Cake

A little oil in this bûche de noel helps keep it pliable even when cool—perfect for rolling the Yule log shape.

When cutout cookies just won’t cut it, turn to these fanciful tortes, lazy-day snacking cakes, and festive multi-layered showstoppers.

This deliciously moist sweet potato cake recipe from Baltimore’s Crust by Mack is stacked high with thick layers of salted cream cheese frosting.

Subtly sweet and a smidge savory, this cake is an ideal on-the-go breakfast or afternoon pick-me-up.

One bite is all it takes to fall in love with this extra-plush, cardamom-scented cake.

This tres leches cake recipe gets its tenderness from the addition of a fourth type of milk and a kick from a shot of rum.

This showstopper has confetti cake layers, vanilla and strawberry ice cream, and rainbow sprinkles. Let’s party.

Crisp pecans in a sticky mochi cake makes for a dreamy dessert. A dab of miso gives it intriguing depth.

You’ll find a jammy swirl of sweet-tart cherries in this plush, buttery crumb cake topped with crispy, spiced streusel-y bits.

A whole vanilla bean takes this supremely creamy, wonderfully rich, classic New York–style cheesecake to pro-level.

Double down on chocolate and orange with this vegan dessert that gets a little help from the freezer aisle.

This is possibly the simplest strawberry cheesecake you’ll ever make: It requires no mixer, no springform pan, and it bakes in 30 minutes.

A one-bowl vanilla cake, doctored store-bought ice cream, and quick raspberry curd make this impressive dessert totally achievable.

A slice of this spiced cake with buttermilk-cinnamon glaze feels like a warm hug, and the best part is, it takes less than an hour to make.

However you look at boxed cake mix—a desperate measure for desperate times or a jumping-off point for an infinite number of delicious desserts—here are our best strategies to make it taste better than you ever imagined.

The decoration is built right in.

This plushy almond cake with toasted-sugar edges is the perfect match for sweet fruit and a dollop of softly whipped cream.

Aromatic and flavorful, this tender butter cake features both coconut and cardamom for a floral, tropical take on classic yellow cake.

With six layers of spice cake and an orchard’s worth of apple butter, this Appalachian apple stack cake IS the party.

In case it’s not clear: We really like cake. A lot.

Calling all project bakers: Here’s a recipe for building a beautiful dome cake, just like the ones you’ve seen all over the internet. 

Inspired by Brazilian bolo de cenoura, this carrot cake skips the tedious step of grating carrots and blends them right into the batter instead. 

Cleverly designed to be gluten-, dairy-, and mixer-free, this brownie-like dessert is a great choice for anyone, anytime.

Indulge your “Great British Baking Show” yearnings with this jam-filled, cream-slathered classic best enjoyed with a cup of tea.