Cake Recipes

I know you're going to love this Black Forest Cake as much as I ended up loving it! My version is made with a fluffy and intense sponge chocolate cake soaked in a cocoa-cherry syrup, a cherry filling made with fresh cherries for that real cherry flavor we love, and a stabilized whipped cream that's airy and supple but still stays in place. I topped it all and frosted the whole cake with a shiny and rich chocolate ganache. This Black Forest Cake skips the fuss of its traditional presentation, which, ironically, I feel makes it look more elegant and modern. It's a recipe you'll hold tight to your heart!

I never loved Black Forest cakes because most of the versions I tried were dry, bland, and somewhat gummy, so I wasn't experiencing that decadence I'm always expecting when I have anything chocolate in front of me. That dryness comes mostly from a sponge cake that isn't properly taken care of, from the ingredients used to the baking process and how it's handled once baked. That's why I took matters into my own hands and did plenty of research until I created a chocolate Genoise sponge cake that feels soft and light even when its batter is made without butter or oil…

Get ready to taste one of the best cakes you'll ever have! This moist cherry cake recipe has swirled a homemade chunky cherry compote and lots of white chocolate chips, which creates a velvety and super tender crumb. It's an exciting cake recipe to use all the cherries that the season is bringing right now! It rises super tall and ends up with a thin crunchy topping while the inside remains incredibly soft. I kid you not, this has to be one of the best cakes I've ever made!

This easy cherry cake is the combination of many other cake recipes I have made. I picked the best of all of them, and then added white chocolate chips! The cocoa butter in the white chocolate chips melts into the batter slowly, creating a dense, velvety, and incredibly moist crumb, making this snacking cake feel elegant and luxurious. This extra moistness and the luscious syrup from the cherry compote keep the cake soft for days! So go ahead and bake it confidently the day before any gathering…

This fluffy Raspberry Almond Ricotta Cake has to be the most perfect snacking cake for spring. It is a simple, two-bowl cake made with everyday baking ingredients, but the flavors are anything but basic. Raspberry, lemon, and almond is one of those timeless combinations that works every time. The brightness of the lemon zest, the nuttiness of the almond, and the tartness of the raspberries complement each other beautifully in this cake. It’s a delicate dessert that everyone at your next spring brunch or book club party will love!

You know in this blog, ricotta cakes are a star! You simply love all of them, and have made each of them go viral on social.

It all started with the original Plum Ricotta Cake (which I am currently updating for you!). But the recipe that truly sparked our collective ricotta cake obsession was the Blueberry Almond Ricotta Cake. Then came the Gooey Apple Ricotta Cake…

This easy Lemon Cream Snacking Cake is a soft, fluffy bake, perfect for when you need a simple and quick sweet bite! You will love making this delicious snacking cake because it only requires two bowls, a hand whisk, and a handful of everyday ingredients. It is incredible with just a simple dusting of powdered sugar or a touch of whipped cream. I know you’ll be saving this under your favorite weekend baking projects that don’t require a mixer!

This recipe is actually inspired by the viral Italian lemon cream cake, but I’ve made a few tweaks to enhance the lemon flavor and ensure a fluffier crumb. I also love to add a few blueberries on top; not only is the lemon blueberry combination a match made in heaven, but the berries add a pretty pop of color. The contrast between the soft cake and the creamy, homemade pastry cream spiral is such a lovely surprise in every bite…

If you are looking for a simple, unfussy dessert that features guava paste, you will love this rich, buttery, and crumbly guava and cream cheese cake. It’s a fun idea for a Latin twist on the classic French Gateau Breton cake, which has a very decadent texture that dances between a shortbread and a pound cake. You only need a handful of ingredients and a few hours to have this easy guava cake on your plate. This is a recipe that always impresses everyone around you, but the person most impressed will be yourself!

