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55 Spring-Inspired Cakes & Cupcakes To Make All Season Long

Spring has sprung, let's bake!

By and Mo Goldstein
a layered coconut cake filled with lime curd and covered with toasted coconut
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

After the long winter months, spring is finally here- its time to celebrate! What better way than with layer cakes and cupcakes that salute the bounty of fresh fruits and veggies? Bake away those winter doldrums, and get inspired by our best cake and cupcake recipes to welcome in spring.

March through May is when some of our favorite fruits and veggies—like carrots, strawberries, pineapple, and rhubarb—are in season, so we’re taking full advantage and baking them in everything. Carrot cake is classic, but we think our rhubarb cake, our pineapple upside-down cake, our strawberry cheesecake, or our blueberry poke cake might just edge it out in terms of crowd favorites. Try them all and see which you and yours prefer! Tip: They ALL go great with a cream cheese frosting.

Whereas winter is for stronger flavors like peppermint and eggnog, we like to think of spring as a time to lighten things up, so you’ll find subtler flavors and textures like pistachio, meringue, ice cream, and mousse among these recipes. Check out our lemon blueberry mousse cake, our copycat Dairy Queen ice cream cake, or our pistachio cake for ideas, then get creative and make flavor swaps in and out of your favorite recipes too.

As the weather outside gets nicer, we spend a LOT more time at outdoor BBQs and potlucks. While a layer cake is impressive, nothing beats convenience more than a cupcake at an outdoor gathering. No knife for slicing? Not a problem when everyone’s got their own handheld dessert like our pavlova cupcakes, our succulent cupcakes, our coconut cream cupcakes, or our carrot cake cupcakes. Not feeling these flavors? No worries—nearly all the full size cake recipes here can be baked in a cupcake tin, so feel free to switch them up.

Want more spring inspiration? Check out our favorite spring dinners, our best spring appetizers, and our top spring cocktails too.

1

Strawberry Crunch Poke Cake

strawberry crunch poke cake with a crumble topping, whipped cream and strawberries
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

If you liked strawberry shortcake ice cream bars growing up, then you’ll love this strawberry crunch poke cake. The ice cream truck treat took its cues from classic strawberry shortcake, but then added what we all know is the best part: that crunchy coating.

Get the Strawberry Crunch Poke Cake recipe.

2

Cannoli Cupcakes

cannoli cupcake
PARKER FEIERBACH

Let's be real: The filling of the cannoli is the best part. That's why these cupcakes are so amazing—they're stuffed to the brim with the good stuff.

Get the Cannoli Cupcakes recipe.

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3

Copycat Olive Garden Lemon Cream Cake

copycat olive garden lemon cream cake
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

This simple lemon cream cake was a beloved favorite at Olive Garden, until they discontinued it! Don't worry, though—our copycat recipe featuring a vanilla cake with just a hint of lemon, a tart lemon cream filling, and a crunchy vanilla crumble means you can still enjoy it any time you like.

Get the Copycat Olive Garden Lemon Cream Cake recipe.

4

Strawberry Pound Cake

pound cake with a strawberry swirl and topped with a bright pink strawberry glaze
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Classic pound cake gets an upgrade with swirls of strawberry jam throughout and iced with tangy strawberry glaze. This streamlined recipe relies on a few crucial ingredients to maximize the flavor while the method remains extremely simple

Get the Strawberry Pound Cake recipe.

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5

No-Bake Creamsicle Cheesecake

no bake creamsicle cheesecake with dollops of whipped cream and a graham cracker crust
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

If you're a fan of the nostalgic creamsicles, then let us introduce you to your new favorite cheesecake. We incorporated the sweet orange flavors of the classic treat into this ultra-creamy cheesecake with a buttery crust for the ultimate summer treat. One of our favorite things about this recipe? It's a no-bake dream.

Get the No-Bake Creamsicle Cheesecake recipe.

6

Coconut Lime Layer Cake

a layered coconut cake filled with lime curd and covered with toasted coconut
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Put the lime in the coconut and bake this stunning layer cake! One of the reasons this cake is SO fun to eat is that it’s not about blasting every component with all the lime and all the coconut flavor, but instead letting each part of the cake bring a little something to the party.

Get the Coconut Lime Layer Cake recipe.

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7

Carrot Cake

carrot cake with cream cheese icing and pecans
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Whether you think of it as the ideal vehicle for cream cheese frosting (we feel you!) or are in it for its moist, spiced flavor that makes it a standout against standards like vanilla and chocolate, having a quality carrot cake recipe is a must for spring—this is the one.

Get the Carrot Cake recipe.

8

Rhubarb Cake

rhubarb cake
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Rhubarb is strikingly beautiful, and this cake shows it off well. The stalks bake right into the cake, becoming soft and jammy, and surrounded by a crunchy sugary crust. It’s quick and simple–more like a snacking cake–meaning you can eat it with your hands if you so desire.

