Skip to content

Top Navigation

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ENTERTAINING
  • HOME
  • GARDENING
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING
  • WEDDINGS
  • SHOP
  • DIY
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS
  • LIFE
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Pin FB

Explore Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Tips on Organizing Your Home

      Tips on Organizing Your Home

      From the kitchen and bathroom to the bedroom and laundry room, here are 40 ways to simplify, streamline, and banish clutter throughout the house. Read More
    • These Are the Paint Colors You'll See Everywhere in 2022

      These Are the Paint Colors You'll See Everywhere in 2022

      Upgrade your spaces with new—and old—classics. Read More
    • 39 Make-Ahead Holiday Dishes That Are Perfect for Festive Family Gatherings

      39 Make-Ahead Holiday Dishes That Are Perfect for Festive Family Gatherings

      These classic recipes will help you get a head start on the festivities. Read More
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cooking How-Tos
    • Baking
    • Menu Planning
    • Food News & Trends
    • Wine
    • Mastering the Holiday Meal
    • What's for Dinner
    • All Recipes
  • HOLIDAYS

    HOLIDAYS

    See All HOLIDAYS
    All of Our Best Valentine's Day Crafts to Make from the Heart

    All of Our Best Valentine's Day Crafts to Make from the Heart

    Express your love with handmade Valentine's crafts like paper cards, gift ideas, and decorations.
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Passover
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
  • ENTERTAINING

    ENTERTAINING

    See All ENTERTAINING
    Will We Entertain Differently in 2022? These Are the New Trends Hostesses Should Bookmark

    Will We Entertain Differently in 2022? These Are the New Trends Hostesses Should Bookmark

    Secure your role as the host with the absolute most.
    • Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
    • Baby Shower Ideas
    • Dinner Party Ideas
    • You're Invited
  • HOME

    HOME

    See All HOME
    How to Hang and Arrange Pictures

    How to Hang and Arrange Pictures

    Amp up your home décor with perfectly placed frames.
    • Home Design & Decor
    • Paint Colors & Palettes
    • DIY Home Projects
    • The Well-Kept Home
  • GARDENING

    GARDENING

    See All GARDENING
    Six Houseplant Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

    Six Houseplant Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

    Don't let your varieties fall victim to the perils of poor cold-weather maintenance.
    • Container Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Houseplants
    • Landscaping
    • Vegetable Gardens
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    How to Deep Clean Your Oven with Baking Soda

    How to Deep Clean Your Oven with Baking Soda

    Our easy tips will make this cleaning task a lot less daunting.
    • Cleaning
    • Storage & Organization
    • Laundry & Linens
  • WEDDINGS

    WEDDINGS

    See All WEDDINGS
    Your Ultimate Wedding-Planning Timeline

    Your Ultimate Wedding-Planning Timeline

    Ready, set, go! Our no-nonsense guide will help you learn how to plan your wedding like a pro.
    • Real Weddings
    • Wedding Party
    • Wedding Planning & Advice
    • Wedding Ceremony & Reception
    • Wedding Jewelry
    • Dresses & Style
    • Wedding Beauty & Wellness
    • Wedding Registry
    • Wedding Showers & Parties
    • Love & Marriage
    • Wedding Travel
  • SHOP
  • DIY

    DIY

    See All DIY
    How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

    How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

    Learn how to knit your own mittens, hats, scarves, and more. We'll take you through the step-by-step instructions and teach you how to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off.
    • Dyeing
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Kids' Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Paper Crafts
    • Sewing
    • Rescue & Revamp
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    Your Complete Guide to Restoring Moisture Back Into Your Skin

    Your Complete Guide to Restoring Moisture Back Into Your Skin

    Take a multi-pronged approach if you're experiencing excess dryness.
    • Beauty
    • Health & Wellness
    • Live Well
  • LIFE

    LIFE

    See All LIFE
    • Family
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • Net Worth
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. marthastewart.com
  2. Food & Cooking
  3. Recipes
  4. Dessert & Treats Recipes
  5. Cake Recipes
  6. The Best Birthday Cakes to Make for Your Family's Next Celebration

The Best Birthday Cakes to Make for Your Family's Next Celebration

ellen-morrissey-0414-msl-0131-d111183.jpg
By Ellen Morrissey Updated September 24, 2021
Skip gallery slides
Pin
cakes_00123_t.jpg

Get out the candles! These birthday cake recipes will take any party to the next level.

