These Southern cake recipes have a way completely stealing the spotlight, so if you've been on the hunt for an epic dessert you're in the right place.
Birthdays, holidays, church potlucks, or just a random Tuesday when you need a little something sweet--these are the cakes people remember (and ask you for the recipe before they've even finished their slice).
What I love most about this collection of Southern cakes is that there's something here for everyone, and they don't all have to be fussy to feel special. Some are stacked high with fluffy frosting and made for celebrations, while others are simple, stir-together cakes that somehow taste even better the next day.
From classic layer cakes to old-school pound cakes and easy, crowd-pleasing sheet cakes, these are the recipes you'll come back to again and again for every occasion.
Whether you're baking for a group or just want something homemade that beats anything from the grocery store, you really can't go wrong here. Each one of these has earned its place in Southern baking tradition, and I think you're going to love them just as much as I do!
Jump to:
Southern Layer Cakes
When it comes to Southern baking, layer cakes are the showstoppers. These are the cakes that take center stage at birthdays, holidays, and any occasion worth celebrating.
Coconut Layer Cake
This coconut cake uses four coconut products for the most intense tropical flavor and moist cake texture you'll absolutely love. This is a true special occasion cake that will have everyone coming back for more.
Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Filling
This strawberry cake is always a good idea, especially when fresh berries are in season. Strawberry puree in the cake, strawberry jam in the middle, and strawberry buttercream on top make this Southern cake worth every bit of effort.
Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
This red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting is one of those Southern desserts you don't need a reason to make. Oil and buttermilk keep it soft and moist with enough frosting to cover every layer generously. Make it for Valentine's Day, Christmas, 4th of July, or you made-it-through-the-week Friday.
Southern Caramel Cake
This caramel cake with salted caramel frosting is always a hit at family gatherings, and the 5-star rating says it all. A moist, fluffy yellow cake with sweet-and-salty frosting is what people keep coming back for.
Hummingbird Cake
This hummingbird cake has been Southern Living's most popular recipe since 1978 for good reason. The banana-pineapple-pecan combo makes it one of those delicious cakes you won't forget.
Kentucky Jam Cake
Blackberry jam baked into three moist, spiced layers with rich caramel icing makes this Kentucky jam cake a true old-fashioned Southern classic. The warm-spiced flavor and tender crumb will have you reaching for seconds.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
Peanut butter frosting and chocolate ganache make this chocolate cake look bakery-worthy, but it's easy enough to pull off at home. Use a cake mix if you're short on time, and it will still taste incredible.
Butter Pecan Cake
What's not to love about toasted pecans and brown sugar cream cheese buttercream? The secret to perfectly soft and moist cake layers for this cake is room temperature sour cream, butter, and eggs to blend together effortlessly.
Banana Pudding Cake
This cake is the mash-up you didn't know you needed. Made with boxed cake mix and instant pudding, this show-stopping cake is an easy win that makes you look like a baking genius. The vanilla wafer whipped cream frosting and lemon juice-dipped bananas to prevent browning make it pure Southern perfection.
Southern Pig Pickin' Cake
Boxed cake mix and canned fruit make this light, fluffy Southern classic easier than you'd think and perfect for summer gatherings. You can even freeze any leftovers wrapped in plastic wrap (although you probably won't have any.)
Southern Pound Cakes and Bundt Cakes
Pound cakes and Bundt cakes are Southern kitchen staples for good reason. They are crowd-pleasing, simple to make, perfect for sharing, and great for baking ahead of time.
Sour Cream Pound Cake
This classic pound cake made with sour cream for the perfect amount of tanginess and moisture, has that perfect balance of dense and tender. It's a foolproof, no-fuss recipe that works just as well plain as it does dressed up.
Carrot Cake Pound Cake
This buttery pound cake is loaded with all the flavors of carrot cake we know and love: warm spices, carrots, pecans, and pineapple. Topped with orange cream cheese glaze, it's one of those old-fashioned recipes that deserved a glow-up. Plus it slices beautifully, tastes even better the next day, and always disappears fast.
Peach Cobbler Pound Cake with Cream Cheese
Cream cheese pound cake topped with caramelized peaches, brown sugar, and buttery streusel makes this one of those pound cake recipes worth making all summer long. It's dense, moist, and perfect for peach season.
Lemon Pound Cake
Tender vanilla pound cake with a vibrant lemon glaze and fluffy frosting makes this one of the best pound cakes you'll bake. Trust me on this one: that tangy glaze will have you coming back for seconds.
Sweet Potato Pound Cake
Sweet potatoes keep this pound cake incredibly moist for days, with warm cinnamon and nutmeg giving it that cozy fall flavor. This is a great one to keep in your back pocket for the holidays, and it's the cake that has people fighting over the last slice.
Banana Upside Down Cake
Caramelized banana slices and brown sugar create a gooey topping over moist banana cake. Baked in a tube pan, it's ready in 40 minutes. No need to let it cool since it's even better served warm with scoops of vanilla ice cream on top.
7-Up Pound Cake
Buttermilk and 7-Up soda make this old-fashioned pound cake incredibly moist with a subtle lemon-lime kick. Drizzle it with the simple glaze, and watch it disappear.
Pecan Buttermilk Pound Cake
A full pound of butter plus buttermilk make this traditional Southern pound cake impossibly moist, with chopped pecans throughout and a crunchy turbinado sugar topping. This one's a classic that you'll absolutely love.
