Holidays & Entertaining Holidays 30+ Father's Day Cakes That'll Make His Sunday the Sweetest Ever Talk about going above and beyond with these Dad's Day treats. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 04, 2024 Close Photo: Marcus Nilsson Dads are notoriously hard to buy for—we get stumped every birthday, around the holidays, and, of course, on Father's Day. Simple solution: Surprise him with a Father's Day cake. No Dad can resist a sweet treat, especially when it's baked with love. We rounded up festive cakes—and cake-like desserts—that feature flavors that (most) Dads love: chocolate, fruit, cheese, and coconut, to name a few. You're sure to find a layer cake, upside-down cake, snacking cake, pudding cake, or ice cream cake that's right up Dad's alley. And if Dad is not a cake person, scroll down for a cookie cake disguised as a savory pepperoni pizza. 01 of 33 Rainbow Sprinkle Snacking Cake Greg DuPree Everyone loves a sprinkle cake, including Dad. This one requires only 15 minutes of hands-on time and doesn’t call for a mixer, butter, or eggs. Instead, it uses pantry staples such as vegetable oil and white vinegar. Adorn the cake with an easy-to-make cream cheese frosting and sprinkles, and dessert is served. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 33 Pistachio Walnut Cheesecake Greg DuPree If Dad is a cheesecake fan, consider making this nutty version. The base is made with Biscoff cookies, pistachios, and walnuts, while the rich filling includes plenty of cream cheese, sour cream, honey, and lemon zest for brightness. Once the cake has cooled, decorate with drizzled honey and chopped nuts. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 33 Frozen S'mores Cake Greg DuPree If Father’s Day turns out to be a scorcher, this might be just the thing. This frozen cake needs a few trips to the freezer to retain its shape but it’s worth it! Once you take a bite with all of the layers—marshmallow-infused whipped cream, graham crackers, toasted marshmallows, and chocolate gelato—you’ll agree. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 33 Plum Cake Heami Lee Celebrate Dad and the start of plum season with this stone fruit-packed cake. Here, sliced plums add color and flavor to a basic cake batter made with butter, sugar, flour, and vanilla extract. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 33 Lemon Blueberry Cake Greg DuPree Layer vanilla sandwich cookies, lemon sorbet, and blueberry jam for a delicious start to this no-bake cake that requires just 25 minutes hands-on. Top the layers with homemade whipped cream and pop it in the freezer for a few hours. When you’re ready to celebrate Dad, decorate with fresh blueberries, lemon slices, and mint, and dig in! GET THE RECIPE 06 of 33 3-Layer Magic Cake Bahareh Niati This magical dessert has three distinct layers—a delicate sponge cake top, a rich custard center, and a thick, fudgy bottom layer. Yes, it looks complicated, but the oven does most of the work. The key to success is the order and preparation of ingredients, as well as cleanly separated eggs. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 33 Gluten Free Almond Macaroon Cake Jennifer Causey If Dad (or anyone else at his party) is gluten-free, this cake is a must. It’s a cross between chewy coconut macaroons and a classic almond cake and comes together in just an hour. Serve with fresh berries and whipped cream. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 33 Mini Chocolate Olive Oil Cakes Victor Protasio Hosting a big Father’s Day gathering? Whip up these mini chocolate cakes to feed your crowd. Each of these naturally vegan numbers features a batter flavored with Earl Gray tea and rich olive oil and is topped with a chocolate glaze peppered with candied orange peel bits. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 33 Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake Marcus Nilsson Head to the farmers market for some in-season rhubarb to whip up this dessert for Dad. The naturally tart spring vegetable is balanced with plenty of sugar, vanilla extract, and a touch of bright lemon zest. Serve this treat with vanilla ice cream to take it over the top. