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  5. 30 Fall Cake Recipes That Are Packed with the Flavors of the Season

30 Fall Cake Recipes That Are Packed with the Flavors of the Season

Southern Living May 2021 Cover
By Southern Living Editors Updated October 07, 2020
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Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting
Credit: Alison Gootee; Styling: Suzonne Stirling

Looking to make a tall layer cake, a rustic upside-down treat, or a cheesecake brimming with the taste of fall? Take the chill off the cool evenings when you bake one of these. 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 cakes–an indulgent slice of rich sweet potato pound cake with a cup of hot coffee is a perfect afternoon in the making. Fall baking also 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 cheesecake. We've rounded up some of our all-time favorite fall cakes for you to bake this autumn. These fall cakes are all party-perfect, but don't hesitate to whip one up to keep a fall dessert 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.

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Apple Stack Cake

Apple Stack Cake
Credit: Photo: Victor Protasi; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Apple Stack Cake

This stack cake will taste better after it has cured for a couple of days allowing the layers and filling a chance to meld together. 

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Pumpkin Dump Cake

Pumpkin Dump Cake
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pumpkin Dump Cake

If you're looking for the easiest cake you can make this fall, we've found it. 

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Pecan Pie Cake with Browned Butter Frosting

Pecan Pie Cake
Credit: Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Pecan Pie Cake with Browned Butter Frosting

This confection marries the flavors of pecan pie with a frosted layer cake for a decadent dessert that deserves a spot on your fall baking list.

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Apple Pie Cake

Apple Pie Cake
Credit: Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Apple Pie Cake

Enjoy the flavors of apple pie without the fuss of a crust. This cake comes together with just 15 minutes of hands-on time. 

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Pumpkin Layer Cake Recipe with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting
Credit: Alison Gootee; Styling: Suzonne Stirling

Recipe: Pumpkin Layer Cake Recipe with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting

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. 

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Butter Toffee-Pecan Layer Cake

Butter Toffee-Pecan Layer Cake
Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Butter Toffee-Pecan Layer Cake

Browning the butter and toasting the pecans for this recipe adds additional layers of flavor to vanilla cake. 

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Apple Butter Pound Cake with Caramel Frosting

Apple Butter Pound Cake with Caramel Frosting
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Apple Butter Pound Cake with Caramel Frosting

Homemade slow-cooker apple butter is easy to make and serves as the perfect filling for pound cake. 

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Butter Pecan Layer Cake with Browned Butter Frosting

Butter Pecan Layer Cake with Browned Butter Frosting
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Butter Pecan Layer Cake with Browned Butter Frosting

This impressive layer cake needs a permanent spot on your favorite cake stand. 

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Southern Sweet Potato Cake

Southern Sweet Potato Cake
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Erin Merhar

Recipe: Southern Sweet Potato Cake

Turn sweet potatoes into a decadent dessert with this recipe that'll remind you of a cake Grandma would make. 

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Praline Cake

Praline Cake
Credit: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Emily Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Praline Cake

A homemade praline glaze adds moisture and flavor to vanilla cake. 

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Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Cinnamon Coffee Cake

This cake comes together with a little stirring, pouring, and plenty of butter. 

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Caramel Cake

Caramel Cake
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Caramel Cake

You're just 15 minutes of prep time away from this old-fashioned caramel cake. 

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Caramel Apple Coffee Cake

Caramel Apple Coffee Cake
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Caramel Apple Coffee Cake

This warm cake with a gooey caramel center and a crunchy streusel topping can be enjoyed for breakfast, an afternoon treat, or after dinner dessert. 

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Pumpkin Spice Magic Cake

Pumpkin Spice Cake
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Magic Cake

For the best results, our Test Kitchen recommends using a light-colored Bundt pan. 

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Vintage Fresh Apple Cake

Fresh Apple Cake
Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Amy Burke

Recipe: Vintage Fresh Apple Cake

This recipe has continued to delight readers since it first appeared in the pages of Southern Living in 2001. 

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Pumpkin Pie Cake

Pumpkin Pie Cake
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Cake

This genius recipe allows you to enjoy the best parts of a cake and pie all in one dessert. 

