45 Father's Day Cakes That Will Make Dad Feel Special

Dad will love a slice or two of one of these delicious cakes.

By
Kaitlyn Yarborough
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Assistant Editor and Writer for Southern Living
Kaitlyn Yarborough
Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough Sadik is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South.
Southern Living's editorial guidelines
Updated on September 5, 2024
Butter Toffee-Pecan Layer Cake - Southern Living
Photo:

Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Father's Day doesn't often get the attention it deserves, largely because our fathers can be so delightfully low-maintenance. Take a trip to the ballpark, buy him a chili dog, and he's in hog heaven. But why not go the extra mile for Father's Day gifts? Here's something about Southern dads: more often than not, they have a sweet tooth that cannot be rivaled. Whether he's a glutton for chocolate or a sucker for citrus, your dad will absolutely love one of these Father's Day cakes. (Go ahead and get his second slice ready to go.)

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01 of 45

Cookies And Cream Cake

Southern Living Cookies and Cream Cake sliced and ready to serve

Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser

Turn Dad's favorite ice cream flavor into a show-stopping layer cake. Fudgy chocolate cake layers and meringue-based buttercream are dotted with chocolate sandwich cookies to hammer home the cookies and cream flavor that Dad is sure to fall in love with.

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02 of 45

Strawberry Cake

Southern Living Strawberry Cake with a slice out to serve

Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

If your dad is a strawberry lover, this cake couldn't be more perfect. With strawberry puree in the batter, strawberry reduction in the frosting, and whole strawberries used as garnish, the flavor is present in every bite.

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03 of 45

Simple White Cake From Scratch

Southern Living Simple White Cake sliced on plates to serve

Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

A good white cake is versatile and welcome at all occasions—if your dad is a simple man, he's sure to appreciate this classic dessert. With just 12 minutes of active time and ingredients you'll likely already have in your pantry, don't stress this holiday and make this easy, delicious white cake.

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04 of 45

Peanut Butter-Banana Upside-Down Cake

Southern Living Peanut Butter-Banana Upside-Down Cake sliced on a plate to serve

Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely 

This Elvis-approved cake is sure to be Dad-approved, too. Bananas are caramelized beautifully in brown sugar and lay on top of a moist peanut butter sponge cake to make a unique and utterly decadent dessert.

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05 of 45

Pecan Pie Cake With Browned Butter Frosting

Pecan Pie Cake With Browned Butter Frosting

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners

Turn the Southern-favorite pie into a fluffy, moist cake. This decadent dessert is a labor of love that Dad is sure to appreciate; tender cake layers are filled with a pecan pie filling and enveloped in a brown butter frosting.

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06 of 45

Banana Split Cake

Southern Living Banana Split Cake in the dish ready to serve

Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

The ultimate ice cream dessert just became a shareable delight that Dad will love. A graham cracker crust, layers of tangy cream cheese frosting, and all the classic sundae toppings: crushed pineapple, toasted pecans, maraschino cherries, fudge sauce, sprinkles, and sliced bananas are added to this stunning dessert that'll be a hit for all this year.

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07 of 45

Italian Cream Cake

Italian Cream Cake

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Don't let the name deceive you—this cake is as Southern as it gets. Made with buttermilk, coconut, pecans, and cream cheese frosting, this dessert is perfect for any gathering this Father's Day.

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08 of 45

Million Dollar Cake

Southern Living Million Dollar Cake on a cake plate ready to serve

Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

This vanilla cake with a tropical twist will make Dad feel like a million bucks. Light and fluffy cake layers come together easily with boxed cake mix and instant pudding, and the fruity cream cheese frosting adds a bright bite to the sweet dessert.

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09 of 45

Peanut Butter Molten Chocolate Cake

Southern Living Peanut Butter Lava Cake

Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Make a chocolate molten cake that much more indulgent by adding peanut butter. The chocolate and peanut butter center is housed in a rich cocoa cake topped with crunchy peanuts to make a textural heaven.

