Old Fashioned Desserts

31 Old Fashioned Cake Recipes Inspired by Grandma’s Kitchen

Forget trendy desserts – nothing beats the simple, satisfying flavors of grandma’s baking. Dive into 31 old-fashioned cake recipes that prove butter, sugar, and love are the ultimate ingredients. Think vintage cakes are too complicated? Think again! These recipes are surprisingly easy to follow, making them perfect for every kind of baker.

grid of 6 vintage cake recipes

From fruit-filled treats to classic layer cakes, this collection of classic desserts has something for everyone.

A classic carrot cake with two layers, each generously filled and topped with creamy white frosting. The cake has visible shreds of carrot and is decorated with chopped walnuts around the sides. Slices are neatly arranged on a round white plate.

Classic Layered Carrot Cake

This two-layer carrot cake is made with coconut, pineapple chunks, and shredded carrots. It is topped off with a delicious cream cheese frosting.

A moist yellow cake with a thick layer of chocolate icing, shown with a large slice removed to reveal the tender, crumbly texture inside. The top has a slightly cracked, glossy finish.

Farmer’s Daughter Cake

An easy vanilla cake topped with a unique old-fashioned chocolate icing that pours on top and firms up to form a delicious chocolate coating.

A square piece of spiced applesauce cake with a light and fluffy cream cheese frosting on top. The cake has a dense, moist texture with a golden-brown color and visible specks of spices.

Spiced Applesauce Cake

A simple and cozy Applesauce Cake filled with warm spices and applesauce. Top with cinnamon cream cheese frosting, powdered sugar, or honey.

A ring-shaped bundt cake generously coated with white icing and topped with shredded coconut. The cake is shown on a white plate with a slice removed to reveal its soft, yellow interior.

Coconut Lemon Bundt

A moist pound cake made with everyday ingredients and topped with an extra simple icing of lemon juice and powdered sugar then sprinkled with sweetened coconut.

A square slice of vintage lazy daisy cake with a moist, light yellow sponge base and a caramelized coconut topping. The topping has a golden-brown, slightly crunchy appearance.

Vintage Lazy Daisy Cake

Vintage Lazy Daisy Cake is a buttery yellow cake layer with a broiled coconut topping. A true old-fashioned favorite that is absolutely delicious.

A rich, chocolate bundt cake with a shiny chocolate glaze and a single cherry on top. A large slice is cut, revealing the moist, dark chocolate interior.

Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake

A moist and rich chocolate mayonnaise cake recipe featuring extra velvety chocolate mayonnaise frosting. This cake is loaded with a rich flavor and tasty, moist texture. It is a delicious dessert to bake up any time of year.

A classic Victoria sandwich cake with two layers of light, airy sponge filled with a thick layer of whipped cream and raspberry jam. The top is dusted with powdered sugar.

Classic Victoria Sandwich Cake

Looking for an old-fashioned cake recipe that’s not American? A classic Victoria sandwich cake is a staple in tea rooms across the United Kingdom. You can make it in your kitchen with this easy recipe, too!

A traditional fruit cake decorated with whole blanched almonds arranged in a circular pattern on top. The cake has a deep brown color and is presented with a red ribbon around it, placed on a festive plate.

Old Fashioned Fruit Cake

This old-fashioned fruit cake is the author’s great-grandmother’s recipe. It is easy to make and makes a great morning or afternoon tea.

A small bundt cake with a smooth caramel glaze dripping down the sides. A slice is removed, showing the moist, yellow cake inside.

Southern Caramel Bundt Cake

This caramel bundt cake has the same classic, sweet taste you know and love, just in a different shape. Tender cake and sweet buttery icing are the perfect combination for a special dessert.

A tall, fluffy vanilla chiffon cake dusted with powdered sugar. A large slice is cut, revealing the light, airy texture of the cake. The cake is placed on a cooling rack with the slice on a white plate in the foreground.

