If you’re the type of person who starts setting out your best fall wreaths and dreaming up festive fall DIYs before the last summer tomatoes have even been sliced, these ridiculously good — and occasionally over-the-top — fall cakes are for you. We’ll show you how to make creative autumn cake designs and whip-up our best autumn cake recipes featuring the flavors of the season: Apple, pumpkin, pecan, and all the spices make multiple, delicious appearances. Whether you’re looking for a chocolate fall cake (topped with pumpkin spice frosting, perhaps?) or a classic cake decorated for fall, we rounded up the sweetest ways to celebrate — in our humble opinion — the absolute best season of all.
Still have summer produce ripening in the refrigerator? Try an autumn fruit cake recipe that brings last season’s bounty into the fall. Been craving apples and cinnamon since July? We’ve got you covered with whipped cream-topped creations, caramel-filled layer cakes, and one decadent cheesecake that you’ll be thinking about ‘til winter. We simplified our delicious carrot cake recipe by baking it on a sheet pan, so that the best-ever fall cake can be the easiest-ever dessert, too. These fun fall cake ideas look impressive enough for Thanksgiving dessert and are simple enough for a Saturday afternoon baking project, so queue up a cozy fall movie on Netflix and plan out an easy fall dinner— because dessert’s gonna be good.
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1
Carrot Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
Carrot cake isn't just an Easter treat! Loaded with orange zest, ginger, and cinnamon, it makes a festive dessert that's spicy enough for fall.
Get the recipe for Carrot Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting »
RELATED: 25 Easy Carrot Desserts You've Got to Try
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2
Pumpkin Spice Cake
Feelin' extra? This cream cheese-filled, fluffy meringue-topped cake is a stunning (and delicious!) way to celebrate the season.
Get the recipe for Pumpkin Spice Cake »
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3
Chocolate Brown Sugar Butter Cake With Spiced Pumpkin Frosting
This cake's got it all for fall: Gooey chocolate, creamy pumpkin frosting, and crunchy pecans for texture and the prettiest decoration.
Get the recipe for Chocolate Brown Sugar Butter Cake with Spiced Pumpkin Frosting »
RELATED: 8 Best Cake Decorating Tools and Kits, According to Kitchen Experts
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4
Spiced Parsnip Cake
Root veggies are the secret ingredient to this spiced fall cake — butternut squash and parsnips add a surprising earthy sweetness.
Get the recipe for Spiced Parsnip Cake »
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5
Chocolate Pumpkin Cake and Cupcakes
One recipe, two tasty options: Make an impressive triple-layer cake or whip up a batch of fun and festive cupcakes instead.
Get the recipe for Chocolate Pumpkin Cake and Cupcakes »
RELATED: 58 Spooky Halloween Desserts and Treats to Make This October
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6
Triple Citrus Bundt
Lemon, orange, and lime zest bring plenty of punch to this bright dessert that'll instantly perk up a dreary fall day.
Get the recipe for Triple Citrus Bundt »
RELATED: 40 Easy Baking Recipes For All Your Sweet Treat Cravings
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7
Outlaw Carrot Cake With Brown Sugar Butter Cream
This recipe from "The Happy Cook" by Daphne Oz uses whole-wheat flour in the batter and brown sugar in the frosting for a carrot cake unlike any other.
Get the recipe for Outlaw Carrot Cake with Brown Sugar Butter Cream »
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8
Apple Spice Cake
Transfer your haul from the apple orchard into this tasty cake topped with a rich frosting and dusted with spicy cinnamon.
Get the recipe for Apple Spice Cake »
RELATED: 20 Apple Desserts That Are Delicious to the Core
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9
Pumpkin Cheesecake
This festive dessert is light in texture with a melt-in-your-mouth creaminess that'll have your fam asking for it every season.
Get the recipe for Pumpkin Cheesecake »
RELATED: 22 Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipes to Make This Fall
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10
Flourless Fudge Cake
Ditching the flour makes this cake deliciously rich and conveniently gluten-free so that no one has to miss out on dessert.
Get the recipe for Flourless Fudge Cake »
RELATED: 25 Gluten-Free Desserts That Will Be the Hit of Any Party
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11
Peanut Butter Cake
It's a nut butter lover's dream: Peanut butter cake with peanut butter frosting and some extra dry-roasted peanuts on top for a craveworthy crunch.
Get the recipe for Peanut Butter Cake »
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12
Double Chocolate Bundt
Strong-brewed coffee in the batter and the frosting really amps up the cocoa flavor, while sour cream and buttermilk keep this luscious dessert decadently rich.
Get the recipe for Double Chocolate Bundt »
RELATED: Here's How to Make Coffee at Home Using 7 Different Brewing Methods
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13
S'mores Icebox Cake
Missing summer? Us too. This no-bake cake stacked with layers of grahams, chocolate, and marshmallow brings the flavors of the campfire inside for fall.
Get the recipe for S'mores Icebox Cake »
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14
Sticky Plum Upside-Down Cake
Use up the last of your late-summer plums in this violet-hued cake, spiked with fresh orange and cornmeal, that's great for fall, too.
Get the recipe for Sticky Plum Upside-Down Cake »
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15
Cannoli Cake
Mini chocolate chips, orange zest, and whole-milk ricotta preserve traditional cannoli flavors, all in a sliceable and shareable cake.
Get the recipe for Cannoli Cake »
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16
Toffee Crunch Cake
Chopped toffee bars make an easy (and tasty!) decoration on this fuss-free cake. Consider this our nomination for birthday cake of the season.
Get the recipe for Toffee Crunch Cake »
RELATED: 60 Birthday Instagram Captions to Help You Celebrate Anyone
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17
Chocolate Chip Cake with Classic Chocolate Buttercream
This simple cake topped with a generous coat of chocolate buttercream frosting is just the thing every kid — and adult— wants to find in their lunchbox.
Get the recipe for Chocolate Chip Cake with Classic Chocolate Buttercream »
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18
Vanilla-Chocolate Pound Cake
The pretty chocolate swirl comes from — wait for it — hot cocoa mix swirled right into the batter! Save some mix to enjoy a warm bev with your cake.
Get the recipe for Vanilla-Chocolate Pound Cake »
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19
Grandma's Poppy Seed Cake
Dorie Greenspan doesn't hold back on the poppy seeds in this true-to-its-name dessert (or breakfast!). And that's just the way her Grandma liked it.
Get the recipe for Grandma's Poppy Seed Cake »
RELATED: 55 Sweet and Savory Brunch Recipes to Make This Weekend
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20
Autumn Cake
Using a piping bag (and the easiest-ever buttercream frosting) to make fun fall decorations on this rich chocolate cake.