Start Slideshow

1 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
raspberry and chocolate hazelnut crepe cake
Credit: Ryan Liebe

Is there a more universally appealing moment of anticipation than just before a birthday cake appears before you? The lights are suddenly turned down low, and out of the corner of your eye you spy candles being lit. Soon, everyone is gathered around the table and breaks into what is surely one of the world's most recognizable songs. Before you know it, the song is over, the candles blown out, and it's time to dig into the iconic dessert that symbolizes the passage of another year.

The only variable to this experience is the cake itself. What type will it be? There are those who want the same birthday cake every year, maybe the one their mom made when they were growing up. For them, it's not a birthday without their favorite cake. Others like to mix it up, trying out new flavors, shapes, and ingredients each year to keep things more interesting. If you—or a member of your family—falls into this camp, the birthday-worthy Raspberry and Chocolate-Hazelnut Crepe Cake that you see right here is worth trying. It doesn't require any oven time and can be made ahead.

Whichever category you fall into, we've rounded up our favorite birthday cake recipes for. you to choose from. A few are absolute showstoppers, requiring the baker's full-on attention for several hours. Others are simpler, more straightforward, and just as delicious as their more heavily embellished counterparts. There are layer cakes with all kinds of fillings and frostings, but also sheet cake and ice cream cake, too. All were developed to be as memorable as the very best birthday celebrations—sweet, tender, and made to honor someone very special. What could be better than that?

1 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Ombré Strawberry Cake

strawberry cake sliced with rose
Credit: Mike Krautter
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Like the rose of the same name, this layer cake is a real American beauty, with five layers of the prettiest shades of pink, from pale and powdery to hot and bright. The intensity of the shade depends on the amount of deep pink gel-paste food color you use, from a drop or two to a whole bunch. The baked cakes are layered from darkest to lightest, then frosted with pink Swiss meringue buttercream using a large petal tip to resemble a rose.

2 of 17

3 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Tropical-Sorbet-and-Meringue Stack Cake

tropical-sorbet-and-meringue stack cake sliced
Credit: Con Poulos
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Here's a cool confection that's perfect for a crowd. Layers of meringue (which are naturally gluten-free) are formed on parchment-lined baking sheets (no cake pans required), then baked and sandwiched with store-bought fruit sorbet. For the most impactful appearance, choose sorbets in a variety of bright but complementary colors (we used mango, blood orange, and blueberry passion fruit). Once assembled, the cake can be frozen up to two days ahead of serving, and garnished with toasted coconut at the last minute.

3 of 17

Advertisement

4 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Hummingbird Carrot Cake

Hummingbird Carrot Cake Recipe
Credit: Chris Simpson
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Some say this beautiful, rich, and creamy layer cake comes from the American South (a recipe for Hummingbird Cake appeared in Southern Living magazine in the late 1970s), while others claim it came from Jamaica. Wherever it originated, we can all agree that it's among the most beloved layer cakes, filled as it is with coconut, pineapple, and nuts and generously covered with rich cream cheese frosting. Our inspired riff includes shredded carrots to the batter, and saves the chopped nuts for the outside, along with candied carrot curls.

4 of 17

5 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Sprinkle Cake

sprinkle-cake-058-d112178.jpg
Credit: Bryan Gardner
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

At some point in recent years, sprinkles made their way from the outside of the cake straight into the batter, and the whole world seems happy about it. What took so long? Having sprinkles throughout the cake sure makes things a lot more festive and fun.

5 of 17

6 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Coffee Feather Cake

Coffee Feather Cake
Credit: Lennart Weibull
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

For the latte lover in your life, consider this ultimate celebration of coffee in cake form. Coffee flavors each of the three cake layers, as well as billowy whipped cream that covers them all. Even the chocolate embellishments, in gradient shades of cream and brown, are meant to suggest café au lait.

6 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Meyer-Lemon and Coconut Layer Cake

meyer lemon coconut cake
Credit: Johnny Miller
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Lemon and coconut are a match made in cake heaven, each bringing out the very best in the other. For this birthday beauty, coconut flavors the two seven-inch cakes that are split to make four layers which are then sandwiched with a coconut-lemon curd and covered with buttercream frosting, again flavored with coconut. The brightness of the lemon throughout (and in the candied Meyer lemon slices on top) keeps the whole thing from being too coconut-heavy.

7 of 17

8 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Naked-Fruit Chiffon Cake

Naked-Fruit Chiffon Cake
Credit: Lennart Weibull
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

The fruit that adorns this light-as-air chiffon cake—blackberries, Seckel pears, figs, plums, and Concord grapes—evoke a gorgeous still life painting.

