We love all of these pretty fall cake recipes. Each will perk up your dinner table this autumn, thanks to in-season ingredients and spices. As the weather cools, warm things up with a fall-themed cake featuring pumpkin, apple, caramel, or chocolate. Whether you whip up these fall cake ideas for a dinner party, book club, or even Thanksgiving menu, they'll be the perfect addition to your seasonal recipe lineup.
Caramel Apple Poke Cake
Here's a fall cake recipe that can be baked to perfection in a loaf pan. With apple pieces, apple butter, and plenty of vanilla infusing the batter, a luscious dulce de leche stream running through the center, plus a fluffy homemade frosting crowing it all, you won't feel like you're missing a thing.
Apple Sheet Cake
Showcasing fresh apples, dried apples, and apple butter all in one masterpiece, this fall sheet cake is loaded with sweet harvest goodness. It's the perfect vehicle to put your autumn apple haul to use. To stick with the seasonal theme, finish the treat with apple slices, a dash of cinnamon, and a generous shower of maple syrup-infused frosting.
Pumpkin Cake Roll
Celebrate the season with a fall-themed cake that's sure to impress. One BHG reader says, "I made this for the first time ever last week and it was all gone by the very next day! This recipe is soooo easy and it tastes amazing!" While the cake roll looks elegant, it's surprisingly easy to pull together; we'll talk you through every step of the way.
Caramel Spice Cake
You'll feel like you're ready for a food TV show after you plate this drippy, decadent caramel dessert. Pumpkin pie spice, toasted pecans, a simple DIY cream cheese frosting, and a generous dose of caramel ice cream topping load this dessert with all the best fall cake flavors.
Pumpkin Cupcakes with Spiced Mascarpone Cream Filling
This may not technically count as an official fall "cake" recipe since they're mini. But thanks to how much flavor is packed into every crumb, we think these cupcakes are worthy of a shout-out. The canned pumpkin cupcakes get even better once they're dressed up with a double dose of spiced mascarpone frosting (stuffed in the center and slathered on top).
Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake with Sugared Pepitas
Come holidays (or any days, really) we're wild about this silky fall-color cake. It offers the best of pumpkin pie and cake all at once. Plus this pumpkin cheesecake is loaded with fall spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves, then topped with sugared pumpkin seeds. We'll take a slice … or two.
Caramelized Pear Skillet Cake
If you're seeking fall cake decorating ideas that feel more grown-up than frosting and sprinkles, might we recommend a boozy and over-the-top tasty bourbon sauce? That's exactly what you see dripping down the edges of this pretty pear cake. Cook the nicely-spiced batter over halved pears nestled into said sauce, then flip it onto a serving platter to reveal the ooey-gooey treat—all set to slice and serve.
Pumpkin Angel Food Cake
This light-as-air pumpkin angel food cake will satisfy any sweet tooth. Full of canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice, this semi-homemade fall cake idea definitely takes box cake mix to the next level.
Dulce de Leche Cake
If you need fall cake decorations inspiration, check out the ooey-gooey caramel drizzle and whipped cream frosting topping this moist cake. The showy swirls are almost as craveable as the dressed-up citrus-spiked cake hiding underneath. Add a few sprinkles of fresh orange peel to the fall cake for a hint of unexpected brightness.
Graham Cracker Cake
Graham crackers are good in s'mores desserts, sure. But they're great in a fall birthday cake recipe that's moist, nostalgic, and stuffed with cream filling! Top with a simple seven-minute brown sugar frosting for the perfect treat both adults and kids will fall for.
Gingerbread Cake Roll
Although you might hear of "gingerbread" and think "Christmas," we've given the cookie flavor an autumnal makeover with maple and nutty notes. Layer slightly-spiced gingerbread with a mildly-sweet almond pastry cream. Then after tucking those together into one fantastic fall cake roll, drizzle it all with a simple maple glaze and sprinkle on almonds for an extra layer of sweet and seasonal flavor.
Molasses Spice Cake
Think of this lovely layered creation like a gingersnap cookie in tender, supersized, fruit-topped cake fashion. It's proof that fall cake flavors don't have to be limited to apples and cinnamon. Instead, top off a molasses spice cake with blueberries (frozen will work wonderfully) and lemon zest.
Apple Cake with Buttery Caramel Sauce
Looking for a new family favorite? Drizzle buttery caramel sauce over a classic fall cake made with cinnamon, walnuts, and apples. It's like everything you love about caramel apples and cake mashed-up into one cozy dessert.
Dark Cocoa Buttermilk Cake with Cocoa Mascarpone Frosting
We're depending on the recipe name to hook you on this fall cake idea. Just consider: A dark, rich cocoa cake underneath a creamy chocolate-tinged mascarpone alongside a warm cup of joe. Your chilly fall evening just got better, didn't it?
Ginger Carrot Cake
Freshly grated ginger adds a delightful twist to this beloved moist and fluffy carrot cake recipe. Bonus: This isn't just a fall cake recipe—the well-balanced blend of flavors and the sturdiness of carrots makes the classic dessert perfect for any season. (We highly recommend tossing in a handful of toasted walnuts, especially when you're craving something a little heartier as the temperatures dip.)
Persimmon Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Dress up a box of yellow cake mix with fall favorites like cinnamon, nutmeg, and persimmons. There's no need to track down fresh persimmons, this recipe is made with dried fruit that's been rehydrated in water. Finish this fall cake recipe with a luscious cream cheese frosting.
Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Part cake, part cobbler, this easy fall dessert idea is ready with just 5 minutes of prep. It's as easy as layering ingredients in a baking dish. If you love the idea of this easy dessert but want more options, check out more dump cake recipes.
Cranberry-Buttermilk Pound Cake
You're looking at our new go-to Thanksgiving dessert. In addition to fresh cranberries in the batter, we're serving this dessert with fresh cranberry sauce. It's a great way to use up leftover sauce.
Pumpkin Tiramisu Layer Cake
If you count down the days until Pumpkin Spice Latte season, this is the fall cake recipe for you. To start, whip up a homemade pumpkin spice cake. Then, drizzle the layers with a hazelnut coffee syrup. Finish the cake with a fluffy maple mascarpone cream.
