video that will show you how. Alternatively, keep it simple and skip the patterning!
