37 Mother’s Day Cake Recipes to Sweeten the Day

She might repeat the story of your birth every time she sees you, or send you the same sweater every Christmas, or text you every time a new Prince George photo is released, but admit it: Your mom is the best. And usually she’s the one baking you a cake. So this Mother’s Day, turn the tables and present her with one of our best cake recipes. Oh, and a card. Don’t forget a card.

ALEX LAU

1/37

BA’s Best Cheesecake

Room temperature ingredients ensure a smooth and creamy texture; take the cream cheese, sour cream, and eggs out of the refrigerator about 2 hours ahead of time.
PHOTO BY CHELSIE CRAIG

2/37

Buttery German Apple Cake

This gorgeous cake uses a surprisingly simple method to slice the apples just so.

101+ Happy Mothers Day Messages 2020 | Mother’s Day Wishes and Greetings

Mother’s Day Quotes 2020 | Heart Touching Quotes for Mother’s Day Mother’s day Messages 2020 | Heart Touching Messages on Mother’s Day 2020 for MOM Heart Touching Mother’s Day Quotes From Daughter 2020 for MOM Black History Month 2020 1000+ Happy Mothers Day 2020 Messages From Daughter And Son

Mother’s Day Wishes from Son 2020 to MOM – Love Quotes for MOM

Heart Touching Mother’s Day Quotes From Daughter 2020 for MOM

49+ Mother’s Day Sayings 2020 Quotes, Messages, SMS, Wishes
ALEX LAU

3/37

BA’s Best Molten Chocolate Cake

A deep chocolate cake with a liquid chocolate center. Many recipes get this effect by purposely undercooking the cake, so that the middle is raw batter. Effective, but not the most delicious. Our version has a spoonful of ganache in the center, which melts as the cake bakes through.

PHOTO BY ALEX LAU

4/37

Rhubarb Custard Cake

This custardy cake requires no mixer and comes together in minutes. Seriously, it’s easy!
PHOTO BY STEPHEN KENT JOHNSON, FOOD STYLING BY REBECCA JURKEVICH, PROP STYLING BY KALEN KAMINSKI

5/37

Swirled Sesame Tea Cake

The intense, savory sesame flavor balances out the sweetness of the loaf for an addicting snack or dessert. For tahini lovers!
PHOTO BY ALEX LAU, STYLING BY SEAN DOOLEY

6/37

BA’s Best Angel Food Cake

Angel food cake is so simple, but the specific ingredients and equipment matter.
PETER FRANK EDWARDS

7/37

Spiced Honey Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Oh, wait: Did we mention the prettiest cake in the display case also happens to be gluten-free? Eat at will!

ALEX LAU

8/37

BA’s Best Chocolate Macaroon Cake

This is a cake version of the chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons that are a Passover staple.
EVA KOLENKO

9/37

Blueberry-Lemon Icebox Cake
ALEX LAU

10/37

Olive Oil Cake

Even die-hard butter devotees admit that olive oil makes exceptionally good cakes.
PHOTO BY ALEX LAU

11/37

Easy One-Bowl Upside-Down Cake

This cake is a breeze for bakers of all levels.

PHOTO BY LAURA MURRAY, PROP STYLING BY HEIDI’S BRIDGE

12/37

Ooey Gooey Butter Cake

This cake is a legendary (and delicious) Depression-era mistake.
ALEX LAU

13/37

BA’s Best Carrot Cake

This is the only carrot cake recipe you’ll ever need.
ALEX LAU

14/37

Blood Orange Buttermilk Upside-Down Cake

Be sure to invert the cake after it’s baked while it’s still warm; if you wait too long, the oranges will stick to the pan.
NICOLE FRANZEN

15/37

Raspberry-Ricotta Cake

There’s nothing like a moist, fluffy, berry-streaked cake to make any weeknight (or, um, weekday morning) feel special.

