It was difficult for me....

[wotcha]

Can we say 'It was difficult to bake a cake for me'

instead of 'It was difficult for me to bake a cake'?

[charliedeut]

Can we say 'It was difficult to bake a cake for me'

instead of 'It was difficult for me to bake a cake'?

Yes we can But the meaning will be different.

'It was difficult to bake a cake for me' --> Someone had trouble baking a cake which was for you to eat.

'It was difficult for me to bake a cake' --> You had trouble baking a cake (and we don't know who was to eat it, but since you took the trouble...)

Greetings

Charliedeut

[freezeframe]

Can we say 'It was difficult to bake a cake for me'

instead of 'It was difficult for me to bake a cake'?

The first sentence is ambiguous. It could mean that you found it difficult to bake a cake or that it was difficult for someone else to bake a cake that they gave you.

So, #2 is much better.