45 Delectable Cakes for Fall

October 14, 2019
Darcy Lenz
Some of fall’s best flavors—we’re talking cinnamon, apple, maple, caramel, ginger, pumpkin, and more—were meant to be enjoyed as desserts. Luckily, there’s always an occasion for cake, no matter the season. Whether you’re looking for a pumpkin loaf, caramel apple cake, sweet potato pound cake, caramel buttercream, or just a seriously good piece of chocolate cake, these recipes satisfy the sweet cravings that come with cooler nights. 
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Salted Caramel Gingerbread Poke Cake with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting

Photo: Daniel Agee
Salted Caramel Gingerbread Poke Cake with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

The flavors of gingerbread, salted caramel filling, and pumpkin cream cheese frosting marry to become the ultimate fall and holiday poke cake. This cake is a great snack cake or dessert and it's pretty enough to serve to guests. One taste and you're sure to bring this cake to potlucks all season long.

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Apple Spice Bundt Cake with Cider Glaze

Caitlin Bensel
Apple Spice Bundt Cake with Cider Glaze Recipe

Don't be afraid to go 100% whole-grain with desserts; we use all spelt flour here with amazing results. The nutty flour boosts the taste of the butter, spices, and vanilla, unlike all-purpose flour, whose bland nature would dilute those flavors. Be sure to weigh the flour for accuracy; using too much will make the cake dry.

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Sweet Potato Dump Cake

Time Inc. Video Studios
Sweet Potato Dump Cake Recipe

All the fall flavors you could possibly want in one simple dessert.

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Bananas Foster Coffee Cake with Vanilla-Rum Sauce

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Bananas Foster Coffee Cake with Vanilla-Rum Sauce Recipe

Substitute extra cream for rum in the sauce, if you prefer.

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Orange-Almond Cake

Greg DuPree
Orange-Almond Cake Recipe

Surprisingly moist, light, and springy, this almond cake is a delicious departure from the dense, rustic ones you might be accustomed to. We use six beaten egg whites to give the cake lots of lift—without the use of leavening agents, which are forbidden on Passover. Because traditional versions of almond extract and powdered sugar can contain spirits and cornstarch (respectively), be sure to seek out kosher-for-Passover versions. (You can find kosher almond extract here and kosher powdered sugar here on Amazon.) Also, check the label on your cooking spray for any ingredients that aren't permitted; you can grease the pan with mild-flavored olive oil if your cooking spray doesn't comply.

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Tiramisu Cake

Time Inc. Video Studios
Tiramisu Cake Recipe

Everything you love about classic Italian tiramisu, layered into an impressive cake. 

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Graveyard Cake

Photo: Mark Thomas
Graveyard Cake Recipe

Halloween desserts definitely call for having a little extra fun in the kitchen. This kinda-cute, kinda-creepy Graveyard Cake is easy to make, fun to decorate (so recruit the kids’ help), and is sure to be a perfectly spooky centerpiece for any Halloween dessert table.

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Butter Pecan Layer Cake with Browned Butter Frosting

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Butter Pecan Layer Cake with Browned Butter Frosting Recipe

Nutty Browned Butter Frosting meets tender pecan cake in this showstopping three-layer dessert. When browning the butter for the frosting, pour the butter into a bowl as soon as it turns golden brown, or it will continue to cook and get too dark.

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The Cheesecake Factory Original Cheesecake

tifs
The Cheesecake Factory Original Cheesecake Recipe

The Cheesecake Factory has more than 30 cheesecake flavors, but it's the original that makes us swoon. Try this copycat version, from the book Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2.

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Raspberry, Sumac, and Almond Pound Cake

Annie Campbell
Raspberry, Sumac, and Almond Pound Cake Recipe

The nuanced brightness of sumac matched with warming notes of almond and jammy raspberries takes a classic pound cake construct over the top and into pure wow-worthy territory. While it may seem like a lot between the batter and the pound cake’s raspberry-sumac glaze (especially if this is a new seasoning to you), sumac—which is the dried, powdered berries of the sumac bush—is a spice you need not be overly reserved with. Given sumac’s delicate tart flavor, a fair amount is needed here to shine within the context of the dense, buttery cake.  

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Lemon-and-Chocolate Doberge Cake

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Lemon-and-Chocolate Doberge Cake Recipe

This multi-flavored, multi-layered cake is truly a labor of love. Our Test Kitchen adapted Guas’s recipe to include store-bought lemon curd and chocolate pudding in between the layers, which taste great and save you a few steps in the kitchen.

