40 Thanksgiving Cakes That Deserve a Place on the Dessert Table
Move over, pie. There's a new dessert in town.
Your Thanksgiving menu usually has a pie or two, but what about a cake?
We've rounded up some of our favorite Thanksgiving cakes because they absolutely deserve a spot on the table. (And here are 65 Beautiful Thanksgiving Table Settings so it doesn't look lonely there.)
While we’ll never say no to Thanksgiving pies, sometimes it’s nice to try something new or have a couple of options for family and friends. Impress your guests with these irresistible Thanksgiving cakes, from classic fall flavors like apple and pumpkin to fun and unique options like s'mores and coconut.
How to Ice a Layer Cake
First, brush up on your cake-icing skills!
Apple Cider Donut Bundt Cake
Like a giant cider donut, this sweet cake is dangerously delicious. Put this bundt out when guests come over for Thanksgiving and watch slice after slice disappear.
Pumpkin Patch Cake
This cute sheet cake is perfect for Thanksgiving or any fall gathering! With strawberries dressed up as pumpkins, it's almost too cute to eat!
Wacky Cake
This vintage cake recipe dates back to the 1930s! It's easy to whip up and is topped with toasted pecans, making it a great option for your Thanksgiving festivities.
Dump Cake
If you're looking for an easy dessert that's quick to whip up while you prepared the rest of your Thanksgiving dishes, this is the cake for you! It's only four ingredients and you literally... dump and bake!
Pumpkin Cheesecake with Cookie Crust
With a pecan cookie crust, a fluffy, light custard topping, and all the PSL-spiced flavor you can handle, you'll definitely want to leave some room for an extra slice of this after your Thanksgiving meal.
Pecan-Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze
Looking for a delicious dessert other than pie to serve at Thanksgiving dinner? Behold: Pecan-Pumpkin Bundt Cake.
Get the recipe for Pecan-Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze.
Fall Spice Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
This gorgeous cake is dense and rich. And the easy-to-make decorations are perfectly festive for Thanksgiving!
Get the recipe for Fall Spice Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.
S'mores Swirl Cake
Chocolate lovers, this cake is for you! There's no campfire needed to make this chocolate-y cake, but one bite will make you feel like you're outdoors on a crisp fall evening.
Pumpkin Spice Pecan Cake with Honey Spice Buttercream
This tiered pumpkin cake is easier to make than it looks! It's a fun and festive option for your Thanksgiving dessert table.
Get the recipe for Pumpkin Spice Pecan Cake with Honey Spice Buttercream.
Amaro-Chocolate Cloud Cake
This gorgeous flourless chocolate cake is made to puff up, and then collapse like a cloud. It's also a great gluten-free option for your Thanksgiving menu!
Upside-Down Orange-Cranberry Cake
Bright citrus and cranberries make this cake a stunning Thanksgiving centerpiece.
Coconut Angel Cake
For a light, airy, elegant cake that still feels decadently celebratory, look no further. This coconut stunner absolutely needs to be part of your Thanksgiving festivities.
Banana-Butterscotch Cake
Focus on prepping your other Thanksgiving dishes because this cake only needs 30 minutes of prep! You'll have dessert handled in no time, and everyone will love this cake full of banana and caramel goodness.
Apple-Cinnamon Layer Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting
If you love an apple pie at Thanksgiving, step it up a notch with this three-layer apple cake. The salty caramel frosting alone is worth the effort.
Get the recipe for Apple-Cinnamon Layer Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting.
Dolly's Donut Coconut Bundt Cake
What better way to cap off a Thanksgiving feast than with this giant donut-flavored bundt cake? The dark-chocolate coconut filling is absolutely not to be missed.
Chocolate Brown Sugar Butter Cake with Spiced Pumpkin Frosting
This rich butter cake will have guests wishing they'd saved more room. It's covered in spiced pumpkin frosting and plenty of pecans.
Get the recipe for Chocolate Brown Sugar Butter Cake with Spiced Pumpkin Frosting.
Orange Blossom Bundt Cake
The best part of this easy, delicious Bundt cake? It can be made up to two days ahead, so you're not scrambling to get dessert done while the Thanksgiving turkey is resting. Its shape is courtesy of a "heritage" pan.
Maple Cupcakes
A favorite sweetener of the pioneers, maple syrup today lends its distinctive tang to winter dishes. Which means these cupcakes would be absolutely delicious on your Thanksgiving menu!
Golden Pumpkin Cake
A simple variation on our Pumpkin Spice and Pecan Cake creates this simple but delicious treat. Slather on some Honey and Spice Buttercream for an extra sweetness.
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