We've rounded up the most popular cake recipes to make this month - as chosen by you. Click through the 20 top cake recipes on goodtoknow.
There's no time of the year when we don't fancy a bit of cake! May baking is all about fresh fruits and fun summery twists - well the summer's almost here, right?
We've rounded up the most popular cake recipes to make this month - as chosen by you. Click through the 20 top cake recipes on goodtoknow.
Seasonal berries and citrus flavours like lemon, lime and orange give sponges a lovely fresh twist, while cupcake designs and decorations are a great way to have a little fun this May.
So what cake recipe will you be trying? We have 20 delicious ideas for you to choose from. Fancy something chocolaty? Our Maltesers chocolate cake is always a winner! More in a fruity mood? Our cherry and marzipan cake is an all-round crowd-pleaser.
Save all your favourite cake recipes in one place by starting your own online recipe book.
20. Cherry and marzipan cake
Good for: Injecting new flavours into your baking.
Flavours: The super-sweet cherry and marzipan combination will add a dense texture to your sponge.
Time it takes to make: 1hr 15mins
Why we love it: Baking the same old cake can be a little boring. Using cherries in a cake recipe brings a lovely new dimension to your baking - and the sugary marzipan will be a hit with all ages!
Top tip: Cherries are in season this month so they should be a little cheaper in the shops - why not replace the glacé cherries in this recipe with fresh ones?
Get the recipe: Cherry and marzipan cake
19. Rhubarb and ginger cupcakes
Good for: Surprising your guests.
Flavours: Sharp and tangy, the powerful combination of rhubarb and ginger is cooled by the cream cheese frosting.
Time it takes to make: 50 mins
Why we love it: Rhubarb may be a vegetable but the sharpness adds a lovely flavour to your cakes. Teaming it with spicy ginger will ensure your cupcakes pack a powerful punch.
Top tip: If you have any rhubarb compote leftover - save it! It's delicious atop porridge or topped with crumble.
Get the recipe: Rhubarb and ginger cupcakes
18. Strawberry cloud cake
Good for: Giving your desserts a spring twist.
Flavours: The light and fluffy filling is pure strawberry goodness.
Time it takes to make: 20 mins (plus freezing)
Why we love it: Who doesn't love a no-bake cake? This strawberry cake has a light meringue-style texture - simply whip it all together and pop in the freezer!
Top tip: This recipe only requires egg whites but don't throw away the yolks - freeze them in an ice tray to use another time.
Get the recipe: Strawberry cloud cake
17. Apple crumble cupcakes
Good for: Turning a pud into a cake!
Flavours: A fruity apple-filled sponge with a custard buttercream and a crunchy crumble topping.
Time it takes to make: 1hr 5mins
Why we love it: We love apple crumble. We love cupcakes. Why wouldn't we love the two combined? This recipe shows how creative you can be with cupcakes - you really can take inspiration from any of your favourite dishes.
Top tip: You can replace the apple with pear, rhubarb or raspberry for a different flavour crumble.
Get the recipe: Apple crumble cupcakes
16. Honey and raisin loaf cake
Good for: Feeling a little less guilty about having a treat.
Flavours: The dense loaf cake is given a sweet burst of flavour from the honey and raisins.
Time it takes to make: 1hr 25mins
Why we love it: This cakes gets a lot of its sweetness from the honey so the sugar count is quite low. A slice of this cake could make a reasonable breakfast treat - it has fruit in it at least!
Top tip: Add nuts to the mixture for extra protein.
Get the recipe: Honey and raisin loaf cake
15. Eton mess cupcakes
Good for: Parties in the sun.
Flavours: Simple sponges topped with a crunchy meringue, strawberry and cream combination.
Time it takes to make: 45 mins
Why we love it: There's nothing more summery than an Eton mess! This simple topping is an easy way to serve your cupcakes. It'll be perfect for those busy BBQ days.
Top tip: This recipe would also be delicious as a big, two-tier cake.
Get the recipe: Eton mess cupcakes
14. Lemon cake with raspberry buttercream
Good for: A quick bake with plenty of flavour.
Flavours: The classic sponge and buttercream combination is transformed with a little lemon and raspberry flavourings.
Time it takes to make: 40mins
Why we love it: It's really easy to make a flavoursome cake. This recipe takes the basic sponge recipe and shows how two simple ingredients can be used to delicious effect.
Top tip: Add fresh raspberries to the sponge mix for a fruitier bake.
Get the recipe: Lemon cake with raspberry buttercream
13. Weight Watchers white chocolate cake
Good for: A little treat when you're trying to be good.
Flavours: A simple sponge, sandwiched with fresh raspberries and topped with rich, white chocolate.
Time it takes to make: 45mins
Why we love it: A diet cake? Surely that doesn't exist! We're not saying this cake is good for you but if you do want to indulge in a little treat, this cake is better for you than a standard recipe. Once you know the calorie-cutting swaps they've made, you can apply it to your favourite cake recipe.
Top tip: Using margarine instead of butter is an easy way to cut down on the fat.
Get the recipe: Weight Watchers white chocolate cake
12. Tea party cupcakes
Good for: Impressing your guests.
Flavours: You can make the sponges any flavour you like - lemon or strawberry would work well with the design.
Time it takes to make: 2hrs 30mins
Why we love it: How cute are these toppers? The fondant versions of our favourite afternoon tea treats are actually pretty easy to make - you just need to know how!
Top tip: Make the toppers the day before your party so you don't have the panic in the morning.
