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Southern cakes are famous for a reason: they’re pretty much the best cakes you’ll ever eat, and most of them are fairly easy to make. I’ve put together a collection here of some of my favorites. You’ll find caramel cake with cooked icing, red velvet cake, Mississippi mud, five different pound cakes, and a few sheet cakes.

Every one of these feeds at least ten people. The sheet cakes and the dump cake are the easiest, mixed in one bowl and baked in a 9×13 pan. The pound cakes and layer cakes take a little more time, but none of them are too complicated.

1
A slice of strawberry jello cake topped with a thin layer of pink frosting and a strawberry slice on a white plate, with a gold fork beside it.
Strawberry Jell-o Cake Recipe
Classic strawberry sheet cake with strawberry Jell-o and a tangy strawberry frosting.
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2
Slices of pound cake on a plate.
Southern Cream Cheese Pound Cake
This cream cheese pound cake is perfect every time, with a buttery, moist, and tender crumb.
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3
Side of a whole caramel cake on a white cake stand.
Caramel Cake Recipe (Southern Style)
Southern caramel cake with homemade caramel icing from butter, sugar, and cream. This is a classic, favorite family recipe.
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4
A slice of red velvet cake with three layers and white cream cheese frosting on a white plate, with a fork and red napkin in the background.
Southern Red Velvet Cake Recipe
A guide to making the best red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. It's tender, moist, and always delicious.
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5
A piece of chocolate cake with gooey chocolate frosting and marshmallow topping on a white plate.
Easy Mississippi Mud Cake Recipe
This easy Mississippi mud cake recipe is made the old-fashioned way with marshmallows and a fudgy frosting.
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6
A square piece of chocolate Coca-Cola cake with rich chocolate frosting sits on a white plate, while the rest of the cake rests in a glass dish in the background.
Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake
Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake: old-fashioned chocolate cake made with Coca-Cola–it’s rich, moist, and delicious!
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7
A slice of chocolate sheet cake with chocolate icing on a white plate, with a baking tray and a glass of milk in the background.
Chocolate Sheet Cake Recipe
A rich, classic chocolate sheet cake with buttermilk, made with extra cocoa and butter and ready in under an hour.
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8
A slice of moist yellow cake on a plate with the whole cake in the background with chocolate frosting.
Moist Yellow Cake Recipe
Moist yellow cake recipe that gives you perfect results every time! No more wondering how your cake will turn out — this recipe is easy and delicious! And you can use it for a layer cake or cupcakes.
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9
A slice of two-layer carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and chopped walnuts on a white plate.
Carrot Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
Spiced carrot cake topped with rich cream cheese frosting that’s perfect for any celebration or cozy treat.
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10
A slice of banana pudding cake with creamy filling, frosted with white icing, and topped with vanilla wafer cookies and a mint leaf.
Banana Pudding Layer Cake
This Banana Pudding Cake blends rich banana flavor, creamy filling, and fluffy frosting for a crowd-pleasing, unforgettable dessert.
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11
Two pieces of easy peanut butter cake on a white plate with the whole cake in the background.
Easy Peanut Butter Cake
A tender, moist, easy peanut butter cake made in one bowl and ready in about forty-five minutes. This peanut butter cake is a great after school snack.
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12
A peanut butter pound cake topped with chocolate glaze and chopped peanut butter cups sits on a wooden cake stand.
Peanut Butter Pound Cake
Peanut Butter Pound Cake topped with chocolate glaze and crumbled Reese’s peanut butter cups.
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13
A cherry loaf cake with pink icing, topped with fresh cherries and surrounded by small pink flowers.
Cherry Pound Cake Recipe
A moist, buttery Cherry Pound Cake loaded with fresh cherries and finished with a sweet cherry glaze and sauce.
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14
Easy Lemon Pound Cake with Lemon Glaze is a simple recipe using the Cream Cheese Pound Cake base and adding a zesty lemony glaze—it's fresh, pretty, and lip-smacking good!
Lemon Pound Cake with Lemon Glaze
Easy Lemon Pound Cake with Lemon Glaze is a simple recipe using the Cream Cheese Pound Cake base and adding a zesty lemony glaze—it’s fresh, pretty, and lip-smacking good!
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15
A slice of blackberry cake with chunks of blackberries inside, topped with a pink glaze and fresh blackberries.
Lemon Blackberry Pound Cake
Lemon Blackberry Pound Cake is filled with fresh blueberries and lemon zest, making a gorgeous and delicious cake.
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16
A bowl of vanilla ice cream topped with caramelized peaches and a slice of pound cake, with a spoon on the side.
Toasted Cream Cheese Pound Cake
Buttered and toasted slices of cream cheese pound cake topped with peaches or other fruit alongside a dollop of vanilla ice cream–divine and delicious!
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17
Salted Caramel Sheet Cake is a moist and easy cake with a homemade caramel frosting. If you're feeding a crowd, you'll have a happy party!
Salted Caramel Sheet Cake
Salted Caramel Sheet Cake is a moist and easy cake with a homemade caramel frosting. Great for feeding a crowd!
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18
A slice of strawberry bundt cake with pink icing on a white plate, garnished with fresh strawberries, and a fork beside it.
Strawberry Bundt Cake Recipe
A gorgeous and easy strawberry bundt cake that's just right for your celebrations.
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19
A fresh strawberry cake with a frosted layer, filled and topped with strawberries, is beautifully displayed on a light blue cake stand.
Fresh Strawberry Cake
A moist yellow cake infused with fresh strawberries, filled with a strawberry-lemon jam, and covered with a strawberry cream cheese frosting.
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20
A close-up of a slice of red velvet cake with white icing dripping over the top, set on a white surface.
Red Velvet Bundt Cake
A moist, vibrant Red Velvet Bundt Cake with a cream cheese glaze is simple to make and perfect for celebrations or special occasions!
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21
A serving of cherry pineapple dump cake topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and sprinkled with chopped nuts, on a white plate.
Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake Recipe
An easy five-ingredient dump cake with crushed pineapple, cherry pie filling, and a buttery yellow cake topping. Ten minutes of prep, one pan.
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22
A slice of key lime icebox cake with cream and graham crackers, topped with lime zest, sits on a white plate with a fork beside it.
Key Lime Icebox Cake Recipe
A no-bake key lime icebox cake with layers of graham crackers and a tangy cream cheese, condensed milk, and key lime filling, chilled until the crackers soften into sliceable layers.
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About the author

Hi, I’m Lucy! I’m a home cook, writer, food and wine fanatic, and recipe developer. I’ve created and tested hundreds of recipes so that I can bring you the best tried and true favorites.

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