20 Best Candy Cakes and Recipe Ideas

Whether you’ve got a ton of Halloween leftovers or are just craving a decadent dessert, these mouthwatering candy cakes are guaranteed to be a hit.

Because why settle for a plain cake when you can cover it in chocolate bars and your favorite candies?

Some candy cakes replicate the flavors and textures of candy bars like Snickers and Twix.

Others are simple, delicious cakes loaded with gummies, M&Ms, and more.

They’re ideal for November when you’re left with a bucket of goodies from Halloween. But they’re also perfect for birthdays and holiday celebrations.

Enjoy!

Easy Cotton Candy Cake and More!

1. Cotton Candy Cake

Is your little one celebrating a birthday? Serve this cake, and they’ll light up like a firework!

Decked with buttercream frosting in various pastel colors and real cotton candy, it’s a thing of beauty. 

And it’s not just beautiful on the outside, but on the inside as well.

With all that incredible color, this will make all the kids squeal with excitement!

2. Chocolate Piñata Cake

When I say this piñata cake is for chocolate and candy addicts, I mean it!

At its core is a moist and fudgy chocolate cake with a chocolate buttercream frosting.

But that’s not all! You’ll add chocolate chip cookies, M&Ms, Reeses’ peanut butter cups, and more.

Oh, and we can’t forget the surprise center! 

When sliced, a slew of more M&Ms and candies will ooze out of the cake. It’s the ultimate birthday party treat.

3. Chocolate Candy Bar Cake

You can’t beat this candy bar cake if you want something indulgent but simple.

The chocolate sponge and quick, fluffy buttercream are the perfect blank cake canvas you can experiment with. 

So, feel free to use whatever candy bar or bag of candies you like. No matter what it is, it’ll taste great with this cake base.

Add it between the layers and all over the top. Easy but effective!

4. Snickers Cake

From top to bottom, inside and out, this Snickers cake features layers upon layers of candy bar goodness. 

Look forward to moist chocolate cake frosted with two kinds of buttercream: peanut butter and salted caramel.

Jazzed up with salted caramel sauce, crushed peanuts, and of course, sliced Snickers, this cake tastes just like the popular candy bar!

Dare I say better?

5. Candy Bar Poke Cake

If you’re new to baking or short on time, you can’t beat a good poke cake recipe.

After all, it’s just a simple sheet cake with frosting or sauce poured over to keep it extra moist and flavorful.

Nobody could mess that up!

Of course, this one has some fun extras. You’ll start with a boxed cake mix and hot fudge sauce (store-bought to keep prep quick).

Next comes a layer of Cool Whip, followed by any and all the candies and chocolate bars you can handle.

The more, the merrier!

6. Kit-Kat Ice Cream Cake

What’s better than a candy bar cake? A candy bar ice cream cake, that’s what. 

Featuring a sweet Oreo crust, luscious ice cream in the middle, candies on top, and KitKat bars all around, it’s a show-stopper.

And while it seems like a ton of work, it requires minimal effort. 

In fact, you don’t even need to bake anything.

7. Twix Cake

As promised, here’s a cake that doesn’t just taste like a candy bar but looks like one, too.

It’s fun, it’s creative, and most of all, it’s delicious.

It starts with a buttery shortbread crust, followed by ooey-gooey caramel, vanilla cake, and chocolate buttercream frosting.

Dolled up with more frosting, crushed cookies, and more caramel, this cake is sinfully scrumptious.

8. M&M Cookie Cake

A cookie and a cake rolled into one? This cookie cake is my favorite of all the M&M desserts out there.

Go ahead and make your favorite chocolate chip cookie dough, or grab some from the store if you prefer.

Either way, it needs a ton of bright candies in the mix and some simple buttercream around the edge.

9. Reese’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

No list of candy cakes would be complete without the ultimate candy bar combo: chocolate and peanut butter.

With layers of chocolate cake, peanut butter frosting, and chocolate buttercream, it’s a beautiful balance of sweet and nutty with just a hint of salty.

Complete the look with a ton of chopped-up Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and a generous caramel drizzle.

10. Milky Way Cake

This recipe transforms a classic bundt cake into a galactic dessert.

The batter is infused with real Milky Way bars, so the cake tastes just like Milky Way – chocolatey, nougaty, and buttery.

To complete the effect, it’s glazed with melted white chocolate and garnished with more candy for good measure.

11. Hershey Bar Cake

This Hershey bar cake is similar to German chocolate cake but way better.

Between the layers of chocolate cake, you’ll find tangy cream cheese frosting. Then a luscious chocolate ganache is poured on top.

Topped with chunks of Hershey’s candy for the ultimate chocolate lover’s dessert.

12. Easy Almond Joy Cake

You’ll go nuts for this candy cake if you love Almond Joys.

It’s a tasty chocolate poke cake loaded with coconut flakes and topped with chocolate ganache and sliced almonds.

The flavors and textures of chocolate, coconut, and almonds work hand in hand to deliver a stunning cake. 

And if you want more coconut flavor, try some whipped coconut cream on top.

13. Spooktacular Halloween Candy Cake

Halloween is just around the corner! So, if you’re looking for a terrifyingly terrific cake, you’ve just found it.

From the black and orange marble cake to the black frosting and licorice decorations, it screams Halloween!

14. Ugly Sweater Cake

Once Halloween is done, it’s time to gear up for Christmas. And this ugly sweater cake is too cute for words!

Covered in goodies like Twizzlers, jimmies, mini pretzels, M&M’s, candy canes, and more, this will be the talk of the holiday party.

15. Gumdrop Cake

Buttery, dense, and studded with gumdrop candies, this pound cake is one for the books.

And while it’s finished with powdered sugar, you can easily take this up a notch with frosting or glaze.

16. Ultimate S’Mores Cake

From the Graham Cracker crust and vanilla cake to the chocolate frosting and toasted marshmallows on top, this cake is beyond decadent.

It’s the ultimate campfire treat – sans the smoke!

17. Candy Corn Cake

If you find candy corn too sweet, this recipe is a terrific way to mellow down its flavor.

It’s a simple sponge cake with yellow, white, and orange batters to replicate candy corn’s look.

Throw some candy corn on top, and it’s ready to serve.

18. Candy Cane Layered Cake

This cake is almost too pretty to eat!

It’s a moist sponge cake with buttercream frosting decorated with whole and crushed candy canes.

It’s so simple, but it creates a masterpiece.

19. Peppermint Patty Cake

With layers of moist chocolate cake and peppermint frosting, this cake is a flawless mix of rich and refreshing.

It’s topped with silky ganache and adorned with peppermint patties around the sides for more oomph. Yum!

20. Whoppers Cake

To get that iconic Whoppers flavor, this chocolate cake batter is infused with malted milk powder.

And it’s frosted with whipped cream that’s also flavored with malted milk to add even more malty goodness.

Finished with crushed Whoppers, this cake is downright addictive.