Cakes celebrate the ceremonies and milestones of our lives—birthdays, weddings, and almost any other festive occasion—and for good reason. No matter the variety—layer cakes, sheet cakes, Bundt cakes, cheesecakes—brought to the table at the end of the meal,a cake always elicits admiration.

Cookies are delightful and pies are tasty, but no dessert is quite as impressive as a beautifully baked and finished cake.

Cake recipes don't have to be fussy and difficult, however. Simple, unfrosted varieties such as pound cakes and coffee cakes are just as delicious as their showier layered cousins. In this primer, we'll explain the differences between the various types, as well as the basic steps that are common to nearly all cake recipes. If you're a novice baker, you can start with the simple pound and angel food cakes in the list below and move on to more complicated recipes as you gain confidence. And if you're already experienced, understanding the different categories of cakes and the various options for finishing them will give you a basis for experimenting and creating recipes of your own.