17 cakes that are so easy you could probably bake them in your sleep

Baking feels a lot more doable when the recipe doesn’t ask for much thinking or second-guessing. These 17 cakes keep things simple with straightforward steps and ingredients you don’t have to hunt down. I lean on recipes like these when I want something homemade without turning it into a project. They’re the kind of bakes you can rely on even when your brain is already done for the day.

Slices of chocolate pistachio cake. — No-Bake Chocolate Pistachio Cake. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Gluten-Free Apple Cake

A plate of apple pie with a slice taken out of it. — Gluten-Free Apple Cake. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Gluten-Free Apple Cake bakes in about 50 minutes with apples, flour, eggs, and sugar forming a moist, structured cake. The texture is soft but holds together when sliced, and the flavor is sweet with a mild apple note. It stays stable and serves easily without crumbling.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Apple Cake

Apple Olive Oil Cake

Apple cinnamon bundt cake. — Apple Olive Oil Cake. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Apple Olive Oil Cake bakes in about 50 minutes with apples, olive oil, flour, and eggs forming a tender, cohesive cake. The texture is soft with a slight density, and the flavor is mildly sweet with a subtle richness. It holds together well after cooling.
Get the Recipe: Apple Olive Oil Cake

Gluten Free Almond Eclair Cake

A layered almond pastry cake with cream filling, drizzled with white icing and topped with sliced almonds. — Gluten Free Almond Eclair Cake. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Gluten Free Almond Eclair Cake sets in about 4 hours with layers of cream, almonds, and cake forming a structured dessert. The texture is soft but sliceable, and the flavor is sweet with a nutty finish. It holds shape well when chilled.
Get the Recipe: Gluten Free Almond Eclair Cake

Blueberry Polenta Cake

A slice of blueberry cake with vanilla ice cream on top, served on a plate with a spoon. — Blueberry Polenta Cake. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Blueberry Polenta Cake bakes in about 45 minutes with blueberries, polenta, flour, and eggs forming a sturdy cake. The texture is tender with a slight grain, and the flavor is sweet with a mild tartness. It holds together well for slicing.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Polenta Cake

Vegan Chocolate Orange Cake With Chocolate Buttercream Frosting And Candied Orange Slices

Vegan Chocolate Orange Cake With Chocolate Buttercream Frosting And Candied Orange Slices bakes in about 1 hour with cocoa, orange, flour, and frosting forming a layered cake. The texture is soft and cohesive, and the flavor is rich with a citrus note. It holds structure well when sliced.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Chocolate Orange Cake With Chocolate Buttercream Frosting And Candied Orange Slices

Strawberry Sheet Cake Recipe With Strawberry Sauce

A slice of cake topped with strawberry sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream sits on a white plate, with a halved fresh strawberry beside it. A baking tray and whole strawberries are in the background. — Strawberry Sheet Cake Recipe With Strawberry Sauce. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Strawberry Sheet Cake Recipe With Strawberry Sauce bakes in about 40 minutes with strawberries, flour, eggs, and sauce forming a moist, easy-to-serve cake. The texture is soft but stable, and the flavor is sweet with a fruit-forward finish. It slices cleanly and holds together well.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Sheet Cake Recipe With Strawberry Sauce

Pumpkin “Better Than Sex” Cake

A square slice of nut-topped cake with icing on a white plate, next to a wooden spoon and blue napkin. — Pumpkin “Better Than Sex” Cake. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Pumpkin “Better Than Sex” Cake bakes in about 45 minutes with pumpkin, cake mix, and topping forming a dense, moist cake. The texture is soft with a slightly rich finish, and the flavor is sweet with warm spice. It holds together well when served.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin “Better Than Sex” Cake

Gluten-free Gingerbread Cake

A festive loaf cake topped with whipped cream, gingerbread cookies, and sprigs of rosemary. — Gluten-free Gingerbread Cake. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Gluten-free Gingerbread Cake bakes in about 45 minutes with molasses, flour, spices, and eggs forming a firm, sliceable cake. The texture is soft but structured, and the flavor is warm with a mild sweetness. It holds shape well after cooling.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-free Gingerbread Cake

