Skip to Content

Eat With Your Eyes: 22 Insanely Gorgeous Cakes

We'd say they're too pretty to eat, but come on—it's cake.

By
Serveware, Sweetness, Food, Dishware, Dessert, Cuisine, Baked goods, Ingredient, Cake, Cake decorating,
Tara

We'd say they're too pretty to eat, but come on—it's cake.

1

Vanilla Bean Cake with Strawberry-Basil Icing and Ganache Drips

Sweetness, Food, Ingredient, Dessert, Cuisine, Cake, Baked goods, Fruit, Cake decorating, Recipe,
Photo by Tara Donne; styled by Carla Gonzalez-Hart; fabric backdrop by Minted / minted.com

Now THIS is how you do chocolate-covered strawberries.

Get the recipe from Emily Lael Aumiller.

2

Orange Cake with Mocha Icing and Pistachio Truffles

Sweetness, Food, Dessert, Cuisine, Cake, Serveware, Baked goods, Ingredient, Cake decorating, Dishware,
Photo by Tara Donne; styled by Carla Gonzalez-Hart; fabric backdrop by Minted / minted.co; napkins by Caroline Z Hurley / carolinezhurley.com

Dark, decadent and daring us to slice it up. Challenge accepted.

Get the recipe from Emily Lael Aumiller.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3

Lemon-Poppy Cake with Vanilla Bean Icing and Rock Candy

Serveware, Food, Cuisine, Sweetness, Dishware, Cake, Ingredient, Dessert, Baked goods, Finger food,
Photo by Tara Donne; styled by Carla Gonzalez-Hart; fabric backdrop by Minted / minted.com

Pop Rocks did some major adulting.

Get the recipe from Emily Lael Aumiller.

4

Coconut Cake with Rose-Water Raspberry Icing and Candied Lemon Slices

Serveware, Cuisine, Dishware, Recipe, Plate, Snack, Dish, Baked goods, Kitchen utensil, Finger food,
Photo by Tara Donne; styled by Carla Gonzalez-Hart; fabric backdrop by Minted / minted.com

Because it's island time somewhere.

Get the recipe from Emily Lael Aumiller.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5

Chocolate Cake with Caramel and Espresso Icing

Petal, Flower Arranging, Cut flowers, Artificial flower, Still life photography, Floral design, Floristry, Creative arts, Mouse, Serveware,
Photo by Tara Donne; styled by: Carla Gonzalez-Hart; fabric backdrop by Minted / minted.com

We'll take this over a double shot espresso ANY DAY, thanks.

Get the recipe from Emily Lael Aumiller.

6

Salted Caramel Apple Snickers Cake

Food, Dessert, Sweetness, Dish, Cake, Cuisine, Fruit cake, Ingredient, Icing, Baked goods,
Courtesy of Half Baked Harvest

This cake is the ultimate fall mic drop.

Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cake

Food, Cake, Dessert, Chocolate cake, Torte, Sweetness, Cuisine, Dish, Baked goods, Frozen dessert,
Courtesy of Sugar Hero

This cake has four sugary layers of pretty. 

Get the recipe from Sugar Hero.

8

Peppermint Chocolate Cake

<p>Chocolate and peppermint, the classic cold-weather combo make for the perfect Christmas layer cake. Use peppermint meringues and candy canes for decoration.</p><p><b>Recipe: </b><a href="/recipefinder/peppermint-chocolate-cake-recipe-wdy1212" target="_blank"><b>Peppermint Chocolate Cake</b></a></p>
Kana Okada

At Christmas, your cakes should definitely be as pretty as a present.

Get the recipe from Delish.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9

Doughnut Cake

Food, Sweetness, Cuisine, Ingredient, Dessert, Dish, Baked goods, Recipe, Snack, Cooking,
Courtesy of Sugar Hero

The most beautiful kind of cake is one made out of donuts.

Get the recipe from Sugar Hero.

10

Strawberries & Cream Cake

Food, Cuisine, Buttercream, Dessert, Cake, Icing, Dish, Whipped cream, Cream, Baked goods,
Courtesy of The Kitchen McCabe

Make a naked cake for a rustic elegance. Plus, it's pink.

Get the recipe from The Kitchen McCabe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11

Chocolate Bourbon Caramel Macaron Cake

Serveware, Sweetness, Dessert, Cake, Food, Ingredient, Birthday candle, Baked goods, Cuisine, Cake decorating,
Courtesy of Half Baked Harvest

Celebrate! Because sugar + bourbon.

Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.

12

Cherry Cake

Sweetness, Food, Cake, Cuisine, Ingredient, Dessert, Baked goods, Fruit, Cake decorating, Dish,
Courtesy of The First Year

An easy way to up the pretty? Add dripping chocolate ganache.

Get the recipe from The First Year.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13

White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Food, Red, Sweetness, Peach, Dessert, Recipe, Baked goods, Ingredient, Dish, Kuchen,
Courtesy of Cooking Classy

Guaranteed to steal anyone's heart.

Get the recipe from Cooking Classy.

14

Triple Lemon Naked Cake

Food, Cuisine, Sweetness, Cake, Dessert, Ingredient, Dish, Baked goods, Recipe, Cake decorating,
Courtesy of Buttered Side Up

Edible flowers make cakes seriously next-level.

Get the recipe from Buttered Side Up.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15

S'mores Layer Cake

Food, Cuisine, Sweetness, Ingredient, Dessert, Baked goods, Cake, Dish, Cake decorating supply, Dairy,
Courtesy of Natalie.E

Basically how s'mores would look on a "glamping" trip.

Get the recipe from Natalie.E.

16

Meringue Dream Cake

Sweetness, Food, Cuisine, Cake, Dessert, Ingredient, Baked goods, Dairy, Cake decorating, Frozen dessert,
Courtesy of Sweetapolita

This cake is all kinds of candy-colored whimsy.

Get the recipe from Sweetapolita.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
17

Pink Lemonade Ombre Cake

Sweetness, Food, Cuisine, Dessert, Baked goods, Ingredient, Dishware, Cake, Plate, Serveware,
Courtesy of Belly Rumbles

Diamonds? Psh. Pearls are a girl's best friend. (Well, sugar pearls that is).

Get the recipe from Belly Rumbles.

18

Pumpkin Cake with Caramel–Cream Cheese Frosting

<p>In this fun variation on traditional pumpkin pie, pumpkin cake spiced with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves gets frosted with a slightly tangy, super-caramelly frosting. It's delicious served cold or at room temperature.</p><p><b>Recipe: </b><a href="/recipefinder/pumpkin-cake-caramel-frosting" target="_blank"><b>Pumpkin Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting</b></a></p>
John Kernick

Move over, pumpkin pie—this is our Thanksgiving showstopper.

Get the recipe from Delish.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19

Nutella Chocolate Cake

Food, Cuisine, Buttercream, Cake, Chocolate cake, Dish, Dessert, Icing, Frozen dessert, Baked goods,
Courtesy of Life, Love, and Sugar

The ingredients are pretty phenomenal on their own, so you know this cake is crazy good.

Get the recipe from Life, Love, and Sugar.

20

Candy Cane Chocolate Cake

Food, Sweetness, Dessert, Ingredient, Red, Confectionery, Candy, Dishware, Stick candy, Party supply,
Courtesy of Sugar Hero

Santa, if we leave this cake out for you, we're expecting something BIG in return.

Get the recipe from Sugar Hero.

Watch Next 
preview for Meals & Cooking
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below