Easter Cakes - Cooking Light

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Our Best Easter Cakes

Give your Easter meal a sweet finishing touch with one of our beautiful and delicious Easter cakes. Lemon, coconut, carrot, or classic vanilla—we have recipes to please all of your dinner guests' early spring cravings.

We'll start you off with stunning Fresh Coconut Cake. Fresh toasted coconut flakes give a fluffy and flavorful topping. If your coconut water does not measure 1 cup (8 fluid ounces), add enough tap water so the liquid measures 1 cup. Even though fresh coconut is sublime, you can use Goya brand coconut water in place of fresh coconut water and buy coconut flakes in the baking aisle. A cooked Italian-meringue does big-time nutritional pinch-hitting for a high-fat cream-based frosting.

View Recipe: Fresh Coconut Cake

Photo: Randy Mayor

Carrot Cake

This lighter twist on traditional carrot cake features a tender cake packed with grated carrot, juicy pineapple, flaked coconut, and chopped pecans. Cream cheese frosting and a garnish of grated carrot tops the cake.

View Recipe: Carrot Cake

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Glazed Lemon-Blueberry Poppy Seed Bundt Cake

Perfect for an Easter morning brunch, this light cake features sweet, seasonal berries and a lemony glaze. Garnish with ribbons of lemon rind and fresh blueberries.

View Recipe: Glazed Lemon-Blueberry Poppy Seed Bundt Cake

Photo: John Autry

Vanilla Cake with Italian Meringue Frosting

Our Italian meringue covered cake makes a beautiful and festive addition to any Easter celebration. Sweet vanilla cake is light and buttery—it won’t leave guests feeling overindulged.

View Recipe: Vanilla Cake with Italian Meringue Frosting

Photo: Randy Mayor

Strawberry Layer Cake

For a dessert that looks as good as it tastes, this Strawberry Layer Cake is an elegant treat for any occasion. Tip: you can use fresh orange juice instead of Grand Marnier in the cream cheese frosting.

View Recipe: Strawberry Layer Cake

Sour Cream Pound Cake with Rum Glaze

Fool your Easter guests with this Pound Cake Recipe Makeover. The rum glaze puts the yummy-factor over the edge.

View Recipe: Sour Cream Pound Cake with Rum Glaze

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Yellow Butter Cake with Vanilla Meringue Frosting

This recipe is a classic in every way: light, fluffy and moist cake with just a hint of bourbon and vanilla flavor, covered with a traditional meringue buttercream-style frosting. "This is the one thing everyone couldn't stop talking about at taste testing," says Food Editor Ann Taylor Pittman.

View Recipe: Yellow Butter Cake with Vanilla Meringue Frosting

Photo: Randy Mayor

Banana-Raspberry Cake with Lemon Frosting

Mashed ripe banana adds moistness to this springtime cake while a hint of lemon in the cream cheese frosting provides just the right amount of tartness.

View Recipe: Banana-Raspberry Cake with Lemon Frosting

Photo: John Autry

Carrot Cake

Warm spices and brown sugar add rich, caramelized flavors to this carrot cake. If you can't find fromage blanc, use more cream cheese.

View Recipe: Carrot Cake

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Black and White Angel Food Cake

Make your Easter menu memorable by ending on a sweet note like this Black and White Angel Food Cake. Beaten egg whites create the light, airy texture of this classic dessert.

View Recipe: Black and White Angel Food Cake

Photo: Nina Choi

Sponge Cake with Orange Curd and Strawberries

Matzo and almond flour sponge cake is delightful—floral and sweet, with lemon, orange, and tangy berries. This cake is a winner.

View Recipe: Sponge Cake with Orange Curd and Strawberries

Photo: Johnny Autry

Canola Oil Pound Cake with Browned Butter Glaze

Heart-healthy canola oil helps lighten this classic dessert. And an ingenious technique of soaking a vanilla bean in the oil adds deep, rich flavor. Serve this as a sweet finish to a delicious Easter dinner.

View Recipe: Canola Oil Pound Cake with Browned Butter Glaze