Beautiful cakes can make you stop everything you're doing just to catch a long stare. They can warrant applause at birthdays and make just about any celebration even more special. We baked a whole lot of pretty cakes this year, fit for all of life's festive moments. Here are 10 favorites.

While the fresh flowers that top this cake surely make it beautiful, it's the buttercream that's enhanced with tangy Greek yogurt that will have you coming back for a second slice.

Layers of paper-thin crêpes alternating with thick swipes of fluffy Nutella buttercream ensure this no-bake cake is one to win over the crowd.

The glossy sheen of strawberries is what will catch your eye first when you take a glimpse of this cake — then you'll be pleasantly surprised by the ginger that scents the fruit and the vanilla cornmeal cake that's hiding underneath.

The addition of seedless raspberry jam in the cream cheese frosting not only brings subtle fruitiness to offset the tang, but also lends a beautiful rosy hue.

Think of this recipe as the cake version of lemon meringue pie. If you're a citrus-lover, you'll fall for the layers of lemon cake and lemon curd that are encased in toasted meringue frosting.

To assemble this rectangular layer cake, you bake the cake in a jelly roll pan and split it into threes. Almond flour ensures it's gluten-free and also makes for an extra-tender crumb.

This ridiculously colorful cake is nothing short of a show-stopper. While it does require some time and planning, it's worth it if you're looking for something that's truly celebratory.

Sure, you can use any flavor of ice cream to make this family favorite, but reaching for raspberry sorbet and speckling it with fresh raspberries really makes this cake a looker.

If you're chocolate-obsessed, you'll definitely find beauty in the rich brown tones of this indulgent cake that needs no more than a tall glass of cold milk to wash it down.

If banana bread and pineapple upside-down cake joined forces, the result would be this ridiculously moist and flavorful classic Southern cake. What makes this version extra special is the shower of dried pineapple flowers on top.