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Upside Down Pear-and-Gingerbread Cake

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Upside Down Pear-and-Gingerbread Cake Recipe

This is the perfect cake for a week night treat or a casual holiday party. A layer of tender, caramelized pears tops this richly spiced skillet upside down cake. When it is time to put the batter into the pan, use an offset spatula to gently spread the batter without disturbing the layer of pears underneath.

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Dark Chocolate Avocado Cake with Chocolate Avocado Frosting

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Dark Chocolate Avocado Cake with Chocolate Avocado Frosting Recipe

This vegan cake (no eggs or butter!) is so delicious that our kids begged for more. The frosting is silky smooth, and the cake is light and loaded with chocolate flavor, and healthy fats.

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Banana Pudding Cake 

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food styling: Emily Nabors Hall and Kady Wohlfarth; Prop styling: Kay Clarke
Banana Pudding Cake  Recipe

One of our testers called this "the ultimate banana pudding in cake form." Tender laters of cake, creamy vanilla custard, and bananas come together to create a mouthwatering dessert. Warning: There won't be leftovers. 

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Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Tahini Glaze

Sara Tane
Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Tahini Glaze Recipe

What better fall-inspired dessert to make than this tahini-glazed pumpkin bundt cake. A medley of fragrant, ground spices enhance the rich sweetness of this incredibly moist bundt cake. Topped with a toasty, perfectly bittersweet tahini glaze, this  easy to make and comforting fall dessert is the perfect centerpiece for your next dinner party, Halloween gathering, or special occasion.

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Cinnamon-Apple Cake

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Cinnamon-Apple Cake Recipe

This 5-star cinnamon apple cake is one of our best-ever recipes and can be served as dessert or a breakfast coffee cake.

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Brown Butter Cake with Cocoa

Justin Walker
Brown Butter Cake with Cocoa Recipe

A good bit of salt enhances all the flavors here.

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Pumpkin-Spice Magic Cake

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Pumpkin-Spice Magic Cake Recipe

If you can't get enough pumpkin spice during fall, we have one more recipe you must try out. For our Pumpkin Spice Cake recipe, we combined silky flan with moist pumpkin spice cake and buttery caramel sauce in one incredible confection. We were inspired by a Mexican dessert called “impossible flan”. While it is not at all difficult to make, our Test Kitchen recommends using a light-colored Bundt pan for the best results. A dark-colored pan may get too hot and overbake the cake.

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Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake with Caramel Buttercream

Victor Protasio
Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake with Caramel Buttercream Recipe

If you're looking for an easy, decadent, and oh-so-yummy chocolate fudge cake, this is the perfect recipe. The key to this layer cake’s lusciously messy look? A short spell in the freezer, which allows the ganache to set over the cake layers so that the buttercream can be spread on top of it. Make sure there is enough space in your freezer before you assemble the cake. This recipe comes in handy for birthdays, holidays, and the odd Wednesday pick-me-up.

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Mini Apple Cider Pound Cakes

Mini Apple Cider Pound Cakes Recipe

Finish the cakes with one of the three toppings. Toss together the Streusel Topping before you start baking. Both glazes can be prepped while the cakes cool.

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Almond Cake with Orange Marmalade

Photography: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Almond Cake with Orange Marmalade Recipe
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Perfect Pumpkin Roll

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall and Kady Wohlfarth; Prop Styling: Kay Clark
Perfect Pumpkin Roll Recipe

A classic pumpkin roll is a work of art. Rich buttercream perfectly complements the earthy-sweet pumpkin in this ideal autumnal treat—add a PSL and you're set.

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Gingerbread Latte Cake with Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting

Greg DuPree
Gingerbread Latte Cake with Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting Recipe

If your holiday season officially starts with a gingerbread latte, this is the cake of your coffee-loving dreams. Three layers of spicy gingerbread are brushed with Espresso Simple Syrup and then covered in fluffy Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting.

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Lemon-Orange Pound Cake

Victor Protasio
Lemon-Orange Pound Cake Recipe

This recipe is from the cookbook, Stop and Smell the Rosemary, by the Junior League of Houston. This pound cake is sublime in its simplicity, but we decided to fancy it up a bit with a Bundt pan and two contrasting icings. You can leave out the yellow food coloring gel and have a cake that is just as pretty with a few extra lemon and orange slices for garnish. The Lemon-Orange Pound Cake is perfect for a bridal shower or a spring tea.

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Red Velvet Peppermint Cake

Photo: Caitlin Bensel
Red Velvet Peppermint Cake Recipe

Transform a classic red velvet cake into a festive holiday dessert by adding peppermint extract to the rich cream cheese frosting and garnishing the cake with peppermint candies.