CHRISTOPHER TESTANI

16/37

Rhubarb-Almond Cake

It might feel like you’re beating the batter for a long time, but that’s what gives this cake an airy lift. Stay with it!
TED CAVANAUGH

17/37

Banana Split Ice Cream Cake

Before you even start making this showstopper of a summer dessert, clear some space in your freezer. You’ll need a spot big enough to park a springform pan that’s filled to the brim.
PHOTO BY CHELSIE CRAIG, STYLING BY CLAIRE SAFFITZ

18/37

Blackout Chocolate Banana Bread

This recipe as a cross between your very favorite banana bread and a chocolaty blackout cake.
ALEX LAU

19/37

Coffee Cake with Chocolate Streusel

This recipe comes from Test Kitchen contributor Jessie Damuck’s grandmother, Kathy. The story goes that in a house devoid of sweets, this was the only dessert she ever made. It remains a family—and Bon Appétit Test Kitchen—favorite.

DAN MONICK

20/37

Upside-Down Blood Orange–Polenta Cake

No blood oranges? Use 4 navel oranges instead, and slice into 5 or 6 rounds, depending on their size.
ALEX LAU

21/37

Lemon-Lavender Pound Cake

Look for culinary lavender at specialty food stores, tea and spice shops, or online.
GENTL & HYERS

22/37

Yeasted Apple Coffee Cake
CHRISTOPHER TESTANI

23/37

Double Ginger Sticky Toffee Pudding

The gooey toffee sauce is both absorbed by the cake and served on the side. For a glossy, polished presentation, brush the still-warm cake with a clean pastry brush after it comes out of the pan, which will remove some of the excess sy

SHAY HARRINGTON

24/37

Chocolate Fudge Cake

This cake is ultra-rich and crazy chocolatey. Beating the butter and sugar thoroughly ensures the crumb will have some lightness to it.
LINDA XIAO

25/37

Gluten-Free Chocolate Tea Cake

Olive oil and almonds keep it moist. Eggs keep it together. Chocolate and sugar keep it delicious. Who’s missing gluten now?
CHRISTOPHER TESTANI

26/37

Spiced Pear Upside-Down Cake

Make sure the cake pan you’re using is at least 2″ deep; the batter will rise to the very top while baking and will overflow in a shallow pan.
ALEX LAU

27/37

Chocolate Sheet Cake

The genius part of this rich and moist cake is the “reverse creaming” method. Instead of creaming butter and sugar before adding the liquid ingredients and flour, you’ll gradually add the liquid ingredients into the flour. As a result, the cake bakes almost perfectly flat—no domed tops, no layers to trim.

ALEX LAU

28/37

Grapefruit–Poppy Seed Loaf Cake with Yogurt Glaze

A perfect anytime loaf cake with unexpected grapefruit flavor, made with oil so it keeps a long time and stays moist.
PETER FRANK EDWARDS

29/37

Strawberry-Almond Cornmeal Cake

Equal parts fruit crumble and coffee cake, this not-too-sweet dessert starts out bright pink but bakes to a toasty golden brown.
PETER FRANK EDWARDS

30/37

Malted Chocolate Cake

Carnation malted milk powder, we love you (and this devilish cake) so, so much. If you’re using an 8½x4½” pan, you should hold back 1 cup batter.
PHOTO BY ALEX LAU, FOOD STYLING BY CHRIS MOROCCO, PROP STYLING BY EMILY EISEN

31/37

Gluten-Free Carrot Cake

Almond flour is a wonderfully sweet, nutty complement for fresh carrots, walnuts, and raisins.

ALEX LAU

32/37

Carrot-Walnut Loaf Cake

If you only have an 8½x4½” pan, there’s no need to go out and get a new one. Simply hold back about 1¾ cups batter for later—it makes a mean waffle!
BOBBI LIN

33/37

Semolina Cake with Oranges
PHOTO BY PEDEN + MUNK

34/37

Chocolate-Rye Crumb Cake

Because it contains more essential oils, whole grain rye flour can spoil quickly. Store the unused portion in the fridge or freezer.
DANIELLE WALSH

35/37

Salted Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake

This rich, chocolatey cake was submitted for Reader’s Choice Week by personal chef Kim Smith. The flakes of sea salt and chopped pistachios bring it to another level.

ALEX LAU

36/37

Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake

This versatile cake, with a distinct vanilla flavor, is a crowd-pleaser and sure to become a go-to for any festive occasion.
37/37

Fallen Chocolate Cake