10 Fall-Inspired Layer Cakes That Wow Guests

Nothing says fall like a table full of warm spices, caramel drizzle, and cozy cakes layered with flavor. From pumpkin spice classics to apple pie-inspired layers, these fall cake recipes are made to impress — and taste like comfort in every bite.

Quick Summary

These 10 fall-inspired layer cakes bring together the best seasonal flavors — pumpkin, maple, apple, chai, and caramel — for crowd-pleasing desserts that balance warmth and sweetness. Each recipe features moist cake layers, rich frostings, and cozy spices to make your autumn gatherings memorable.

1. Caramel Apple Layer Cake Recipe

Caramel apple cake tastes like autumn in every bite. Moist apple-spiced layers are paired with creamy caramel buttercream for the ultimate fall treat.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup grated apples
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • ½ cup caramel sauce

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease three 8-inch pans.
  2. Cream butter and sugars until fluffy, then add eggs and grated apples.
  3. Mix in dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk.
  4. Bake for 25–30 minutes.
  5. Frost with caramel buttercream and drizzle extra caramel on top.

2. Maple Pecan Layer Cake Recipe

Maple pecan cake delivers rich nutty sweetness with a cozy fall twist. Toasted pecans and pure maple syrup create an irresistible depth of flavor.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup chopped toasted pecans
  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • ¾ cup maple syrup
  • ½ cup milk

Instructions:

  1. Beat butter and sugar until creamy.
  2. Add eggs one at a time, then maple syrup.
  3. Fold in dry ingredients and milk alternately.
  4. Stir in pecans, bake at 350°F for 25 minutes.
  5. Frost with maple cream cheese frosting and top with more pecans.

3. Pumpkin Salted Caramel Layer Cake Recipe

Pumpkin and salted caramel make a dreamy fall pairing. This cake combines fluffy pumpkin layers with silky salted caramel buttercream.

Ingredients:

  • 2½ cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp cloves
  • ½ tsp ginger
  • 1 cup pumpkin purée
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¾ cup oil
  • 3 eggs

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare three 8-inch pans.
  2. Mix sugars, oil, and eggs until smooth, then stir in pumpkin.
  3. Fold in dry ingredients until combined.
  4. Bake for 30 minutes.
  5. Layer with salted caramel buttercream and drizzle extra caramel between layers.

4. Apple Pie Layer Cake Recipe

This cake tastes like your favorite pie in layered form. Soft apple spice cake meets a cinnamon-spiked filling and creamy vanilla frosting.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup grated apples
  • ½ cup applesauce

Instructions:

  1. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs, apples, and applesauce.
  2. Mix in dry ingredients and pour into pans.
  3. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes.
  4. Layer with cinnamon apple pie filling and frost with vanilla buttercream.

5. Pumpkin Spice Layer Cake Recipe

Pumpkin spice cake brings classic fall comfort with every forkful. Lightly spiced pumpkin layers stay moist and flavorful under a creamy cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup pumpkin purée
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup oil
  • 2 eggs

Instructions:

  1. Combine wet ingredients and whisk until smooth.
  2. Add dry ingredients and stir until just mixed.
  3. Divide into pans and bake for 30 minutes at 350°F.
  4. Frost with tangy cream cheese frosting.

6. Chai Layer Cake Recipe

Chai cake captures all the warmth of your favorite spiced tea. Each layer bursts with cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger — balanced by vanilla chai frosting.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp cloves
  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup milk infused with chai tea

Instructions:

  1. Brew strong chai and cool it slightly.
  2. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and chai milk.
  3. Fold in dry ingredients and bake for 25–30 minutes.
  4. Frost with vanilla chai buttercream.

7. Cinnamon Roll Layer Cake Recipe

Cinnamon roll cake brings bakery-style warmth home. Soft vanilla layers are swirled with cinnamon sugar and topped with cream cheese glaze.

Ingredients:

  • 2½ cups flour
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup butter
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tbsp baking powder

Instructions:

  1. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs, then alternate dry ingredients with milk.
  2. Swirl cinnamon sugar into batter before baking.
  3. Bake for 30 minutes.
  4. Frost with cream cheese glaze and sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top.

8. Pumpkin Oreo Layer Cake Recipe

Pumpkin and Oreo create a rich twist on the fall classic. Soft pumpkin layers meet crushed Oreos and creamy chocolate frosting.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup pumpkin purée
  • ½ cup oil
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup crushed Oreos

Instructions:

  1. Combine pumpkin, oil, sugar, and eggs.
  2. Fold in dry ingredients and crushed Oreos.
  3. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes.
  4. Frost with chocolate cream cheese frosting and top with Oreo crumbs.

9. Apple Harvest Layer Cake Recipe

Apple harvest cake celebrates everything cozy about fall baking. It’s filled with juicy apples, cinnamon, and a buttery maple glaze.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1½ cups chopped apples

Instructions:

  1. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and apples.
  2. Mix in dry ingredients, pour into pans.
  3. Bake for 30 minutes at 350°F.
  4. Drizzle with maple glaze and serve warm.

10. Pumpkin Pie Layer Cake Recipe

Pumpkin pie cake tastes like dessert nostalgia reimagined. It’s a soft pumpkin cake layered with whipped cream frosting and pie crust crumbles.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 cup pumpkin purée
  • ½ cup oil
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • Pie crust pieces for topping

Instructions:

  1. Mix pumpkin, oil, sugar, and eggs until smooth.
  2. Add dry ingredients and stir to combine.
  3. Bake for 30 minutes at 350°F.
  4. Frost with whipped cream and sprinkle pie crust crumbs on top.

Final Thoughts

These fall-inspired layer cakes blend nostalgic flavors with festive presentation. Perfect for gatherings or cozy weekends, each recipe offers something special — from the rich sweetness of caramel to the spice of chai.