For some events, nothing but a towering layer cake will do. But most of the time, we want fuss-free sheet cake recipes that easily feed a crowd or carve neatly into snacky slivers and slices. While there are good reasons to construct a multilayered situation using cakes baked in a sheet pan, this collection is … Read more
A good crumb cake—like the ones I grew up with in New Jersey—is top heavy. The simple vanilla cake supports a thick second story of tender, cinnamon-laced, brown sugar streusel and a snowcap of powdered sugar. At New Jersey bakeries, crumb cake is typically sold by the rectangular slice directly from the sheet pan; at … Read more
Is there a marked difference between New Jersey–style crumb cake and New York–style crumb cake? Not really. But as someone from the Garden State, I’ll always think of this style of cake as the former. “Crumb cake” is a moist vanilla cake topped with a thick layer of cinnamon-scented brown sugar streusel. Unlike “coffee cake,” … Read more
Angel food cake with chocolate frosting is a dreamy dessert that requires a delicate touch. If you’re starting with store-bought cake, make sure it’s fresh and springs back when you (gently) touch it. Our go-to angel food cake recipe gets its ethereal texture from cream of tartar and finely milled cake flour, which forms less … Read more
When time is tight and you need something to feed a crowd at a picnic, potluck, or bake sale, this Texas sheet cake recipe is the answer. The fudgy single-layer cake gets its lush crumb from melted butter and a tangy boost from buttermilk. The genius of the recipe is in its timing: Right after … Read more
I’m writing this review partly to help others who also think this cake needed tweaking and so I can remember what tweaks I made. I increased the lemon juice to half a cup (the juice of about 1.5-2 medium lemons), and reduced the water to 2 tbsps. Also, 2.5 tbsps of zest is about the … Read more
An easy dessert or afternoon snack, this lemon pound cake recipe gets its pillowy crumb from cake flour and six whole eggs. Don’t swap in all-purpose flour here; its higher protein content produces more gluten that would result in a cake noticeably denser and less fluffy. You can, however, make a decent cake flour substitute … Read more
A classic Smith Island cake is a thing of beauty. With its eight (or more) layers of yellow cake, sandwiched together with glossy dark chocolate, all enrobed in a smooth layer of ganache, it’s a dessert that demands attention. Named after its birthplace—a group of three island communities off the Chesapeake Bay—the cake is said … Read more
With its distinct multilayered presentation, Smith Island cake might just be the most flashy regional cake in the United States. Named after a group of three Island communities on the Chesapeake Bay (Tylerton, Ewell, and Rhodes Point) collectively called Smith Island, the layer cake is said to have been baked since the 1800s as a … Read more
There’s something so elegant about the simplicity of this flourless chocolate cake recipe. Sometimes called a chocolate torte, it’s a Passover and Valentine’s Day staple for good reason—not to mention an ideal choice for gluten-free dinner parties. With just five ingredients, desserts don’t get much simpler, especially because this fudgy single-layer dark chocolate cake comes … Read more