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 33 Apple Pie Skillet Cake ANTONIS ACHILLEOS Easier to make than apple pie, this skillet cake comes together in just 45 minutes, including cook time. Start by cooking down the apples with brown sugar and cinnamon, and then fold them into a simple batter. When it comes to apple types for this dessert, we’re fans of Honeycrisp and Gala, but Jonagold, Braeburn, and Pink Lady apples work, too. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 33 Nectarine Olive Oil Cake Greg DuPree The cake batter for this popular dessert is made doubly tender with complex flavors from olive oil and puréed nectarines. A topping of sea salt-flecked fruit adds even more deliciousness to each bite. For the best olive oil for this treat, splurge on one that has grassy or peppery undertones. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 33 Marbled Pound Cake Pati Jinich This recipe from chef Pati Jinich is one of her childhood favorites. It comes together in just an hour and uses unsweetened cocoa powder to get that perfectly marbled look. Dust the top of the cake with confectioners' sugar and slice to cap off Dad's celebratory brunch or dinner. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 33 Apricot Almond Cake Greg DuPree This plant-based treat tastes like marzipan and looks like an elegant apricot tart. Its almond flour, almond milk, and almond extract accentuate the floral notes in the apricots, while baking draws out the fruit's jammy richness. GET THE RECIPE 14 of 33 Red Velvet Brownie Torte Victor Protasio This multi-layered dessert is a combination of two classic treats. Its brownie batter is spiked with red food coloring a la red velvet cake, and the chocolatey result is almost fudgy. A tangy cream cheese frosting tops the torte, showered with sprinkles. Plan on second helpings! GET THE RECIPE 15 of 33 Matcha Cake With Vanilla Buttercream Greg DuPree Matcha gives this cake a playful green hue and vegetal, grassy notes. For balance, it's topped with a rich buttercream frosting that comes together in minutes. If there are little ones around, enlist them to help decorate. GET THE RECIPE 16 of 33 Heavenly Coconut Pound Cake Kelsey Hansen In this recipe, classic pound cake gets a flavorful upgrade thanks to plenty of shredded coconut. The tropical ingredient is in the cake batter and is sprinkled on top, creating a dessert that Dad will want to dig into. You'll love that it calls for just 25 minutes of hands-on work. GET THE RECIPE 17 of 33 Orange Dreamsicle Icebox Cake Caitlin Bensel In this no-bake cake, a creamy, orange-flavored filling is layered between graham cracker sheets and is topped off with whipped cream and orange segments. Prep this cake the day before and pop it in the freezer so it’s picture-perfect for Father’s Day. GET THE RECIPE 18 of 33 Glazed Lemon Pound Cake Jose Picayo Simple yet delicious, there’s nothing not to love about this Bundt cake mashup. The key to its fresh flavor is plenty of lemon zest and lemon juice to brighten the cake's batter and its easy-to-make homemade glaze. GET THE RECIPE 19 of 33 Slow-Cooker Chocolate Pudding Cake Victor Protasio If Dad's a chocolate fan, bookmark this recipe. This cake is gooey, fudgy, and surprisingly easy to make, thanks to your trusty slow cooker. Just whisk ingredients in a bowl, dump the batter into a slow cooker, set it, and forget it for 3 hours. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and prepare for raves! GET THE RECIPE 20 of 33 Lemon Ricotta Cake Caitlin Bensel As anyone who has had lemon-ricotta pancakes will tell you, that combo is pretty darn delicious. In this recipe, that pairing yields a super-fluffy cake with the flavor of lemon squares but with a much lighter texture. Enjoy it with Father’s Day brunch or after a celebratory dinner. GET THE RECIPE 21 of 33 Easy Ice Cream Cake Marcus Nilsson The shortcut for this tasty four-ingredient ice cream cake is using ice cream sandwiches to build it. Not only does this hack make prep super easy, but it results in a dessert that’s worthy of its own Instagram post. GET THE RECIPE 22 of 33 Yellow Cake With Pastry Cream Filling and Chocolate Ganache Frosting Christopher Baker Yellow cake and chocolate frosting is a classic dessert combo that never disappoints. This cake recipe elevates that pairing with pastry