35 Fall Cake Recipes That Are Packed With The Flavors Of The Season
Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Fall is one of our favorite seasons. Apart from the football, the leaves changing, and the opportunity to decorate pumpkins, we appreciate that the cooler weather allows us to do one of our favorite things: bake fall cakes.
There's something special about fall baking, which lets us use some of our favorite ingredients, whether it's apples in a glorious stack cake or pumpkin in an almost-too-pretty-to-eat Bundt. We've rounded up some of our all-time favorite fall cakes for you to bake this autumn, and all are party-perfect or great to keep on hand for after-school snacks and casual drop-ins. With fall cakes this good, there's no excuse not to try out at least a few of these recipes to take the chill off the cool evenings.
Apple Dapple Cake
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
With a name like "Apple Dapple Cake" how could you not give it a try? We're not sure on the exact origins of the recipe, but one thing we know for sure: it's super delicious.
Applesauce Cake
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This apple cake requires just one bowl and a whisk to bring together. And even the frosting has apple flavor thanks to the reduced apple juice folded in.
Pumpkin Cake
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Brown sugar, cinnamon, and buttermilk make this simple pumpkin cake not only super Southern but delicious.
Butternut Squash Cake
Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
"Omg this cake was so divine! Super moist and perfectly sweet. I made it with butternut squash from my garden. Definitely will make this cake again," says one Southern Living reader of this recipe.
Pumpkin Roll
Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Pumpkin pies tend to dominate the season, but if working with pie dough is not your thing, try this pumpkin dessert instead. With the help of a kitchen towel or parchment paper, you can roll this delicate pumpkin cake into a perfect spiral filled with cream cheese.
Cold-Oven Black Walnut Cake
Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Yes, you read that right, this cake starts in a cold oven. It creates a beautiful, golden brown crust and perfectly tender interior.
Apple Spice Cake
Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Ground cloves gives this spice cake its warm and comforting fall flavor, while grated apples create a super moist crumb.
Pumpkin Spice-Heath Cake
Alison Miksch
Pumpkin spice is everywhere this time of year, from lattes to baked goods, but we think this pumpkin spice recipe is truly something special. It transforms a boxed spice cake mix into a tender pumpkin sheet cake, which is topped with spiced cream cheese frosting and pieces of Heath candy bars.
Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Far less fussy than making homemade caramel apples, but with all the same flavor, this dump cake is our go-to effortless fall dessert.
Football Cake
Frederick Hardy II; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke
The fall is football season in the South, and we don't think there's a recipe that celebrates that fact more than this chocolate cake. Go the extra mile and add green food coloring to coconut flakes to create a grassy backdrop for this Football Cake.
Harvest Cake
Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Southern Living reader Meghan Mays of Lynchburg, Virginia submitted this fall cake recipe to the magazine. You'll have to dice four cups of fresh apples for it, but as she notes in the accompanying story, the final result is well worth the effort.
Apple Stack Cake
Photo: Victor Protasi; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Dried apples, sorghum syrup, and dark brown sugar give this stack cake recipe from Ronni Lundy a hearty flavor even more satisfying than a stack of hotcakes. The cake will taste better after it has cured for a couple of days, giving the layers and filling a chance to meld together. Give it a dusting of powdered sugar to make it even more delightful.
Pumpkin Dump Cake
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
If you're looking for the easiest cake you can make this fall, we've found it. Add a few ingredients to enrich your favorite pumpkin pie mix and top with yellow cake mix and loads of butter. You'll be sneaking a slice of this rich concoction with your morning coffee.
Pecan Pie Cake with Browned Butter Frosting
This one is for the pecan pie lovers out there. Marry the flavors of pecan pie with a frosted layer cake for a decadent dessert that deserves a spot on your fall baking list. The creamy browned butter frosting is truly the icing on the cake.
Apple Pie Cake
Enjoy the flavors of apple pie without the fuss of a crust. Using a white cake mix, this confection comes together with just 15 minutes of hands-on time. Serve with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Pumpkin Layer Cake Recipe with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting
This irresistible recipe comes from New Orleans-based cookbook author and food blogger Joy Wilson. Homemade caramel, cream cheese frosting, and pumpkin spice cake come together to create a gorgeous layer cake that embodies the flavor of fall in every bite. The caramel is swirled into the frosting and loosely swooped on with a spatula for rich color and texture.
Butter Toffee-Pecan Layer Cake
Browning butter and toasting pecans adds warm flavors to this vanilla cake. Bourbon, rum, or cognac can be added to the frosting for even more depth. And every bite is full of delectable toffee bits—who can resist a slice of that?