For many of us, childhood flavors are the answers to most of our problems. Well, maybe not most of them to be honest, but definitely the ones that can be solved by regulating our nervous system with a trip back to those simpler days. For me, the combination of guava and cream cheese is one of those emotional tools I have guarded deep in my pockets. To this day, there’s not an issue that a guava and cream cheese pastry with a cafecito won’t solve…

Making these extra moist carrot cupcakes made me reminisce about the first attempts at baking cupcakes from scratch. Flour dust on every corner, spoons scattered across every surface, and a sticky kitchen floor thanks to all the sugar finding their way out of the bowl. The recipe says one hour, but three hours later the kitchen is still in chaos, and you’re standing there, impatiently waiting for that first bite. A few bakes down the road we become seasoned bakers. Or at least we feel like that! Our confidence grows, we are way less messy, and cupcakes start making their way into every special occasion, because every celebration deserves something delicious made you!

I created this amazing carrot cupcake recipe back in those days. I made them with both carrot purée and freshly shredded carrots, giving them an incredibly soft and moist texture that holds beautifully for a long time. Adding toasted pecans, cinnamon, and a bit of nutmeg makes them feel rich and warm. No mixer is needed here because the batter comes together in a food processor, making the process simple and effortless for a carrot cupcake recipe made from scratch. The unexpected raspberry cream cheese frosting adds a bright and fruity twist that makes these cupcakes feel even more special…

This easy, moist, one-layer carrot cake features a smooth and creamy cheesecake filling swirled inside. I love combining two of my favorite recipes to create a marbled dessert that is even more delicious! The soft, rich cake contrasts perfectly with the creamy texture of the cheesecake, while the tangy cream cheese balances the warmth of the cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger spices. Decorate it simply with a velvety homemade whipped cream and toasted pecans; it is sure to be the star of any spring gathering.

If you’ve been around here for a while, you know how special carrot cake in all its forms is for this blog; It’s Mariana’s absolute favorite! I love playing with different flavors and techniques (no matter how crazy they can be) to keep it feeling special, but…

This naturally gluten-free Lemon Lavender Almond Cake, inspired in the famous Torta Caprese Bianca, is soft and tender, with a light, slightly crumbly texture that comes from using almond flour instead of traditional flour. Melted white chocolate helps the cake stay moist for days while adding a subtle extra layer of sweetness. Bright lemon zest and culinary lavender give it a gentle floral note that makes it perfect for spring! Use a lace cloth to create a romantic pattern with powdered sugar, and you’ll have the most beautiful cake with almost no effort.

I was actually very pleased with how this recipe turned out the first time I made it, especially considering it was my first time ever baking a naturally gluten-free cake from scratch. I’ve used cup-for-cup or 1-to-1 gluten-free blends before, but I had never made a cake with a wholesome flour alternative like almond flour…

If you are as fixated as I am with that golden Mediterranean feel, you’re going to be obsessed with my Clementine Olive Oil Cake! It’s fruity, lightly floral, and the citrus notes hit fresher and more bitter rather than sour. The olive oil adds a subtle earthy note that makes this cake quite special, so using a high-quality olive oil is key. The unfussy whipped cream frosting balances perfectly the spongy and airy cake texture. I promise it’s easily breezily done, and you will fall in love with it with every single bite.

My fascination with citrus and olive oil started with a trip to Corfu, Greece, and Dubrovnik, Croatia, a few years back. Even though it’s a classic and obvious combination, you become obsessed with it after discovering places…

Nothing is better than a warm cake that serves as dessert, snack, or even breakfast. I promise this Blueberry Cream Cheese Panetela Cake is exactly that! The butteriness and gooeyness are like nothing you have tasted before, and every bite will not only fill your belly but also your soul. A little oil and an extra yolk in my original panetelas recipe sure did the magic in this cake, making it more golden, tender, and totally dreamy!

If you are still lost thinking what the heck panetelas are in the first place, let me tell you that you have been missing out a lot! Panetelas are a traditional and very beloved bake from here and other Caribbean islands. They are filled with guava paste, dusted with an embarrassing amount of powdered sugar, and cut in pretty cute squares. So many memories attached to these little cakes! And little did I know how ridiculously easy they’re to make until I decided it was time to cross them off my “will love to bake” list. And when I finally did, the internal bragging lasted a few good days!…

This Ricotta Peach Upside Down Cake has everything you love in a simple summer bake. It’s buttery and light, with just enough richness to hold up under all that summery fruit. The ricotta in the batter keeps every bite extra moist and fluffy. There’s no caramel to make, just melted butter, sugar, and the natural juices of the peaches doing all the work. The result is a beautiful and mesmerizing peach cake that’s going to be loved by everyone around!

