The European love affair with cakes is a tale as old as time – or at least as old as the word ‘cake,’ which dates back to the 13th century. From home bakes to fine pâtisserie items, every nation has its own classic confections, many of which are so irresistibly tasty that they've become popular across the globe. To demonstrate just how good the continent's cake selection really is, we’ve rounded up the best of the best.

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover Europe’s best cakes – counting down to the most delicious of all.

We’ve based our ranking on the popularity and cultural significance of each cake in its place of origin and beyond, and on the opinions of our well-traveled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.

The most irresistible cakes in Europe, ranked