single layer cake

Over the years, Cake Pan Cake has been one of King Arthur's most requested recipes. And now we're proud to name this our 225th Anniversary Recipe of the Centuries. Dark, moist, delicious, and CHOCOLATE, this is truly a cake for all reasons, all seasons — and for bakers (and their family and friends) everywhere.

King Arthur's Original Cake Pan Cake

(177 grams) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

(198 grams) sugar

(21 grams) unsweetened cocoa Dutch-process or natural

salt

espresso powder

baking soda

vanilla extract

(14 grams) vinegar cider

(67 grams) vegetable oil

(227 grams) cold water

(255 grams) semisweet chocolate chips

(113 grams) half-and-half

Hot milk cake, an old-fashioned treat, is fine-grained, moist, high-rising, and wonderfully tasty. It can be enjoyed as is, in all its buttery glory; or paired with the icing of your choice — or fudge topping or thick caramel sauce, as shown here. This recipe comes to us courtesy of Chef Zeb Stevenson of Atlanta, who we're proud to say uses our signature unbleached all-purpose flour in this delicious cake.Want to make 2 dozen fudge-frosted cupcakes? See "tips," below.

Chef Zeb's Hot Milk Cake

(397 grams) sugar

eggs

(67 grams) vegetable or canola oil

(241 grams) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

baking powder

unsalted butter

(227 grams) milk (whole milk preferred)

This cake is an old, old favorite of ours. It's a cake where the whole is definitely more than the sum of the parts. The moist, semi-chunky cake, spread with the frosting equivalent of brown sugar fudge, is perfect served with a cup of coffee or, better still, a glass of ice-cold milk.
Our thanks to the wonderful Bakery Lane Soup Bowl cookbook for the inspiration for this recipe.

Old-Fashioned Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting

(276 grams) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

(330 grams) granulated sugar

Apple Pie Spice cinnamon + 1/4 teaspoon each ginger and nutmeg

(113 grams) unsalted butter

apples

(113 grams) diced toasted walnuts or pecans

(99 grams) butter

(142 grams) brown sugar

(57 grams) milk

sugar

Chocolate cake made with sourdough starter? Don't worry; you'll never taste the sour, just the rich, full flavor of chocolate. The coffee icing, with its pretty dark chocolate drizzle, takes this cake to another level.

Sourdough Chocolate Cake

(227 grams) sourdough starter ripe (fed) or discard

(227 grams) milk (whole milk

(298 grams) granulated sugar

(198 grams) vegetable oil

(64 grams) natural cocoa

confectioners' sugar

(170 grams) butter room temperature

(113 grams) plain yogurt or buttermilk

(14 grams) water hot

(57 grams) semisweet chocolate chips

(14 grams) milk

(21 grams) corn syrup

This flourless cake, featuring both chocolate and cocoa, is rich, rich, RICH! A chocolate ganache glaze takes it over the top. And, since it contains neither flour nor leavening, it's perfect for Passover. And, of course, also ideal for those following a gluten-free diet.

Flourless Chocolate Cake

(170 grams) semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips

unsalted butter room temperature

(149 grams) granulated sugar

espresso powder optional

(43 grams) Dutch-process cocoa

(113 grams) heavy cream

Originally created in the early 1900s by the Sanders Chocolates company in Detroit (where the ice cream float was also invented), this cake sports a poured fudge frosting over “bumps” of vanilla buttercream, creating the name by which Midwesterners have known and loved it for many years: Bumpy Cake.

Bumpy Cake

(113 grams) hot brewed coffee or water

(99 grams) vegetable oil

(227 grams) buttermilk

(347 grams) granulated sugar

(227 grams) confectioners' sugar sifted

milk

(113 grams) buttermilk

(39 grams) dark corn syrup

This golden sponge cake, a native of Latin America, is liberally soaked with tres leches (three milks: condensed, evaporated, and heavy cream), and would seem, at first read-through of the recipe, to be unbearably sweet — to say nothing of soggy. But the cake itself is only mildly sweet; and it's literally a sponge cake, soaking up and holding the liquid so that each mouthful is a just-sweet-enough, super-moist delight. Frost with whipped cream, then garnish the traditional way, if desired, with mango or other tropical fruits. Or simply dust with cinnamon, and enjoy this rich, creamy cake all on its own.