Apple Butter Pound Cake with Caramel Frosting
Make a big batch of homemade slow-cooker apple butter and use some as the perfect filling for this pound cake, or just pick up a jar from the local farmer's market. Throw in a few toasted pecans for extra crunch and flavor. Then use a Bundt pan, drizzled caramel frosting, and apple chips for a truly elegant cake that will wow your family.
Sweet Potato Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
Turn sweet potatoes into a decadent dessert with this recipe that'll remind you of a cake Grandma would make. The flavor is similar to carrot cake, but much more extravagant.
Cinnamon Coffee Cake
This classic coffee cake comes together with a little stirring, pouring, and plenty of butter. Streusel is layered throughout for cinnamon-y crunch. Keep this cake around for guests or for accompanying a very satisfying, solo cup of coffee.
Old-Fashioned Caramel Cake
Courtney West
You're just 15 minutes of prep time away from this old-fashioned caramel cake. On the other hand, the caramel frosting requires careful preparation in a Dutch oven, but you'll find it worth the effort. Spread it on this simple layer cake and raise it from delicious to devourable.
Fresh Apple Cake
Hannah Zimmerman
The batter is loaded up with apples that lend an incredible moistness to this rustic sheet cake. To top it off, slather with cream cheese frosting and sprinkle with pecans.
Pumpkin Bundt Cake
Molly Bolton
Just like pumpkin pie, you can serve this cake with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Sweet Potato Pound Cake
Try this sweet potato pound cake, a twist on traditional pound cake that features nutrient-rich sweet potatoes. The cake is quick to whip up and requires no icing or adornment. You can bake it in a simple tube pan or in two 8-inch bread pans.
Caramel Apple Cake
If you're looking to shine the spotlight on the apples you picked at the local orchard, this cake will make a show-stopping centerpiece that's almost too pretty to eat. How you arrange those apples is up to you, but the caramel sauce is obligatory.
Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans
This gorgeous cake incorporates canned pumpkin and spices for harvest flavor. Make sure to spoon the icing over the cake while it's still warm for the best results. Top with homemade candied pecans for a Bundt cake that's sure to impress your guests.
The Ultimate Carrot Cake
What makes this the ultimate cake? Perhaps it's the addition of chopped apples and shredded coconut to the batter, or it could be the garnish of Candied Carrot Curls. The moist and tender carrot cake is also stacked three layers high and frosted with Brown-Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting.
Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake
This cake means business. A duo of glazes—one creamy chocolate, the other subtle buttermilk—comes together atop this dreamy confection. And the recipe includes a touch of espresso to complement the chocolatey batter.
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
This rustic dessert, baked in a cast-iron skillet, is a real crowd-pleaser. The flavors of the caramel and pineapple meld into a gooey topping you can't get enough of. Use a spoon to drizzle any excess syrup over the slices when you serve.
Chocolate Mayonnaise Sheet Cake
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
If you've never known the glory of a mayonnaise cake, you're in for a treat. The staple ingredient yields an ultra-moist crumb and keeps the sugar from taking over your taste buds. Top with a light and creamy Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting.
Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake
Test Kitchen Professional Pam Lolley combined the flavors of three holiday favorites—pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and cheesecake—to create this luscious holiday dessert. Or, if you prefer, substitute mashed sweet potatoes for the pumpkin. Cheesecake can be baked and refrigerated for up to two days before serving.
Blackberry Jam Cake
This jam cake combines the reminder of summer's bounty with the flavors of fall. The moist batter includes blackberry jam, warm baking spices, raisins, and toasted pecans. The caramel flavor in the cream cheese frosting is provided by store-bought sauce.
Cranberry Upside-Down Cake
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This easy upside-down cake recipe is perfect for holiday events or a fall-themed dinner party. Serve it warm with a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream for the best finish to any meal.
Ocracoke Fig Jam Cake with Buttermilk Glaze
Here's something delicious you can do with those extra figs you harvested this fall (not to worry, a nice jar of fig jam from the store will work just as well). The cake batter also incorporates warm spices and savory walnuts. The pleasant tang of a simple buttermilk glaze is the perfect finishing touch for this fig jam confection.
Apple-Pecan Carrot Cake
Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
There's no such thing as "too much" when it comes to this hearty Apple-Pecan Carrot Cake. Top a decadent crown of Mascarpone Frosting with swirls of Apple Cider Caramel Sauce and a scattering of pecans. Serve immediately for some satisfied lip smacking.
For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on Southern Living.