24 Special-Occasion Cakes

This positively adorable cake would make any celebration special, for people of all ages.

Recipe: Rainbow Sprinkle Cake

The secrets to this celestial buttercream, writes pastry chef Rosie Daykin in her first book, Butter Baked Goods , are “making sure your butter is not too cold, and then whipping it like crazy!”

Recipe: Butter's Vanilla Cake

Vanilla cake layered with raspberry and pisachio buttercreams (that's right, two types of buttercream frosting!) is topped off with a creamy, crunchy exterior. Divine.

Recipe: Pistachio Raspberry Cake

A classic birthday cake, with a tender crumb and a luscious fudge frosting. All you need are candles.

Recipe: Fudge Butter Cake

An homage to the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, this cake is for the true peanut butter and chocolate lover.

Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

This delicate, cloudlike cake subs rice flour for regular flour so the cake is gluten-free, with a little crunch. For best results, beat egg whites to very soft peaks so they (and the cake) can expand further in the oven.

Recipe: Lemon and Vanilla Angel Food Cake

If you’re looking for an alternative to pie this holiday season, we strongly encourage you to consider this big beauty—warm, spicy, generous in every way.

Recipe: Butternut Squash Spice Cake

Fold toffee candy into caramel crème fraîche to fill this chocolate cake. Frost the outside of the cake with more caramel crème fraîche and sprinkle it with almonds.

Recipe: Toffee Crunch Cake

Our butter cake meets classic lemon meringue pie. We used a loaf pan to change the shape of the cake ― a simple twist that dramatically alters the presentation.

Recipe: Lemon Meringue Cake

We created this elegant, elongated version of strawberry shortcake by stacking cake layers with berries and whipped cream.

Recipe: Strawberry Tallcake

This moist cake studded with gooey chocolate chips is made even more delicious with a creamy, bourbon-laced glaze.

Recipe: Glazed Chocolate Bundt Cake

Berry jam and lemon curd fill this easy butter cake. Lemony-sweet whipped cream is the icing.

Recipe: Berry-Lemon Cake

Frost this 4-layer yellow cake with whipped cream, sweetened shredded coconut, and just a touch of light rum.

Recipe: Coconut Cake

This cardamom-perfumed pistachio layer cake is topped with nuts, wrapped and filled with softly whipped cream, and served with a sesame seed-flavored custard sauce.

Recipe: Pistachio Cream Cake

This lightened up version of chocolate cake, is still as delicious treat as the original.

Recipe: Midnight Chocolate Cake

Apricot jam and almond paste makes this basic butter cake worthy of its pedestal. More jam flavors the buttercream frosting, and sliced almonds add crunch.

Recipe: Almond-Apricot Cake

This 4-layer chocolate raspberry cake features a tangy raspberry filling and a rich foolproof buttercream icing. Top it with fresh raspberries for a simple and elegant presentation.

Recipe: Chocolate-raspberry Cake

Pecan flour adds a deep flavor and subtle texture to this chiffon-style cake. Top it with Maple-cream-cheese frosting and toasted nuts.

Recipe: Maple Pecan Cake

What a great use for the season's best berries. Toss them in sugar and spoon onto this extra-moist cake.

Recipe: Cream Cake with Strawberries

This towering cake, garnished with chunks of coffee-flavored toffee, makes a luscious centerpiece for the holiday dessert table.

Recipe: Spice Cake with Coffee Toffee Crunch

We love this cake from Doña Tomás restaurant in Oakland, California; it's rich with a sauce like dulce de leche.

Recipe: Tres Leches Cake with Raspberries

Yogurt gives this moist cake recipe extra tang, blueberries add bright color and summer sweetness, and a nutty streusel topping finishes off this simple recipe.

Recipe: Blueberry Yogurt Cake

Tart, grated apples give this moist carrot cake a delicious twist. Mild goat cheese adds a tang to the cream cheese frosting.

Recipe: Spiced Apple Carrot Cake with Goat Cheese Frosting

Can you bake cake at a campsite? Yes! You’ll be the campground hero when you dish up slices of this dark, moist marvel.

Recipe: Dutch Oven Double Chocolate Cake