Tres Leches Cake

cream of tartar lemon juice

(298 grams) sugar

(74 grams) cold water

almond extract

(113 grams) heavy or whipping cream

(14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

(340 grams) evaporated milk;

(340 grams) heavy or whipping cream

(50 grams) sugar

Whether you’re after a yummy vanilla cake or simply in need of a quick and easy dessert, this vanilla version of the classic <a href="//www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/king-arthur-flours-original-cake-pan-cake-recipe">cake pan cake</a> won't disappoint. Its moist, fork-tender texture and rich vanilla flavor are sure to make this a favorite for any occasion.

Vanilla Cake Pan Cake

+ 2 tablespoons (198 grams) water

(21 grams) cider vinegar

(14 grams) vanilla extract

(57 grams) butter regular

(about 28 grams) water

This is the perfect dessert to make when last-minute inspiration strikes, and ripe fruit is waiting to be put to its most delicious use as summer wanes. The thick batter cradles any fruit you like depending on the season, from tart cranberries to juicy stone fruit or fresh berries, showered with just a touch of sugar before baking.

Late Summer Berry Torte

(149 grams) sugar

Fiori di Sicilia optional

(120 grams) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

(149 grams) fresh or frozen berries or sliced stone fruit

cinnamon optional

Almond flour gives a subtle, nutty richness to this cake, which has deep chocolate flavor without being too sweet. Topped with espresso-laced ganache, it’s an excellent dinner party dessert, as well as perfect for Passover (depending on how you observe the holiday).

Flourless Chocolate Nut Cake

+ 2 tablespoons (223 grams) sugar divided

(85 grams) unsweetened baking chocolate melted

(128 grams) semisweet chocolate chips melted

almond flour

chocolate chips

(43 grams) plant-based milk

<a href="/shop/landing.jsp?go=DetailDefault&id=2041">The King Arthur Flour 200th Anniversary Cookbook</a>, published in 1990, includes a chapter devoted to whole wheat. This moist, tasty apple cake recipe is one of our favorites. We've updated it a bit, substituting butter for shortening (who knew about trans fats back then?!).

Want to reduce the carbs and calories in this recipe? Substitute our <a href="https://shop.kingarthurbaking.com/items/baking-sugar-alternative-12-oz">King Arthur Baking Sugar Alternative</a> for the sugar called for. See how in "tips," below.

Applesauce Cake

(213 grams) brown sugar

cinnamon

cloves

(198 grams) King Arthur Whole Wheat Flour

(255 grams) unsweetened applesauce

(85 grams) raisins

(57 grams) chopped walnuts

Brilliant red cranberries and tender slices of apple crown this tasty autumn version of an old favorite: upside down cake.

Harvest Apple Cranberry Cake

(14 grams) butter

(21 grams) boiled cider optional

cranberries

(113 grams) peeled diced fresh apple (about 1 medium-large apple)

(180 grams) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

(131 grams) sugar

(170 grams) applesauce unsweetened preferred

butter

Top the batter for a buttery vanilla cake with fresh apple slices tossed with boiled cider and Apple Pie Spice, bake — and enjoy a slice of pure pleasure! This easy, buttery cake marbled with sweet-and-spicy apple slices is the quintessential autumn dessert.

Apple Skillet Cake

(71 grams) brown sugar

(43 grams) boiled cider

Apple Pie Spice sweet spices

(160 grams) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

(99 grams) granulated sugar

(152 grams) milk lukewarm

This old-fashioned brown sugar cake derives much of its delightful texture from buttermilk. The nutty pecans and sugar on top are a perfect complement to the moist cake underneath.

Farmhouse Buttermilk Cake

(425 grams) light brown sugar packed

(454 grams) buttermilk

(360 grams) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

(213 grams) light brown sugar packed

pecans

Moist and dense (but not heavy), this single-layer cake is super ginger-y thanks in part to the addition of ginger syrup. If you're a fan of ginger and its spicy kick of heat, you'll love this quick and easy cake.

Triple Ginger Gingerbread

(160 grams) light brown sugar packed

(84 grams) molasses

(140 grams) ginger syrup purchased or homemade*

(49 grams) vegetable oil

(300 grams) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

ginger

nutmeg

(128 grams) crystallized ginger minced optional

(227 grams) boiling water

Carla Hall uses root beer to give her grandmother's classic Coca-Cola cake recipe a twist. The moist chocolate cake has a uniquely spicy personality, thanks to the addition of fresh ginger, smoked cinnamon, and star anise.

