Do you love cake? Who doesn’t, especially because there are so many different types of cake out there, you are bound to find at least one flavor to fall in love with. From sour cream cakes to carrot cakes there is nothing like bringing a cake to your next event.
Whether you are new to the cake world or just looking for a unique and new flavor to try, we’ve put everything in one easy article for you. So read on to learn all about the different types of cake, fillings, and frostings you can enjoy the next time you decide to bake a cake.
Types of Cake Flavors
Before you can start picking out fillings and icings for your cake, you need to start by deciding on the flavor of your cake. Here are some of the most popular cake flavors to enjoy.
- Pound cake
- Yellow cake
- Red Velvet Cake
- Chocolate cake
- Vanilla cake
- Strawberry cake
- Fruit cake
- Baked cheesecakes
- Unbaked cheesecakes
- Sponge cake
- Angel food cake
- Carrot cake
- Coffee cakes
- Tres leches cake
- Olive oil cake
- Chiffon cake
As you can see, there are many different types of cake out there. And although yellow cake and pound cake may sound like they are similar, all of the types of cake on this list have a completely different list of ingredients as well as a special method of cooking.
Types of Cake Fillings
While you can just enjoy cake as it is, most people usually prefer to add a filling to their cake.
Here are some of the most popular types of cake fillings to include in your next cake.
- Whipped cream
- Cream cheese frosting
- Mousse
- Frostings with flavored syrup
- Fresh berries
- Lemon curd
- Fruit jam
- Chocolate frosting
It is generally recommended to only put a single filling in your cake, but some of the fillings, such as fresh berries and whipped cream do go together, so you may want to consider using a combination of fillings in your cake.
Types of Cake Frosting
Once your layer cake has filling and the two layers are stacked, you are ready to add frosting to your cake. There are several different types of cake frosting to choose from.
- Cream cheese frosting
- Fluffy whipped cream
- Buttercream frosting
- Seven-minute frosting
- Ganache
- Meringue
- Fondant
Any of the types of frosting on this list can be colored with food dye, or mixed with flavorings to achieve the desired look and taste. For example, you could mix cream cheese frosting with red food coloring to put on a white cake when you are making a Valentine’s Day cake.
Types of Cake Icing
Looking for something a little less heavy than frosting? Check out icings, which are still sweet and ideal for placing on top of a cake, without all of the heavy creaminess weighing you down.
- Caramel
- Chocolate glaze
- Fudge icing
- Royal icing
- Simple syrup glaze
Both frostings and icings can be colored or flavored if you desire. Keep in mind, however, that icing is much thinner than frosting and that you may need more of it (or more coloring) to achieve the desired look.
How to Make Different Kinds of Icing
One nice thing about icing is that it is much easier to make at home than frosting. Below are the instructions for making a couple of different types of icing for you to use on your next cake.
Powder Sugar Icing
Ingredients:
- Powder Sugar
- Water (or Milk)
Step 1: Put in a Bowl
Place the amount of powdered sugar you want to use in a bowl. If you want one cup of icing, you should put two cups of sugar in the bowl as it will get smaller once you add liquid.
Step 2: Add Water
Next, slowly add water or milk to the sugar, stirring constantly until the desired consistency is reached.
Step 3: Ice Cake
Once you are finished mixing, you will want to ice the cake immediately as the icing will begin to harden as it stands. You can also add food coloring or flavorings to the icing before adding it to the cake if you desire.
Caramel Icing
Caramel icing isn’t quite as easy to make as powdered sugar icing, but it still won’t take more than a few minutes following these directions.
Ingredients:
- 2 and 1/2 cups Brown sugar
- 3/4 cup Milk
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
Step 1: Heat Ingredients
Heat all of the ingredients (except for the 1/2 cup of brown sugar and the vanilla, leave those aside) in a saucepan over high heat until the sugar dissolves. Do not let the mixture come to a boil, turn down the heat if necessary. Once it is dissolved, turn the heat to low.
Step 2: Mix the Other Sugar
In a skillet melt the 1/2 cup of brown sugar, stirring constantly so it won’t burn. Once it is melted, pour it into the first mixture.
Step 3: Stir
Keep stirring the original mixture until it reaches 235 degrees Fahrenheit. Then remove from the heat and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.
Step 4: Add Vanilla and Frost
While the caramel is cooling, add the vanilla, then ice your cake. The icing will harden completely within about 4 hours.
Types of Cake Pans
One final thing you need to need to consider before you start baking a cake is the pan that you will be cooking it in. There are several different types of cake pans to choose from, here are a few of the most popular.
- Traditional cake pans (includes a circle or square shape)
- Springform pan
- Sheet cake pan
- Bundt pan
- Silicone mold
- Cupcake pan
- Cake ring
- Tube pan
While these are the most popular cake pans, they aren’t the only ones available. Don’t be afraid to branch out and try a funky shaped mold, especially when you are making a birthday cake for a themed party, or a cake for another holiday event.
