14 Thanksgiving dessert ideas cake

Thanksgiving is all about family, gratitude, and of course — delicious desserts.

If you’re looking to serve something sweet that impresses everyone, cakes are a perfect choice.

From pumpkin classics to apple and chocolate twists, here are 14 Thanksgiving dessert cake ideas that’ll make your dessert table unforgettable.

1. Pumpkin Spice Layer Cake

A moist pumpkin cake layered with cream cheese frosting, capturing the flavors of fall in every bite.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 cup pumpkin puree

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 2 eggs

• ½ cup vegetable oil

• 1 cup cream cheese frosting

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Mix pumpkin, sugar, eggs, and oil.

3. Add dry ingredients and mix until smooth.

4. Bake in two greased pans for 30–35 minutes.

5. Cool and frost with cream cheese frosting.

2. Apple Cinnamon Bundt Cake

A sweet and tender cake packed with apples and warm cinnamon flavor, perfect for cozy evenings.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chopped apples

• 2 cups flour

• 1½ cups sugar

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• ½ cup melted butter

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Mix butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.

2. Add flour and cinnamon, then fold in apples.

3. Pour into a greased bundt pan and bake for 45 minutes at 350°F.

4. Cool and dust with powdered sugar.

3. Pecan Praline Cake

Rich, nutty, and buttery — this cake combines the sweetness of pralines with a soft vanilla base.

Ingredients:

• 1 box butter pecan cake mix

• 1 cup chopped pecans

• ½ cup melted butter

• 1 cup condensed milk

• ½ cup caramel sauce

Instructions:

1. Prepare cake mix as directed.

2. Stir in pecans and bake.

3. Drizzle with condensed milk and caramel while warm.

4. Cranberry Orange Cake

Bright, tangy cranberries meet zesty orange for a refreshing holiday dessert.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour

• 1 cup cranberries

• Zest of 1 orange

• 1 cup sugar

• ½ cup butter

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp baking powder

Instructions:

1. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and orange zest.

2. Fold in flour, baking powder, and cranberries.

3. Bake at 350°F for 35 minutes.

4. Top with orange glaze.

5. Maple Walnut Cake

A nutty maple-flavored cake that brings cozy sweetness to your Thanksgiving table.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour

• ½ cup chopped walnuts

• ½ cup maple syrup

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 2 eggs

• ½ cup butter

Instructions:

1. Beat butter, sugar, and eggs.

2. Add maple syrup, flour, and walnuts.

3. Pour into a round pan and bake for 30–35 minutes.

4. Glaze with maple syrup.

6. Sweet Potato Cake

Like sweet potato pie in cake form — creamy, spiced, and satisfying.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes

• 2 cups flour

• 1 tsp nutmeg

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1 cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• ½ cup oil

Instructions:

1. Mix wet and dry ingredients separately.

2. Combine and pour into a greased pan.

3. Bake for 40 minutes at 350°F.

4. Frost with cinnamon buttercream.

7. Chocolate Pumpkin Marble Cake

Rich chocolate swirls meet pumpkin spice for a beautiful marble effect.

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups flour

• ½ cup cocoa powder

• 1 cup pumpkin puree

• 1 cup sugar

• ½ cup oil

• 2 eggs

Instructions:

1. Prepare chocolate and pumpkin batters separately.

2. Alternate spoonfuls in the pan and swirl.

3. Bake for 40 minutes at 350°F.

8. Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake

A sticky, caramel-coated apple cake that melts in your mouth.

Ingredients:

• 2 apples (sliced)

• ½ cup brown sugar

• ¼ cup butter

• 1½ cups cake batter (vanilla flavor)

Instructions:

1. Melt butter and sugar in a pan; add apple slices.

2. Pour batter over apples.

3. Bake at 350°F for 35 minutes.

4. Flip upside down and serve warm.

9. Gingerbread Cake

Classic holiday flavors of ginger and molasses create a cozy cake perfect with whipped cream.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour

• ½ cup molasses

• ½ cup butter

• ½ cup sugar

• 1 tsp ginger

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1 egg

Instructions:

1. Beat butter, sugar, and egg.

2. Add molasses and dry ingredients.

3. Bake for 35 minutes at 350°F.

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10. Chai Spice Cake

A lightly spiced cake inspired by chai tea — aromatic and perfect with a cup of coffee.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 tsp cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves

• ½ cup butter

• 2 eggs

• ½ cup milk

Instructions:

1. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs.

2. Mix dry ingredients with milk.

3. Bake for 30 minutes at 350°F.

11. Brown Butter Pumpkin Cake

Brown butter adds a nutty depth to this moist pumpkin cake.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup browned butter

• 1 cup pumpkin puree

• 1½ cups flour

• 1 cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Mix browned butter, sugar, eggs, and pumpkin.

2. Add flour and cinnamon.

3. Bake for 35 minutes at 350°F.

12. Apple Cider Donut Cake

All the flavor of an apple cider donut in a soft, tender cake.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour

• 1 cup apple cider

• ½ cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Mix cider, sugar, and eggs.

2. Add flour and cinnamon.

3. Bake for 35 minutes at 350°F.

4. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

13. Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

A moist, classic carrot cake with rich, tangy frosting.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups grated carrots

• 1½ cups flour

• 1 cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• ½ cup oil

• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Mix wet ingredients, then add carrots and dry ingredients.

2. Pour into a pan and bake for 35 minutes.

3. Frost with cream cheese frosting.

14. Chocolate Pecan Cake

A rich chocolate cake loaded with crunchy pecans — indulgent and perfect for Thanksgiving night.

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups flour

• ½ cup cocoa powder

• 1 cup sugar

• ½ cup chopped pecans

• ½ cup oil

• 2 eggs

Instructions:

1. Mix dry ingredients together.

2. Add oil and eggs.

3. Fold in pecans and bake at 350°F for 35 minutes.

4. Top with chocolate ganache.

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These 14 Thanksgiving dessert cake ideas are easy, delicious, and full of fall flavors.

Whether you love pumpkin, apple, or rich chocolate, there’s a cake here for everyone to enjoy at your Thanksgiving feast.