What Are the Easiest Cakes to Make? Simple Recipes for Beginners
If you want to start baking cakes but don’t want something complicated, you’re in the right place. The easiest cakes usually just need a handful of basic ingredients and simple steps—sometimes you can even toss everything in one bowl.
Cakes like basic white cake, dump cakes, and banana bread are perfect for beginners. You won’t get overwhelmed or need to memorize fancy techniques.
You really don’t need special equipment or skills to bake these cakes. Most easy recipes use ingredients you probably already have at home, and you won’t spend ages prepping.
If you want to get comfortable baking and actually enjoy it, stick with straightforward recipes. Looking for cakes that always turn out well and don’t stress you out? Keep reading for some practical ideas you’ll want to try. For more, check out easy cake recipes for beginners.
Fundamentals of Easy Cake Making

You’ll want to know the right ingredients, tools, and methods before you get started. You don’t need fancy equipment or weird ingredients—just a few basics and clear steps.
That’s really all you need to avoid common mistakes and bake a cake you can actually be proud of.
Essential Ingredients for Simple Cakes
Most easy cake recipes stick to just a few basics. Here’s what you’ll reach for:
- Flour: All-purpose flour works just fine.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar is the usual choice for sweetness.
- Eggs: They add structure and keep things together.
- Butter or Oil: Fat makes the cake moist and tender.
- Baking Powder or Baking Soda: These help the cake rise.
- Milk or Water: You need some liquid for moisture.
If you want to make things even simpler, substitute oil for butter. Vanilla extract is optional, but it adds nice flavor. Fresh ingredients always give you better results, though let’s be honest—sometimes you just use what you have.
Basic Baking Equipment Needed
You don’t need a ton of gear to bake a simple cake. Grab these:
- Mixing bowls: At least one decent-sized bowl.
- Measuring cups and spoons: Getting the amounts right really helps.
- Whisk or electric mixer: For combining everything smoothly.
- Cake pan or baking dish: Usually an 8- or 9-inch round pan works.
- Oven: Just make sure it heats evenly.
A rubber spatula’s handy for scraping the bowl or folding batter. Using the right size pan definitely helps your cake bake evenly.
Common Techniques for Beginners
Start by mixing your dry and wet ingredients in separate bowls. Then, gently stir them together—don’t overmix or your cake might get tough.
If you’re using butter, creaming it with sugar until it’s light is a good trick, but you can skip that by using oil-based recipes. Pour the batter evenly into your pan for even baking.
Preheat your oven so it’s hot when you’re ready. To check if your cake’s done, poke a toothpick in the center—if it comes out clean or with just a few crumbs, you’re good.
For recipes that use these basics, check out best easy cake recipes for beginners.
Popular and Simple Cakes to Try

You can make a tasty cake without complicated steps or fancy tools. These options use basic ingredients and easy mixing, but each one brings its own vibe.
Classic Sponge Cake
A classic sponge cake is light, airy, and not too sweet. It relies on well-beaten eggs or egg whites to give it lift, so you don’t need much butter or oil.
You’ll beat eggs and sugar until the mixture is fluffy and doubled in size. Then, gently fold in sifted flour to keep the air in.
Because it doesn’t have much fat, sponge cake is perfect for layering with fruit, jam, or whipped cream. It’s simple, but you can customize it however you like.
One-Bowl Chocolate Cake
If you’re after less mess and fewer steps, this one’s a winner. Toss your flour, cocoa powder, sugar, eggs, oil, baking soda, and maybe some coffee or milk all in one bowl.
Mix just until everything comes together—don’t keep stirring or you’ll end up with a tough cake. This one’s moist and rich, and honestly, you don’t even need frosting if you don’t want it.
Just dust it with powdered sugar or drizzle on a quick glaze. You only need a bowl and a spoon, so it’s great for last-minute cravings.
No-Bake Cheesecake
When you don’t want to turn on the oven, go for a no-bake cheesecake. Start with a crust—crushed cookies and melted butter pressed into a pan.
For the filling, blend cream cheese, sugar, and whipped cream or gelatin. Let it chill in the fridge for a few hours until it’s set.
No-bake cheesecakes are pretty forgiving, and you can top them with fruit or chocolate if you’re feeling fancy. Even if you’ve never baked before, you can pull this off.
Banana Bread Cake
Banana bread cake brings together the simplicity of banana bread and the fluffy texture of cake. It calls for ripe bananas, flour, sugar, eggs, and a leavening agent.
Just mash up those bananas and stir them into your wet and dry ingredients. That’s pretty much it.
The result? You get a moist cake with a gentle sweetness from the bananas. Toss in some nuts or chocolate chips if you want a little crunch or extra flavor.
I love how forgiving this recipe is. Bananas that are super ripe—or even a bit too far gone—actually make the cake taste better and keep it nice and moist.
Bake it in a loaf pan or go for a round cake pan. Either way, it works, so you’ve got options.