Banana Bread Bundt Cake with Brown Butter Glaze
This is just like banana bread in Bundt cake form with a luscious caramelized butter glaze and crunchy walnuts to top. Fair warning: it's always a crowd-pleaser.
Raspberry Swirl Cake
A ribbon of raspberry filling is what makes this Bundt cake so impressive (and delicious). It's perfectly sweet and tender and can double for brunch or dessert.
Angel Food Cake
If you think you don't like angel food cake, it's because you're used to store-bought. This recipe will likely change your mind. Top it with whipped cream and fresh berries and you'll have the ultimate summer dessert ready in a flash.
Bacardi Rum Cake
With dark rum in the dry cake mix batter and the glaze, you'll get a double-dose of flavor in this rum cake. Bonus: this is a cake that actually tastes better the next day once that buttery rum glaze soaks all the way through, so it's perfect to make for the holidays when things are hectic.
Southern Sheet Cakes, Single Layer Cakes, and Ice Box Cakes
These cakes are proof that you do not need anything fancy to make something truly delicious. Easy to put together and even easier to serve, they are my go-to dessert recipes for feeding a crowd.
Coca Cola Cake
This Coca-Cola cake doesn't even need a mixer--just mix, pour, and bake for the easiest chocolate cake ever. The only bad thing is waiting for that fudgy frosting to cool before digging in.
Plum Upside Down Cake
Caramelized plums in brown sugar and cinnamon make this look straight out of a bakery shop window. For the best results, use super-ripe plums and flip it while hot for that stunning caramelized top.
Chocolate Eclair Cake
This easy recipe is my go-to for potlucks. Graham crackers and instant pudding are stacked in layers, topped with chocolate ganache, and chilled overnight until the crackers turn soft and cake-like. A no-bake dessert everyone goes nuts over? Yes please!
Strawberry Icebox Cake with Cream Cheese
This is another no oven needed recipe that's perfect for strawberry season. Just layer fluffy cream cheese filling with graham crackers and fresh strawberries and chill for six hours. The crackers soften to a tiramisu-like texture that'll have you coming back for one more bite.
Lemon Poke Cake
Poke cakes are really fun to make, especially with the kiddos. Poking holes in the warm cake allows for the glaze to soak all the through for the moistest cake you'll ever make. This one starts with cake mix and has a lemon glaze and lemon pudding for a delicious old-fashioned dessert everyone will love.
Hummingbird Sheet Cake
So nice, I had to mention it twice. You can't go wrong with hummingbird cake, and this no-fuss sheet cake version is a favorite. The banana, pineapple, and pecan-studded batter are baked into one sheet cake and topped with cream cheese frosting. It's simple enough for a weeknight but special enough for any get-together
Honey Bun Cake Recipe
I love a "start from a box mix" cake. This one is inspired by those vending machine honeybun pastries but so much better. Moist yellow cake is swirled with brown sugar and cinnamon and topped with honey-infused vanilla icing.
Texas Sheet Cake
Brown sugar and instant coffee make this chocolate sheet cake richer and deeper than any other version you've tried. Baked in a jelly roll pan and topped with glossy chocolate frosting, it's the Southern favorite that's always the first to disappear.
Strawberry Spoon Cake
One pound of peak-season strawberries folded into tangy batter creates the moistest cake with intense berry flavor. Sugar sprinkled on top turns into a crunchy crust that makes every bite perfect.
Mississippi Mud Cake
There's a reason why this 1970s favorite is still around. Moist chocolate cake is topped with melted marshmallows, pecans, and fudge frosting for that classic Southern cake we know and love.
White Texas Sheet Cake
If you love almond croissants, you're in for a treat because this sheet cake is that twist on the classic chocolate version. Moist almond-flavored cake is topped with a sweet poured icing and sliced almonds. And, it's the perfect last-minute dessert since it's ready in under an hour too!
Peaches and Cream Cake
If peach cobbler and cheesecake had a baby, you'd get this delicious cake. And, guess what? It only takes 20 minutes to make! Canned peaches, cook-and-serve pudding, and a sweet cream cheese layer do all the heavy lifting.
Apple Cinnamon Skillet Cake
This cake has all the cozy coffee cake vibes you want on a fall morning. Applesauce keeps it moist and dense, toasted pecans add the crunch, and a little cinnamon on top ties it all together. Don't forget to serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
Sock It To Me Cake
This is that church cookbook classic you grew up with. Buttery yellow cake has a cinnamon pecan ribbon, a vanilla glaze, and a dense tender crumb that bakes perfectly every time.
Pineapple Sunshine Cake
Crushed pineapple keeps this cake super moist, and the whipped cream cheese pudding frosting takes it straight to tropical dessert territory. It's even better the next day after it's had a chance to hang out in the fridge. Now that's my kind of dessert!
Which One Will You Bake First?
Southern baking has a way of making any occasion feel special, and these recipes are proof of that. Whether you're baking for a crowd or just treating yourself, you really can't go wrong with any cake on this list.
Give one a try this weekend and let me know how it turns out in the comments below. And if you know someone who loves to bake, go ahead and share this list with them too!
Related
Looking for more recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are the recipes I like to serve with these Southern cake recipes:
Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips
When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:
- Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
- When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
- I test and develop recipes using a standard electric oven and standard gas stovetop. Be aware that if you use an electric stovetop or convection oven, your bake times will be different.
- When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
Food safety
Finally, don't forget to keep these food safety tips in mind when making these recipes.
- Don't leave leftovers sitting out at room temperature for extended periods of time.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
Leave a Reply