The Best Cakes, In Order (PHOTOS) | HuffPost Life

For humanity and science, a list from worst to best.

By

Co-Owner and Sandwich Pusher at Pop+Dutch

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We can tell we are a mostly civilized society because we have cake. Cake can be temperamental, the ingredients need to be measured, its consistency is affected by humidity and then there is the question of frosting the thing. It takes patience, resolve, a desire to light people's eyes up with spectacle. What we are getting at is that cake is special.

But, hierarchy applies to everything, and some cakes are more special than others. Some cakes are not special. Some cakes, like the ones at the very, very end of this list are blights upon other cakes. So now, for humanity and science, we bring you the best cakes, in order from worst to best.

25. Kwanzaa Cake

This cake needs to die. This cake is the anti-cake. This cake makes us wonder if any other cakes should ever have been baked.

24. Rainbow Cake

23. German Chocolate Cake

22. Fruitcake

21. Black Forest Cake

20. Tres Leches Cake

19. King Cake

Love the tradition, hate the dry, sugary reality.

18. Red Velvet Cake

Guys, listen closely, we only want to say this one more time: IT. IS. JUST. FOOD COLORING.

17. Angel Food Cake

16. Jelly Roll Cake

15. Almond Cake

14. Pineapple Upside Down Cake

This cake is America. Deal with it.

13. Chocolate Cake

This cake is boring. Deal with it.

12. Vanilla Cake

Yep, even more boring than vanilla cake. Deal with it.

11. Apple Cake

10. Funfetti Cake

9. Molten Chocolate Cake

8. Flourless Chocolate Cake

7. Buche de Noel

6. Pound Cake

5. Carrot Cake

4. Coffee Cake

Breakfast cake? Yes, we think so.

3. Coconut Cake

2. Olive Oil Cake

1. Devil's Food Cake

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Before You Go

Cake Recipes

Towering Coconut Layer Cake(01 of18)

This impressive cake features four layers of rum-brushed yellow cake filled and frosted with a coconut-scented meringue-buttercreamGet the Towering Coconut Layer Cake recipe (credit:John Kernick/Food & Wine)

Milk-Chocolate-Frosted Layer Cake(02 of18)

If you're looking for a classic chocolate cake, this is the recipe. The light batter includes cocoa powder and the frosting is just a milk chocolate ganache.Get the Milk-Chocolate-Frosted layer Cake recipe (credit:Con Poulos/Food & Wine)

Spiced Carrot Cake(03 of18)

Lots of warm spices, shredded carrot and chopped cashews flavor the batter in this take on the classic carrot cake. It's all spread with cream cheese frosting.Get the Spiced Carrot Cake recipe (credit:Paulette Tavormina)

Strawberry Shortcake Cake(04 of18)

This recipe combines all the flavors of shortcake but in true cake form with a yellow cake base, lots of fresh strawberries and a cream cheese frosting instead of whipped cream.Get the Strawberry Shortcake Cake recipe (credit:Ree Drummond)

Revelatory Caramel Cake(05 of18)

This truly revelatory cake has whipped cream folded into the batter for extra moistness and features a rich caramel frosting. What more could you ask for in a dessert?Get the Revelatory Caramel Cake recipe (credit:Angie Mosier/Food & Wine)

German Chocolate Cake(06 of18)

German chocolate is a classic cake that you'll find in almost every reputable bakery. Now you can make it at home with this recipe. This version features coconut milk to heighten the exotic flavor. There's also flaked coconut and pecans. Cream cheese frosting is the final flourish.Get the German Chocolate Cake recipe (credit:Renee Anjanette)

Lemon-Filled Coconut Cake(07 of18)

This cake has everything going for it -- a fluffy yellow cake filled with lemon curd, frosted with meringue and topped with flaked coconut.Get the Lemon-Filled Coconut Cake recipe (credit:Taste of Home)

Key Lime Meringue Cake(08 of18)

Instead of pie why not try a cake version of key lime pie? The moist cake layers are filled with a lime-flavored sweetened condensed milk cream and the whole cake is topped with meringue.Get the Key Lime Meringue Cake recipe (credit:EatingWell)

Pineapple-Coconut Layer Cake(09 of18)

This amazing dessert features two layers of coconut-flavored cake filled with pineapple curd. It's spread with cream cheese frosting and topped with fresh pineapple and toasted coconut.Get the Pineapple-Coconut Layer Cake recipe (credit:EatingWell)

Kentucky Jam Cake(10 of18)

This wonderful cake has pineapple in the batter as well as blackberry jam swirled in. A host of warm spices add a touch of exotic flavor. It's all topped with caramel icing.Get the Kentucky Jam Cake recipe

Coconut Cake With Saffron Cream(11 of18)

Instead of using a round cake pan, this recipe calls for a rectangular 9-by-13-inch pan -- the baked cake then gets cut in half to form a square. The saffron-tinged coconut milk filling lends an exotic flavor to the cake, which is covered in cream cheese frosting and flaked coconut.Get the Coconut Cake with Saffron Cream recipe (credit:Con Poulos/Food & Wine)

Momofuku Birthday Cake(12 of18)

This amazing looking cake from Christina Tosi of Momofuku Milk Bar in New York takes all the fun of a birthday party and rolls it into a moist buttermilk cake flecked with rainbow sprinkles. It's all topped with cream cheese frosting.Get the Momofuku Birthday Cake recipe (credit:Gabrielle Stabile & Mark Ibold)

Banana Cream Layer Cake(13 of18)

Banana lovers will appreciate this impressive cake made extra tender with mashed banana and buttermilk. It's filled and topped with a lightened Bavarian-style cream.Get the Banana Cream Layer Cake recipe (credit:EatingWell)

Red Velvet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting(14 of18)

This classic Southern cake features an alluring crimson color and a hint of cocoa flavor. It's spread with rich cream cheese frosting and dusted with more cocoa.Get the Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting recipe (credit:EatingWell)

Coconut Angel Food Cake(15 of18)

A simple angel food cake is just fine, but this version takes it into the heavens with three layers of fluffy white cake, a meringue frosting and a showering of flaked coconut.Get the Coconut Angel Food Cake recipe (credit:Sara Remington)

Hummingbird Cake(16 of18)

As the story goes, the classic Southern hummingbird cake was so named because it makes you hum. It combines pineapple, banana, pecan and a cream cheese frosting -- ingredients sure to make you hum.Get the Hummingbird Cake recipe (credit:Lee Harrelson/Southern Living)

Italian Yogurt Cake(17 of18)

This simple and rustic cake recipe offers many options: You can bake the cake in a loaf pan or sheet pan. You can also fold in chopped chocolate, berries, fruit or citrus zest into the batter. And when it comes to serving, cut it in half and fill it with jam or Nutella. It's your choice!Get the Italian Yogurt Cake recipe (credit:New Media Publishing)

Linzer Cake(18 of18)

This version of the Austro-Hungarian torte has all the flavor of the original but in cake form with an almond base and raspberry jam spread in the layers.Get the Linzer Cake recipe (credit:EatingWell)

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