Gluten-Free White Chocolate Lava Cake With Raspberries

A spoonful of raspberry bread pudding on a plate. — Gluten-Free White Chocolate Lava Cake With Raspberries. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Gluten-Free White Chocolate Lava Cake With Raspberries cooks in about 20 minutes with white chocolate, eggs, and raspberries forming a soft-centered cake. The texture is firm outside with a molten interior, and the flavor is sweet with a slight tartness. It holds shape when served immediately.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free White Chocolate Lava Cake With Raspberries

Easy Air Fryer Biscoff Cake

A partially sliced cake with light brown frosting and crumbled Lotus Biscoff cookies on top, displayed on a white cake stand. A blue cup sits in the background. — Easy Air Fryer Biscoff Cake. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Easy Air Fryer Biscoff Cake cooks in about 25 minutes with Biscoff spread, flour, eggs, and sugar forming a compact cake. The texture is soft with a slightly dense crumb, and the flavor is sweet with a caramel note. It holds together well for slicing.
Get the Recipe: Easy Air Fryer Biscoff Cake

Red, White, and Blue Angel Food Cake with Strawberries and Blueberries

A Bundt cake topped with powdered sugar, fresh strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries sits on a white plate. — Red, White, and Blue Angel Food Cake with Strawberries and Blueberries. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Red, White, and Blue Angel Food Cake with Strawberries and Blueberries takes about 1 hour with egg whites, berries, and sugar forming a light, structured cake. The texture is airy but holds shape, and the flavor is sweet with fresh fruit. It serves cleanly without collapsing.
Get the Recipe: Red, White, and Blue Angel Food Cake with Strawberries and Blueberries

Peach Dump Cake Recipe (With Yellow Cake Mix!)

A serving of peach cobbler topped with whipped cream on a decorative plate with a spoon. — Peach Dump Cake Recipe (With Yellow Cake Mix!). Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Peach Dump Cake Recipe (With Yellow Cake Mix!) bakes in about 45 minutes with peaches, cake mix, and butter forming a thick, spoonable dessert. The texture is soft with a slightly crisp top, and the flavor is sweet with a fruit base. It holds consistency well after resting.
Get the Recipe: Peach Dump Cake Recipe (With Yellow Cake Mix!)

Raspberry and White Chocolate Molten Lava Cake

A fork holds a piece of cake above a white plate with a partially eaten slice of cake topped with raspberries. More raspberries and crumbs are scattered on a wooden board in the background. — Raspberry and White Chocolate Molten Lava Cake. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Raspberry and White Chocolate Molten Lava Cake cooks in about 20 minutes with white chocolate, raspberries, and eggs forming a soft-centered cake. The texture is firm outside with a molten middle, and the flavor is sweet with a tart contrast. It holds shape when served warm.
Get the Recipe: Raspberry and White Chocolate Molten Lava Cake

Gluten-Free Honey Cake

Overhead view of bread pudding. — Gluten-Free Honey Cake. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Gluten-Free Honey Cake bakes in about 50 minutes with honey, flour, eggs, and spices forming a moist, structured cake. The texture is soft but holds together well, and the flavor is sweet with a mild depth. It slices cleanly after cooling.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Honey Cake

A large chocolate chip cookie baked in a cast iron skillet, topped with white frosting and red, white, and blue sprinkles, viewed from above on a white surface. — Cast Iron Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Cast Iron Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake bakes in about 30 minutes with chocolate chips, flour, butter, and sugar forming a thick, sliceable dessert. The texture is soft with a slightly crisp edge, and the flavor is rich and sweet. It holds together well when served.
Get the Recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

Paleo Orange Cranberry Cake

Paleo Orange Cranberry Cake bakes in about 45 minutes with cranberries, orange, and almond flour forming a firm, sliceable cake. The texture is tender with a slight density, and the flavor is sweet with a tart citrus note. It holds shape well after cooling.
Get the Recipe: Paleo Orange Cranberry Cake

No-Bake Chocolate Pistachio Cake

No-Bake Chocolate Pistachio Cake sets in about 2 hours with chocolate, pistachios, and biscuits forming a dense, sliceable dessert. The texture is firm with a slight crunch, and the flavor is rich with a nutty finish. It holds together well when chilled.
Get the Recipe: No-Bake Chocolate Pistachio Cake