Root Beer Cake with Chocolate Root Beer Ganache

(270 grams) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

(106 grams) light brown sugar or dark brown sugar packed

cinnamon *

star anise

(340 grams) root beer flat or fizzy

(227 grams) unsalted butter room temperature

(57 grams) root beer flat or fizzy

cocoa

This old-fashioned chocolate sheet cake is incredibly moist, and can be stirred together by hand if need be. The fudge frosting is also stir-together simple, and creates a lovely thick layer on top. You can line the pan with parchment or foil before baking, grease it, and lift the cake out of the pan once it's cool before frosting. This makes cutting the cake easier to do, and individual portions nestle nicely into muffin papers. It's sure to be a hit at your next potluck.

King Arthur&#039;s Favorite Fudge Cake

(227 grams) unsalted butter

(43 grams) unsweetened cocoa Dutch-process or natural

water

(240 grams) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

(397 grams) granulated sugar

(113 grams) buttermilk or yogurt at room temperature

(85 grams) buttermilk or yogurt

<a href="https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/collections/bake-of-the-week-recipes"><img alt="King Arthur 2020 Recipe of the Year" src="/sites/default/files/2021-10/bake-of-the-week.png" style="float: right; max-width: 120px; margin: 6px 0 8px 12px;" /></a>

When you've baked enough zucchini bread but the green vegetable is still finding its way into your kitchen, switch things up with this Chocolate Zucchini Cake. It uses three whole cups of zucchini, yet you'd never know there was anything but chocolate in this ultra-moist, rich, fudgy cake. The zucchini ensures a tender crumb — think banana bread meets carrot cake — while the <a href="https://shop.kingarthurbaking.com/items/triple-cocoa-blend-14-oz?headnotes=chocolate-zucchini-cake">cocoa powder</a> and <a href="https://shop.kingarthurbaking.com/items/espresso-powder?headnotes=chocolate-zucchini-cake">espresso</a> create a robust chocolate flavor. This frosted cake is likely to become your new favorite way to eat zucchini. (You're welcome.)

The Chocolate Zucchini Cake was one of our <a href="https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/collections/bake-of-the-week-recipes">Bake of the Week</a> recipes for July 2022.

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

King Arthur Pure Vanilla Extract

(113 grams) sour cream buttermilk or yogurt

(64 grams) unsweetened cocoa Dutch-process or natural

(363 grams to 450 grams) zucchini shredded*

(99 grams) half-and-half or heavy cream

<a href="https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/collections/bake-of-the-week-recipes"><img alt="King Arthur 2020 Recipe of the Year" src="/sites/default/files/2021-10/bake-of-the-week.png" style="float: right; max-width: 120px; margin: 6px 0 8px 12px;" /></a>

In this unabashedly apple-forward apple cake, there are so many apple slices and so little batter, you’ll wonder how (and if) it will hold together. But never fear: As the batter rises in the oven, it knits those slices together to create a tender cake that’s almost creamy and custardy due to the abundance of fruit. Our thanks to Sarah Carey, who developed this recipe, and to Dorie Greenspan, whose Marie-Hélène's Apple Cake inspired it.

The Mostly Apples Apple Cake was one of our <a href="https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/collections/bake-of-the-week-recipes">Bake of the Week</a> recipes for September 2022.

Mostly Apples Apple Cake

(30 grams) sliced almonds optional

(24 grams) King Arthur Almond Flour

almond extract*

<a href="https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/collections/bake-of-the-week-recipes"><img alt="King Arthur 2020 Recipe of the Year" src="/sites/default/files/2021-10/bake-of-the-week.png" style="float: right; max-width: 120px; margin: 6px 0 8px 12px;" /></a>

This New England twist on the classic upside-down cake, which comes from <a href="https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/cookbooks">The Baking School Cookbook</a>, is proof that a 100% whole-grain dessert doesn’t have to compromise on flavor or texture. The hint of spice makes it a perfect dessert from early fall to late spring, and it’s just as good with coffee at breakfast (the maple syrup lends major pancake vibes) as it is with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for dessert. For a change of pace, try this with your favorite apple variety in the height of fall.  

The Maple-Pear Upside-Down Cake was one of our <a href="https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/collections/bake-of-the-week-recipes">Bake of the Week</a> recipes for September 2022.