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10 of 45

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

chocolate mayonnaise cake

Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton

This isn't your standard chocolate birthday cake. The mayonnaise may surprise you, but the iconic Southern staple yields an ultra-moist texture and mellows out the sweet flavor. The addition of strong-brewed coffee in the batter lends it more maturity and enhances the chocolate flavor.

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11 of 45

Classic Strawberry Shortcake

Southern Living Classic Strawberry Shortcake on plates to serve

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Dads don't always need all the bells and whistles. This simple classic is best during the summer, anyway, when strawberries are downright perfect. In place of shortcake, this version uses homemade buttermilk biscuits sweetened with sanding sugar.

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12 of 45

Banana Pudding Cheesecake

Banana Pudding Cheesecake - Southern Living

Jennifer Davick

Meet a mash-up of epic proportions. The name says it all: banana pudding + cheesecake = heaven. A crust of vanilla wafers and chopped pecans, smooth cheesecake filling, and whipped cream and banana garnishes are sure to make dad feel special.

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13 of 45

Strawberry-Lemonade Cake

Southern Living Strawberry Lemonade Cake with a slice out to serve

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

For a Father's Day lunch, nothing is more festive or summery than this cake. The spongy, lemony cake layers are spread with a tangy Strawberry-Lemonade Jam, then frosted with a dreamy Strawberry Frosting made with fresh berries and a drop of pink food coloring. Pile more berries on top to make it pretty.

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14 of 45

Red, White, And Blue Poke Cake

Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake
Jennifer Causey

This cake doesn't just belong on the Fourth of July. With two fillings made with fresh summer berries and a rich mascarpone frosting, your dad will feel truly celebrated. Chill the cake and spread the frosting carefully to keep the berries from bleeding through.

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15 of 45

Strawberry-Banana Pudding Icebox Cake

Strawberry-Banana Pudding Icebox Cake
Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Hadas Smirnoff

Two Southern favorites—strawberry cake and homemade banana pudding—come together in a cool and creamy icebox cake. We layered them with whole graham cracker squares, which will make your cake slices neat as a pin. This cake can be made ahead to chill overnight.

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16 of 45

Éclair Cake

Eclair Cake - Southern Living

Molly Bolton

If he can never pass up one of these chocolatey treats, make a cake just as worthy of his attention. This confection is made easy with just six ingredients and couldn't be easier. Graham crackers and a vanilla pudding and whipped topping mixture are layered and topped with a chocolate ganache for a soft, satisfying bite.

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17 of 45

Red Velvet Ice Cream Cake

Red Velvet Ice-Cream Cake

Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Say hello to a summertime-friendly version of our classic red velvet layer cake. It'll make the dog days of summer just a little more tolerable, especially when you bite into the cold layer of vanilla ice cream. Even better, the gelatin in the frosting keeps it from melting in the heat.

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18 of 45

Key Lime Pound Cake

Southern Living Key Lime Pound Cake sliced to serve

Dotdash Meredith

Treat your father to a slice of paradise. Because, if anyone deserves a vacation, he does. Our Key Lime Pound Cake somehow manages to be both substantial and airy, with beachy vibes from the fresh-squeezed lime juice.

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19 of 45

Pineapple-Coconut Cake

Pineapple-Coconut Cake

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley

Get ready to taste some of the softest cake layers you will ever put in your mouth. This cake masters a tasty combination of syrupy pineapple filling, tangy cream cheese, and nutty toasted coconut. For the best results, refrigerate the filling and frosting before assembling the cake.

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20 of 45

Mama's Rum Cake

Mama Dip's Rum Cake
Peter Frank Edwards

This rich, spirited Bundt cake recipe came to us from the late Mildred "Mama Dip" Council, of the beloved Mama Dip's Kitchen in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Everyone will appreciate the double dose of rum in this cake. The recipe calls for poking holes in the Bundt so the Rum Syrup can soak in.

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21 of 45

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Southern Living Flourless Chocolate Cake sliced and ready to serve

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This is just the cake recipe you need to please a chocolate lover. The fudgy flourless chocolate cake will simply melt in your mouth, and the subtle addition of espresso powder deepens the chocolatey flavor to perfectly complement this delicious dessert.