Get the Rhubarb Cake recipe.

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9

Lemon Blueberry Poke Cake

lemon blueberry poke cake
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE

The blueberry filling and lemon cream cheese frosting here has our heart pounding! There's no way around making the blueberry syrup, but we promise you it is 100% worth it. In fact, make extra, and put it in our blueberry G&Ts next.

Get the Lemon Blueberry Poke Cake recipe.

10

Crêpe Cake

crepe cake topped with whipped cream and berries
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDSERON

If you love sky-high, showstopping desserts, prepare to meet your new obsession. Crêpe cake is a cool, lofty masterpiece composed of layers of crêpes and lightened vanilla pastry cream, all topped with a billowing cloud of whipped cream and a crown of fresh berries. It’s light, creamy, and absolutely irresistible.

Get the Crêpe Cake recipe.

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11

Orange Cake

orange loaf cake glazed with orange icing on a blue glass cutting board
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Want a burst of sunshine to brighten a gloomy January day? Make orange cake. Packed with zesty citrus and crowned with orange-flecked icing, this simple snackable loaf cake will bring brightness into any gloomy day—and a matching boost of vitamin C.

Get the Orange Cake recipe.

12

No-Bake Whipped Ricotta Cheesecake

no baked whipped ricotta cheesecake with vanilla bean and biscoff lemon cookie crust
PHOTO: NICO SCHINCO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

"No-bake" and "whipped" in the same recipe name as "cheesecake"? Sure! This may be the anomaly to cheesecake, but I promise it’s one of the best—I’m not being biased—cheesecakes I’ve had. The NY-style, Basque, or Italian ricotta cheesecakes you’re familiar with can step back for a second.

Get the No-Bake Whipped Ricotta Cheesecake recipe.

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13

Battenberg Cake

pink and yellow battenberg cake covered in marzipan
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDSERON

Want to feel like you’re on The Great British Bake Off? Make Battenberg cake. White- and pink-tinted slices of rich almond cake are brushed with apricot jam, artfully stacked, and covered with sweet almond marzipan for a cake that’s stunning and delicious enough to win the approval of Paul Hollywood any day of the week.

Get the Battenberg Cake recipe.

14

Sponge Cake

sponge cake with whipped cream and strawberries
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Having this cake in your recipe arsenal will have you ready for anything spring throws at you: You can cube it a trifle, crumble it over ice cream, or—our favorite—stack it with whipped cream and berries. The best part? You can have this entire cake ready in just about an hour.

Get the Sponge Cake recipe.

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15

Lemon-Blueberry Cheesecake

lemon blueberry cheesecake topped with a jammy blueberry topping, whipped cream and lemon slices
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Some flavor pairings are eternal classics, they just work. Take peanut butter and chocolate, caramel and salt, and (of course) lemon and blueberry. This bright and fruity combo takes center stage in this creamy cheesecake recipe, littered with blueberries and topped with an irresistible homemade blueberry sauce.

Get the Lemon-Blueberry Cheesecake recipe.

16

Glazed Lemon Olive Oil Pound Cake

lemon olive oil cake with a glaze and lemon zest on top
PHOTO: NICO SCHINCO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Olive oil is an essential ingredient in some of our favorite weeknight dinners, but it’s also clutch when it’s time for dessert. Take classic pound cake. Butter is the traditional move, but making pound cake with olive oil gives you a moist, tender treat that stays fresh longer than a butter-based cake.

Get the Glazed Lemon Olive Oil Pound Cake recipe.

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17

Chantilly Cake

chantilly cake topped with raspberries and blueberries
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

There are cakes, and then there’s Chantilly cake, a towering layer cakestuffed with fresh berries and blanketed in whipped cream frosting. The impressive dessert marries the delicious simplicity of a classic yellow cake with the berries and cream combo that makes shortcakes shine.

Get the Chantilly Cake recipe.

18

Funfetti Cheesecake

funfetti cheesecake with sprinkles
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Why choose just one dessert for your birthday celebration when you can have two classics in one? If you love festive Funfetti but are more of a cheesecake person, this sprinkle-filled cheesecake is the dessert for you. With the creaminess of cheesecake and the fluffiness of birthday cake, this two-in-one treat has it all.

Get the Funfetti Cheesecake recipe.

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19

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

pineapple upsidedown cake
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

It may be retro, but this classic cake is a staple easy dessert for a reason. Sweet pineapple gets an irresistible rich boost from melted butter, brown sugar, and eye-catching maraschino cherries—one slice, and you'll feel transported to the tropical vacay of your dreams this spring.

Get the Pineapple Upside-Down Cake recipe.

20

Coconut Cream Cupcakes

coconut cream cupcakes
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Inspired by the beloved coconut cream pie, these stuffed cupcakes have all the classic components of the original dessert, sans pie crust. You won't miss it though, because in its place are our soft and fluffy vanilla cupcakes. 😍

Get the Coconut Cream Cupcakes recipe.

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