20 Naked Cake Recipes You’ll Love

Looking to have your cake and it too without a mouthful of frosting? These naked cake recipes are right up your alley.

From weddings to birthday parties, naked cakes are a stunning centerpiece for any soiree.

They’re called naked cakes because they use less frosting. The sides are left bare or peek through a razor-thin smear. 

Elegant, classy, and fun, naked cakes aren’t just all about presentation. They taste as good as they look. 

Whether you have a special occasion or you’re just craving cake, naked cakes are one trend you won’t want to miss.

1. Naked Chocolate Cake

Sometimes, frosting can be too much, even with chocolate.

That’s why this naked cake is so perfect. 

The barely there frosting on the side coupled with the thin top layer is all you need.

Did I also mention it has mascarpone, Nutella, and a splash of rum? Yup, this is heaven.

2. Naked Blue Velvet Cake

I’m sure you’ve had a slice or two of red velvet cake before. But have you had blue velvet cake?

This naked cake shakes up a classic by incorporating butterfly pea flour. 

Also known as blue matcha, this ingredient gives the cake its vibrant blue color.

From birthday parties to Fourth of July, you’ll find plenty of reasons to bake this cake.

3. Vegan Caramel Gingerbread Naked Cake  

Make the holidays extra special this season with this wintery dessert. 

Molasses, maple syrup, and warming spices infuse the cake with seasonal ingredients.

Nobody will guess the caramel frosting is dairy-free.

Garnish the cake with sugared cranberries for the grand finale. 

4. Blueberry Naked Cake

This berry delight screams Fourth of July bash!

The dairy-free filling and frosting is a mixture of blueberry jam and coconut cream. It’s super fruity and a little tropical, too. 

The cake itself has a few surprises with almond milk, hazelnuts, and applesauce.

Low-sugar and bursting with blueberries, this naked cake will dazzle your party guests. 

5. Vanilla Naked Cake

How do you add a wow factor to a simple vanilla cake? Make it a naked cake!

This half-dressed cake has a smear of frosting around the sides.

It’s just enough to let the cake part peek through for a stylish touch.

Dress it up with a medley of berries and it’s ready to party.

From weddings to baby showers, this cake is great for all sorts of occasions. 

6. Pistachio Cake

When I need a versatile dessert that’s not basic, I turn to this pistachio cake.

It’s not rudimentary like vanilla or overindulgent like chocolate. 

The buttery cake, nutty pistachios, cream cheese frosting, and vanilla are purely divine. 

To achieve a soft texture, use cake flour and sour cream. Otherwise, it might turn out too dense. 

7. Mixed Berry Orange Naked Cake

I love rich chocolate and sweet caramel cakes as much as the next person.

But sometimes, you need something bright and fresh. 

That’s when you need a naked cake just like this. 

The orange cake and cream cheese frosting to match is invigorating.

And I just love the little bursts of blueberries in between! 

It perks your taste buds right up without loading them down with sinful sweets. 

8. Blackberry Naked Cake

A beautiful cake like this looks almost impossible to execute.

But grab that photo off of your vision board because you’re making this today! 

This blackberry cake is totally achievable. 

You take standard cake mix ingredients, like flour and eggs, and add blackberry puree. 

Once it’s done baking, assemble the layers, add the frosting, and decorate with blackberries. 

Now, you have this incredible blackberry cake. 

9. Chocolate Chip and Passionfruit Naked Layer Cake

These looks aren’t just for show. They’re for eating!

So grab a fork and help yourself to a slice.

There’s a double layer of passionfruit curd, chocolate crumbles, and coffee buttercream. 

That’s all in between soft layers of cake speckled with mini chocolate chips.

10. Lemon Coconut Naked Cake with Whipped Vanilla Buttercream

Talk about a towering showpiece!

This lofty desert will feed a crowd. Plus, it’s fancier than your average sheet cake.

Each soft, coconutty, lemon zest-infused layer gets topped with whipped buttercream.

There’s also a drizzle of honey lemon syrup with a delicate garnish to match.

I know that’s a mouthful, yet so is this cake! 

11. Naked Red Velvet Layer Cake

Nothing says I love you like this naked red velvet cake!

Next Valentine’s Day, skip the chocolates and the flowers. This is what your special someone really wants. 

Between the flavor, consistency, and presentation, this cake takes red velvet to a whole new level.  

You have to put in some effort. But that just says you care. 

12. Pumpkin Spice Naked Layer Cake with Salted Caramel Drizzle

Even pumpkin naysayers won’t be able to say no to a bite of this cake.

The warming spices and pumpkin puree in the cake taste like pumpkin pie filling.

Seal the deal with the cream cheese frosting and drizzle of salted caramel.

For a picture-perfect touch, top the cake with fresh figs.  

13. Mini Chocolate & Cookie Dough Naked Layer Cakes

Spoil your little tyke on their special day with this mini-cake. 

This cute creation has layers of cookie dough, chocolate cake, and chocolate ganache.

Top it with sprinkles and a chocolate chip cookie. And don’t forget the birthday candles. 

It wouldn’t be a proper birthday cake without it. 

14. Naked Carrot Cake

Easter deserves a special holiday dessert, don’t you think? If you agree, this will look ravishing as a centerpiece.

Nothing is more fitting for Easter than carrot cake, and this is one of the best versions ever.

From the spices to the texture, it’s immaculate. Plus, it has just the right amount of frosting. 

15. High Altitude Naked Chocolate Raspberry Cake

Baking at high altitudes can be very tricky. Luckily, this recipe shows you just what to do. 

Follow the simple steps and you’ll have this chocolate delight.

The super moist cake and raspberry buttercream frosting are a celestial experience.

If you’re baking at low altitude, there are also instructions for you.

16. Strawberry Chamomile Naked Cake

This dainty spring dessert looks almost too good to eat.

But if you’ve been here before, you know I can’t resist a bite of a strawberry dessert. 

So I’ll be the first to jump in on a slice. And I have to say, it’s flawless. 

There’s strawberry jam swirled in the vanilla cake batter. At the same time, the frosting has a floral touch of chamomile.

Mother’s day, brunches, or birthdays, this cake is that special something your celebration needs. 

17. Black Forest Naked Cake

Black forest cake has the best makings for a naked cake. 

The frosting-free side lets you get a sneak peek into those alluring layers. 

Complete with chocolate cake, cherry filling, whipped cream filling, and dark chocolate ganache, it’s a classic.

18. Peanut Butter & Jelly Cake

This is such a fun take on peanut butter and jelly.

Peanut butter frosting and raspberry jam are oozing out of the cake layers.

And I’ll give you one guess as to what kind of cake it is: peanut butter. 

How perfect is that?

Forget needing a reason to make it. I say make it just because you can.

19. Chocolate, Vanilla, and Caramel Naked Cake

This naked cake is to die for. It’s got chocolate, it’s got vanilla, and it’s got caramel. 

What else could you want?

Like many others, the prep will take a bit of work. Yet, this extraordinary cake is well worth it.

20. Naked Confetti Cake

Naked confetti cake brings Funfetti to new heights, and I don’t just mean the layers. 

The frosting-free side lets you appreciate the rainbow sprinkle speckled cake.

At three layers tall, there’ i’s also more than enough buttercream frosting to go around. 

So pile on the candles and sing Happy Birthday. It’s time to celebrate!