Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch: Cake

Showing posts with label Cake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cake. Show all posts

Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake With Caramel Icing

Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Pumpkin Bundt Cake with a delicious caramel icing drizzled over the top is a fall favorite dessert recipe and great alternative to pie at Thanksgiving. This moist Pumpkin Cake is perfectly spiced with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and of course vanilla. 

If you happen to have leftover Pumpkin Puree we also love to make Pumpkin Cheesecake Crumb Bars, Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes and Pumpkin Bread with Streusel.

A slice of Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake with Caramel Icing with whole cake in the background.
5

Pumpkin Crunch Snaking Cake

Monday, October 7, 2024
Pumpkin Crunch Snacking Cake is a favorite Fall pumpkin recipe! Such an easy and moist Pumpkin Cake recipe to make.

Other Pumpkin Recipes we love to make this time of year are Pumpkin Cheesecake Crumb Bars, Pumpkin Cobbler and Easy Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Crunch Snacking Cake dusted with powdered sugar and a pile of pecans in the center on a cake stand.
0

Red White and Blue Patriotic Poke Cake

Wednesday, June 26, 2024
If you're looking for a Red White and Blue Poke Cake from scratch look no further. A soft fluffy yellow cake is filled with homemade strawberry and blueberry filling and covered with sweetened whipped cream. No flavored jello needed or whipped topping. It's a 4th of July favorite with the fresh berry filling that never lasts long.

A side shot of Red White and Blue Patriotic Poke Cake on a white plate. The cake is a yellow cake filled with strawberry and blueberry filling than topped with whipped cream.
4

Caramel Apple Poke Cake

Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Caramel Apple Poke Cake is a delicious cake for mid afternoon snacking or dessert. A moist spiced Apple Cake made with cinnamon, nutmeg and plenty of vanilla is mixed with tart Granny Smith Apples for a nice contrast to the caramel than covered with homemade caramel sauce. Add a scoop of Vanilla or Caramel Swirl Ice Cream and drizzle with additional caramel if desired. 

It's a delicious moist cake for fall the whole family will love and makes a great alternative to Pie at Thanksgiving. 

A side shot Caramel Apple Poke Cake on a white plate.

My three favorite words in the whole wide world Caramel Apple Cake. Swoon.. There's just something about caramel and apples that makes my heart pitter patter.. Its one of the things that makes fall one my favorite seasons, along with the gorgeous colors of the trees, cozy sweaters and boots..

I totally planned on posting this cake yesterday but somehow my time disappeared. I started out editing pictures, then waiting for them to upload, so I started poking around Facebook and Pinterest. I don't think I need to tell you what happened from there...

Before I knew it Colt was headed home to take me to a Doctors appointment, and I had barely accomplished anything including the afternoon nap I had planned. I wonder if I can have a rain check for my missed nap? Oh well..

How to make Caramel Apple Poke Cake, coming right up!
3

Fresh Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Monday, October 2, 2023
Our favorite Pineapple Upside Down Cake is made with fresh slices of pineapple in a delicious caramelized brown sugar topping over a moist vanilla pineapple cake. A classic retro dessert recipe that is taken to a whole new level of deliciousness with the use of fresh pineapple will make this a new favorite cake recipe. Served with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream to take it over the top!

Pineapple Upside Down Cake is a favorite alternative dessert recipe at Thanksgiving and Christmas

A side semi over head photo of a baked Fresh Pineapple Upside Down Cake on a white cake stand.
Jump To Recipe Card



43

Magic Chocolate Custard Cake

Friday, September 22, 2023
The perfect cake for any occasion Magic Custard Cake has three layers of deliciousness. The bottom layer is a silky smooth dense layer of cake topped with a layer of chocolate custard and a spongy cake.

A side shot of Magic Chocolate Custard Cake on a white plate with a dollop of whipped cream on top and a raspberry.

L.J. recently returned from outdoor school and I wanted to surprise him with a special treat for dessert when he came home. So I made this Magic Chocolate Custard Cake I've been eyeballing on Pinterest for sometime from White On Rice Couple and new it was meant to be.

This cake is fairly simple to make and magically separates into 3 layers of deliciousness.

A silky smooth dense bottom layer followed by a chocolaty layer of custard topped with a light layer of cake.

If that's not magical I don't know what is.

Here's how to make this magical Chocolate Custard Cake recipe: 
8

Peach Upside Down Cake

Saturday, August 20, 2022
Peach Upside Down Cake is a favorite way to use fresh summer peaches. Tender peach cake tops peaches in a caramelized sauce for a delicious dessert recipe. Served with ice cream or sweetened whipped cream.