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Hummingbird Cake

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps
Hummingbird Cake Recipe
Make the best of ripe bananas with this recipe for Hummingbird Cake. You'll receive rave reviews and requests for more when Hummingbird Cake is on your dessert menu.

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Chocolate Bundt Cake

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Lydia DeGaris-Pursell
Chocolate Bundt Cake Recipe
A 6-cup Bundt pan is smaller than the standard size. You can also use a 9-inch round cake pan.
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Pumpkin Coffee Cake with Maple Glaze

Photo: Sara Tane
Pumpkin Coffee Cake with Maple Glaze Recipe

With a rich, gooey pumpkin spice filling, buttery pecan streusel topping, and maple glaze, this fluffy and moist pumpkin coffee cake is sure to impress. Perfect for any occasion, from your next fall brunch to a Halloween party, this coffee cake is easy to make and full of toasty fall flavors.

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Smith Island Cake

Photo: Peter Frank Edwards; Styling: Rachael Burrow, Linda Hirst
Smith Island Cake Recipe

Create a show-stopping holiday cake by icing each beautiful layer with decadent Chocolate Ganache icing. 

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Sweet Potato Pound Cake

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Allison R. Banks
Sweet Potato Pound Cake Recipe

Bored with sweet potato casserole? Try this sweet potato pound cake, a twist on traditional pound cake that features nutrient-rich sweet potatoes. It's the perfect addition to holiday dessert tables.

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Texas Skillet Cake

Photo: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Texas Skillet Cake Recipe

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Million Dollar Pound Cake

Million Dollar Pound Cake Recipe

You'll need only half of this cake for each truffle recipe. Save the other half for other truffles--or just nibbling.

 

 

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Boo-tiful Pumpkin Cake

Oxmoor House
Boo-tiful Pumpkin Cake Recipe

 

Make two recipes of this pumpkin cake and create your own tasty pumpkin!

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Gingerbread Cake Roll with Eggnog Cream

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Gingerbread Cake Roll with Eggnog Cream Recipe

Made with fresh ginger, bourbon, and molasses, this dark, spicy gingerbread cake pairs wonderfully with the light and creamy eggnog filling. This cake does need to chill for at least 8 hours, so make sure you plan ahead. Dust the top of this gingerbread cake roll with powdered sugar for an extra holiday touch. When it comes to your ginger, choose clean knobs of fresh ginger root with smooth, shiny skin. Store in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator and use it before it begins to shrivel. Remove the peel with a vegetable peeler or the tip of a metal spoon.

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Susan’s Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting

Stacey Ballis
Susan’s Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting Recipe

On the surface, so simple. A moist, richly banana-flavored, two-layer cake with a dark chocolate frosting. No frills or fancies. No nuts, chocolate chips or chunks, no crispy bits or coconut. Just a basic banana cake with a simple chocolate frosting. And yet, in the marriage of these two tastes something extraordinary happens. It is cake alchemy.

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Sea Salt-Caramel Cake

Greg DuPree
Sea Salt-Caramel Cake Recipe

While these tender cake layers taste divine, it’s the caramel frosting that really wows. It’s outrageously rich—and doesn’t require the use of a candy thermometer. Top the frosted cake with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for a fancy finish.

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Bribery Cake

Nicole Franzen/Ten Speed Press
Bribery Cake Recipe

Chocolate cake with Swiss meringe buttercream will get you across the finish line, or help someone else to. 

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Caramel Apple Cake

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Caramel Apple Cake Recipe

This cake is topped with sauteed apple slices and drizzled in a delicious Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce. 

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Brown Velvet Cake

Time Inc. Video Studio
Brown Velvet Cake Recipe

This decadently moist chocolate cake is similar to red velvet, but skips using an entire bottle of red food dye. Crumbling the cake trimmings for garnish is an easy and elegant way to decorate. Spread the crumbs out on a baking sheet and let them dry out for a while to make them easier to apply to your frosted cake.

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Cinnamon Roll Swirl Cake

Photo: Linwaite
Cinnamon Roll Swirl Cake Recipe

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Easy Black Forest Cake

Time Inc. Video Studio
Easy Black Forest Cake Recipe

Devil's food cake layers enriched with milk chocolate and a trio of extracts are sandwiched with the simplest and most decadent stuffing of them all--ready-to-eat cheesecake filling and cherry pie filling. Capped off with fudge frosting and gooey chocolate-covered cherries, it's a cinch to wow your guests.

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