We all know our moms love a good dessert, but what about dad? We love flipping the script and that absolutely means making something extra sweet for Father's Day. What better way than to bake him a homemade cake to show him how much you appreciate all he’s done for you? They’re WAY better than gifting him just another tie, we promise. Plus, you just might become the instant favorite child once you present dad with a heaping slice of carrot cake. Check out our list of 30 Father’s Day cakes for ideas.
If Father’s Day is a big to-do in your family, you’re going to want to bake your dad a cake that’s just as big as your celebration. For something fruity he’ll "flip" over, try our pineapple upside-down cheesecake or raspberry-peach upside-down cake. Best part about upside-down cakes? They look crazy impressive, but they practically decorate themselves. Is your dad not a big fruit fan? Try our marshmallow cake (great for s’mores lovers), our classic yellow cake with chocolate frosting, or our spumoni ice cream cake (particularly good for if you’re celebrating multiple generations of dads—everyone wins with 3 flavors of ice cream!).
If your dad is more of a laid-back guy who doesn’t like a lot of fanfare, don’t let that stop you from baking him a cake. You could go for one that’s a little more subdued, like our low-key (but high-flavor) recipes for lemon-blueberry shortcakes and white chocolate cake. Or bake one that’s less work for you (so he won’t feel too overwhelmed by your gesture), like our banana pudding poke cake or our cookie cake (always a favorite). Worried about your decorating skills (or have small children who want to get in on the action)? Try our skillet Texas sheet cake or our dirt cake—the more toppings, the merrier!
For more Father’s Day ideas, check out our Father’s Day brunch recipes, our Father’s Day dinner recipes, and the best gifts for dad (and gift baskets!) too.
Carrot Cake
Whether you think of it as the ideal vehicle for cream cheese frosting (we feel you!) or are in it for its moist, spiced flavor that makes it a standout against standards like vanilla and chocolate, having a quality carrot cake recipe is a must for spring—this is the one.
Get the Carrot Cake recipe.
Skillet Texas Sheet Cake
For a traditional Texas sheet cake, the batter and the icing are prepared separately on the stovetop. Using a skillet eliminates a dish and makes things way more fun. Especially when everyone digs in while it's still warm... with tons of ice cream on top.
Get the Skillet Texas Sheet Cake recipe.
Brown Sugar Peach Cake
This is really a peach cobbler in soft and buttery cake form, with sweet peaches studded throughout. The frosting is a brown sugar boiled icing, much like you would find on a Texas sheet cake. Pour it on while the cake is still warm, so it soaks in as it cools, then can harden into a delicious, sweet topping.
Get the Brown Sugar Peach Cake recipe.
Pineapple Upside-Down Cheesecake
We are suckers for a good pineapple upside down cake, and this just might be our favorite version yet. The creamy cheesecake layer makes the cake extra decadent and celebratory, perfect to show your Dad how much you care.
White Chocolate Cake
A classic chocolate cake is always a good idea, but if you're looking to impress with something a little different, give this white chocolate cake a try. It's soft and layered with a white chocolate mousse, then frosted with a simple cream cheese frosting. We recommend using good-quality bars of white chocolate with this cake, as it will really make a difference, and your Dad deserves the best!
Get the White Chocolate Cake recipe.
Butter Pecan Cheesecake
Toasty, buttery pecans turn a classic cheesecake into an even more decadent and rich dessert. Butter pecan brings us comfort, and the flavors go so well into a cheesecake. Our traditional graham cracker crust gets a little boost with more pecans to make it even better. It’s perfect as is, but topped off with whipped cream and even more pecans makes it the best slice of cheesecake you'll ever try.
Get the Butter Pecan Cheesecake recipe.
Strawberry Crunch Cake
Celebrate your Dad and the return of fresh strawberries with this strawberry shortcake-inspired layer cake!
Get the Strawberry Crunch Cake recipe.