A slice of Peach Upside Down Cake on a white plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.

We bought a box of peaches the other day and I knew I wanted to make something special before the kids devoured them all, they never last long in our house even when I try to hide a few.

After a few hours of trying to decide what I wanted to make, I knew I had to make a decision fast because the kids had already ate about half the box of peaches.

I finally decided a Peach Upside Down Cake with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream was what I was craving. 

I adapted our families favorite Fresh Pineapple Upside Down Cake to make the ultimate Peach Upside Down Cake.

There's something about how the caramelized peach topping soaks into the cake to infuse it with an amazing flavor that I just can't get enough of.

I totally could live on this Peach Upside Down Cake and it may or may not have been my breakfast and dessert but I am not denying nor admitting to anything! 

13

Crock Pot Hot Fudge Cake

Tuesday, July 20, 2021
A sweet and chocolaty cake with a hot fudge sauce made in the crock pot.

Crock Pot Hot Fudge Cake is an easy to make dessert recipe from Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch.

I made Crock Pot Hot Fudge Cake to celebrate 15 years of marriage last week. We decide to have a simple evening in.

We usually go out someplace and make a big night of our anniversary or weekend but this year we spent the actual night at home eating dinner and dessert with the kids and then snuggled on the couch to watch Thursday night football.

After 15 years and 3 kids we've gotten to the point that it doesn't matter what we do so much as we are spending time together and having fun. Plus we had the previous weekend alone. When you have kids having the house to yourself for a night or two is like a dream come true! 

And since we were celebrating we had to have dessert, otherwise it's not really a celebration. So I decided to make a Crock Pot Hot Fudge Cake with Lorna's help since I was having a massive chocolate craving, and it's super simple to put together.

It's a sweet chocolaty cake that floats to the top over a layer of fudgy sauce.

It definitely requires a scoop of ice cream to round out the richness and it's great for company since it's made ahead of time and requires very little supervision.
17

Strawberry Rhubarb Coffee Cake

Friday, March 12, 2021
Strawberry Rhubarb Coffee Cake is the perfect beginning or end to any day. It's an absolute must when ripe strawberries and rhubarb become abundant to make but also delicious made with frozen fruit. The tart rhubarb makes the perfect compliment to juicy sweet strawberries.  A light fluffy sour cream coffee cake is filled with a thick ribbon of strawberry rhubarb filling and topped off with a buttery cinnamon brown sugar crumb. Whether you make it for breakfast, brunch, mid day tea or dessert it's guaranteed to be a hit.

If you love strawberry rhubarb recipes as much as we do make sure to check out Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp, Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler, and Strawberry Rhubarb Pie.

Strawberry Rhubarb Coffeecake is an easy to make family favorite perfect for brunch or dessert.
16

Best Yellow Birthday Cake Recipe

Monday, February 1, 2021
A from scratch moist, tender, buttery, and light Yellow Birthday Cake recipe! Better than a box mix and easy to make. 


A slice of Yellow Birthday Cake with Mocha Frosting on a white plate with the whole cake to the right in the background on a cake stand.
I just finished updating the recipe for this Best Yellow Birthday Cake with Mocha Frosting. It was originally published January 9th, 2014. It's still a family favorite! 

I've spent a lot of hours working on the BEST Yellow Birthday Cake recipe. I've tasted one to many dry or tasteless yellow cake recipes that never compare to the moist flavorful yellow cake found in the cute local bakeries that are a must for Birthday celebrations.

But fear not my friends I have finally perfected a moist Yellow Cake that is the absolute best! Then as if that's not good enough I covered it in a delicious Mocha Buttercream Frosting for an adult spin on the childhood favorite! 

Swoon.. There's just something amazingly delicious about Yellow Cake with a Chocolate Mocha Buttercream Frosting.

Even LJ stated he doesn't care for frosting usually but he loved the Mocha Buttercream Frosting because it wasn't too sweet, just the right amount of chocolate, and coffee.

I made this cake specially for Lorna to celebrate her 14th Birthday yesterday.

It just wouldn't be a Birthday Celebration without the Best Yellow Cake possible and this recipe nails it!
17

Moist Chocolate Cake With Ganache Frosting

Saturday, January 30, 2021
Easy Chocolate Cake recipe with Ganache Frosting makes an extremely moist chocolate cake with a rich chocolate frosting. This Chocolate Cake is a favorite in our house for Valentines Day, Easter, and Birthdays! 

