RecipesHot Chocolate Pumpkin Cake Hot chocolate is my go-to winter indulgence. To go with it, I like this moist pumpkin cake dusted with cocoa for an extra chocolate boost. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
RecipesPecan Banana Bundt Cake My daughter, Liz, often made this banana bundt cake for us. It was delicious and different. She discovered five-spice powder during a culinary class field trip. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California
RecipesLemon Pound Cake Muffins I make these lemony muffins for all kinds of occasions. My family always requests them when we have a brunch. They’re so good! —Lola Baxter, Winnebago, Minnesota
RecipesEasy Pineapple Coconut Cake Pairing pineapple with coconut lent a tropical flavor to the dessert served as the finale to our theme party. Shared by a former co-worker, this recipe has been in my file for 20 years and never fails to delight those who try a piece. -Gina Mueller, Converse, Texas
RecipesGerman Butter Pound Cake Cardamom and lemon zest mix with almond and vanilla flavors to add zip to a classic butter pound cake. —Kristine Chayes, Smithtown, New York
RecipesHawaiian Wedding Cake Cookies Macadamia nuts and pineapple help give this Hawaiian cookie recipe its tropical name. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
RecipesThree-Layered Carrot Cake My mom loved carrots so much she put them in various dishes at least five times a week when I was growing up. Her specialty was a homemade carrot cake that was requested for every special occasion. When I made this for her 70th birthday, she cried with each bite. —Paula Marchesi, Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania
RecipesOrange Sponge Cake Roll This recipe looks hard, but it isn’t. People will think you spent hours working on this pretty melt-in-your-mouth sponge cake. —Michelle Smith, Sykesville, Maryland
RecipesPastel Four-Layer Cake Bryan Anderson of Granite Falls, Minnesota recalls, “My mother made this special birthday cake for me and my sister as we were growing up. It looks as good as it tastes and it easier to make than you would think.”
RecipesLemon Pecan Pound Cake A pretty glaze gives this tender lemon pecan pound cake an extra boost of citrus. For variety, I sometimes substitute grated orange peel and orange juice for the lemons. —Laura Comitz, Enoa, Pennsylvania
RecipesCitrus-Raspberry Coffee Cake Orange and lemon beautifully complement the raspberry flavor in this dense cake. Add a dusting of confectioners’ sugar for a pretty finishing touch. —Pat Harlow, Cataldo, Idaho
RecipesSweet Potato Crab Cakes Mild sweet potato flavor and a chipotle kick complement the fresh crab in these hearty cakes. Serve them with your favorite mayo or aioli sauce. —Robert Bosley, Pacific, Washington
RecipesCherry Upside-Down Cake “As a home ec teacher, I used this recipe to demonstrate simple cake and sauce making. The kids loved it—just as my family always has.” —Dorothy Erickson, Blue Eye, Missouri
RecipesWarm Rocky Road Cake When it’s warm, this reminds me of super moist lava cake. And until I made this, I didn’t think a slow-cooker cake could be so attractive. It’s a real winner. —Scarlett Elrod, Newnan, Georgia
RecipesMoist Lemon Tea Cakes Whenever I serve these lovely bite-size glazed cakes, they get rave reviews…and I get requests for the recipe. Lemon and cream cheese make for a winning combination.—Charlene Crump, Montgomery, Alabama