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Perfect party cakes

Looking for the perfect cake to rock your party? We've handpicked more than 30 of our favourites.
Chocolate and hazelnut cake with espresso ganacheWilliam Meppem

The unveiling of a beautifully decorated cake is the centrepiece of any party, birthday or otherwise. Whether you’re cutting into a towering creation to reveal uniform layers or topping a freshly baked cake with syrupy fruit, presenting one of these creations at your next party will give you serious brownie points. Here, we’ve rounded up more than 30 crowd-pleasing party cake recipes that will cement your reputation as the ultimate host. The hardest thing you’ll have to do is choose which one to go with.

Photo: Ben Dearnley

Gianduja and affogato mousse cake

Goat’s cheese cake with figs and honey

Goat’s cheese cake with figs and honey

Crostata di ricotta

Crostata di ricotta

Rhubarb and pear yeast cake

Rhubarb and pear yeast cake

Whatever upside-down cake

Whatever upside-down cake

Chocolate and hazelnut cake with espresso ganache

Chocolate and hazelnut cake with espresso ganache

Ricotta and honey torte with scorched honey grapes

Ricotta and honey torte with scorched honey grapes

Pistachio ice-cream cake with red summer berries

Pistachio ice-cream cake with red summer berries

Chocolate shortbread and truffle cakes with sour cherry jam

Chocolate shortbread and truffle cakes with sour cherry jam

Tipsy cake with brandy apples

Tipsy cake with brandy apples

Caramel yoghurt cheesecake

Cake recipes

Berry and lemon crème fraîche shortcake

Frozen strawberry and moscato vacherin

Hazelnut sponge with chocolate-raspberry cream

Hazelnut sponge with chocolate-raspberry cream

Chocolate and hazelnut zuccotto

Chocolate and hazelnut zuccotto

Almond and white chocolate gâteau with bitter chocolate glaze

Almond and white chocolate gâteau with bitter chocolate glaze

Rich chocolate cake

Italian cherry cake

White chocolate and raspberry-ripple ice-cream cake

Iced honey mascarpone and almond cake with fig salad

Mascarpone and coconut cake with mango jelly

Olive oil and polenta cake with vermouth pears

Chocolate cherry cake

Zabaglione cake with berries

Meringue, banana and passionfruit curd cake

Ginger and cherry cake

Orange, cardamom and almond cake with orange-blossom yoghurt

Mocha layer cake

Crowd-pleasing chocolate cake with roast rhubarb

Crowd-pleasing chocolate cake with roast rhubarb

Strawberry recipes

Strawberry, yoghurt and pistachio layer cake

Peaches and cream meringue cake

Peaches and cream meringue cake

Dark chocolate, pear and pistachio cake

Dark chocolate, pear and pistachio cake

Brown sugar sponge cake with caramel pears

Brown sugar sponge cake with caramel pears

Crêpe cake with Suzette sauce

Crêpe cake with Suzette sauce

Milk cake with pomegranate and pistachio

Milk cake with pomegranate and pistachio

Buttermilk and vanilla cake with raspberries

Buttermilk and vanilla cake with raspberries

Party season recipes

Chocolate raspberry layer cake

Strawberry and watermelon cake

Coconut cake with lime curd

Coconut cake with lime curd

Dark chocolate mousse cake

Dark chocolate mousse cake

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