8 of 17

9 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Banana-Split Ice Cream Cake

banana split ice cream sheet cake
Credit: Alpha Smoot
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

What's more fun than cake and ice cream? An ice cream cake, of course. This one celebrates the ice cream parlor classic, complete with sliced bananas and a few cherries on top.

9 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Citrus Cornmeal Cake with Wine-Roasted Strawberries

citrus cornmeal cake
Credit: The Ingalls
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Not all birthday cakes have to look as sweet as they taste. This minimal beauty is perfect for adults who don't favor sugary, buttery icings and sprinkles, and prefer their berries roasted with wine—the better to bring out their deep, complex flavors.

10 of 17

11 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Chocolate Angel Food Cake with Double Chocolate Frosting

chocolate angel food cake martha bakes meringue
Credit: Mike Krautter
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Angel food cake meets devil's food in this delicious study in contrasts. A touch of espresso powder in the cake batter helps bring out the best in the four types of chocolate used throughout.

11 of 17

12 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Chocolate Sprinkle Sheet Cake

chocolate sprinkle sheet cake recipe
Credit: Con Poulos
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Sheet cakes are a delightful alternative to layered round cake for birthday celebrations. They can be easier to tote along to a party and easier to slice into when serving.

12 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Maple Cake

maple-cake-mscakes-062-r4.jpg
Credit: Con Poulos
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This cake looks simple, and it is. It comes together quickly and bakes in a rectangular pan. There are no layers to split and sandwich with filling or icing. What's not simple is the taste, with pure maple syrup used to flavor the cake batter and the frosting. It's perfectly delicious all on its own, but if you want to dress it up for a party, try topping it with candied walnuts and serving a scoop of maple walnut ice cream on the side.

13 of 17

14 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Banana Cake with Cream-Cheese Frosting

banana cake sliced on a table with a pink table cloth
Credit: Bryan Gardner
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Cream cheese frosting is the classic choice for carrot, red velvet, and hummingbird cakes, but it's also the key to a delicious banana layer cake. The two make a luscious pair. The only embellishment this layered cake needs before the birthday candles is an ounce of dark chocolate grated over the top.

14 of 17

15 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Buttermilk Plum Cake

buttermilk plum cake outdoors on table
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Maybe you prefer your birthday dessert on the not-too-sweet side. If so, consider this buttermilk and fruit cake, made with whole wheat pastry flour, sweetened with much less sugar than your average cake, and flavored with finely grated lemon zest and sliced plums.

15 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Cuatro Leches Cake

cuatro leches cake martha bakes
Credit: Mike Krautter
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

You've probably had tres leches cake. Its name comes from the fact that it's soaked in milk in three forms: evaporated, sweetened condensed, and regular milk. This one features milk powder in the batter, for a fourth variety, hence the name. If you count the whipped cream on top, you might even call it "cinco leches!"

16 of 17

17 of 17

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Apple Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

three layer apple cake on cake stand
Credit: Mike Krautter
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Apples and spice and everything nice! This autumnal extravaganza features Granny Smith apples peeled and grated into the cake batter, with dried apple chips adorning the creamy icing.

17 of 17

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Ellen Morrissey

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 17
    2 of 17 Ombré Strawberry Cake
    3 of 17 Tropical-Sorbet-and-Meringue Stack Cake
    4 of 17 Hummingbird Carrot Cake
    5 of 17 Sprinkle Cake
    6 of 17 Coffee Feather Cake
    7 of 17 Meyer-Lemon and Coconut Layer Cake
    8 of 17 Naked-Fruit Chiffon Cake
    9 of 17 Banana-Split Ice Cream Cake
    10 of 17 Citrus Cornmeal Cake with Wine-Roasted Strawberries
    11 of 17 Chocolate Angel Food Cake with Double Chocolate Frosting
    12 of 17 Chocolate Sprinkle Sheet Cake
    13 of 17 Maple Cake
    14 of 17 Banana Cake with Cream-Cheese Frosting
    15 of 17 Buttermilk Plum Cake
    16 of 17 Cuatro Leches Cake
    17 of 17 Apple Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Martha Stewart

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Customer Service
    • Media Kit
    • Martha's Blog
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • FAQ
    • Corporate
    • International
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMartha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Martha Stewart. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.marthastewart.com

    Sign in

    View image

    The Best Birthday Cakes to Make for Your Family's Next Celebration
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.