Maple-Pear Upside-Down Cake

(156 grams) maple syrup

pears

(159 grams) light brown sugar or dark brown sugar packed

(198 grams) King Arthur White Whole Wheat Flour*

(170 grams) buttermilk

While we're proud to offer cutting-edge <a href="https://www.kingarthurflour.com/search?query=cocktail%20cakes">cocktail cakes</a> and other 21st-century trending desserts here on our recipe site, we happily hold onto centuries-old classics like gingerbread. This particular recipe is a winner: with its comforting warm spices, tender crumb, and deep-gold demeanor, it's a welcome sight at many a harvest and holiday celebration. And it's easy: Just stir the ingredients together, pour the batter into a pan, and bake. Dessert in under an hour? Yes, please.

Want to reduce the carbs and calories in this recipe? Substitute our <a href="https://shop.kingarthurbaking.com/items/baking-sugar-alternative-12-oz">King Arthur Baking Sugar Alternative</a> for the sugar called for. See how in "tips," below.

Gingerbread

(50 grams) granulated sugar

(255 grams) molasses (not blackstrap)

(57 grams) water coffee

(128 grams) apricots diced optional

This fudgy, sophisticated chocolate cake hides a little secret: Medjool dates give it sweetness, moisture, and pockets of chewiness. After being soaked in hot water, the dates disappear into the batter and melt the chopped chocolate. While this date cake is delicious on its own, make it worthy of a special occasion by serving it with tangy, refreshing whipped cream and a salted date butterscotch (making it a double-date cake!).  

  

Fudgy Chocolate Date Cake

(200 grams) dates

(53 grams) light brown sugar packed

(99 grams) vegetable oil or canola oil

(170 grams) semisweet chocolate or bittersweet chocolate coarsely chopped

(66 grams) dates

(26 grams) light brown sugar packed

Inspired by our beloved Original Cake Pan Cake, this dairy-free recipe is made with cake flour for a super-tender crumb. The olive oil does double duty: it beautifully complements the chocolate, and enhances the cake’s overall flavor. The unique chocolate crackle topping not only provides added texture but also a flavorful finish (thanks to PJ Hamel for the inspiration!). Made with everyday ingredients, this cake is destined to become part of your everyday snacking. 

Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

(210 grams) King Arthur Unbleached Cake Flour

Top 30 single layer cake recipes from across the web

The most viewed single layer cake recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

King Arthur's Original Cake Pan Cak...

Chef Zeb's Hot Milk Cake

Old-Fashioned Apple Cake with Brown...

Sourdough Chocolate Cake

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Bumpy Cake

Tres Leches Cake

Vanilla Cake Pan Cake

Late Summer Berry Torte

Flourless Chocolate Nut Cake

Applesauce Cake

Harvest Apple Cranberry Cake

Apple Skillet Cake

Farmhouse Buttermilk Cake

Triple Ginger Gingerbread

Root Beer Cake with Chocolate Root ...

King Arthur's Favorite Fudge C...

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Mostly Apples Apple Cake

Maple-Pear Upside-Down Cake

Gingerbread

Fudgy Chocolate Date Cake

Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

Meyer Lemon Chiffon Cake

Honey Lemon Cake

Tahini Praline-y Zucchini Cake

Nantucket Cranberry Cake

Chocolate Chip Snickerdoodle Cake

French Yogurt Cake

Oatmeal Cake

Top 30 single layer cake recipes from across the web

The most viewed single layer cake recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

King Arthur's Original Cake Pan Cak...

Chef Zeb's Hot Milk Cake

Old-Fashioned Apple Cake with Brown...

Sourdough Chocolate Cake

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Bumpy Cake

Tres Leches Cake

Vanilla Cake Pan Cake

Late Summer Berry Torte

Flourless Chocolate Nut Cake

Applesauce Cake

Harvest Apple Cranberry Cake

Apple Skillet Cake

Farmhouse Buttermilk Cake

Triple Ginger Gingerbread

Root Beer Cake with Chocolate Root ...

King Arthur&#039;s Favorite Fudge C...

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Mostly Apples Apple Cake

Maple-Pear Upside-Down Cake

Gingerbread

Fudgy Chocolate Date Cake

Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

Meyer Lemon Chiffon Cake

Honey Lemon Cake

Tahini Praline-y Zucchini Cake

Nantucket Cranberry Cake

Chocolate Chip Snickerdoodle Cake

French Yogurt Cake

Oatmeal Cake

The most viewed single layer cake recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

King Arthur's Favorite Fudge C...