Different Types of Cake Shapes
Speaking of using a fun mold to bake a cake, you shouldn’t limit yourself to just making a circle or a square cake, even if those are the only pans you have on hand.
Remember that you can make all kinds of cake shapes just using the pans you have, then using frosting to put them together. For example, you can use two circle-shaped pans to make a sunglasses cake, using cupcakes for the earpieces.
You can also use the circle mold, plus a cupcake mold to make a sun, using the cupcakes as the band.
You can also buy an inexpensive silicone mold for any shape under the sun. Many online shops offer silicone molds for flowers, hearts, holiday decorations, and even different emojis. Silicone molds are easy to fill, bake, and clean, so there is no reason not to grab one in your desired shape.
Types of Cake Decorations
Now that you have your desired cake cooked in the perfect shape, and it is frosted (or covered with icing) it’s time to discuss the types of cake decorations you can put on your cake.
Just like with the shape of the cake, the decorations are a place where you can be creative. If you don’t like any of the decorations on this list, don’t be afraid to make your own, just be sure they are safe to put on a cake.
- Cocoa powder (perfect for making dirt or ground)
- Cake crumbs
- Fresh strawberries
- Fresh fruits
- Candied fruit
- Candy
- Pieces of chocolate
- Small figurines
Have some good ideas of what kind of cake you would like to make? If not, scroll down to look at even more ideas of different types of cake you can make for your event.
The 15 Most Delicious Types of Cake –
1. Mimosa Bundt Cake
The Mimosa Bundt cake from Lemons for Lulu is one of our favorite butter cake recipes. Unlike other types of pound cake, the orange juice and orange zest added to keep the sweet dessert ring cake feeling light enough to serve for brunch.
Not to mention the recipe is easy to make, only requiring butter, sugar, salt, eggs, baking powder, flour, milk, vanilla, and then the secret ingredients of orange juice, orange zest, and champagne.
2. Poke Cake With Strawberry Jello and Cheesecake
Is there anything better at a summer BBQ than a ready-to-go strawberry cake dessert? Next time you are headed to one, make this Poke cake from Life, Family, Fun, which is made using a regular old white cake mix (prepared following the box instructions), some strawberry jello, and a package of cheesecake pudding.
Of course, you will still need some whipped cream and fresh strawberries to top it off with, but overall this is an amazing dessert that you can have picnic-ready in just a few hours.
3. Chocolate Orange Cupcakes
Nothing satisfies a sweet craving quite like chocolate cake. So next time you want something rich and sweet, make these Chocolate Orange cupcakes from Nutrition in the Kitch.
The cake batter for these is made using almond flour, tapioca, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, orange juice, maple syrup, eggs, olive oil, and orange zest.
There is also a coconut icing recipe you can use to top your cupcakes, or they can be served plain, as they are definitely sweet enough all on their own.
4. Classic Passover Sponge Cake
The best part about the Passover season is all the delicious food you get to enjoy. Check out this recipe on Flamingo Musings to make the classic cake that is served every year on this holiday.
You will need some matzoh cake meal, as well as some sugar and eggs. Start by whipping the egg whites in a separate bowl while you pre-heat the oven.
Once soft peaks form in the whipped eggs, they can be beaten with sugar until they become thick. Then, mix everything together with the whipped egg whites and toss it in the oven for one hour, it’s that simple.
5. Flourless Chocolate Cake
Flourless cake is amazing because it is cut and served like cake, but has a taste more like fudge. Although it may sound difficult to make, it is actually quite easy, especially if you follow this recipe from Lemons For Lulu.
Flourless cake is made with all of the same ingredients used to make a regular cake, but with more chocolate, cocoa powder, and eggs to replace the flour which is completely left out (hence the name flourless cake). Plus, this recipe doesn’t take long to cook at all, just 35 minutes total, and that includes prep time.
6. Southern Coconut Cake
Southern Coconut Cake is another of our favorite cake recipes as it has so few ingredients and is simple to make. You will, however, need flour, corn starch, baking powder, salt, butter, sugar, and some vegetable oil.
You will also need some egg whites to fold into the cream portion of the cake, so get ready to remove those egg yolks. This butter cake recipe might sound complicated, but it isn’t that difficult at all. Just check out the full recipe on Life Family Fun for more in-depth instructions.
7. Vegan Apple Cake
Looking for some cake recipes that include fresh fruit? Look no further than this Vegan Apple Cake recipe from Nutrition in the Kitch. It is made using two fresh apples and can be made gluten-free and vegan if you desire. It’s not quite a fruit cake, but you’ll likely rather keep this cake than pass it on.
