cake Recipes
53 delicious cake recipes from around the world
Babà al Rum
A classic Neapolitan yeast cake, famously soaked in a generous amount of rum syrup until it's delightfully moist and dripping.
Baba Piaskowa (Polish Sand Cake)
A classic Polish pound cake, known for its dense, moist crumb and slightly sandy texture thanks to the potato starch. This rich butter cake is a delightful treat for any occasion.
Bara Brith
A traditional Welsh fruit bread, famously soaked in tea, resulting in a moist and flavourful loaf. Often called 'speckled bread' due to the visible fruit.
Battenberg Cake
A classic British Battenberg cake featuring a distinctive checkered pattern of pink and yellow sponge, encased in a sweet marzipan coating. Perfect for afternoon tea or celebrations.
Bienenstich (Bee Sting Cake)
A classic German cake featuring a rich yeast dough base, topped with a sticky, caramelized honey-almond mixture, and filled with a luscious vanilla custard. The name 'Bee Sting' is said to come from the legend that bakers threw dough at their overlords like bees stinging them, or that bees were attracted to the sweet aroma.
Bolo Rei (Portuguese King Cake)
A traditional Portuguese fruit cake, often enjoyed during the Christmas holidays. This enriched dough cake is studded with candied fruits and nuts, shaped into a crown, and symbolizes the riches of the Three Kings.
Canelé
Bordeaux fluted cakes - rum and vanilla custard cakes with a deeply caramelized, crisp crust and a tender, custardy interior. A signature sweet from the Bordeaux region.
Ciambella (Italian Ring Cake)
A simple, rustic Italian ring cake, often enjoyed for breakfast or as a light dessert. Its straightforward preparation and comforting flavor make it a delightful everyday treat.
Dresdner Eierschecke
A traditional Saxon layered cake from Dresden, featuring three distinct layers: a yeast dough base, a creamy quark filling, and a rich egg custard topping.
Galette des Rois
A traditional French king cake, made with flaky puff pastry filled with a rich frangipane (almond cream). The lucky person who finds the hidden 'fève' (a small charm) is crowned king or queen for the day. Perfect for Epiphany celebrations.
Gâteau Breton
A dense, rich, and incredibly buttery cake originating from Brittany, France. This Gâteau Breton is a true testament to the region's love for high-quality butter, resulting in a cake that is both rustic and elegant.
Karpatka (Polish Mountain Cake)
Karpatka, meaning 'Carpathian Mountain Cake', is a beloved Polish dessert featuring two layers of light and airy choux pastry filled with a rich, luscious vanilla pastry cream. It's often dusted with powdered sugar, resembling a snow-capped mountain range.
Madeleines
Delicate French shell cakes, known for their distinctive hump and tender, buttery crumb. A classic treat, famously associated with Proust's literary recollections.
Makowiec (Polish Poppy Seed Roll)
A traditional Polish poppy seed roll, often made for Christmas. This dense and sweet cake features a rich poppy seed filling swirled within a soft yeast dough, creating a beautiful spiral pattern when sliced. It's a labor of love that's well worth the effort.
Medovik (Russian Honey Cake)
A beloved, multi-layered Russian honey cake featuring delicate, thin honey sponge layers generously filled with a tangy sour cream frosting. This cake is known for its incredibly moist texture, which develops as the layers soften overnight. It's a traditional centerpiece for celebrations.
Napoleon Cake
A classic Russian celebration cake featuring numerous delicate layers of crisp puff pastry generously filled with a rich, creamy custard. This impressive dessert requires patience but rewards with a delightful contrast of textures and a comforting, sweet flavor.
Opéra Cake
A classic French Opéra cake, featuring delicate almond sponge (Joconde) layered with rich coffee buttercream, a smooth chocolate ganache, and a coffee-soaked syrup, all enrobed in a glossy chocolate glaze. This sophisticated dessert is a true test of patisserie skill.
Pandoro
A traditional Veronese Christmas cake, this tall, star-shaped, buttery sweet bread is a festive delight, known for its rich flavor and airy crumb.
Pão de Ló
A classic Portuguese sponge cake known for its light, airy texture and often a delightfully moist center. This recipe aims for a tender crumb with a slightly underbaked, custardy core, characteristic of many regional variations.
Pastiera Napoletana
A traditional Neapolitan Easter cake, this rich and fragrant tart features a sweet shortcrust pastry filled with a creamy mixture of cooked wheat berries, ricotta cheese, candied citrus peel, and the distinctive aroma of orange blossom water.
Prinsesstårta (Classic)
Princess cake - an iconic Swedish layered sponge cake featuring a light genoise sponge, rich pastry cream, luscious whipped cream, all encased in a smooth dome of green marzipan, and traditionally topped with a pink marzipan rose.
Prinsesstårta (Princess Cake)
A classic Swedish celebration cake, Prinsesstårta features layers of light sponge cake, pastry cream, and whipped cream, all encased in a smooth dome of green marzipan. It's a visually stunning and delicious dessert perfect for birthdays and special occasions.
Sachertorte
Vienna's iconic Sachertorte is a dense, rich chocolate sponge cake layered with smooth apricot jam and enrobed in a glossy dark chocolate glaze. A true taste of Viennese elegance, famously perfected by Hotel Sacher.
Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest Gateau)
A classic and iconic German dessert, Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, or Black Forest Gateau, features layers of rich chocolate sponge cake, soaked in Kirsch (cherry liqueur), filled with whipped cream and tart cherries, and adorned with chocolate shavings. A true indulgence.