A gorgeous, towering layer cake means one thing: This is special. Here, you’ll find our best multi-layered cakes from classics like vanilla, carrot, coconut, and red velvet to modern cakes inspired by Irish coffee and rich hot chocolate. Plus, a handy tip for making your cake stand up straight, even if you cut the layers a little crooked.
Recipe
Four-Layer Cake with Buttercream
This is the basic method for assembling and frosting a four-layer cake. For inspiration, see Vanilla Layer Cake with Chocolate Buttercream & Raspberry Jam, or Orange Marmalade Layer Cake with Grand Marnier Buttercream, or choose your own favorite flavor combinations. Get the Recipe: Four-Layer Cake with Buttercream.
Recipe
Classic Carrot Layer Cake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
This classic is chock-full of shredded carrots, chopped walnuts, and raisins, plus all the spices you’d expect: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Get the Recipe: Classic Carrot Layer Cake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting.
Recipe
Pear Ginger Cake with Whipped Cream and Rum-Caramel Glaze
This triple-decker features a tender cake with fresh pears and homemade ginger folded into the batter and a billowy whipped cream filling and frosting topped with luscious rum-caramel glaze. Get the Recipe: Pear Ginger Cake with Whipped Cream and Rum-Caramel Glaze.
Recipe
Hot Chocolate Layer Cake with Homemade Marshmallows
All the rich flavor of hot chocolate—in cake form. Homemade marshmallows piled on top seal the deal on tall and tasty stunner. Get the Recipe: Hot Chocolate Layer Cake with Homemade Marshmallows.
Recipe
Vanilla Chiffon Cake
A true chiffon cake is made with only oil, but the flavor of butter just can’t be beat, so this version combines the two. Get ideas for decorating this cake from Erin Gardner’s book Great Cake Decorating or watch her video series to learn some of her tricks. Get the Recipe: Vanilla Chiffon Cake.
Recipe
White Chocolate Macadamia Cake with Raspberry Jam Filling
White chocolate leaves and a sleek coat of white chocolate buttercream give this three-layer beauty a sophisticated look. Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Macadamia Cake with Raspberry Jam Filling.
Recipe
German Chocolate Cake
Chocolate and coconut lovers rejoice! This ultimate recipe for German Chocolate Cake uses a moderate amount of semisweet or bittersweet chocolate—up to 70%—for deeper flavor. Get the Recipe: German Chocolate Cake.
Recipe
Baked Alaska with Chocolate-Rum Sauce
This layered ice cream cake with its regal crown of meringue always elicits oohs and aahs. And there’s no need to be intimidated. Even reviewers who don’t consider themselves bakers pulled it off. Watch the video to see a step-by-step of the assembly. Get the Recipe: Baked Alaska with Chocolate-Rum Sauce.
Recipe
Triple-Lemon Layer Cake
This light and tender cake is flavored with lemon, layered with tangy lemon curd, and coated with a voluptuous lemony butter frosting. Get the Recipe: Triple-Lemon Layer Cake.
Recipe
Southern Devil's Food Cake
This four-layer Southern classic is made with cocoa powder, not chocolate, with a generous spoonful of mayonnaise in the batter to keep the cake moist and rich. Get the Recipe: Southern Devil's Food Cake.
Recipe
Fresh 3-Berry Shortcake
This tall cake is a summer sensation. Serve it at your Memorial Day or 4th of July picnic (or both!). We guarantee your guests won’t mind a bit. Get the Recipe: Fresh 3-Berry Shortcake.
Recipe
Vanilla Layer Cake with Vanilla Mascarpone Frosting
Fresh raspberries are placed between layers and on top this ethereal vanilla-bean speckled cake. Get the Recipe: Vanilla Layer Cake with Vanilla Mascarpone Frosting.
Recipe
Brown Butter Pumpkin Layer Cake
A gingery glazed nut topping and brown-butter-spiked cream cheese frosting are the finishing touches for this spectacular spiced pumpkin cake. Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Pumpkin Layer Cake.
Recipe
Outrageous Coconut-Cream Meringue Cake
This cake owes its stunning looks to a billowy meringue frosting that’s spiked and browned all over with a kitchen torch. Get the Recipe: Outrageous Coconut-Cream Meringue Cake.
Recipe
Devil’s Food Cake
Pair this go-to cake with vanilla buttercream for a classic combo, or layer in a salted caramel filling or blackberry cabernet buttercream for a more sophisticated flavor profile. Video: Learn Erin Gardner’s secrets to great cake decorating. Get the Recipe: Devil’s Food Cake.
Recipe
Orange Layer Cake
A bright curd-like filling separates the layers of this sweet family favorite garnished with citrus twists and mint. Get the Recipe: Orange Layer Cake.
Recipe
Chocolate Irish Whiskey Cake
This recipe reimagines the classic whiskey-spiked Irish coffee as a decadent mocha layer cake filled with coffee-whiskey whipped cream and topped with white and dark chocolate shavings. Get the Recipe: Chocolate Irish Whiskey Cake.
Recipe
Lemon Icebox Cake
Layering creamy lemon mousse and angel food cake creates this dessert’s light-as-air texture. Get the Recipe: Lemon Icebox Cake.
Recipe
Red Velvet Cake
Red velvet cake is a dessert that everyone oohs and aahs over—it’s tall, dark, and handsome, with deep crimson cake layers and a thick coating of cream cheese frosting above, around, and between. Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Cake.
Recipe
Orange Marmalade Layer Cake with Grand Marnier Buttercream
A simple vanilla cake and a basic buttercream take a citrusy turn once orange marmalade is and Grand Marnier are added to the frosting. The chocolate curls aren’t just for looks; the orange-chocolate combination is divine. Get the Recipe: Orange Marmalade Layer Cake with Grand Marnier Buttercream.
Recipe
Very Vanilla Layer Cake
Simple, understated, and elegant, this deeply vanilla cake is moist, yet light and airy, thanks to the addition of beaten egg whites. Pair it with Very Vanilla Frosting or use your own favorite. Get the Recipe: Very Vanilla Layer Cake.
Recipe
Chocolate Mousse Layer Cake
The simplest way to decorate this cake is to press chopped, toasted walnuts onto the sides. For a more dramatic look, try wrapping the cake in a chocolate band (see our video for how-tos) and topping it with white chocolate curls. Get the Recipe: Chocolate Mousse Layer Cake.
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