35 Best Fall Cake Ideas to Kick Off Baking Season
The heavenly smells of pumpkin, apple, and cinnamon await.
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Fall is the official start to baking season and it's no surprise why. It's finally cool enough to turn on the oven for starters. And between the school bake sales and the holiday parties, there are so many reasons to celebrate, too. And what's the one thing that every party needs? Cake, of course! That's precisely the reason there's this list stunning fall cake ideas, including sheet cakes, Bundt cakes, layer cakes, and even cheesecakes.
There are so many different flavors to look forward to when making a fall dessert, but everyone knows that pumpkin sweets reign supreme. Here, you'll find all types of cakes full of cozy pumpkin spice, from a spectacular pumpkin layer cake with the dreamiest frosting to a pumpkin cheesecake drizzled with caramel. If you're more of an apple dessert fan, go for the Irish apple cake or perhaps the apple cider doughnut cake reminiscent of the treats found at apple orchards.
There's also plenty of chocolaty treats including German chocolate cake and Ree Drummond's wildly popular chocolate sheet cake. And if you dream of eating cake for breakfast, whip up one of the coffee cake recipes found here to enjoy with your morning cup. All of these cakes would make a tasty addition to your Thanksgiving dessert spread and they would even look beautiful alongside your seasonal fall cupcakes. But of course, any of these homemade cakes would be perfect to bake on a cool autumn day―no holiday required!
Sweet Potato Cake
This tender, spiced cake is a nod to classic sweet potato casserole, but don't wait until Thanksgiving to try it! It has pillowy marshmallow buttercream frosting and crunchy toasted pecans on top.
Get the Sweet Potato Cake recipe.
Pumpkin Layer Cake
This is everything you want in a fall dessert: tender, spiced pumpkin cake paired with clouds of cream cheese frosting. It's just the thing to bring to any party.
Get Ree's Pumpkin Layer Cake recipe.
Caramel Apple Sheet Cake
Caramel apples are a quintessential fall treat, and now you can make the cake version! It starts with a lightly spiced apple cake which is then slathered in swirls of rich, buttery caramel frosting.
Get Ree's Caramel Apple Sheet Cake recipe.
Fig Almond Cake
Take full advantage of fresh fig season and bake this easy skillet cake. There's no need to lug out an electric mixer either. The batter is easy to stir together by hand.
Get the Fig Almond Cake recipe.
Salted Caramel Bundt Cake
Salted caramel is good all the time, but there's something about the contrast in flavors that feels so perfect for fall. The secret to the caramel glaze is melted hard caramel candies!
Get Ree's Salted Caramel Bundt Cake recipe.
Pumpkin Coffee Cake
If you need an excuse to eat cake for breakfast, this is it! Start your day with a slice of moist pumpkin coffee cake topped with crunchy walnut streusel and a drizzle of cream cheese glaze.
Get the Pumpkin Coffee Cake recipe.
Hummingbird Cake
Sweet, tender, and so comforting—this classic cake is like a cross between banana bread and carrot cake. To top it off, it's got classic cream cheese frosting to make it irresistible.
Get the Hummingbird Cake recipe.
Irish Apple Cake
This cake has three layers of deliciousness: the bottom is a cinnamon-spiced cake, the middle is thinly sliced apples, and the top is a buttery oat crumble. The only that could make it better is the vanilla custard sauce drizzled over top.
Get the Irish Apple Cake recipe.
German Chocolate Cake
You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't love this two-tiered beauty. Between the rich, chocolate cake, coconut filling, and chocolate buttercream, it's pure and total decadence.
Get the German Chocolate Cake recipe.
Pecan Pie Cheesecake
Pecan pie and cheesecake all in one? Yes, please! The filling is classic cheesecake while the crust is has pecans and speculoos cookies mixed in. The gooey pecan topping is the star of the show.
Get the Pecan Pie Cheesecake recipe.
Apple Cider Doughnut Cake
Remember those delicious apple cider dougnuts you'd get after an afternoon of picking apples? Those nostalgic flavors are captured perfectly in this cinnamon sugar-dusted Bundt.
Get the Apple Cider Donut Cake recipe.
Olive Oil Cake
Citrus desserts are welcome addition to any get-together, especially this orange olive oil cake. It is incredibly moist (even after a day or two) and has the most divine crackly sugary crust.
Get the Olive Oil Cake recipe.
Best Birthday Cake
This is the best classic chocolate cake recipe, no birthday required. With a moist, tender, and perfectly chocolaty cake and decadent buttercream frosting to boot, it's everything you want in a dessert.
Get the Best Birthday Cake recipe.
Chocolate Guinness Cake
Guinness gives the cake a slightly malty flavor that pairs oh-so nicely with rich chocolate. A drizzle of thick, Bailey's-spiked cream cheese icing is the perfect finishing touch!
Get the Chocolate Guinness Cake recipe.
Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
These bite-sized cakes are full of cozy fall flavors. The recipe makes 12, so they're the perfect recipe to try for an autumn dinner party with friends. You can make them ahead and simply dollop with whipped cream when it's time to serve.
Get the Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes recipe.
Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Using an Oreo crumb crust makes this peanut butter cheesecake even more rich and decadent. It's the perfect combo of chocolate and peanut butter.
Get the Peanut Butter Cheesecake recipe.
Applesauce Cake
This one-bowl cake is lightly spiced, moist, and so simple to make. You can whip it up for an after-school snack or any occasion this season.
Get the Applesauce Cake recipe.
Sour Cream Coffee Cake
With ribbon of warm cinnamon sugar streusel spun through the middle and even more sprinkled on top, this cake is a cozy bake for fall. The sour cream in the batter helps keep it wonderfully moist!
Get the Sour Cream Coffee Cake recipe.
Carrot Cheesecake
Cheesecake is for fall, too! This one features a carrot cake crust—carrots are a seasonal root vegetable, after all—and a thick layer of rich, silky filling.
Get the Carrot Cheesecake recipe.
Gingerbread Cake
Just like the holiday favorite, this cake is loaded with warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Plus, it has rich molasses so it's extra-sweet.
Get the Gingerbread Cake recipe.
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