There’s nothing more impressive than a layer cake piled high, with soft sponge cake, creamy fillings and delicious frosting and fruits. Here, we’ve gathered our most breathtaking layer cake recipes that are perfect for celebrations and special gatherings. With everything from rich chocolate desserts to ice-cream cakes, there’s a recipe for every taste. We’ve included gluten-free options too, so no one misses out.
Whether for a birthday, Christmas, Mother’s Day or just because, we hope you enjoy these delightful layer cake recipes!
Looking for more birthday cake recipes? Or a collection of gluten-free cakes?
How to cut even cake layers
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To level the top of the cake, you’ll want to use a finely serrated knife.
Hold the knife horizontal and using a gentle sawing action, trim just enough cake to level the top.
To split the cake, place toothpicks to mark the half-way point around the middle of the cake.
Holding the knife horizontally, cut the cake in half and gently lift the top layer off.
Your cake is now ready to be filled and decorated, and whether you want a rich chocolate ganache or classic jam and cream centre, this trick will allow you to create even cake layers every time.
Apple carrot cake
Carrot cake is made even better with the addition of grated apple.
Julie Goodwin’s coffee cake with walnuts
With rich walnut and coffee cake layers and lashings of coffee butter cream, it’s the sweetest way to get your caffeine fix.
Vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream
A three-layer celebration cake from our Test Kitchen Collection.
Julie Goodwin’s Peach Melba cake
Inspired by the classic dessert.
Best ever sponge cake
A classic from our Test Kitchen Collection.
Pistachio and rosewater layer cake
A gorgeous and impressive cake featuring classic Middle Eastern flavours.
Never-fail moist chocolate cake
The perfect celebration cake. Change up the decorations for birthdays, Easter and more.
How to make a hot milk sponge cake
A stunning celebration cake.
Chocolate sponge cake
A classic with a twist.
Black Forest cake
Not a cake for the kids, which means more for the grownups!
Chocolate buttermilk ombre cake
This decadent chocolate cake is moist with a not-too-rich chocolate flavour that works well with the dramatic three-chocolate flavoured buttercreams.
Victoria sponge cake
This simple cake is impressive in its simplicity.
Gluten-free strawberries and cream layer cake
The classic combination of strawberries and cream.
Raspberry dream cake
A stunning celebration cake.
8-layer choc-hazelnut biscuit cake
A celebration cake with a difference.
Orange and fennel seed pound cake
Satisfy your sweet cravings with this delicious orange and fennel seed pound cake. It’s packed full of floral, citrus flavours that go perfectly with your morning or afternoon cuppa!
Black forest mud cake
This cake is an absolute winner. We’ve used maraschino cherries here, you can use fresh or canned cherries, if you like. Maraschino cherries are available from gourmet food stores and good delicatessens.
Rose and pistachio layer cake
Perfect for Mother’s Day, birthdays, or special afternoon teas.
Pumpkin spice cake with maple frosting
This is a complex and very adult cake that makes an ideal dessert for a special dinner party, or as the centrepiece for a significant celebration.
Feather sponge cake with passionfruit icing
A classic cake that’s perfect for your next morning tea.
Lemon layer cake with lemon mascarpone frosting
It’s simply the zest!
Five-layer chocolate espresso cake
Layers and layers of rich indulgent cake.
Raspberry cranberry chiffon cake
It’s important to not grease the tube pan, the cake mixture needs to cling to the pan as it rises during the baking process. Tube pans are large smooth-sided ring pans with small “feet” to support the inverted pan while the cake cools. If the cake doesn’t drop from the pan when it becomes cold, […]
Churros cake with chocolate ganache and dulce de leche
A fabulous fusion layer cake.
Tim Tam layer cake
Topped with white and milk chocolate shards, Tim Tams and a layer of whipped cream cheese icing, this decadent Aussie cake is sure to impress your friends and family. Make it for a spectacular birthday treat or to indulge that sweet tooth over the weekend. Looking for more layer cake recipes? Store in an airtight […]
Coconut banana layer cake
Topped with fresh banana and passionfruit pulp, this layered cake is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings.
Golden Gaytime cake
For lovers of the classic Aussie ice-cream!
Double-decker mud cake
Layers and layers of indulgence.
Carrot layer cake with peach and ginger
One impressive cake!
Mixed berry coconut layer cake
A layer cake for all to enjoy.
Gluten-free mixed berry and vanilla sponge layer cake
No-one should miss out on cake.
