40 Recipes That Will Win at a Cake Walk

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40 Recipes That Will Win at a Cake Walk2/39 Strawberry Ladyfinger Icebox Cake Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 35 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This cake is inventive and yet familiar. Be sure to use a springform pan so you can easily remove it from the cake. If it breaks while you’re transferring it to the serving plate, just push the pieces back together, pressing gently. —Stella Ohanian, Porter Ranch, California 3/39 Black Walnut Cake 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Black Walnut Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time

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

1 hour 20 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My mother’s family members were all excellent cooks who were known for their great hospitality. As a longtime family favorite, this old-fashioned cake was always expected to be on the menu at holiday dinners, special occasions and potlucks. —Elisabeth Garrison, Elmer, New Jersey 4/39 Pound Cake 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Classic Pound Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 2 hours Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We’ve always included pound cake on our family menus. Through the years

It has a very fine, rich texture that makes it unusually smooth

I’ve tried many recipes, and I can honestly say this million-dollar pound cake is the best! It has a very fine, rich texture that makes it unusually smooth. That texture, plus fantastic flavor, makes this pound cake a special treat each time we serve it. —George Dunn, Jasper, Texas 5/39 Patchwork Quilt Cake 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 35 min Servings 15 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This cake has a great homemade flavor and tender crumb. Be sure to pile on the buttery frosting, which adds a burst of

vanilla. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 6/39 Pink Lemonade Stand Cake 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved JIM WIELAND FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: If you love a moist and creamy cake, this one’s for you. The lemon juice and lemonade give the layers a tangy, citrusy touch, and the cream cheese frosting with sprinkles makes it extra pretty. —Lauren Knoelke, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 7/39 Blue-Ribbon Red Velvet Cake 2 Reviews Blue-Ribbon Red Velvet Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 16

servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This two-layer beauty features a striking red interior. It calls for more cocoa than most red velvet cakes, making it extra chocolaty. Feel free to change the color of the food coloring to suit the occasion. This recipe won a blue ribbon in the holiday cake division at the 2006 Alaska State Fair. I think this cake will be a winner in your house, too! —Cindi DeClue, Anchorage, Alaska 8/39 Apple-Walnut Cake with Orange Glaze 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Apple-Walnut Cake with Orange Glaze Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total

The result: old-fashioned goodness with a heavenly aroma!

Time 1 hour 30 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I tinkered with a plain apple cake recipe to create this moist, delicious winner. The result: old-fashioned goodness with a heavenly aroma! This cake is the perfect fall treat or holiday dessert, but it’s also great as a special breakfast or brunch item. —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida 9/39 Funfetti Cake 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Confetti Cake with Brown Sugar Buttercream Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This simple and

tender cake has been celebrated in my family for years

tender cake has been celebrated in my family for years. Dressed up with tinted frosting and confetti, it becomes pure party fun. — Karen Berner, New Canaan, Connecticut 10/39 Cannoli Cake 74 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved The Best Cannoli Cake Recipe Recipe photo by Leticia Almeida for Taste of Home Total Time 55 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A luscious, chocolate-studded cannoli filling separates the tender vanilla layers of this rich cake, which starts with a package mix. It’s best when served well chilled.—Antoinette Owens, Ridgefield, Connecticut 11/39 Chocolate Cake 206 Reviews

But it paid off

Test Kitchen Approved Chocolate Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Years ago, I drove 4-1/2 hours to a cake contest, holding my entry on my lap the whole way. But it paid off. One bite and you’ll see why this velvety beauty was named the best chocolate cake recipe and won first prize. —Sandra Johnson, Tioga, Pennsylvania 12/39 Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting 50 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved GRACE NATOLI SHELDON FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 1 hour 5 min Servings 16 servings

It’s dotted with sweet carrots and a hint of cinnamon

Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A pleasingly moist cake, this treat is the one I requested that my mom make each year for my birthday. It’s dotted with sweet carrots and a hint of cinnamon. The fluffy buttery frosting is scrumptious with chopped walnuts stirred in. One piece of this carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is never enough—it’s better than all the other carrot cakes I’ve tried! —Kim Orr, West Grove, Pennsylvania 13/39 Butter Pecan Cake 36 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Butter Pecan Cake Recipe photo by Sonia Bozzo for Taste of Home Total Time

This recipe won several blue ribbons at our state fair

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 14/39 Chocolate Fudge Cake 23 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved TASTE OF HOME Total Time 1 hour 15 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This recipe won several blue ribbons at our state fair. The made-from-scratch chocolate layer cake topped with a fudgy homemade frosting is truly a can’t-miss dessert. —Donna Carman, Tulsa, Oklahoma 15/39 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. —Sharon Kurtz, Emmaus, Pennsylvania 16/39 Frosted Chocolate Cake 3 Reviews Frosted Chocolate Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour

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

5 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This recipe is my mother’s oldest and most popular chocolate cake recipe. I always thought it should have a fancier name, but this is what she called it. Mom would say a fancy name would not make it taste better. —Beth Bristow West Plains, Missouri 17/39 Strawberry Mascarpone Cake 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 30 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Don’t let the number of steps in this recipe fool you —it’s easy to assemble.

The cake bakes up high and fluffy, and the berries add a fresh fruity flavor

The cake bakes up high and fluffy, and the berries add a fresh fruity flavor. Cream cheese is a good substitute if you don’t have mascarpone cheese handy. —Carol Witczak, Tinley Park, Illinois 18/39 Down South Sweet Tea Cake Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 1 hour 5 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I think this recipe combines two of the best and most famous ingredients from the South: sweet tea and pecans! Using a cake mix simplifies prep and helps ease the holiday time crunch. —Melissa Millwood, Lyman, South Carolina 19/39 Chocolate Bavarian Torte

It is quick and always turns out so

26 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Whenever I take this eye-catching torte to a potluck, I get so many requests for the recipe. —Edith Holmstrom, Madison, Wisconsin 20/39 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 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

The nuts and caramel topping add a nice finishing touch

well. The nuts and caramel topping add a nice finishing touch. —Trixie Fisher, Piqua, Ohio 21/39 Chocolate Carrot Cake 25 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Chocolate Carrot Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Finely shredding the carrots gives this cake an extra-nice texture. The walnuts sprinkled on top add crunch, but you can leave them off if you prefer. —Pamela Brown, Williamsburg, Michigan 22/39 Black Forest Cake 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Black Forest Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1

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