40 Essential (and Delicious) Cake Recipes

There's something so special about baking a cake from scratch. (There's a reason a few of our most popular recipes of all time are cakes, after all.) Whether you need a baking project or have something to celebrate, there's a cake recipe calling, from

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dustin

3/4 teaspoon fine salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup vegetable shortening, at room temperature

2 1/2 cups granulated sugar

4 large eggs, at room temperature

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Glaze

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon unsalted butter, melted

Pinch of fine salt

Directions

Make the cake

Preheat the oven to 325°. Generously butter a 10-inch Bundt pan and dust with flour. In a medium bowl, whisk the 3 1/2 cups of flour with the salt and baking soda.

2 step
In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, beat the 1 1/2 sticks of butter with the shortening at medium-high speed until smooth. Add the granulated sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. At medium speed, beat in the eggs 1 at a time until just incorporated, then beat in the vanilla; scrape down the side of the bowl. Beat in the dry ingredients and buttermilk in 3 alternating batches, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. At low speed, beat in the lemon juice.

3 step

Scrape the batter into the prepared Bundt pan and use a spatula to smooth the surface. Bake in the middle of the oven for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through baking, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the cake cool on a rack for 30 minutes, then turn it out on a platter or cake stand to cool completely.

Make the Glaze

In a medium bowl, whisk the confectioners' sugar with the lemon zest, lemon juice, butter and salt until smooth. Drizzle the glaze overthe top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides. Let stand for 20 minutes until the glaze is set. Cut the cake into wedges and serve.