I’ve always called this a pound cake. According to my mother’s recipe notes, though, it was my Aunt Mildred’s “plain cake.” Maybe she used that name because she never glazed or frosted it—just served ...

This old-fashioned applesauce cake is the kind of easy, cozy bake you can make any time of year. It has a gentle spice cake ...

This plain, buttery cake, full of berries, is my top pick for snacking on a summer afternoon. Because the berries in the batter tend to sink to the bottom when the cake bakes, scatter more berries on ...

I’ve added chunks of sweet jammy apple for freshness, but you can leave them out if you prefer a plain cake. Store the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days; or freeze for ...