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22 of 45

Coca-Cola Cake

Southern Living Coca Cola Cake on a cake plate with a slice taken out

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Coca-Cola is an iconic Southern dessert ingredient for good reason. Reduce the Coca-Cola to a syrup and mix with a lightly salted cream cheese frosting to make this cake taste just like Dad's favorite soft drink. The cake itself is flavored with Coke and cocoa powder, with an incredibly moist texture that comes from buttermilk and oil.

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23 of 45

Mama's German Chocolate Cake

German Chocolate Cake
Southern Living

What papa doesn't love an old-school recipe from mama? This classic cake's rich and sugary frosting with pecans and flaked coconut can't be topped. But the moist, chocolatey layers allow him to indulge his sweet tooth, too.

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24 of 45

Peanut Butter Cake

Peanut Butter Cake Recipe
Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

A big sheet cake is always the right choice for a big family celebration. We've added peanut butter galore to this easy sheet cake recipe. Use buttermilk in the batter to make it extra creamy.

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25 of 45

Bananas Foster Cake

Bananas Foster Cake
Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hilegas

If you're feeling fancy, slice the bananas and sprinkle them with sugar before using your kitchen torch to brûlée them. If you don't have a kitchen torch, feel free to skip this step. The banana-flavored cake and rum-flavored frosting will be just as delicious.

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26 of 45

Glazed Buttermilk Donut Cake

Southern Living Glazed Buttermilk Donut Cake sliced on a platter to serve

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Dailey

This giant donut will be a hit. While it will look and taste like a donut from the shop, it's just a pound cake with added leavening. A sugary glaze completes the illusion.

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27 of 45

Chocolate-Zucchini Cake

Chocolate-Zucchini Cake slice on a plate - Southern Living

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Who knew a couple of zucchini from the family garden could taste so good? This chocolate version of zucchini bread will have everyone in your house asking for seconds. The Brown Butter-Pistachio Frosting has just the right sweet-salty balance to partner with the deep chocolate cake.

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28 of 45

Caramel-Frosted Pound Cake

Southern Living Caramel Frosted Pound Cake sliced on a cake plate to serve

Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Rich caramel frosting makes this pound cake a little fancier for your Father's Day celebration. The cake is flavored with a hint of almond extract that complements the sweetness of the frosting. Apply it with an offset spatula for those signature swoops. 

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29 of 45

Classic Chocolate Pound Cake

Classic Chocolate Pound Cake
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Erin Merhar

Classic pound cakes are hard to beat, but make it chocolate and you've got an instant winner. This cake gets a dusting of powdered sugar in lieu of frosting. Serve it with ice cream, chocolate sauce, or fresh berries.

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30 of 45

Peach Cobbler Cheesecake

Peach Cobbler Cheesecake
Photography and Styling: Sarah Epperson

Two of our favorites meet in this summer recipe that's sure to put a smile on Dad's face. Chopped peaches get stirred right into the cheesecake filling, and that's topped with generous chunks of fresh peaches cooked in syrup and tossed into a crumble. This make-ahead dessert requires time to cool in the oven and chill in the fridge.

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31 of 45

Mini Bourbon-And-Cola Bundt Cakes

Bourbon-And-Cola Bundt Cakes
Southern Living

It doesn't get more Dad-approved than a bourbon and cola cocktail—in cake form. Make individual servings with a mini Bundt pan or use a full-sized 15-cup pan. The warm and chocolatey Bourbon-and-Cola Glaze brings this one over the top.

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32 of 45

Lemon Bar Cheesecake

Lemon Bar Cheesecake

Jennifer Davick

It's hard to beat old-school lemon bars or classic cheesecake. This recipe is meant for the dad who loves both. The Candied Lemon Slices may require extra work, but he'll appreciate the effort—and any leftover candies.

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33 of 45

Coconut Cream Cake

Fluffy Coconut Frosting
Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

The nostalgia of coconut cream pie is something a Southern father can appreciate. In this variation, coconut cream filling gets sandwiched between cake layers. A fluffy coconut frosting and toasted shaved coconut complete the effect.