Lamington cream layer cake
The classic Australian lamington gets a mega-sized makeover for this delicious giant layer cake.
Banana caramel layer cake
Create a heavenly volcano with thick, sweet caramel oozing out of this gorgeously layered creamy banana cake. It’s sure to dazzle at a birthday party.
Six-layer chocolate cake
When it comes to chocolate cake – you can never have enough layers!
Zucchini layer cake with honeyed figs
Beautiful honeyed figs provide the finishing touch to this three-layer zucchini cake. Serve with an extra drizzle of honey for a dessert guaranteed to impress.
Brown sugar caramel sponge
The ultimate afternoon tea cake.
Layered banana butterscotch cake
You need about 7 overripe medium bananas for this recipe. Note
Malted hazelnut layer cake
This surprisingly simple celebration cake uses some crafty shortcuts so you can get all the decadence with none of the drama.
Triple-chocolate crackle crunch cake
This triple chocolate cake recipe is features a deliciously crunchy chocolate crackle-inspired topping.
Oreo cake
Treat yourself with this decadent cookies and cream cake.
Poppy seed & hazelnut layer cake with raspberry mascarpone
Nutty poppyseed and hazelnut sponge sandwiched between layers of sweet, thickened mascarpone and fresh, bright raspberries drizzled with dark chocolate ganache.
Lemon and earl grey chiffon syrup cake
Variation; for an orange blossom and mint tea syrup cake, omit the french earl grey tea in the cake and instead add 1 tablespoon orange blossom water with the lemon juice in step 3. Omit the earl grey syrup and instead make ‘orange blossom and mint tea syrup’. Serve the cake drizzled with syrup. Note
Layered pretty in pink drip cake
Made using store-bought ingredients with no cooking required, this spectacular celebration cake is just perfect for your next big ‘do!
Caramel mud layer cake
Decorated with an easy ‘naked’ butter cream frosting, vienna almonds and a sprinkle of edible flowers, this four-layer caramel mud cake will make an eye-catching centrepiece at any event. Simply stunning!
Pomegranate and rose petal sponge cake
This show-stopping cake is the perfect dessert to make when entertaining dinner guests. Super-fluffy sponge cake goes beautifully with a creamy rose filling and zesty pomegranate icing.
Coconut & mascarpone dacquoise cake
This cake is lovely served at Christmas time or for birthday celebrations.
Chocolate mascarpone layer cake
The irresistible layers of light choc-hazelnut cake, a rich mascarpone cream and a decadent milk chocolate ganache makes this show-stopping dessert worthy of any celebration. Recipe brought to you by Lindt.
Rainbow layer cake
A stunning cake for your next party, family gathering or celebration!
Coffee mousse layered chocolate naked cake
Attention all coffee and chocolate lovers! This coffee mousse layered chocolate naked cake is a little slice of food heaven – simply irresistible.
Mini rose pink ombre cakes
Sweet, cute and delicious. These mini rose pink ombre cakes are perfect for any special occasion, or to simply bake over the weekend!
Summertime layer cake
In the mood for something sweet? Indulge in this heavenly summertime layer cake full of sweet fruit and cream cheese icing.
Strawberry and passionfruit mile-high layer cake
Get creative with this delectable strawberry and passionfruit mile-high layer cake – super tasty and pretty as a picture!
Rich rocky road mousse cake
Indulge your sweet tooth with this decadent rocky road mousse cake. One slice and you’ll be taken to dessert heaven…
Pink velvet cake
Fluffy rose-pink cake dressed in a sinful mascarpone frosting, this dessert is almost too pretty to eat. Almost!
Frosted raspberry and passionfruit layer cake
This mile-high frosted layer cake, stuffed with raspberries and passionfruit, makes a real statement and a stunning centrepiece for any celebration.
Chocolate layer cake
There’s no cake like an chocolate layer cake, and this one will be sure to turn heads when presented at any party.
Candied citrus cake
candied citrus Combine sugar and the water in a large frying pan. Stir over low heat, without boiling, until sugar dissolves; add orange and lime slices. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes, turning slices occasionally. Remove from heat; cool slices on a wire rack. filling Beat ingredients in a […]
Strawberries and cream sponge layer cake
A light and fluffy strawberries and cream sponge cake with visually stunning layers.
Raspberry and almond mascarpone cake
The raspberry and almond cake can be made a day ahead, then split and fill the cake with mascarpone cream on the day of serving.
Zuppa inglese
Layers of delicious.