Vanilla Chiffon Cake

Learn how to make this light and fluffy vanilla chiffon cake with this simple, easy-to-follow recipe! Full of expert tips & tricks to get the perfect chiffon cake that won’t shrink or deflate!

A beautifully arranged strawberry charlotte cake with whole strawberries on top, surrounded by a vertical border of ladyfingers. The ladyfingers are tied with a simple twine string, giving a rustic appearance, and the cake sits on a wooden cake stand.

Strawberry Charlotte

This classic French Strawberry Charlotte Cake (“Charlotte aux Fraises”) makes the most delicious summer dessert. The fresh fruits, the delicate strawberry Bavarian cream, and the homemade Ladyfinger Biscuits create a super light and creamy celebration cake the whole family will love!

A square slice of moist gingerbread cake topped with a thick layer of creamy frosting. The cake has a rich, brown color and a fork is shown with a piece of the cake, emphasizing its soft texture.

Frosted Gingerbread Cake

This gingerbread cake is an old family recipe from the author’s family. It’s mild-flavored, moist, and delicious enough that you want to enjoy it year-round!

A square piece of Texas sheet cake with a dense, chocolate base and a generous layer of chocolate frosting sprinkled with chopped pecans. The cake is displayed on a light-colored marble plate.

Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake

This original Texas sheet cake recipe is easy to make. A thin layer of luscious chocolate cake covered with delicate chocolate icing and topped with toasted pecans. It’s a rich and moist cake and a real crowd-pleaser.

A slice of two-layer spice cake with creamy caramel frosting between the layers and on top. The cake is light brown with visible spices, and the frosting has a smooth, rich texture.

Spice Cake with Caramel Frosting

This easy layered spice cake mixes up quickly and is topped with a simple caramel buttercream: no boiling required!

A light and airy angel food cake displayed on a vintage yellow glass cake stand. A slice is cut and served on a black plate with fresh strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream, showcasing the cake’s spongy texture.

Angel Food Cake

This angel food cake is light, moist, and fluffy. It’s light as air and is essentially fat-free! A true vintage cake.

7up Pound Cake with Citrus Glaze

This classic dessert combines a favorite soda with bright citrusy flavors. Made from scratch the old-fashioned way.

A dark, rich chocolate cake with layers of creamy frosting. The slice shows the moist, dense texture of the cake, with a dark background highlighting its deep chocolate color.

Chocolate Wacky Cake

A chocolate cake from the Great Depression – no eggs, no milk, and only one bowl. Makes a deliciously rich and indulgent cake everyone will love.

A vintage cherry chip cake with pink frosting and decorated with whole maraschino cherries on top. The cake has a light pink hue and a slice is removed, revealing the cherry-filled interior.

Vintage Cherry Chip

This homemade Vintage Cherry Chip Layer Cake made from scratch is bursting with sweet cherry flavor and tinted the perfect shade of pink from nothing other than the maraschino cherry juice from the jar! Chopped-up maraschino cherries are folded into the batter

A round cake with a golden-brown crust and visible blueberries throughout. A hand is shown pouring a white glaze over the cake, adding a sweet finishing touch.

Blueberry Huguenot Church Cake

Huguenot Church Blueberry Brunch Cake is quintessentially old Charleston, this recipe emanates from an 1871 archival reprint from the Huguenot Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

A bundt cake dusted with powdered sugar, with visible blackberries baked into the cake. The cake has a rich, dark color and is placed on a wooden surface, accompanied by fresh blackberries.

Blackberry Bundt Cake

A blackberry Bundt Cake made from scratch and capturing the sweetness of an old-fashioned summer. Fresh berries and plenty of sugar and butter!

A baking pan filled with square pieces of fruit cocktail bake. The cake has a golden-brown color with a crunchy top layer sprinkled with chopped nuts and sugar.

Fruit Cocktail Bake

This Fruit Cocktail Cake is a simple vintage recipe that you may remember Grandma making when you were a child. This vintage recipe is packed with fruit and super moist. Just six ingredients and so easy to make.