Get the recipe: Tea party cupcakes
11. Raspberry muffins
Good for: A tasty lunchbox filler.
Flavours: Sharp bursts of raspberry give the soft sponge a lovely summery flavour.
Time it takes to make: 45mins
Why we love it: These muffins are so easy to rustle up, you can make a big batch Sunday night and have them for breakfast or a snack all week.
Top tip: Blueberries, cherries, banana - almost any fruit can be used in this recipe.
Get the recipe: Raspberry muffins
10. Carrot and banana cake
Good for: Mixing up your usual bakes.
Flavours: The moist carrot cake sponge has lovely hints of banana.
Time it takes to make: 1hr 30mins
Why we love it: Banana cakes and carrot cakes are brilliant bakes on their own - but we never thought of adding them together. The combination makes the sponge so moist and the flavour is just delicious!
Top tip: Walnuts or pecans would also make a lovely addition to this cake.
Get the recipe: Carrot and banana cake
9. Maltesers chocolate cake
Good for: A treat for a chocoholic.
Flavours: Erm... chocolate!
Time it takes to make: 1hr 10mins
Why we love it: A chocolate cake is good enough on it's own but if you really want to make an impression - throw in some Maltesers. This is one of our favourite recipes to make for a birthday - no-one is ever disappointed when this is on the party table!
Top tip: Crumble up chunks of other chocolate bars for a similar effect - Crunchies or Mars Bars would be delicious!
Get the recipe: Maltesers chocolate cake
8. Ice cream cone cupcakes
Good for: A party spread.
Flavours: You can bake any flavoured cupcakes into the cones - the buttercream and chocolate flake topping would work well with chocolate or vanilla sponges.
Time it takes to make: 1hr 10mins
Why we love it: These little cakes look so realistic people will actually believe they're ice creams! Baking the sponges into wafer cones is such a fun idea - it never fails to put a smile on our face!
Top tip: You could top the cakes with real ice cream if you're planning on eating them right away.
Get the recipe: Ice cream cone cupcakes
7. Rocky road
Good for: Cooking with the kids.
Flavours: Crunchy biscuits, soft marshmallows and Maltesers covered in dark chocolate.
Time it takes to make: 2hrs 45mins
Why we love it: What's not to love about rocky road? Not only is it a naughty treat, you can also make it with the kids without having to worry about the oven. You melt the chocolate while they have fun crushing all the ingredients down. Once cooled they can get their little hands messy pouring it over.
Top tip: White chocolate is tricky to melt but it would give your rocky road a posh twist.
Get the recipe: Rocky road
6. Red velvet cupcakes
Good for: Taking the next baking challenge.
Flavours: The sponges may be red but the flavour is pure chocolate. A cream cheese frosting is a light and cool topping.
Time it takes to make: 45mins
Why we love it: Red velvet cakes just always look so impressive. If you've stuck to traditional sponges so far, you really must try it. If you're a red velvet fan, this recipe is a must - it produces perfect results every time.
Top tip: Be careful with the red food colouring, add to much and you'll be able to taste it once baked.
Get the recipe: Red velvet cupcakes
5. Cake pops
Good for: A fun party treat.
Flavours: The filling for the cake pops can be made with any flavour sponge and buttercream.
Time it takes to make: 45 mins
Why we love it: Cake pops may not be as popular as cupcakes but they're still a fun bake to try if you're bored of full cakes. Decorating cake pops is also a good thing to try - they're practically little faces waiting for a little personality!
Top tip: Candy melts are used to coat the cake pops but if you can't find any you can replace with chocolate.
Get the recipe: Cake pops
4. Chocolate brownies
Good for: When you want a fuss-free treat.
Flavours: Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside - this brownie's flavour is pure chocolate.
Time it takes to make: 30mins
Why we love it: Sometimes only chocolate will do and this brownie recipe will not let you down. So easy to make, it only needs 20 mins in the oven then it's ready to be enjoyed.
Top tip: Warm brownies with cream or ice cream makes a lovely dessert.
Get the recipe: Chocolate brownies
3. Giant rainbow cupcake
Good for: Making people say 'Wow!'
Flavours: You can make this cake with a standard vanilla sponge or flavour the layers to match their colour.
Time it takes to make: 1hr 35mins
Why we love it: Where do we start! A giant cupcake is impressive enough on it's own but cutting into it to reveal these fabulous layers would be the ultimate birthday treat.
Top tip: This recipe shows you how to hand carve the giant cupcake but you can use a giant cupcake mould if you would like.
Get the recipe: Giant rainbow cupcake
2. Basic cupcakes
Good for: Learning how to bake.
Flavours: These basic cupcakes are a traditional vanilla sponge.
Time it takes to make: 40mins
Why we love it: It's always handy to have a few trusty basics under your sleeve. A good cupcake recipe is an essential tool for any baker. This recipe can be given added flavour, colour or decoration.
Top tip: Don't fill the cases all the way to the top - you need to give them space to rise.
Get the recipe: Basic cupcakes
1. Mary Berry's lemon drizzle cake
Good for: A Sunday afternoon treat.
Flavours: The tangy lemon sponges are topped with a crisp citrus coating.
Time it takes to make: 55mins
Why we love it: As good as anything you can buy in the shops, this lemon drizzle cake was created by the queen of baking, Mary Berry. Try this recipe and you'll be Bake Off ready in no time!
Top tip: You can make this cake as cupcakes instead - or top with a lemon buttercream.
Get the recipe: Mary Berry's lemon drizzle cake
Where to next? Top recipes for May 2013