8. Foam Cake
Foam cakes are types of cake that are only made with egg yolks, leaving the egg whites out completely, which gives the cake a foamy and springy consistency. Try this easy cake recipe from Tasty Craze to make a delicious foam cake you can top with homemade cream.
Foam cakes aren’t just regular-shaped caked, however, as these types of cake recipes can also be cooked on a sheet pan then made into a cake roll as well.
9. Gingerbread Sheet Cake
Sheet cakes are large cakes that are perfect when feeding a crowd (although they don’t quite beat a traditional layer cake for a wedding) and they can be made in any flavor. For a winter event, check out this recipe for Gingerbread sheet cake from Lemons for Lulu. It’s easy to make, delicious to eat, and you can have it ready in just 30 minutes.
10. Pumpkin Bundt Cake
Did you know you can make cake recipes in your Instant Pot? It’s true, just look at this pumpkin bundt cake recipe from Life, Family, Fun. All you have to do is mix the ingredients, toss them in your Instant Pot, cook for 30 minutes, and just like that you have a delicious cake to serve with coffee or as dessert.
11. Healthy Smash Cake
Healthy smash cake is the perfect solution when you want to give your little one their own cake, but don’t want them consuming all that sugar.
Made with applesauce instead of sugar, baking powder, gluten-free flour, baking soda, almond milk, eggs, and vanilla, this is a cake you can feel good about letting your baby consume (especially if you top it with fresh fruit.) Find the full recipe on Nutrition in the Kitch.
12. Red Velvet Cake
Red velvet cake is one of many classic cake recipes that is hard to resist. With its distinct red velvet flavor, this recipe from Handle the Heat is one of the ideal sweet cake recipes for any event you have coming up. It does require a lot of ingredients, however, so be sure to make a list before you head to the store.
13. Lemon Crumb Cake
Lemon crumb cake is a type of cake made by mixing the cake batter with lemon zest, then filling the cake with homemade lemon curd. You can find the recipe on Lemons for Lulu, but basically, this delicate cake is made by combining all of the regular cake ingredients to make a batter.
Then the lemon curd is spread on top before you place it in the oven.
14. Tres Leches Cake
Tres Leches Cake is one of the easiest cake recipes to make, yet most people have never tried it. You only need a few basic ingredients, plus evaporated milk and sweetened and condensed milk to make the cream that sits in the middle of this airy cake.
Be aware, however, that this cake does need to rest for a full hour before you serve it, otherwise the syrup won’t be able to soak in and create the tres leches flavor. The full recipe can be found on Natasha’s Kitchen.
15. Pound Cake
Pound cake is one of those cake recipes that can be served as is, or frosted to suit any occasion. The reason it is called pound cake is because these cakes are traditionally called found a pound of each ingredient, which is pretty smart if you think about it.
Pound cakes are just as moist as butter cakes, and also comparable to an oil cake recipe, one of the only differences is whether the recipe calls for baking powder or baking soda. Either way, you can’t go wrong when you make this pound cake recipe from Once Upon a Chef.
FAQ
What are the different types of sponge cake?
There a nine different types of sponge cakes and they can all be used for different purposes. Here they are for your reference:
- Angel Food cake
- Genoise
- Chiffon cake
- Devil’s Food Cake
- Butter cake (sponge cake version)
- Victoria Sponge cake
- Swiss Roll sponge cake
- Madeira sponge cake
- Jaconde sponge cake
What Type of Cake is Angel Food Cake?
Angel food cake is a sponge cake made using egg whites, cake flour, and, of course, some sugar. The lack of egg yolk is what gives angel food cake its white color and status as a low-fat food.
What Type of Frosting Goes on Carrot Cake?
When making a carrot cake, you are free to put any type of frosting on it that you would like. However, it is most common to put cream cheese frosting on a carrot cake as the cream cheese flavor compliments the carrots and spices well.
What are the Different Types of Chocolate Cake?
There are hundreds of different types of chocolate cake, but here are the most popular:
- Chocolate fudge cake
- Chocolate lava cake
- German chocolate cake
- Chocolate truffle cake
- Chocolate angel food cake (yes, it exists)
- Flourless chocolate cakes (sometimes called torte)
- Chocolate Mousse cakes
- Chocolate sponge cake
So next time you are having a chocolate craving, make one of these cakes recipes, you won’t be disappointed.
Time to Bake a Cake
Our journey through the world of cakes has come to an end. Hopefully, you enjoyed learning about all the different types of cake, fillings, frostings, and pans. By now you should have at least one (but probably many more) idea of a cake to make the next time you need to bake one.
Whether you go with a butter cake, carrot cake, or chiffon cake, there is no way you can go wrong when you make any of the cakes on this list. So pick one out and start baking today, because, after all, the sooner you bake, the sooner you can eat your delicious cake.