There’s a reason people never get tired of a good upside down cake. Maybe it’s the retro charm, or the fact that you get your fruit and glaze already built in. They’re dramatic in the best way! Every time you flip one, you’re just praying for the best. But beyond that intriguing wow moment, they’re incredibly cozy and comforting. Just a soft, tender, simple cake flavored with the goodness of fresh fruit…

If you’re already spotting cherries, don’t waste another day and make this sumptuous White Forest Cake! This is a very fluffy, moist, and soft white sponge cake with a very delicate crumb, thanks to using cake flour and some white chocolate in the batter. It’s soaked in a simple cherry syrup, filled with a homemade liquor-spiked cherry compote, and covered with a light and soft whipped cream frosting. It’s a dream of a cake!

You know that for me, cooking has always been about celebrating whatever I have in front. And when out of the blue, my mom sent me a full bag of cherries, I knew it was time to bake something delicious with her special gift. She just thought I would love them and of course she was sooo right!…

This super-moist and super-soft Lemon Blueberry Cake is bursting with tangy spring flavor. It’s for serious lemon lovers—because there’s lemon everywhere you look! I layered it with my smoothest, creamiest cream cheese frosting, made with more cream cheese than butter and just the right hit of lemon juice. Honestly, it might be the best lemon blueberry cake with cream cheese frosting you’ll ever make.

I think my excitement for this one comes from the fact that its delicious taste and tender texture were kind of an accident. But like the metaphorical proverb I first heard in Kung Fu Panda…

(Updated post! I added the ingredients’ amounts in grams and, as requested, eliminated the passionfruit and multiplied the recipe by 0.5 to make it a 3-layer cake.)

I’m so excited for this classic carrot cake recipe! You know I have a new carrot cake version every year, and this one is a new rendition you will love so much! It’s loaded with dried apricots and roasted pecans. It also has a bit of cream cheese in the cake batter for more tanginess. The creamy and easy cream cheese frosting is made with brown butter for extra nuttiness. This cake is made by hand, and it’s so fun to make. I’m sure it will be one of your new favorites this season!

Sharing this cake with you feels very important to me because I’m sharing a significant piece of my life. If you’ve been reading this blog for a long time, you probably know that carrot cakes were (and surely still are) Mariana’s favorite. The first time I baked a carrot cake in my life was for her!…

Welcome to the easiest recipe you’re about to become obsessed with! I made a version of the famous Gâteau Breton, aka Butter Cake, just for you! This rich and buttery French cake has a texture that lands somewhere between shortbread and pound cake. It requires just a handful of ingredients and less than two hours to make. Traditionally, it’s filled with jam, but I made a sweet and juicy homemade blueberry compote to spread inside. It’s total decadence in the simplest way!

You know how some recipes just have a way of pulling you in? That’s exactly what happened when I first came across Gâteau Breton. I couldn't stop imagining myself baking it while gazing out the window of my pretend Provence kitchen, fields of lavender in sight. It feels luxurious, yet it couldn’t be simpler to make. I think that contrast is what makes this cake…

You won’t be able to resist this incredibly soft and fluffy Lemon Orange Ricotta Cake. Every bite will simply melt in your mouth! It combines the tangy brightness of lemon and orange with the rich and creamy ricotta. It has a bit of extra virgin olive oil, vanilla, orange water and almond for lots of flavor in every bite. It’s luxurious yet comforting, and one of the best cakes that you’ll ever have!

There's something magical about a cake that feels like a warm hug when you most need it. And I’m a hugger so I am up for hugs any time. This cake is one of those recipes and it never fails to brighten my day! The combination of lemon and orange makes this cake so refreshing. We love having it for breakfast with a hot cup of coffee, feels indulgent but tastes light. Even friends that aren’t sweet lovers (but I love them anyway) can’t resist…

I know you’ll love this rich and buttery Strawberry Gooey Butter Cake as much as I do! This highly addictive cake requieres no elaborated techniques nor complicated steps. It’s just a recipe that delivers big flavor with minimal effort. What I love the most is the contrast between the buttery cake layer with the gooey cream cheese layer and the sweet homemade strawberry compote. This combination of textures and flavors is everything you want in a dessert; simple, satisfying, and just the right amount of indulgent!

