12 Easy Snack Cakes You Can Bake Just Because

Any day is a great day for cake.

By
Rachel Knecht
Rachel Knecht
Rachel Knecht
Rachel Knecht turned her home baking into a career in 2016 when she began working as the head baker at The Greenbean Coffeehouse in Seattle, WA. Afterwards, she started Baking with Rachel (her blog), began teaching kids' cooking classes, and recipe tested for the cookbook "Let's Stay In" by Ashley Rodriguez.
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Updated March 22, 2024
Rachel Knecht
Chocolate depression cake with a few pieces cut out (still in the baking pan)

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

I lived with my grandparents for a year after high school and I loved walking in the door and seeing a cake pan cooling on the counter. I would cut myself a square and relish the simple dessert. It could be 100 degrees outside and there would still be a cake on the counter, meant to be eaten while sipping black coffee in the middle of the day. Grandma didn’t need a birthday or holiday to bake and you and I don’t either.

I love snack cakes because they aren't complicated or need to be pre-planned. These cakes all come together quickly and can be made whenever the urge for a sweet treat strikes. They use pantry ingredients and simple baking techniques. In fact, you won’t even need to set out the butter because these cakes use oil or melted butter.

I’m heading to the kitchen now to whip one up and I hope you do too.

  • Lazy Daisy Cake

    Lazy daisy cake slice on a spatula in a pan with more cake

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    You had me at broiled coconut topping. This cake comes together with one bowl and a whisk; plus you can double it to make a 9x13 cake.

  • Chocolate Depression Cake

    Chocolate depression cake in a baking pan with a few pieces already cut out

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    Here's the chocolate cake you've been looking for: tender, chocolatey, and ultra easy. The coffee in the cake deepens the chocolate flavor without making it taste like coffee. With no eggs, butter, or dairy, it's a 100% pantry recipe.

  • Whole Clementine Cake

    A slice of whole clementine cake on a small white plate.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

    I always have a bag of clementines on the counter and now I have one more way to use them. I love that the batter is made in the food processor and uses the whole fruit, including the peel.

  • Sad Cake

    Parchment Paper Lined Plate With Sad Cake Slices Next to a Mug and a Blue and White Table Napkin

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    Sad cake is reminiscent of a blondie and is made with only four ingredients (one of which is Bisquick). I promise you'll see only smiles after one bite.

    Continue to 5 of 12 below

  • Coffee Coconut Banana Bread Cake

    Coffee Coconut Banana Bread Cake on a Cake Platter With a Cut Slice Lifted Using a Pie Server

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    Coffee, banana, and coconut are a winning combination, making this banana cake unforgettable. The best tasting bananas for baking are yellow with some black spots. You'll need two or three for this recipe.

  • Chocolate Chip Snickerdoodle Cake

    Squares of chocolate chip snickerdoodle cake on a counter

    Yossy Arefi

    Yossy Arefi turned my favorite cookies into an easy snack cake, and I couldn't be happier. You could add more chocolate chips to the top of the cake for a more robust chocolate flavor.

  • Applesauce Cake

    Applesauce cake, frosted and with a piece removed.
    Sally Vargas

    Frost this with a cream cheese frosting, or just leave it plain.

  • Yogurt Cake

    Slices of A slice of Olive Oil Yogurt Cake on a wooden paddle and dusted with powdered sugar.
    Lori Rice

    I think of this as the "perfect" loaf cake. I knew after one bite that I'd be making it again. It's tender and sublimely simple.

    Continue to 9 of 12 below

  • Rhubarb Skillet Cake

    Almond Flour Cake with Rhubarb - slice of almond cake on white plate
    Sally Vargas

    My heart beats faster when I see the first ruby red stalks of rhubarb at the market. If you can't wait for fresh rhubarb, you can use frozen rhubarb that has been thawed.

  • Texas Sheet Cake

    Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake
    Cindy Rahe

    If you have a Texas-sized crowd to feed, then this is the chocolate cake for you. Once the cake is baked, let it cool for a couple minutes before pouring the frosting on top.

  • Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

    Pumpkin Snack Cake frosted with cream cheese is set on a table with two plates with pieces of cake to the right.
    Marta Rivera

    Tender, thick squares of pumpkin cake remind me that it's always pumpkin season. You can make this into cupcakes or a layered cake if so inclined.

  • Bisquick Apple Coffee Cake

    A baking pan with bisquick coffee cake and two squares removed from the pan.
    Simply Recipes / Lori Rice

    Coffee cake is one of my favorite breakfasts and Bisquick makes it doable on a whim. You can chop the apples and toss them in the batter instead of slicing and placing them on top, but either way, don't skip the butter and streusel topping.

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