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Auntie's Apple Cake

Auntie’s Apple Cake
Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

Recipe: Auntie's Apple Cake

Any fresh baking apple will do, but pink lady, granny smith, or honeycrisp are the best options. 

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Sweet Potato Pound Cake

Sweet Potato Pound Cake
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Sweet Potato Pound Cake

Bored with sweet potato casserole? Try this sweet potato pound cake, a twist on traditional pound cake that features nutrient-rich sweet potatoes.

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Caramel Apple Cake

Caramel Apple Cake
Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Caramel Apple Cake

This cake will make a show-stopping centerpiece that's almost too pretty to eat. 

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Mexican Chocolate Pudding Cake

Mexican Chocolate Pudding Cake
Credit: Brian Woodcock

Recipe: Mexican Chocolate Pudding Cake

Cinnamon, red pepper, and chipotle give chocolate a spicy take for fall. 

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Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans

Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans

Make sure to spoon the icing over the cake while it's still warm for the best results. 

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The Ultimate Carrot Cake

Ultimate Carrot Cake
Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: The Ultimate Carrot Cake

The layers of this carrot cake will be tender after baking, so make sure to remove them from the pans carefully.

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Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake

Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake
Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: 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. 

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Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

This rustic dessert, baked in a cast-iron skillet, is a real crowd-pleaser. The flavors of the caramel and pineapple are perfect together.

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Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake

Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake

Recipe: Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake

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.

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Rum-Glazed Sweet Potato Cakes

Rum-Glazed Sweet Potato Cakes
Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Recipe: Rum-Glazed Sweet Potato Cakes

This mini Bundt cake recipe features pureed sweet potatoes, raisins, rum, and toasted pecans along with cinnamon and nutmeg. It's the perfect pick-up treat for a holiday dessert party.

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Cranberry-Apple-Pumpkin Bundt

Cranberry-Apple-Pumpkin Bundt
Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Recipe: Cranberry-Apple-Pumpkin Bundt

The topping on this Bundt—a maple glaze with sugared pecans and pumpkin seeds—will make your guests ooh and ahh.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin Cheesecake
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pumpkin Cheesecake

Cheesecake can be baked and refrigerated for up to two days before serving.

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Tennessee Jam Bundt

Tennessee Jam Bundt Cake
Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Recipe: Tennessee Jam Bundt

The best way to enjoy this blackberry and caramel confection is with friends—it makes 12 satisfying servings.

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Apple-Pecan Carrot Cake

Mascarpone Frosting
Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Apple-Pecan Carrot Cake

Top a show-stopping crown of Mascarpone Frosting with swirls of Apple Cider Caramel Sauce and a scattering of salty-sweet Spiced Pecans. 

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    1 of 30 Apple Stack Cake
    2 of 30 Pumpkin Dump Cake
    3 of 30 Pecan Pie Cake with Browned Butter Frosting
    4 of 30 Apple Pie Cake
    5 of 30 Pumpkin Layer Cake Recipe with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting
    6 of 30 Butter Toffee-Pecan Layer Cake
    7 of 30 Apple Butter Pound Cake with Caramel Frosting
    8 of 30 Butter Pecan Layer Cake with Browned Butter Frosting
    9 of 30 Southern Sweet Potato Cake
    10 of 30 Praline Cake
    11 of 30 Cinnamon Coffee Cake
    12 of 30 Caramel Cake
    13 of 30 Caramel Apple Coffee Cake
    14 of 30 Pumpkin Spice Magic Cake
    15 of 30 Vintage Fresh Apple Cake
    16 of 30 Pumpkin Pie Cake
    17 of 30 Auntie's Apple Cake
    18 of 30 Sweet Potato Pound Cake
    19 of 30 Caramel Apple Cake
    20 of 30 Mexican Chocolate Pudding Cake
    21 of 30 Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans
    22 of 30 The Ultimate Carrot Cake
    23 of 30 Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake
    24 of 30 Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
    25 of 30 Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake
    26 of 30 Rum-Glazed Sweet Potato Cakes
    27 of 30 Cranberry-Apple-Pumpkin Bundt
    28 of 30 Pumpkin Cheesecake
    29 of 30 Tennessee Jam Bundt
    30 of 30 Apple-Pecan Carrot Cake

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    30 Fall Cake Recipes That Are Packed with the Flavors of the Season
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