After having created two previous versions (that all of you have been loving so much since published) with fresh blueberries and with peaches, I wanted to use some juicy and very bright strawberries that I was lucky enough to find. I have never loved baked strawberries, so what I did this time was…

When you are looking for a new and delicious adventure, why not challenge the laws of baking by mashing up a cake and a cheesecake? Combining a soft and fluffy cake with a creamy and dense cheesecake gives a very cool exciting contrast. Each bite will bring a surprise to your senses, going from the tender crumb of the cake to the velvety richness of the cheesecake.

Mashing up these two desserts is like inviting two best friends to the same party: you get to have what you love about each and even more, because when brought together, they create something totally unexpected and even more fun!…

It’s finally here! I'm talking about Fall! Instead of waiting for pumpkins to turn into carriages, lets turn them into something delicious with all the spices, caramel and nuts we love to mix them up with. This incredibly soft, moist and flavorful Pumpkin Spice Coffee Cake is the perfect recipe to start warming up yourself with all the Fall bakes that are already living in our minds. The punch of brown sugar is the star of the show, mellowed with a beautiful blend of warm spices that will make you come back for more. The streusel on top is made with a homemade pumpkin butter and perfectly toasted pecans. There’s no better buddy to your coffee than this delicious cake!

Before we jump into the recipe, let’s talk about what is a coffee cake. I know it sounds crazy, but coffee cake doesn't actually have coffee in it. It’s called coffee cake because of its dense and tender texture, the crumb bits from the streusel and the layer of brown sugar in the middle make it the ideal snacking cake to have with your cup of coffee. So please, don't think the recipe is missing something because you are not seeing coffee listed in the ingredients, even though the addition of some espresso powder wouldn't be such a bad idea!...

Have you ever heard of a Plum Torte? Sounds super chic but this cake can’t be any more simple and rustic. If you happen to have plums that are just in that poetic point between very firm and pretty sweet, there’s no better way to showcase their deliciousness than in this cake. It’s has a very soft and tender crumb and the top gets slightly toasty for a nice texture. The juicy and bright plums get cooked to perfection, tender enough to take a piece with a fork and bursting with those sweet and acidic notes that make plums so special. Serve it with whipped cream or a big scoop of ice cream, or warm it and have it simply as it is for a few minutes of magic any given morning.

Besides the tender cake absorbing all the sweet juices of the plums, one of the things you’ll love  most about this torte is its rustic appearance and how easy it is to make. Anyone can make this amazing cake! So next time..

This Peach Crumb Gooey Butter Cake is a super fun way to mash up two super simple and beloved desserts; a crumb cake and a gooey butter cake! Words cannot describe how incredibly addictive this cake is. The cake layer is rich and dense, reminiscent of a pound cake or a really moist shortbread. The gooey cream cheese layer on top is sticky and sweet and contrast perfectly with the cake. And the crumbly peach layer adds a nice tangy bite to this easy cake. I know you’ll love this cake very, very much. Get ready to be asked for one everywhere you go!

One of the things you’ll love most about this cake is that it doesn't requiere any complicated techniques and uses very simple ingredients. You don’t even need an electric hand mixer! And you may use peaches, nectarines, apricots or plums, whatever fresh stone fruit you have at home...

Who doesn't love a light and fluffy ricotta cake? This peach blueberry ricotta cake has a mouthful texture with an airy and light crumb. The juiciness of the sweet peaches on top bring a lot of moisture, creating an incredibly delicious gooey and crunchy top crust. The addition of blueberries makes this cake even more fresh and sweet. This ricotta cake is full of flavor and perfect for summer days.

You know I have different versions of ricotta cakes. Practically one for every season! I love hearing your stories about how they have been on your tables for tea parties, book club meetings and girlfriends brunches. It’s always fun and exciting to see how…

This cherry clafoutis is a rich and velvety with a creamy custard-like texture. This classic French dessert is made with very basic baking ingredients and very little effort so you can make it in a cinch! Its texture is like a cross between a flan and a bread pudding. Is light and luscious at the same time. The sweetness of the cherries adds a beautiful floral and nutty note to each bite. This easy clafoutis is everything you want in a simple summer dessert!

