48 Contest-Winning Cakes You’ll Want on Your Dessert Table

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48 Contest-Winning Cakes You’ll Want on Your Dessert Table2/47 Dark Chocolate Pecan Cake 2 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Dark Chocolate Pecan Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 55 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Made in a single loaf pan, this doubly good chocolate cake has a nutty praline layer and two layers of fluffy whipped cream. This is the only cake my husband really likes. —Laura Draper, Garfield, Washington 3/47 Butter Pecan Cake 36 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Butter Pecan Cake Recipe photo by Sonia Bozzo for

I decided to follow her lead and create a blackberry cake that’s always lovely

Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 5 min Servings 16 pieces Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Pecans and butter give this cake the same irresistible flavor as the ever-popular butter pecan ice cream flavor. —Becky Miller, Tallahassee, Florida 4/47 Blackberry-Orange Cake 20 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Blackberry-Orange Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My grandmother made luscious fruit pies and cobblers using blackberries from her garden. I decided to follow her lead and create a blackberry cake that’s always lovely

with a summer meal

with a summer meal. —Lisa M. Varner, El Paso, Texas 5/47 Strawberry Shortcake 73 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Strawberry Shortcake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 9 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I grew up helping my mom make a lot in our farmhouse kitchen; strawberry shortcakes, roasts, soups and pies. This sunny strawberry shortcake recipe brings back memories of family summers on the farm. —Janet Becker, Anacortes, Washington 6/47 Lemon Chiffon Cake 68 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved KRISTINA VANNI FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 1 hour

20 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

20 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This moist, airy chiffon cake was my dad’s favorite. Mom revamped the original recipe to include lemons. I’m not much of a baker, but whenever I make this dessert my family is thrilled! —Trisha Kammers, Clarkston, Washington 7/47 Contest-Winning Chocolate Angel Food Cake 12 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Contest-Winning Chocolate Angel Food Cake Recipe photo by Melissa Patterson for Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 5 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: When I take this different kind of angel

—Roxanne Chan, Albany, California 9/47

food cake to church bake sales, it goes before I can get it on the table!—Mary Ann Iverson, Woodville, Wisconsin 8/47 Citrus Cornmeal Cake 4 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Citrus Cornmeal Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Cornmeal adds a rustic quality to this delicate dessert flavored with citrus and almond. It makes a great holiday party hostess gift and is sure to be a staple in your recipe collection. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California 9/47 Grandma’s Christmas Cake 3 Reviews Contest Winner Test

One bite of this old-fashioned spice cake will bring back memories

Kitchen Approved Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 16 servings (2-2/3 cups sauce) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: One bite of this old-fashioned spice cake will bring back memories. Loaded with raisins and nuts, it tastes extra special drizzled with the rich buttery sauce. —Linda Stemen, Monroeville, Indiana 10/47 Carrot Bundt Cake 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Ruthie Darling for Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 20 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My grandma was very special to me. She had a big country kitchen that was full of wonderful

aromas any time we visited

aromas any time we visited. This was one of her prized cake recipes, and it continues to be a favorite from generation to generation. —Denise Strasz, Detroit, Michigan 11/47 Rhubarb Berry Upside-Down Cake 4 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 1 hour 5 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I had leftover rhubarb and wanted to create something fresh. With blueberries, strawberries and dried cranberries on hand, I discovered I had a berry upside-down cake. —June Paul, Portage, Wisconsin 12/47 Mocha-Hazelnut Glazed Angel Food Cake 2 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Mocha-Hazelnut

This simple lemon shortcake is tender and not overly sweet

Glazed Angel Food Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 55 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I love this recipe because it combines three of my favorite flavors: coffee, hazelnuts and cherries. —Joan Pecsek, Chesapeake, Virginia 13/47 Lemon-Berry Shortcake 19 Reviews Contest Winner Lemon-Berry Shortcake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This simple lemon shortcake is tender and not overly sweet. Enjoy this summertime classic with a generous layer of whipped topping and berries. —Meryl Herr, Overland Park,

I love their creamy caramel frosting

Kansas 14/47 Zucchini Cupcakes 248 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Zucchini Cupcakes Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 1-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I asked my grandmother for this recipe after trying these irresistible spice cupcakes at her home. I love their creamy caramel frosting. They’re such a scrumptious dessert, you actually forget you’re eating your vegetables, too! —Virginia Lapierre, Greensboro Bend, Vermont 15/47 Pumpkin Torte 97 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Pumpkin Torte Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 55 min Servings 12 servings Go to

It is quick and always turns out so well

Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This beautiful layered cake has a creamy filling with a mild pumpkin flavor and a little spice. It is quick and always turns out so well. The nuts and caramel topping add a nice finishing touch. —Trixie Fisher, Piqua, Ohio 16/47 Chunky Apple Cake 125 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Chunky Apple Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 15 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: After taste testing lots of apple cakes, I’ve found this apple cake recipe the best. Full of old-world comfort, the yummy

brown sugar sauce really makes the cake special

brown sugar sauce really makes the cake special. For a festive occasion, top with a dollop of whipped cream. —Debi Benson, Bakersfield, California 17/47 Lemon Meringue Angel Cake 42 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Lemon Meringue Angel Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 30 min Servings 14 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I’ve been told that this dessert tastes exactly like a lemon meringue pie and that it’s the best angel food cake anyone could ask for. I’m not sure about all of that, but it is delightful to serve, and

each slice is virtually fat free

each slice is virtually fat free. —Sharon Kurtz, Emmaus, Pennsylvania 18/47 Mississippi Mud Cake 16 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 55 min Servings 20 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This cake features a fudgy brownielike base topped with marshmallow creme and a nutty frosting. Serve big slices with glasses of cold milk or steaming mugs of coffee. —Tammi Simpson, Greensburg, Kentucky 19/47 Down East Blueberry Buckle 42 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 45 min Servings 9 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This buckle won a contest at my

daughter’s college

daughter’s college. The prize was four lobsters, but the real reward was the smile on our daughter’s face. —Dianne van der Veen, Plymouth, Massachusetts 20/47 21/47 Key Lime Pie Cupcakes 17 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Key Lime Pie Cupcakes Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 5 min Servings 32 cupcakes Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I bake over 200 of these cupcakes for our church suppers, and we always run out. If you can’t find Key lime juice, use lime juice. Just add a tad more sugar. —Julie Herrera-Lemler, Rochester, Minnesota 22/47

I made this dessert for the first time in the 1990s

Cranberry Pecan Upside-Down Cake 1 Review Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Cranberry Pecan Upside-Down Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: At our house, cranberries are a favorite. I made this dessert for the first time in the 1990s. It started out as a pineapple upside down cake—I just changed a few things around! It keeps and travels well, so it’s perfect for taking to church dinners. And we love to share it with our son and grandchildren. —Doris Heath, Franklin, North Carolina 23/47 Peachy Gingerbread

My father loved gingerbread

Cake Roll 5 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Peachy Gingerbread Cake Roll Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My father loved gingerbread so I combined two or three recipes to create this one for him. This fruity, spiced cake roll gets kudos every time I serve it.—Dawn DePew, Blacklick, Ohio 24/47 German Chocolate Cake 87 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved German Chocolate Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 55 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This

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• These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

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