Different Types of Cake, From Everyday to Special Occasion

There are so many occasions that call for celebrations. Every year brings rites of passage to celebrate—anniversaries, birthdays, engagements, graduations, new jobs, retirements, showers, and weddings. Special celebrations call for special cakes. But you also don’t need to wait for a special occasion to bake a cake. A Bundt cake, coffee cake, or loaf cake makes a perfect treat for brunch or an afternoon snack. These “everyday” cakes are just as delicious as those baked and decorated to say “congratulations” or “happy birthday.” Learn more about the various types of cake worth slicing and serving throughout the year.

Loaf cakes are simple to whip up and keep on your kitchen counter to enjoy as a breakfast treat, slice for snacks, or serve with coffee or tea. Pound cakes are one of the most well-known types of butter-based loaf cakes, but plenty of other simple batters, even those featuring ingredients like olive oil, can be baked into familiar rectangular-shaped pans. Loaf cakes are simple to decorate with fresh fruit, fruit compotes, lemon curd, whipped cream, or a sprinkling of confectioners’ sugar.

The Bundt pan is an American classic. It’s so American that one of the first Bundt pans ever made, manufactured in 1950, is now in the Smithsonian Institution. Ring-shaped cakes with decorative sides have been a part of dessert tables ever since. But Bundt cakes aren’t the only ring-shaped cakes. You can also try also chiffon, angel-food, and other molded cakes, such as French cannelés. Their distinctive shapes are perfect for adorning with a sprinkling of sugar or a drizzle of a glaze.

These crumb-topped cakes pair so well with the beverage they’re named after. European immigrants are credited for the tradition of enjoying sweet baked goods with cups of coffee and conversation. Bake a coffee cake and linger over breakfast, brunch, or any get-together with friends or family—and a cup of coffee or two.

This type of cake keeps a low profile. But don’t let their single-layer appearance fool you. The beauty of these cakes lies in their flavor, charm, and versatility. Whether you like a luscious lemon cake, a chocolate torte, an airy genoise, a homestyle sheet cake, or a spice-laden applesauce cake, these cakes don’t require much time to prepare and are a delight to eat.

Cheesecakes trace their origins to ancient Rome. They’ve been in professional bakers and home chefs’ repertoires for ages—and for good reason. They lend themselves to dozens of flavor combinations. Today’s cheesecakes are sublime and sophisticated, with luscious fillings, crisp crusts, lively fruit toppings, and plenty of variations to suit your tastes. Some purists may argue that cheesecakes are more like tarts than cakes, but no one can disagree with the fact that they’re irresistible.

These cakes hearken back to a time when the marvels of indoor refrigeration made these cool desserts in vogue. The best-known versions of these desserts are made from chocolate wafer cookies and whipped cream. When layered together and refrigerated overnight, they create a cake-like creation. Ice-cream cakes and mousse cakes are some of the most familiar types of icebox cakes.

When you see a ripe peach or a basket of juicy berries, you can bring the fruit home and use it to create different types of cake! Upside-down cakes are classics for fruits like pineapple, plums, or pears, but you can also incorporate fresh fruit into batter or pile it high atop a cake, like you would for a fruit shortcake.

Everyone has at least one memory of eating a slice of frosting-swirled layer cake from a childhood birthday, Grandma’s kitchen, or the neighborhood bakery. These delectable cakes, featuring fillings and frostings between the layers, are some of the most elegant cakes you can serve for special occasions. The endless combinations of cake bases, fillings, and frostings make them easy to customize to the guest of honor’s tastes.

Now that you know about the different kinds of cake to serve for any occasion, you’re sure to find something to suit your taste at Frost Artisan Bakery. Stop by to browse our offerings or call us to order a custom or special-occasion cake.