Classic cherry clafoutis is a French dessert made with eggs, sugar, cream and a little flour. Is using a small amount of flour what makes this dessert very light and creamy. You can add…

What’s not to love about a good Gooey Butter Cake, especially when it’s made with zesty lemon and juicy blueberries? This melt-in-your-mouth gooey butter cake recipe is made from scratch without using any cake mix. I created a very well balanced recipe that is not overly sweet, something I know not many people love about this cake. It consists of a crumbly cake as the base layer and a gooey cream cheese layer on top. You only need the most basic baking ingredients and 1 hour to make it. It’s a total crowd pleaser that everyone will love!

If I would have made this gooey butter cake back in high school, I can assure you I would have been the most popular girl back then, saving me from many insecurities growing up, lol! But I can make…

You really need to try it for yourself to understand how moist and full of flavor is this Orange and Olive Oil Carrot Cake recipe. It’s super soft and tender and the combination of cinnamon, ginger, allspice and nutmeg make it so warm and cozy. Two unexpected ingredients, orange and olive oil, elevate this cake to a new dimension! Have a bite and it will transport you to a riviera on the Adriatic sea, eating cake and sipping coffee during the afternoon like it’s your only job.

I sometimes don’t trust my obsession of experimenting with new flavor combinations. It can be bad news to people around me because they will have to eat whatever I decided to put together, no matter what that was. But sometimes, and happy to say it’s most of the times…

Clafoutis is a simple and easy to make recipe that has luscious texture reminiscent of a pudding or a flan. It’s basically pouring a pancake batter over fruits. Its richness pairs perfectly with any fruit you use, whether fresh or frozen. Every bite is delicate and decadent at the same time. You only need a handful of simple ingredients and 45 minutes to have this on your plate. Serve it as dessert or breakfast, totally your call!

If I’m going to be honest (as I’m always with you!) we ate this for breakfast. Please don’t judge and remember this is a safe place to share : ) Maybe it’s because when I first learned about clafoutis many years ago was through Ina Garten’s book “Barefoot in Paris”, and she…

This classic moist and rich chocolate cake recipe is the only one you’ll need for a basic chocolate cake in your recipe book. This cake is decadent but still feels light and not overly sweet. The simplicity of it is what makes it extra! Each bite will awaken your senses to a delightful trip of pure bliss! It’s unfussy but still looks beautiful. You can approach it with easiness and no stress at all, which is the key for a perfect chocolate cake!

To this day, chocolate has to be one of the foods we are more passionate about. Just thinking about it makes you feel lush and opulent and yet is a comforting taste that you crave when feeling blue. It’s everything all at once. Like what we are at the essence of our soul. And that essence should be celebrated…

Aren’t these mini carrot cakes the cutest?! These mini carrot cakes are incredibly moist and super soft thanks to the olive oil and buttermilk I used in this recipe. You can use coconut milk for a dairy-free version. They are warm and spiced with a good amount of cinnamon and ginger and a touch of cardamom and all-spice. It has a ton of carrots and some chopped pistachios for extra crunch. Trust me the flavor will burst in your mouth after every bite!

I love baking carrot cakes. They’re Mariana’s favorite and it was the first kind of cake she ever had. I have made different versions depending on her favorite flavors at the moment, one time even doing a cherry cream cheese frosting because she was loving cherry jelly at the time. And the frosting has always been her favorite part. I know that wherever…

This Lemon Olive Oil Cake is tender, soft and super moist. It’s a simple cake recipe that you can make in about an hour any time you are craving a sweet and easy bite. But the addition of the lemon curd in the batter and a crowning mellow meringue on top make this a showstopper for any special occasion! It’s simply a crowdpleaser!

If you have never baked a cake with olive oil, you are missing out badly! Baking cakes with olive oil is perfectly fine. You know I love olive oil cakes. The lightness…

This Apple Ricotta Cake is soooo gooey I needed to mentioned in the title! It's very crumbly, tender and incredibly moist as all of my ricotta cakes. It’s perfect for any time you want a sweet simple cake to share with people you love during the fall season. 

Ok, you’re probably guessing by now that I love ricotta cakes! They are so versatile! I have read so many stories of you baking many of my ricotta cakes for brunch, tea parties and…