From rich chocolate pairings to fruity favourites and nostalgic classics, these 10 cake flavour combinations are guaranteed to impress. Whether you're baking for a birthday, brunch, or just because, each idea includes not only mouth-watering flavour pairings but also recipes and decorating tips.
Ready to dive into the ultimate list of crowd-pleasing cake flavour combinations?
Let’s start with my current favourite: chocolate and Nutella. This starts with my go-to chocolate cake layers—they’re soft, tender, and perfectly balanced without being overly sweet.
To boost that irresistible chocolate hazelnut flavour, stir Nutella into your buttercream. It makes the buttercream smoother and easier to spread, too. Decorate with a Nutella drizzle and Ferrero Rocher chocolates for a stunning finish. Press them onto the cake while the frosting is still soft so they stick easily.
This fruity cake flavour combination is a bright and zesty showstopper. Lemon zest is mixed into the batter, and fresh raspberries are folded in before baking. For the frosting, blend lemon curd into buttercream to add richness and a bold citrus punch.
Layer the cake with extra lemon curd for a tart contrast and decorate with fresh raspberries for a vibrant finish that hints at the delicious layers inside. Get my Lemon and Raspberry cake recipe here.
Inspired by the tropical cocktail, this cake pairs coconut and pineapple beautifully. Coconut milk in the cake batter creates soft, creamy layers with a subtle coconut flavour.
The frosting? Pineapple buttercream made with freeze-dried pineapple powder. This adds intense flavour without extra moisture. In the filling, a spoonful of cream cheese is added to the pineapple buttercream for balance. Finish with shredded coconut and dried pineapple slices for a cake that feels like a beach holiday in every bite. You'll find my Piña Colada cake recipe here.
This one’s a decadent dream. The cookie dough is made safe to eat by baking the flour and skipping the eggs. Press it into discs to layer between your cake, and roll extra into balls to decorate the top.
The frosting is ermine-style, made by cooking milk and flour and mixing it with butter, brown sugar, and vanilla. It’s rich, smooth, and not too sweet. Paired with buttery vanilla cake layers, the flavours shine without overwhelming. This cookie dough cake recipe is must-try for any cookie lover!
A timeless cake flavour combination. Start with rich chocolate cake and layer it with chocolate buttercream. Then coat the outside with creamy peanut butter buttercream.
Pipe two-tone swirls using both frostings and top with peanut butter cups, or make your own: pour melted chocolate into mini cupcake cases and add a spoonful of peanut butter mixed with icing sugar. Once they set, they add a crunchy, satisfying bite. Try my chocolate peanut butter cake recipe to taste it for yourself!
This strawberry cake is bursting with berry flavour and colour. Use both fresh or frozen strawberries and freeze-dried strawberries in the cake batter for maximum impact. I blend mine in my Magic Bullet blender to make a smooth puree with quick and easy cleanup!
Blend freeze-dried strawberries into a powder and stir into buttercream for an intense strawberry taste without any runniness. It also makes a brilliant, natural pink frosting. Freeze-dried strawberries also make a flavourful, long-lasting decoration. Here's my Strawberry Cake recipe!
One of the easiest ways to incorporate fruit into a cake is with jam. You can make your own or use shop-bought in any flavour. I love my Very Vanilla cake layers for this cake because they're rich and buttery and let the fruity jam really shine!
To stop the jam from leaking out, pipe a buttercream dam around each layer and fill the centre with jam before stacking. You can cover the cake with more buttercream or leave it ‘naked’ and just pipe a few dollops on top. It’s simple, beautiful, and easy to transport—perfect for summer events.
This is ideal for those who don’t want anything too sweet. Moist banana cake is paired with tangy cream cheese buttercream for a balanced, rich flavour. I like to use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to create rustic texture in the cream cheese frosting. It's much easier than trying to smooth the soft and sticky cream cheese buttercream!
Let the cake come to room temperature before serving so the texture softens and the flavours really come alive. Try this Banana Layer Cake recipe for a brunch, coffee date, or afternoon tea.
Always a crowd-pleaser. These chocolate cake layers use cocoa powder for that deep Oreo cookie flavour. The buttercream is mixed with crushed Oreos to make a delicious cookies-and-cream filling and frosting.
It’s distinctive, delicious, and simple to decorate—top the cake with whole Oreos and pipe buttercream swirls between them. Yum! Get my Oreo Chocolate Cake recipe here!
When you can’t decide between chocolate or vanilla, have both! Use one cake batter, divide it in half, add cocoa powder to one, and buttermilk to the other.
Scoop alternating spoonfuls into the pan and swirl with a toothpick for a marbled look. Use vanilla buttercream between layers, chocolate on the outside, and a swoop of vanilla up one side for a striking finish. Each slice is as beautiful as it is tasty. Try my Easy Marble Cake recipe here!
Looking for cake decorating ideas and techniques for any of these cake flavour combinations? Join my online cake school with a 7-day free trial and learn hundreds of techniques and designs. I’d love to see you there!
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