Baking cakes can be a time-consuming endeavor, but it doesn’t need to be that way. This list of lazy cakes offers easy recipes to make when you don’t have the time or the energy to make something fancier. Luckily, all of these recipes produce cakes that taste like you spent hours in the kitchen, and we have one for every kind of party. From rich chocolate cakes to dump cakes to strawberry shortcakes, there’s something for every taste bud.
One Bowl Chocolate Cake
Morgan Glaze / Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Stylist: Pricilla Montiel
“This homemade chocolate cake recipe is super easy to prepare in one bowl for a deliciously moist and fluffy chocolate cake,” says Allrecipes member shirleyo. “This is the best chocolate cake I have ever had! Frost with your favorite frosting.”
No-Bake Oreo Cheesecake
Rachel Marek / Food Stylist: Addelyn Evans / Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
“I am not an Oreo cookie lover, and I normally do not like cheesecake with anything in it, BUT, this was excellent!” says reviewer Tucson8. “I would make this again!”
Cinnamon Roll Dump Cake
“This dump cake recipe takes advantage of not one, but three store-bought items for an easy homemade dessert,” says recipe developer Julia Levy. “Canned cinnamon rolls are topped with ready-made cream cheese frosting and a box of cinnamon swirl coffee cake mix tops it off all in one 9- by 13-inch pan. Make sure to cover every bit of the cake mix is covered with butter—this provides the moisture it needs to cook properly.”
Gooey Butter Cake
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“Wow! What a hit. Absolutely decadent,” says reviewer Drea. “Where has butter cake been all my life? I’m in heaven. I even shared with four neighbors, and they couldn’t believe how amazing it was. So simple, yet so good.”
Zebra Cake
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“So easy and so delicious! I make it just as written, and there’s never a crumb left! But my one daughter doesn’t like chocolate, so I made a few with vanilla wafers for her and they were pretty good too,” says reviewer Sue. “I’m a chocaholic, so I will always prefer the original recipe but for those, like my daughter, who either don’t like it or are allergic to it, the vanilla wafers offer a good alternative.”
Banana Pudding Poke Cake
Allrecipes / Julia Hartbeck
“A moist, yummy poke cake that tastes just like banana pudding!” says Allrecipes member Madicakes. “Add some sliced bananas, dipped in lemon juice to prevent browning, layered on top of the whipped topping. Great for potlucks!”
Easy Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This chocolate mug cake is made in the microwave for a fudgy, chocolaty treat that is truly decadent,” says Allrecipes member safinabakes1231. “It’s a great recipe for nights when I need a yummy dessert that’s ready in less than 10 minutes! Add a few chocolate chips to make it extra rich and gooey.”
Cornflake Corn Cake
Chef John
Chef John’s cornflake corn cake recipe makes a moister, sweeter version of cornbread using one surprising ingredient: cornflakes. It’s a cake with an amazing texture. Serve with fresh fruit or a fruit sauce.
Éclair Cake
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This éclair cake is a very quick and simple no-bake dessert. It uses graham crackers and a pudding mixture. It tastes just like an éclair, but there is enough for a crowd!” says Allrecipes member Cathy Gordon. “It’s a great recipe for children who are learning to cook since there is no baking involved or any power kitchen tools. Just a bowl and a spoon!”
Whole Lemon Blender Cake
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“I’m impressed by how simple this was to mix, a blessing when I have arthritis flares,” says Allrecipes member Hecate. “Only added more fresh lemon juice to the glaze. Perfect recipe.”
Apple Dump Cake
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This apple dump cake was one of the first things I made when I was learning to bake, and I still make it for parties,” says Allrecipes member Marya “Marta” Krause. “It calls for just three ingredients, is super quick and easy to make, and is a real crowd-pleaser. A dollop of vanilla ice cream tops it very well.”
Wacky Cake
lutzflcat
“Wacky cake is made without milk or eggs and is a moist, dark, and delicious chocolate cake,” says Allrecipes member Mary Knipe. “A brainchild of the Depression era when ingenious cooks developed a cake that could be made without expensive and scarce ingredients. Frost with your favorite icing.”
2-Ingredient Pumpkin Cake
Allrecipes / Julia Hartbeck
“My guests loved it!” says one reviewer. “They could not believe it had only two ingredients. I did frost with store-bought whipped cream cheese frosting.”
Oma’s Cottage Cheesecake
Kim
“This really surprised me with it’s excellence. It has the texture of cheesecake, the look of cheesecake, and the flavor of cheesecake but a fraction of the fat,” says reviewer LittleCahoona. “You could eat the whole thing yourself and not be sick!”
One Bowl Chocolate Cake
Morgan Glaze / Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Stylist: Pricilla Montiel
This homemade chocolate cake recipe is super easy to prepare in one bowl for a deliciously moist and fluffy chocolate cake. This is the best chocolate cake I have ever had! Frost with your favorite frosting.
Sweet Cornbread Cake
“I have been searching for a great recipe using cornmeal. Not one cornmeal muffin or cake recipe I have come across has turned out great let alone tasted great. But this. Totally a winner! So good!!!” —Renee Khmoro
Sad Cake
“This cake is called sad cake because the cake looks sad. It actually “falls” during baking and is a flat cake,” says Allrecipes member Sandra E. “It may be sad looking, but it is moist, chewy, and sweet. It does not need frosting.”
The Original Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
“I made this for a “Happy First Day of School” treat. It was easy to make and turned out great! I kept the leftovers for snack bars. I am overall very pleased with the taste. The consistency is somewhere between a cookie and a bar.” —Beth Hernandez
Easy Strawberry Shortcake
Lela
“This recipe shows you how to make an easy strawberry shortcake that’s perfect for a quick dessert,” says Allrecipes member Amy Trombley. “If you love strawberries and shortcake, this recipe is for you!”
Crazy Cake
My Hot Southern Mess
“This cake has been a family favorite since I was a kid. It’s also versatile,” says one reviewer. “In the past, I’ve tweaked the recipe to make spice cakes and vanilla cakes. Today’s chocolate version will include peanut butter buttercream.”
Easy Rum Cake
Allrecipes/Qi Ai
“I make this recipe ‘as-is’ and it is ALWAYS a hit!” says reviewer malmbr. “I’ve also tried it with chocolate cake mix (chocolate fudge, not devil’s food) and chocolate pudding, and it was just as delicious and popular.”
Peach Jello Dump Cake
“If you love peaches, you will love this cake made with peach Jell-O and cake mix,” says Allrecipes member GERONEMO. “My grandmother used to make it for Sunday dinner.”
Super Duper Easy Apple Cake
Yoly
“Absolutely delicious!” says reviewer maluchic86. “I actually replaced some of the oil/butter called for in the cake mix recipe with applesauce—intensifies the flavor and makes this cake so moist, it melts in your mouth.”
Quesadilla Salvadoreña
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“Quesadilla Salvadoreña is a moist, sweet, pound cake,” says Allrecipes member POSTRES de La Cipota. “The key to this recipe is using good quality Parmesan cheese. Buen provecho!”
Chocolate Cherry Cake
Photographer: Kelsey Hansen / Food Styling: Holly Dreesman / Prop Styling: Gabe Greco
“This is the best thing I’ve ever made as far as a quick box cake recipe. I’ve been making this for years,” says Laura M Haberman. “I add almond extract to the cake. Gives it a really good flavor.”