Sweet treats of any kind are great, but ones that don’t require hauling out the stand mixer are even better. These no-mixer cakes are proof that you don’t need fancy equipment to make something absolutely delicious. Just grab a whisk, a wooden spoon, or even a fork, and you’re ready to bake. From Gateau au Yaourt (French Yogurt Cake) and Chocolate Depression Cake to Bisquick Apple Coffee Cake, these recipes prove that some of the best cakes come together with nothing more than good old-fashioned elbow grease. The hardest part will be resisting the urge to eat them straight from the pan. Read on to find your new favorite low-fuss cake recipe.
01 of 15
Credit: Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Get Recipe: Easy Carrot Coffee Cake
“This cake is a simple dessert that you can make using pantry-friendly ingredients. It needs minimal cleanup and you don’t need an electric mixer to get that fluffy cake texture. It is packed with carrots and a cinnamon-sugar-walnut streusel that gives each bite the perfect amount of crunch for texture.” —Annika Panikker, Recipe Developer
02 of 15
Credit: Simply Recipes / Photo by Rachel Vanni / Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh
Get Recipe: Do Nothing Cake
“Do nothing cake is an easy-to-make, one-bowl cake that doesn’t require a mixer but still comes out tender, moist, and delicious. Think of it as the predecessor to dump cakes and poke cakes.” —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer
03 of 15
Credit: Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Get Recipe: Easy Lemon Snack Cake
“This cake is quick and relatively mess-free to make. All you need to make it is one large bowl, and no stand mixer or hand mixer is required. It’s tasty enough to eat on its own, or you can add a quick and easy lemon glaze to dress it up a bit. The cake is not overly sweet, so it works for breakfast, but ideally it’s best enjoyed as an afternoon snack!” —Molly Adams, Recipe Developer
04 of 15
Credit: Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hausser
Get Recipe: Easy Ugly Cake
“Buttery yellow cake mix gives it a cheerful hue, and a little dusting of powdered sugar over its bumpy, crackly top adds a simple daintiness. The best part is hidden at the bottom, where a rich custard layer made from cream cheese and pudding mix awaits.” —Sara Bir, former Senior Editor
05 of 15
Credit: Simply Recipes / Stephanie Ganz
Get Recipe: Omaha Cake
“Omaha cake is, indeed, a simple recipe. There’s no creaming of butter and sugar, so there’s no need for a stand mixer or even a handheld mixer. Instead, you combine the cake ingredients in a bowl and then pour half into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan, add a can of your choice of pie filling, and cover that with the rest of the cake batter.” —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer
06 of 15
Credit: Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph
Get Recipe: Gateau au Yaourt (French Yogurt Cake)
“Think of this cake as more of a ratio than a recipe. You start with one individually-sized pot of French yogurt, then use the empty vessel to measure the remaining ingredients. The size of your yogurt doesn’t really matter, you just need to make sure you stick to the ratio. You just dump everything into one bowl and give it a whisk—no need for a stand mixer.” —Molly Adams, Recipe Developer
07 of 15
Credit: Simply Recipes / Molly Allen
Get Recipe: Easy Blueberry Sheet Cake
“You’ll just need one mixing bowl—no stand mixer or hand mixer required. Mix the cake batter, top it with fresh blueberries, and sprinkle some sugar over the top. In no time, you’ll be slicing into a fluffy, moist cake with juicy blueberries and a hint of vibrant lemon flavor.” —Molly Allen, Recipe Developer
08 of 15
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Get Recipe: Lazy Daisy Cake
“Lazy daisy cake has a catchy name, but I think whoever came up with it was smart and industrious. That’s my kind of person, and lazy daisy cake is my kind of cake. It’s a simple affair that you can pull off using one bowl and precious little active time. About an hour later you can cut off a piece to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee.” —Sara Bir, former Senior Editor
09 of 15
Credit: Simply Recipes / Molly Allen
Get Recipe: Never-Fail Chocolate Cake
“This chocolate cake is the same recipe I used on a daily basis when I opened a bakery at age 22. I used it as the base for every chocolate cake dessert I made, from prepping cupcakes for my display to filling custom cake orders. I still turn to it as my favorite go-to today when I need a cake fix at home or am baking a cake to celebrate a friend or family member.” —Molly Allen, Recipe Developer
10 of 15
Get Recipe: Citrus Olive Oil Cake
“On first glance out of the oven, this Citrus Olive Oil Cake looks quite simple. Humble, even. But this is a cake that makes the house smell so sweet and fragrant, a cake you truly can’t stop eating. You’ll want to sneak a slice at the end of a long day with a glass of wine. And then you’ll be tempted to have a slice in the morning with your coffee.” —People Inc. Creative
11 of 15
Credit: Yossy Arefi
Get Recipe: Chocolate Chip Snickerdoodle Cake
“Cinnamon and sugar is a classic and delicious flavor combination that lends itself perfectly to cake. Here, sour cream adds the signature snickerdoodle tang, and I’ve added chocolate chips because, well, what isn’t better with a little bit of chocolate? Feel free to add a few more tablespoons of chips on top of the batter before you sprinkle the cinnamon sugar for bigger chocolate flavor.” —Yossy Arefi, Cookbook Author
12 of 15
Credit: Simply Recipes / Lori Rice
Get Recipe: Bisquick Apple Coffee Cake
“All you have to do is combine a couple of cups of Bisquick with some milk (or water), a couple of tablespoons of sugar, and an egg to make the batter. Pour that into a greased baking dish. Then insert slices of peeled, tart green apples into the batter and top with a brown sugar streusel topping, some dabs of butter, and bake! It was then, and still is now, one of my favorite coffee cakes of all time.” —Elise Bauer, Founder
13 of 15
Credit: Simply Recipes / Molly Allen
Get Recipe: Easy Peach Skillet Cake
“Cake for breakfast with coffee on a sunny summer morning? Yes, please! This peach skillet cake certainly shines on its own, but you could also dress it up with ice cream or whipped cream as the ideal end to an al fresco summer evening.” —Molly Allen, Recipe Developer
14 of 15
Credit: Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Get Recipe: Easy Condensed Milk Cake
“This fluffy, golden condensed milk cake gets all of its richness from a can of sweetened condensed milk. The recipe is super easy to make, needing just four ingredients and one bowl.” —Annika Panikker, Recipe Developer
15 of 15
Credit: Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Get Recipe: Chocolate Depression Cake
“You can quickly make this cake without a trip to the store, and serve it to pretty much everyone, no matter their dietary restrictions. It’s vegan, free of most allergens, can be made with gluten-free one-to-one flour, and above all, fluffy and delicious.” —Mark Beahm, Recipe Developer
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Dining and Cooking