19 Cake Recipes Full of Exciting Summer Flavors (2024)

When it comes to summer, it's necessary to infuse every part of the meal with fresh, seasonal produce—especially dessert. In this collection of summer cake recipes, we're using fresh berries, stone fruit, citrus, and even squash and corn to make the most delicious final course for a meal. Keep these summer cakes in mind for a perfect way to use the season's fresh flavors at your gatherings.

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Lavender-Thyme Fluted Cake

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Using fresh thyme and lavender, this bright, herbal cake will be sure to excite your senses. Baking this cake in a decorative bundt pan and topping it with a sweet crème fraiche glaze will surely make it centerpiece worthy at your table this summer.

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Blueberry Lemonade Poke Cake

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The flavors of lemonade and blueberries come together harmoniously in this delicious summer cake. With lemonade concentrate and a fresh blueberry sauce, the summer won't be the same after eating this deliciously tart poke cake.

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Upside Down Almond Plum Cake

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You'll have difficulty only having one slice of this attractive and delicious summer cake. Depending on the fruit availability in your area, an alternate option is to make this cake with other stone fruits like apricots or peaches.

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Six-Layer Strawberry Cake

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This unforgettable strawberry cake will be a definite showstopper. Stacked tall with six layers of delicious strawberry cake and alternating layers of cream cheese icing, this cake goes above and beyond with a coating of shredded coconut.

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Mango-Carrot Cake

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Peaches and Cream Prosecco Cake

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If you think combining prosecco and peaches is a dream come true, this is the cake for you. Prosecco shines through in the dense sponge cake and the peach filling, with the entire cake accented by a topping of freshly whipped cream icing.

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Zucchini-Olive Oil Cake

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Zucchini is always abundant in the summer, and this layered cake is perfect for use in one of the sweetest ways possible. The accented flavor of olive oil adds an exceptional taste to this moist summer cake.

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Upside-Down Apricot-Caramel Crunch Cake

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Everyone will love this simple summer version of a classic upside-down cake. Perfect for those last-minute gatherings, this recipe features a quick assembly using a spiced cake mix and canned apricots, making prep in the kitchen a breeze.

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Lime-Infused Coconut Pound Cake

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Tart lime and sweet coconut flavors shine bright in this refreshing summer cake. One bite and you will feel like you are on the beach with this tropical-inspired pound cake.

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Whole Wheat Chocolate-Blueberry Cake

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This cake combines the rich flavor of chocolate while adding the extra nutritional benefits of incorporating blueberries and whole wheat flour. While this might be one of the healthiest cake options on the list, it is a chocolate lover's dream for the summertime.

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Lemon-Blueberry Corn Cake

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This quick bread-style summer cake highlights some of the greatest flavors of the season. Cornmeal in the recipe gives a distinctly wonderful coarse texture, while the blueberry and lemon evoke all the most fantastic memories of summer. Ideal for your next summer brunch gathering!

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Dark Chocolate-Raspberry Cakes

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If you want to make desserts for a larger gathering, consider these individual cakes that combine a rich chocolate cake with tart raspberries. These summer cakes are easily assembled and baked in muffin pans, then topped with a chocolate truffle icing before serving. A definite hit for any chocolate fan!

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Blueberry Bundt Cake

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A unique combination of blueberries, cardamom, and rye flour makes this bundt cake a memorable experience to which you'll be returning throughout the summer. Topped with a berry-citrus glaze, this cake will be an excellent way to end your summer meal.

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Cast-Iron Plum Polenta Cake

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This cast-iron dream dessert is perfect for a summer night of grilling. The flavors combine the sweet taste of plums and the appealing texture of cornmeal, with the option of making one large cake or multiple smaller cakes.

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French Yogurt Cake with Apricot-Cherry Compote

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Take advantage of stone fruit season and make this sweet summer cake recipe. A moist yogurt cake is topped with homemade apricot-cherry compote and served with a drizzle of tangy crème fraiche.

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Tres Leches Strawberry Shortcake

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Layers of almond cake, fluffy cream, and fresh strawberries shine in this summer cake idea. To create the sweet strawberry syrup, soak fresh berries in a mix of sugar and lemon juice. This helps draw out the berries natural juices, creating a sauce. As one BHG home cook shared, "My kids loved the recipe because it is not super sweet."

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Blueberry Lemon Pound Cake

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Plump, juicy blueberries and lemon are the perfect sweet-tart pairing. Toss the berries into a pound cake batter and top with a sweet lemon glaze. Not a fan of blueberries? Try making this summer Bundt cake recipe with fresh raspberries instead.

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Earl Grey Tea Cake

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You'd never guess this impressive layer cake starts with a box mix. Infuse the batter with Earl Grey tea and layer the baked cakes with fluffy whipped cream and fresh raspberries. Finish with a homemade tea syrup.

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Homemade Tres Leches Cake

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Tres Leches gets it name from the trio of milks that are part of this summer cake recipe. Fresh strawberries perfect complement the condensed milk, cream, and evaporated milk.