Best cake recipes for every baking occasion in 2025

Explore an array of indulgent delights with our best cake recipes, ranging from the timeless elegance of sponge cakes to the alluring charm of a carrot cake recipe or decadent chocolate cake. Whether you seek easy cake ideas for quick satisfaction or wish to dazzle on celebratory occasions with extravagant birthday cakes, we have you covered.

We have gluten-free cakes galore and guides to making towering layer cakes, plus a collection of mini cakes and cupcakes that are cute to boot. For those seeking convenience without compromising taste, our easy cake ideas are the answer. Uncomplicated yet delectable, these recipes will effortlessly impress your guests without hours spent in the kitchen.

Here are our best cake recipes for every type of sweet situation.

Best cake ideas for cake-worthy occasions in 2025

Chocolate and buttermilk slab cake *(Credits: William Meppm (main))*

Simple cake recipes to soothe your mind

Sometimes, it just takes a bit of baking to make the world seem a little lighter.

Photo of glass cake stand with layered brown sponge cake with white cream filling and drippiong caramel, topped with poached pears — Brown sugar sponge cake with caramel pears

27 sponge cakes of the light and fluffy kind

Madeleines, roulades, lamingtons – we’ll take them all.

Say cheese to our best-ever cheesecakes

Separately, cheese and cake hit the spot. Together, they’re a match made in heaven.

30 heavenly chocolate cakes that take the cake

A rule of thumb: one slice is never enough.

Gluten-free passionfruit and almond cake with honey-roasted pineapple by Frida's Field — *(Credits: Elise Hassey)*

Gluten-free cakes so good you won’t even know the difference

Let them all eat cake.

The Gourmet Traveller 50th birthday cake: Ginger whiskey cake with burnt white chocolate ganache *(Credits: William Meppem)*

14 layer cakes to impress your guests

High tea indeed…

Lemon cake from popular bakery Flour and Stone with lemon curd and meringue — Flour and Stone's Lemon Dream cake *(Credits: William Meppem)*

16 zesty lemon cake recipes

Marrying citrus zing and subtle sweetness, a lemon cake is the answer to any baking occasion.

A square carrot cake, topped with cream-cheese icing and pistachios, on a eggshell-blue plate. — Shirni Parwana's masala carrot cake *(Credits: William Meppem (main))*

Our favourite carrot cake recipes

We’re calling it – a slice of carrot cake counts towards your daily vegetable intake.

19 must-bake flourless cake recipes

No flour? No worries. A home-baked cake is still within your realms of possibility.

32 perfect party cakes for birthdays and beyond

Top off a great party with a celebratory cake that will leave a lasting impression. Here are our best recipes.

Limoncello baba with vanilla cream — Jaci Koludrovic's limoncello baba with vanilla cream *(Credits: Ben Dearnley)*

Mini cakes that make big impressions

Cupcakes, madeleines, mini pies – we have them all, and we have them small.

The Gourmet Traveller Team

Gourmet Traveller is Australia’s trusted authority on food, travel and luxury lifestyle, bringing the latest news and trends to life through quality journalism, enticing recipes and evocative photography. For more than 55 years, it has been inspiring and informing Australians with the best in cooking, dining, travelling and shopping. Our critics bring the expertise of years of critical eating, drinking and writing to the table. Plus, as the country’s leading title in the luxury sector, Gourmet Traveller works closely with Australia’s leaders in the travel and hospitality industries to give our readers exclusive access. The Gourmet Traveller legacy is one of trust, prestige and relevance.

Best cake ideas for cake-worthy occasions in 2025

Related stories