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34 of 45

Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Southern Living Strawberry Swirl Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss

Your family will love the subtle almond flavor and moist crumb in this deceptively simple-looking pound cake. Once they dive in, they'll be delighted by beautiful strawberry swirls. Dollop strawberry glaze into the batter and use a wooden skewer to create the marbled pattern.

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35 of 45

Cherries-And-Cream Icebox Cake

Cherries-and-Cream Icebox Cake

Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

Put the cherry on top of Father's Day by presenting him with this lovely icebox cake. The no-bake dessert is a concoction of graham crackers and whipped cream layered in a springform pan. The extra-decadent filling is made with heavy whipping cream, cream cheese, and ribbons of cherry preserves.

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36 of 45

Peach-Bourbon Upside-Down Bundt Cake

Peach-Bourbon Upside-Down Bundt Cake
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Bring out the bourbon on Father's Day in an unexpected (but totally delicious) way. This upside-down cake features juicy, caramelized peaches atop a fluffy Bundt with the subtle taste of bourbon. Add a splash of bourbon to the glaze if you want a stronger flavor.

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37 of 45

Texas Sheet Cake With Fudge Icing

Texas Sheet Cake With Fudge Icing

Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Dad won't say no to a second helping of this moist and rich chocolate cake covered in Fudge Icing. We've added Dr Pepper and loads of pecans to amp up the Southern flavor. This sheet cake recipe serves 20, enough to feed your whole crowd.

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38 of 45

Blueberry-Lemon Cake

Southern Living Blueberry Lemon Cake sliced and ready to serve

Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Blueberries and lemons are simply a match made in heaven, and they come together in perfect harmony in our Blueberry-Lemon Cake. The moist cake layers are perfumed with a zesty lemon flavor, while the blueberry frosting adds a sweet tang to make for a balanced bite.

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39 of 45

Lemon-Lime Poke Cake

Lemon-Lime Poke Cake in a rectangle blue pan
Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis

Citrus-spiked sweetened condensed milk and buttermilk add a double dose of moisture to what would be a standard white cake. Lemon and lime zest are mixed into the cake batter for an extra pop of citrus. Garnish with fruit slices for a simple decoration that screams summer.

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40 of 45

Best Carrot Cake

Best Carrot Cake

Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

The best dad deserves the best carrot cake and this one lives up to its name. The key ingredients include flaked coconut, chopped nuts, and canned crushed pineapple, plus freshly shaved carrots. And don't even think about using store-bought shredded carrots—any food-loving pops will know the difference.

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41 of 45

1234 Cake With Chocolate Frosting

1234 Cake
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

When you can't figure out if he'll be in a vanilla or chocolate mood, satisfy both cravings with our yellow cake with chocolate frosting. It has the ease of boxed cake with all the flavor and love of a homemade one.

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42 of 45

Hummingbird Bundt Cake

Hummingbird Bundt Cake

Jennifer Davick

While we love a traditional layered hummingbird cake, Dad will love this easy version just as much thanks to the cream cheese glaze on top.

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43 of 45

Blackberry Jam Cake

Blackberry Jam Cake

Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Surprise the father figures in your life with this unexpected savory-sweet cake. Each blackberry jam- and nut-filled layer is complemented with caramel-cream cheese frosting, making each bite perfectly balanced.

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44 of 45

Cherry Dump Cake

two plates of cherry dump cake and a casserole pan
Emily Laurae/Southern Living

Sometimes a simple dessert is best. Turn to this dump cake recipe for a delicious mix of classic yellow cake, dark cherries, and subtle almond flavor. Instead of cherry pie filling, we use canned cherries for fresher flavor.

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45 of 45

Butter Toffee-Pecan Layer Cake

Butter Toffee-Pecan Layer Cake - Southern Living

Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro

This cake is made for those with a real-deal sweet tooth. Toffee bits and chopped pecans stud vanilla cake layers, and browned butter lends a special touch to the creamy toffee frosting. The frosting also gets an optional splash of bourbon or dark rum.

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