Types of Cakes

By: Bob's Red Mill | August 3 2018

Cakes seem to scream celebrations, gatherings, and coming together. From coffee cakes and bundt cakes to carrot cakes and everything in between, there are many unique cakes in the world, and they each have their own delicious flavors and fillings. Since there are many types of cakes, finding the precise one that suits your specific occasion can be a fun and special baking endeavor. Let’s explore five of the most popular cake types to see how they differ and when you may want to serve them!

1) BUNDT CAKE

The bundt cake, elegant in its distinctive ring shape, is inspired by the classic European dessert known as Gugelhupf. As you’ll see below, bundt cake recipes come in all flavors, from key lime to peach and everything in between. Their elegant appearance makes them a wonderful choice for special occasions like New Year’s Eve or a birthday brunch, but they’re so easy to bake (no layers to stack or frost!), they’re also a smart choice if you’re short on time.

Banana Blueberry Chia Seed Bundt Cake with Coffee Glaze

This Banana Blueberry Chia Seed Bundt Cake with Coffee Glaze is both high in fiber and deliciously satisfying. It’s created by using a mix of ingredients like Un bleached Wh ite A ll Purpose Fl our, Whole Whea t Fl our or Organic Whole Wheat Flour, Regular Rolled Oats or Organic Regular Rolled Oats, sea salt, brown sugar, applesauce, canola oil, eggs, yogurt, vanilla extract, blueberries, Organic Chia Seed and mashed banana. What gives this beauty a distinct taste is its glaze, made with just confectioner's sugar and coffee. Pair a slice with a warm cappuccino for the ultimate late-morning indulgence.

Key Lime Bundt Cake

Take a trip to the tropics with this fresh and fruity Key Lime Bundt Cake. It’s ideal for a spring or summertime brunch held outdoors in the sunshine. You can also gift it to family and friends during the summer months. The cake itself is made with Organic Unbleached White All Purpose Flour, softened butter, sugar, eggs, fresh key lime juice, key lime or lime yogurt, and key lime zest--rest assured, you’re certainly getting some citrus tang amidst the sweet. Glaze it with powdered sugar, key lime, juice and milk, and it’ll be the star of your table--it looks as fantastic as it tastes.

Peach Lemon Mini Bundt Cake

The best news about bundt cakes is that they don’t always have to come in a large, singular cake form to be fit for a party. These tiny Peach Lemon Mini Bundt Cakes make any occasion special by offering single-serving bundt desserts for you and your guests. Use the same recipe with different flours so that everyone gets their preferred version! One of our favorite additions to these sweet treats is the peach nectar, used in both the cake batter and the glaze. Nothing screams summertime like the sweet yet subtle taste of fruity peach in your dessert.

2) POUND CAKE

The pound cake is named for its original recipe: a pound of each of flour, eggs, sugar, and butter. This butter cake can be eaten for dessert or alongside a midday cup of tea, but it’s especially perfect for morning coffee celebrations spent in the company of good friends.

Triple Citrus Pound Cake

Here we take a spin on the old classic and add a delicious citrus flavor. The recipe creates two loaves, so it’s an excellent choice for brunch. This cake is made with butter, granulated sugar, eggs, lemon zest, grapefruit zest, lime zest, orange zest, Unbleached White All Purpose Flour, fresh grapefruit and orange juices, and (last but certainly not least) mascarpone cheese and vanilla extract. For the glaze icing, feel free to use confectioner’s sugar and the citrus juice of your choice. The recipe calls for orange juice, though any citrus juice will do the trick!

Vanilla Coconut Pound Cake

If it’s a simple pound cake you’re in the mood for, give these delicate (and gluten free) mini Vanilla Coconut Pound Cakes a try. They’re created with three flours, Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour, Organic Coconut Flo ur and Brown Rice Flour, and sweetened with Stevia, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and vanilla coconut yogurt. Pair them with a bowl of fresh berries and your favorite playlist.

3) ALMOND CAKE

Traditionally, almond cake uses almond flour (meaning it’s naturally gluten free). It’s airy and light and the perfect recipe for any time you need a gluten free dessert.

Blood Orange Almond Flourless Cake

This Blood Orange Almond Flourless Cake is moist, tasty and so easy to create. It comes to Bob’s Red Mill courtesy of Tiffany Bendayan from Living Sweet Moments and requires only eggs, blood oranges, sugar, almond flour, baking powder, slivered almonds, powdered sugar and a pinch of salt. Create this dessert for gluten free winter birthdays, when blood oranges are readily available and at peak freshness.

Almond Cake with Cranberries

This five-ingredient Almond Cake with Cranberries is both vegan and gluten free. The recipe, courtesy of Vicki from Avocado Pesto, cleverly uses aquafaba in place of egg whites, resulting in a fluffy and delicious treat. To whip up this beautiful dessert, all you need to have on hand is almond flour, maple syrup, baking soda, salt, fresh cranberries and aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas). Serve this bright and whimsical treat during the fall or winter for special holiday gatherings alongside a mug of seasonal tea.

4) COFFEE CAKE

Coffee cake is meant to be eaten with a cup of coffee. But if you aren’t a coffee drinker, you can still enjoy this dense treat: eat it with a cup of tea, a glass of almond milk, or a big scoop of vanilla ice cream with whipped cream.

Gingerbread Coffee Cake

If you’re looking to make a coffee cake for a special holiday breakfast, look no further! This Gingerbread Coffee Cake is full of warm and wonderful spices and opped with a tasty crumble. Kristine Rosenblatt from Kristine’s Kitchen, created a wonderful coffee cake redolent with ground cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Whip this up before guests arrive, allowing the scent to waft through the halls and fill your home with the warm aromas of the holiday season.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

If you’re looking for a fall-inspired coffee cake, this recipe for Pumpkin Cream Cheese Coffee Cake hits all the high notes of a truly decadent and delicious dessert. Combine pecan streusel, cream cheese filling and pumpkin cake to create a beautiful bundt cake that will dominate the center of your autumn table. If you’re a fool for pumpkin spice lattes, we highly suggest enjoying one with a warm slice of this cake.

5) CARROT CAKE

Carrot cake is a delectable cake that gets moisture and flavor from carrots and a mix of warm spices stirred right into the batter. Popular during Easter celebrations, this cake can be enjoyed at any time of year, though it’s particularly a favorite in the springtime.

Gluten Free Carrot Cake

This Gluten Free Carrot Cake comes from Sharon Lachendro of What The Fork Food Blog. It delivers that warm, delicious carrot cake taste without the gluten or dairy! It’s chock full of walnuts, pineapples, coconut and carrot (meaning it has tons of flavor and nutrition). For this recipe, use Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour in the batter and opt for fresh lemon juice in the frosting. We promise it will make all the difference. Pair it with a glass of cold coconut milk to seal the deal of a fantastic dessert.

Paleo Carrot Cake

If you’re a carrot cake lover (like we are), you’ll be glad to hear going paleo doesn’t mean you have to forego your favorite dessert. This delightful bundt cake utilizes a blend of nut flours, carrots and a tangy coconut frosting made with honey, coconut milk and orange zest. As an added bonus, this carrot cake can also be served in the morning alongside a simple scramble or a cup of joe. Whether you’re looking for a slice of coffee cake in ther morning or a beautiful bundt cake for your next special gathering, we hope these five cakes have inspired you to get to the kitchen and start baking! Have any favorite cake recipes you’d like to share? Let us know! The Bob’s Red Mill team is always on the hunt for a divine slice of something decadent and sweet.

by Bob's Red Mill