A slice of Chocolate Cake with Ganache Frosting on a white plate with the whole cake in the background on a white cake stand.

What could possibly be a sexier dessert for Valentines Day then a moist slice of Chocolate Cake with rich ganache frosting?  When I think of a dessert for my love on Valentines Day this is it! 

It also happens to be a highly requested Birthday Cake in our house.

This cake is guaranteed to leave the one you love swooning and asking for more. Once you make this cake I promise you will never buy or look at another box cake mix the same.

It is wonderfully moist with a lovely rich chocolate flavor and easy to make. The ganache is best made with a chocolate you would eat plain, whether you prefer a dark chocolate or semi sweet. 

I find one of the biggest mistakes when making a ganache is using a chocolate that you would not eat plain. It's important to use a good quality chocolate.
20

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Wednesday, February 12, 2020
 Molten Chocolate Lava Cake is warm, chocolaty and fudgy. It's the perfect easy dessert recipe with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Molten Chocolate Lave Cake is a delicious chocolate cake with a warm fudge center. Easy to make dessert recipe and great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle of raspberry sauce from Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch.

Something that is easy enough to make every day but elegant enough to serve to company. Something that makes every chocolate lover swoon.

That's where Molten Chocolate Lava Cake makes the perfect dessert. It's somewhere between a slice of cake on the outside with a warm fudge center and is outstanding with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

If you're feeling fancy add a little drizzle of raspberry or strawberry puree and your guest will think you spent hours in the kitchen.

I had a little leftover cake today and it was just as good at room temperature alone as it was with the vanilla ice cream, it reminded me of a good chocolate truffle hidden inside a moist piece of chocolate cake. 

Here's how I make Chocolate Lava Cakes:
4

Blackberry Buckle

Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Blackberry Buckle is known as a buckle because the large amount of blackberries in the buttery cake mixture causes the top to buckle when they cook down. The top of the cake is covered in a delicious Coffee Cake style crumb topping. 

Blackberry Buckle is a favorite cake that is the perfect recipe to make for dessert from Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch.

Blackberry Buckle is a perfect cake recipe to make using all those summer ripe blackberries.

It's a light cake loaded with tons of ripe blackberries, a hint of cinnamon, vanilla, and light crumb topping.

It's a favorite in our house as dessert for breakfast, brunch, camping or a sweet treat to bring to a friends for a get together.

You can never go wrong with Blackberry Buckle, it lasted less than 24 hours in our house, and Colt was already requesting I make it again.

To me that's a sign of a good thing! 

13

Pumpkin Cheesecake Crumb Bars

Sunday, November 11, 2018
Pumpkin Cheesecake Crumb Bars are the perfect addition to the Thanksgiving and Christmas dessert table from Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Crumb Bars are for those times when you can't decide whether you want pumpkin pie, cheesecake or something with crumb topping.

I hope I'm not the only one who runs into these complicated decisions...

These Pumpkin Cheesecake Crumb Bars are all those favorites in one easy to make bar. They didn't last long and I'm pretty sure it was due to Colt having at least two on the first night but they were even better after a day in the fridge.

The crumb topping adds a wonderful texture to contrast the creamy pumpkin cheesecake filling.

You can't go wrong with these bars! As long as you love pumpkin, cheesecake and crumb topping these will be your new found favorite.

17

Pumpkin Cheesecake With Butterscotch Swirl

Monday, October 15, 2018
Pumpkin Cheesecake With Butterscotch Swirl is a fun twist on a classic dessert!

Autumn is finally here and with that comes all the amazing flavors like pumpkin, apple, caramel and of course butterscotch. Since this is the first #SundaySupper since fall has begun we are celebrating with all the flavors of fall and I couldn't think of something more fitting then a Pumpkin Cheesecake With Butterscotch Swirl. 

I actually had to make 2 of these this week because the first time I tried to incorporate the Butterscotch Swirl directly into the Pumpkin Cheesecake but the butterscotch is too dense and fell into the cake instead of floating on top like I envisioned which would have been ok but the swirling into the cheesecake left some rather nasty looking cracks.

Colt quickly snuck the cheesecake to work the next day where he said it was devoured. Luckily he said it had tasted amazing so I decided it was worth forging forward with a few modifications.

So for the second Pumpkin Cheesecake with Butterscotch Swirl I decided to cover the cheesecake in a sweetened sour cream and then I swirled the butterscotch into the sour cream topping for an elegant dessert perfect for fall.