cream between cake layers and chocolate ganache on top. To make it extra-fancy, garnish with shaved bittersweet chocolate. GET THE RECIPE 23 of 33 Slow Cooker Pineapple Upside Down Cake Victor Protasio The slow cooker strikes again! Here it's used to whip up a tropical dessert that's as scrumptious as it looks. We suggest using canned pineapple slices and making a whipped cream topping for optimal crave-ability. GET THE RECIPE 24 of 33 Mango Pound Cake Victor Protasio For something a bit less sweet, give this tropical pound cake a whirl for Father's Day. Fresh chopped mango is folded into the batter, while a blend of coconut oil and melted butter makes for a perfectly moist texture. Top with a scoop of coconut ice cream or mango sorbet. GET THE RECIPE 25 of 33 Cherry Coconut Dump Cake Caitlin Bensel In the baking world, there's just about nothing easier than a dump cake. This one—a hybrid of cherry cobbler and coconut cake—uses frozen cherries and a few limes, as well as the standard, cake-making pantry staples. The steps are as easy as: mix ingredients, bake, and serve. GET THE RECIPE 26 of 33 Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake With Yogurt Jennifer Causey If you're looking for a fancy Father's Day cake that involves layering, ganache, piping bags, and creaming sugar and butter, move on. If Dad would prefer a not-too-sweet, fruit-filled cake you can snack on any time of day, even breakfast, stop here. While you're at it, make two loaves and freeze one for later (directions included). GET THE RECIPE 27 of 33 Chocolate-Almond Cake Greg DuPree No one will miss the gluten in this easy, chocolatey, gluten-free dessert. Instead of flour, the recipe starts by pulsing blanched whole almonds and bittersweet chocolate in a food processor. The rest is standard cake-making, but the result is a dense, souffle-like inside with a crispy outside. Finish with a flurry of powdered sugar or a dollop of whipped cream. GET THE RECIPE 28 of 33 Lemon Pudding Cake José Picayo What Dad doesn't deserve two desserts in one? Pour just one cake batter into individual ramekins or one 2-quart baking dish. After 30 to 45 minutes of baking, you'll pull out a springy, two-layered dessert with a bright, lemony kick and golden-brown crust. GET THE RECIPE 29 of 33 Strawberry Ice Cream Cake Anna Williams Full disclosure: The only "cake" in this no-bake dessert is in its title. It's made entirely of ice cream, strawberries, and whipped cream: That's all. You can always make your own strawberry ice cream if you insist that this recipe is just too easy. Otherwise, spend 15 minutes to put it together and make plans for how you'll spend the rest of the day. GET THE RECIPE 30 of 33 Carrot Cake Charles Masters Dad's a classic, so serve up this classic favorite to celebrate him. It's packed with chopped pecans, raisins, and a full pound of carrots, all paired with an iconic cream cheese frosting. Each cake serves 10, enough to serve a crowd of Dad's fans. GET THE RECIPE 31 of 33 Chocolate Raspberry Skillet Cake Samantha Seneviratne This recipe folds chopped bittersweet chocolate and fresh strawberries in cake batter to make this standout skillet sensation. With those flavors and sweetness in the batter, no frosting is needed, but we imagine no one would complain if it was served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. GET THE RECIPE 32 of 33 Cherry-Vanilla Bundt Cake Antonis Achilleos If Dad is a cherry fan, this cherry-filled cake is sure to surprise and delight him. With the cherry pie filling hidden in the middle of the cake, this dessert doesn't just taste fantastic—it puts on a show, too! And the cake batter couldn't be easier to put together, just whisk everything, layer, and voila! GET THE RECIPE 33 of 33 Blueberry Sweet Corn Shortcake Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen If Dad's a blueberry fan, this twist on a traditional strawberry shortcake is sure to surprise and delight! Sweet, homemade blueberry compote is drizzled over a shortcake that is made with sweet corn kernels and cornmeal, which gives it a crunchy texture. Between layers, the silky buttermilk whipped cream cuts the sweetness while adding a velvety, plush "frosting." GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit