As a famous donkey once said, everybody likes cake. (That’s Donkey from Shrek if you didn’t know.) It’s cake flavors galore out there and with that much choice, how is one to choose which ones are best? Well, we’ve narrowed it down to the disappointing flavors—and the ones that never fail to impress.   

1. Store-Bought Sheet Cake

These cakes have made countless appearances at birthdays over the years, but we wish they’d stop. Store-bought sheet cakes either come devoid of any real flavor or rot our teeth from sweetness. There’s hardly ever a balance and homemade varieties take the cake (pun intended).  

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2. Angel Food Cake

While there’s nothing necessarily wrong with angel food cake, it doesn’t have the same oomph as other flavors. At the end of the day, it’s extremely light and isn’t packed with as much flavor as its competitors.

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3. Fruit Cake

Fruitcake has been polarizing for years, but we’re still haters. Fruit belongs in pie, not cake, and having chunks of it wedged into otherwise moist slices ruins the entire experience. 

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4. Rum Cake

You like cake, you like rum, so it stands to reason that combining them is a win-win. However, unless it’s done properly, rum cake is really just a dessert soaked in booze. It’s hard to get any other flavor out of this one, so we tend to pass.

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5. Pineapple Upside Down Cake

We’d rather not have our cake topped with pineapple slices and maraschino cherries, thank you. There’s just something about this flavor and consistency combo that sullies the good name of cake. 

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6. Pound Cake

Pound cake is hit or miss. It’s more dense than your average cake and can sometimes be quite greasy, especially the ones in grocery stores. Seriously, have you ever dabbed those pound cakes with a napkin? The results aren’t pretty. 

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7. Apple Cake

Apple in desserts isn’t a crime, but it should be in cake. It’s best to reserve this fruit for traditional desserts like crumbles or pies—finding little apple pieces in a cake just isn’t the same.

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8. Coconut Cake

You either love or hate coconut, which is precisely why this cake isn’t as good as others. With so many other crowd-pleasing flavors available, it makes more sense to bake one of them.  

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9. Red Velvet Cake

Red velvet cake climbed the ladder throughout the years, though we still aren’t sold. A mixture of cocoa and vanilla sounds good on paper, but in practice, it’s a divisive flavor that tends to fall short.

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10. Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

Mixing lemon with poppyseed isn’t the worst decision in the world, but the combo leaves something to be desired. Poppyseeds add more flavor than you think, so baking them into a cake does impact the whole experience. 

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On the flip side, let’s dive into the best cake flavors!

1. Vanilla Cake

Don’t be so quick to dismiss vanilla! It’s more than your average flavor—it’s a classic delicacy that’s only amplified by layers of icing. It’s moist, it’s delicious, and it’s one of our favorites!

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2. Chocolate Cake

There’s no going wrong with chocolate. Whether it has a rich layer of icing in between or left to dazzle on its own, chocolate cake is a must for just about any occasion. 

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3. Carrot Cake

We may have said fruit didn’t belong in cake, but that doesn’t apply to vegetables. It’s time to end carrot cake slander and recognize it for the enjoyable flavor it is! (So long as it doesn’t have any raisins.)

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4. Cheesecake

For some reason, cheesecake gets a bad rap. Though it’s seemingly a universally loved flavor, many have shied away from it. Give it another chance! It’s rich, creamy, and comes in dozens of flavors. 

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5. Lemon Cake

This is one fruit we’re on board with—sans the seeds! There’s something about lemon that makes every dessert better—cookies, pies, tarts, and obviously cake. The flavor is light and sweet without being overpowering, and we’re big fans.

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6. Confetti Cake

This isn’t a plain old vanilla. Its texture is richer and it comes with added sweetness on account of the sprinkles. This cake is too much of a good thing for some, but we can’t get enough.

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7. Ice Cream Cake

Ice cream cake is a go-to treat for parties. With so many flavors out there, it’s sure to have something for everyone—even if you indulge in simple flavors like vanilla or chocolate. 

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8. Devil’s Food Cake

Devil’s food cake brings more to the dessert cart than chocolate. It’s a fluffier version loaded with dedcadent layers, and also has a richer flavor!

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9. Coffee Cake

There’s nothing better than joining two beloved flavors in holy baked goods matrimony. And adding a cinnamon swirl ribbon throughout? Forget about it. 

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10. Marble Cake

Marble cake is the best of both worlds. It fuses chocolate and vanilla without trying to mash them into a new flavor. It might not be as adventurous as other cakes out there, but it holds a special place in our hearts.  

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