A rich and moist chocolate cake with a thick layer of creamy chocolate frosting. The cake is shown in a baking dish with a large piece removed, revealing its dense texture.

Sourdough Chocolate Cake

This easy cake uses cocoa and boiling water for an extra moist, easy cake served right out of the pan.

A square piece of apple dapple cake with a caramel glaze on top, garnished with chopped pecans. The cake has a moist texture with visible apple pieces throughout, and a whole apple is in the background.

Apple Dapple Cake

Apple Dapple Cake is a classic fall cake packed full of warm spices and baked apples which give this vintage cake an incredibly delicious moist texture. The amazing brown butter glaze takes this cake to another level.

A round pineapple upside-down cake with caramelized pineapple rings and cherries on top. The cake has a golden-brown color and is displayed on a pink plate.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Pineapple Upside Down Cake is a Classic Cake recipe that deserves a comeback! Light and airy and full of flavor! Makes for a beautiful special occasion cake because they just aren’t that common these days. Delicious with vanilla ice cream and caramel on top!

A classic lemon pound cake in a bundt shape, drizzled with a smooth white glaze that drips down the sides. The cake is placed on a white cake stand, with fresh lemon slices and a whole lemon beside it.

Lemon Pound Cake

Lemon Pound Cake is wonderfully moist and flavorful, drizzled with lemon icing. Made with lemon zest, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and topped with a tart lemon icing- this is the perfect pound cake for anyone who loves lemon!

A tall, multi-layered strawberry shortcake with layers of golden sponge cake, fresh whipped cream, and sliced strawberries. The cake is topped with whole strawberries and more whipped cream.

Strawberry Shortcake Layer Cake

This beautiful multi-layer strawberry shortcake cake is a family tradition! Easy to make with a soft vanilla cake, fluffy homemade whipped cream, and fresh strawberries.

A round German apple cake with a golden-brown crust and thinly sliced apples arranged in a decorative pattern on top. The cake is on a white plate with a blue checkered cloth in the background.

German Apple Cake

This authentic fancy-looking German Apple Cake is quick and easy to make and results in a flavorful, moist, and buttery cake with tender sliced apples on top.

A hummingbird cake with creamy white frosting, decorated with chopped pecans around the edges. The cake has a moist texture with visible pieces of pineapple and banana inside.

Hummingbird Cake

Hummingbird cake is a flavorful cake made with bananas, pineapple, pecans, and cinnamon. It’s topped with cream cheese frosting. A vintage Southern favorite!

A tall butter pound cake with a slightly cracked top crust, showcasing its rich and dense texture. The cake is garnished with a sprig of fresh mint.

Butter Pound Cake

A classic Old School Southern Butter Pound Cake recipe, Tender and buttery cake with that crusty top we love on pound cakes. This cake it can be dressed up and served in the most elegant and delicious ways!

A slice of moist sour cream chocolate cake with a thick layer of creamy white frosting. A fork is placed next to the cake with a bite taken out, highlighting the cake’s rich texture.

Sour Cream Chocolate Cake

This classic chocolate cake is from scratch and the addition of sour cream makes it extra moist. Topped with the perfect vanilla buttercream, this simple combination never goes out of style.

I hope you enjoyed this vintage cake collection!

Old-Fashion Cake Recipes: Successful and easy preparation. For beginners and professionals. The best recipes designed for every taste.My old fashioned cakes recipe book: Delicious vintage cakes. Vintage desserts cookbook. (Retro recipe books)Yo Mama’s Old Fashioned Teacakes Cookbook and Recipe Journal: She Loves the Tea The Old-Fashioned Hand-Made Sweet Shop Recipe Book: Make Your Own Confectionery with Over 90 Classic Recipes for Irresistible Sweets, Candies and Chocolates, Shown in 450 Stunning Photographs Southern Dessert Cookbook: Over 500 Old Fashioned, Classic & Timeless Desserts (Southern Cooking Recipes)Old-Fashioned East Coast Cookies, Cakes, Pies & Sweets (English and English Edition)

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By Katie Shaw

Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.

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