If you're unsure of the sweetened sour cream topping you can serve it on the side with a drizzle of butterscotch sauce over the top or use stabilized whipping cream instead.

The flavors of this are perfect after even a heavy meal like Thanksgiving since the sweetened sour cream topping helps cut through the richness of the cheesecake providing a nice contrast.
18

Lemon Cheesecake Recipe

Monday, September 24, 2018
Creamy Lemon Cheesecake recipe is family favorite for Thanksgiving and Christmas from Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch.

All I can say is this Tall and Creamy Lemon Cheesecake is to die for! Enough said!

It's lusciously smooth, tall, and an amazing creamy texture. I have made a lot and I mean a lot of cheesecake recipes over the years. I definitely rate this Tall and Creamy Lemon Cheesecakes as one of the all time best Cheesecakes ever! 

This recipe was adapted from Dori Greenspan. I absolutely adore her cook book.

If you love lemon and cheesecake you must make this Tall and Creamy Lemon Cheesecake!

34

Chocolate Zucchini Coffee Cake With Chocolate Crumb

Thursday, June 14, 2018
Chocolate Zucchini Coffeecake With Chocolate Crumb is the perfect dessert recipe to hide zucchini from Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch.

I love this weeks Sunday Supper theme of Squash Fest because I'm always looking for different ways to enjoy squash and I can't wait to check out all the tasty recipes that are shared!

I couldn't think of a better way to bring the family back to the dinner table then this Chocolate Zucchini Coffee Cake With Chocolate Crumb it's definitely one of my favorite uses for squash because it's filled with zucchini and lots of chocolaty goodness.

Shhh...Don't tell I ate a slice for breakfast and think it's perfect for brunch or dessert and loved every bite.

It's perfectly chocolaty and super moist with a crunchy chocolate crumb.

You have to make Chocolate Zucchini Coffee Cake with Chocolate Crumb sooner then later. 

It's sooooo good! 

21

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Saturday, April 7, 2018
Easy to make Banana Cake recipe with a lightly sweetened Cream Cheese Frosting.

 Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting from Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch.

I'm pretty sure I've been food driven my whole life. 

I can still remember the first time I tasted Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, it was at my Aunts wedding and I was probably about 8 or 9 years old. It's was so much lighter then banana bread but still perfectly moist with lots of banana flavor and the cream cheese frosting was sweetened to perfection.

This Banana Cake is perfectly moist and easy to make. It's dense and moist but still light similar to a really good carrot cake. It has a strong banana flavor that pairs perfectly with the lightly sweetened cream cheese frosting.

It's the perfect use for all of your overly ripe bananas. 

Here's how I make my favorite Banana Cake:
5

German Chocolate Cake

Wednesday, March 1, 2017
The best recipe for German Chocolate Cake with Coconut Pecan Frosting is a family favorite! 

German Chocolate Cake with Coconut Pecan Frosting from serenabakessimplyfromscratch.com

Lorna requested German Chocolate Cake with Coconut Pecan Frosting for her 17th birthday. It's one of my all time favorites, and hers too! 

This is simply the best German Chocolate Cake ever, and that Coconut Pecan Frosting just can't be beat. 

It's so chocolaty, rich, and the crumb is simply divine. It has a tendency to cause your eyes to roll back in your head with each bite. It was so good in fact it didn't last long enough to grab a photo of a slice.

Here's how I make my German Chocolate Cake with Homemade Coconut Pecan Frosting: 
3

Tiramisu Angel Food Cake

Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Tiramisu Angel Food Cake consists of light airy layers of angel food cake, liquor infused espresso, creamy marscapone filling, and topped with chocolate curls is a favorite dessert recipe from Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch.

If we go out to eat and Tiramisu's on the dessert menu it's almost always my guaranteed pick. 

Tiramisu is traditionally made with ladyfingers, but I used Angel Food Cake soaked in liquor infused espresso or strong coffee could be used, and then covered in creamy marscapone mixture that's hard to keep from eating straight out of the bowl. 

Tiramisu Angel Food Cake is best made at least 8 hours ahead of time so the flavors can mingle in the fridge but an overnight is even better. It holds up exceptionally well made a day ahead of time. 

In Italian Tiramisu translates into "pick me up" and this dessert is sure to pick you up at the end of the day.

Tiramisu Cake is a slice of heaven for the taste buds.

8
Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch Copyright © 2011-2025 All Rights Reserved. Powered by Blogger.