Peanut Butter Explosion Cakes
These are the best molten chocolate cakes, hands-down. Why? Because your Instant Pot or air fryer are both able to gently cook them to pure decadence. The cake is so rich with a perfectly creamy center that's to die for. We're obsessed, and we bet your Dad will be too.
Get the Peanut Butter Explosion Cakes recipe.
Copycat Cheesecake Factory Oreo Cheesecake
When it comes to a Cheesecake Factory cheesecake, we don't expect anything less than extreme decadence. With five (!!!) indulgent layers of chocolate and Oreos, this dream cheesecake delivers all that and more.
Spumoni Ice Cream Cake
Six pints of ice cream and magic shell to top it off? This ice cream cake will DEFINITELY make your dad feel special.
Get the Spumoni Ice Cream Cake recipe.
Cookie Cake
Not sure you can manage a whole layer cake for Father's Day this year? We got you—make this super-easy cookie cake instead! You can decorate it as simply or as elaborately as you want.
Get the Cookie Cake recipe.
Lemon Blueberry Shortcakes
A strawberry shortcake is the quintessential summer dessert; here, we give it a little makeover. The buttery, flaky biscuits are crowned with a homemade lemon curd (store-bought would be fine!), sweetened blueberries, and an easy whipped cream. It’s tart and sweet—and incredibly good.
Get the Lemon Blueberry Shortcakes recipe.
Marshmallow Cake
If your Dad is a s'mores fan, make him this extra-special marshmallow cake this Father's Day. The chocolate cake is moist thanks to sour cream, and the Italian meringue buttercream isn't too sweet, making it the perfect celebratory cake even for someone who doesn't LOVE sweets.
Get the Marshmallow Cake recipe.
Red Velvet Cake
Everyone should have a good red velvet cake recipe in their back pocket—and this is it. It has a decadent chocolate flavor and the creamiest cream cheese frosting. The combo of vinegar and buttermilk makes it tender, light, and fluffy, and the striking red color makes it unforgettable.
Get the Red Velvet Cake recipe.
Coconut-Lime Layer Cake
Put the lime in the coconut and bake this stunning layer cake! One of the reasons this cake is SO fun to eat is that it’s not about blasting every component with all the lime and all the coconut flavor, but instead letting each part of the cake bring a little something to the party.
Get the Coconut-Lime Layer Cake recipe.
Cookie Dough Pound Cake
While pound cakes are often relegated to breakfast, this one is SO rich, putting it firmly in dessert territory. It's sliced, then stuffed with delicious almond flour-based cookie dough for the most epic of combos. Your Dad's gonna be asking you to make this one over and over again.
Get the Cookie Dough Pound Cake recipe.
Dirt Cake
Reminisce with your Dad about all the times you and he played in the mud together when you were growing up. For this cake, an easy Oreo crust is topped with a cream cheese pudding mixture and then sprinkled with more Oreos for good measure. Take inspiration from our Dirt Pudding and add gummy worms too if you want!
Get the Dirt Cake recipe.
Chocolate Cheesecake
Have you ever wondered what a gooey chocolate brownie paired with cheesecake would taste like? Look no further! This chocolate cheesecake is rich, silky smooth, moist, and almost fudge-like—everything your mom could want in a chocolate dessert.
Get the Chocolate Cheesecake recipe.
Lemon Blueberry Cake
The tart sweetness of the blueberries is amplified by the zing of the citrus. You can use frozen or fresh blueberries for this cake, just make sure to toss them with flour before incorporating them into your batter so they don't sink to the bottom of your cake while baking.
Get the Lemon Blueberry Cake recipe.
Strawberry Cheesecake
Want to give classic cheesecake an elegant (and easy!) upgrade for your Dad? All you need to do is heat together strawberry preserves and lemon juice until smooth and thick, then brush it over fresh strawberries on top of your cooled and beautiful cheesecake. You'll have a creamy, dense vanilla cheesecake with jammy topping you'll want to pour extra over each slice!
Get the Strawberry Cheesecake recipe.
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine. If wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.