As warmer weather comes, we tend to leave heavy-feeling desserts behind, but that's no reason to say goodbye to cake for the season!
There are so many light and luscious cakes that would be perfect for any summer gathering. From bright-flavored blueberry and lemon pound cake, to a white chocolate and raspberry loaf, to a summery twist on the beloved Tres Leches cake, there are so many fun desserts to try, that taste like a slice of summer.
Here are 16 sure winners we think you'll love. These cake recipes are easy to make, don't take a million steps to assemble, and are guaranteed to delight, whether you're dishing them up at book club, or sneaking a piece to enjoy in the hammock with a good read by yourself.
1. Lemon Tres Leches Cake
This Lemon Tres Leches Cake is a tangy and bright twist on the traditional Tres Leches cake recipe.
A combination of lemon curd and lemon zest adds a delicious citrus flavor to this decadent "three milks" cake. This is a fluffy, cheerful-looking cake that everyone's going to want to dive into.
Get the recipe here.
2. Lavender Lemon Cake
This Lavender Lemon Cake is light, delicious, and just a little bit floral. It's perfect for anything from book club to the Ladies Aid lunch.
Layers of light, moist lemon cake come together with a smooth and silky lavender buttercream. Those tiny lavender petals garnish it off perfectly.
Get the recipe here.
3. Angel Food Cake
If you've never made angel food cake from scratch, this is the summer to go for it!
This homemade angel food cake recipe will help you skip the mix, and make a light and fluffy angel food cake from scratch. It's genuinely easier than you think!
Get the recipe here.
14. Chamomile
This beautiful Honey Chamomile Tea Cake is ready to be the star of the show!
Light, bright, and just delicious, this reminds me of the wonders that Amelia Bedelia was always coming out with from the kitchen, endearing her to those around her in spite of her foibles. This certainly would be perfect for an afternoon tea.
Get the recipe here.
5. Lemon Zucchini Cake
This Lemon Zucchini Cake is how we all want our zucchini this summer!
Just bursting with fresh lemon, this inspired use for all that zucchini is one your family is going to want again and again. A light and lemony buttercream finishes off the top, and it's so good, you'll be tempted to keep the mixing bowl for yourself.
Get the recipe here.
6. Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake
A classic flavor pairing, this buttery pound cake is sweet and perfectly dense. Shining with lemon flavor and just bursting with juicy blueberries, everyone's going to want a slice.
That golden brown top gets covered with a lustrous glaze, but it's delicious without it too. The recipe states that this freezes beautifully, and can be used in trifles, so making an extra is never a bad idea.
Get the recipe here.
7. Victoria Sponge Cake
Here's a recipe that offers a truly classic taste of Great Britain. This authentic Victoria Sponge Cake recipe features light and fluffy sponge cakes filled with sweet jam, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream.
This would be a lovely thing to surprise your guests with, when it's your turn to host the book group. Offer plenty of fresh berries along with it, and extra whipped cream so your guests can indulge as much as they like. They'll be "licking their fingers with that absorbed inward look that only comes from whipped cream", to quote Katherine Mansfield.
Get the recipe here.
8. Salted Caramel Kentucky Butter Cake
This is an absolutely heavenly Salted Caramel Kentucky Butter Cake recipe, and everyone will love it.
It's a moist sour cream pound cake infused with a rich, butter-rum caramel syrup, and then topped with a salted caramel glaze and dusting of flaky sea salt! Sweet and salty, and perfectly decadent, this is a cake friends will ask you to make every year.
Get the recipe here.
9. Easy Blueberry Chocolate Cake
Blueberries and chocolate are a great combination, and this cake brings them together beautifully. Fresh blueberries and homemade blueberry sauce make this recipe special, and a blueberry cream cheese frosting really takes it over the top.
Blueberry season can't get here soon enough!
10. Vanilla Raspberry Bavarian Cake
Here's a company-worthy layer cake that guests will just love!
Delicate layers of cake alternate with Bavarian cream, and a sweet, brightly flavored raspberry filling. Topped with a final layer of smooth and silky Bavarian cream, this is one of those decadent desserts everyone would enjoy on a warm Sunday afternoon!
Get the recipe here.
11. California Lemon Pound Cake
With a perfectly dense-yet-delicate crumb, this zesty California lemon pound cake is like a taste of pure sunshine.
Sure to delight everyone, lovers of all things lemon will especially swoon over this one. Lemon cake is a such a staple on potluck dessert tables, and this recipe is bound to be a hit.
Get the recipe here.
12. White Chocolate and Raspberry Loaf Cake
The flavors in this hearty little cake are just lovely, with tart raspberries that balance out the creamy white chocolate perfectly. Thankfully, this recipe is easy enough to make for a weeknight dessert, or after-school snack.
Top it with a sweet and simple glaze, a few fresh berries, and it's ready for the table!
13. Tuxedo Cake
If you'll looking for a chocolate recipe that's also a real show stopper, look no further than this incredible tuxedo cake. Layers of chocolate cake, creamy chocolate mousse, and white chocolate mousse all work together for a truly delightful treat, and the layered look helps keep this rich cake from looking too heavy, so it's a nice choice for summer.
A delicious chocolate ganache tops the whole thing all off. This is definitely a memorable dessert, and one that every chocoholic will appreciate!
Get the recipe here.
14. Strawberry Heaven On Earth Cake
This light and luscious heaven on earth cake is an easy, light treat that everyone will love.
Filled with pieces of angel food cake, a creamy vanilla pudding layer, and strawberry pie filling, every bite is a delight! This is sure to be a hit on the dessert table!
Get the recipe here.
15. Almond Raspberry Cupcakes
Let's also include a few light and summery cupcakes for those warm weather birthdays! Here are some little almond cupcakes that are perfectly sweet and delicious. The addition of fresh raspberries in the buttercream frosting, gives a surprising pop of flavor that's bright and refreshing.
Perfect for a spring or summer party, these would also be cute for a baby shower.
Get the recipe here.
16. Tiramisu Cupcakes
These cupcakes are soaked with espresso, and spiked with a touch of coffee liqueur, which is sure to perk anyone right up. The cupcakes are rich and buttery, and that mascarpone frosting is light, fluffy, and just so good.
They’re finished with a dusting of cocoa powder which really brings out that espresso flavor. These delicate little cupcakes are just a delight, from start to finish.
Get the recipe here.
21 Grilling Recipes For the Summer Bucket List (No Burgers Allowed)
We love a good burger as much as the next food enthusiast, but there's a whole world of easy grilling recipes out there that doesn't get served up on a bun.
Don't get trapped in the burger rut this summer, when you can just as easily wow your family with finger-licking grilled chicken skewers, glorious tacos, smoky and succulent salmon, and even pizza!
Here are recipes for all these easy grilling favorites, and so many more!
15 Winning Recipes For a Kentucky Derby Party
The race itself may take just two minutes, but we all know the Kentucky Derby is fun to celebrate as a full day event.
Here's a list of our favorite recipes for a Kentucky Derby party.
From finger sandwiches, to that classic mint julep. Who the winning horse will be is anyone's guess, but we already know each of these delicious recipes are winners!
Anna Chesley
Anna Chesley is a freelance writer living a homestead lifestyle, with a special love for family travel, old books, vintage skills, and seaside living. In addition to founding Salt In My Coffee, she runs the website, New England Family Life, as well as The 1800's Housewife, a website devoted to re-creating authentic 1800's recipes.
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