10 Must Try Fall Cakes for Cozy Afternoons

Fall is the season of warm spices, caramel drizzles, and comforting cakes that taste like a cozy afternoon wrapped in a blanket. From apple-filled layers to pumpkin swirls and spiced citrus blends, these cakes bring out the best flavors of autumn.

Quick Summary

These 10 fall cakes are the perfect way to bring warmth into your kitchen. Recipes include caramel apple cake, salted caramel spice cake, oatmeal cream pie cake, bourbon apple cider cake, toffee pecan caramel cake, caramel pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin spice coffee cake, cinnamon roll layer cake, orange spice cake, and cranberry orange cake. Each one blends seasonal ingredients like pumpkin, apples, caramel, and warming spices for cakes that are both festive and comforting.

1. Caramel Apple Cake Recipe

Caramel apple cake combines tender spiced layers with fresh apples and a glossy caramel drizzle for a true autumn classic.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups flour
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 cup butter (softened)
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 cups diced apples
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup caramel sauce (for drizzle)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 8-inch pans.
2. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs.
3. Mix dry ingredients, fold in apples, then alternate with buttermilk.
4. Bake 30–35 minutes. Cool, then drizzle with caramel.

2. Salted Caramel Spice Cake Recipe

Salted caramel spice cake is layered with cinnamon and nutmeg, then topped with salted caramel frosting for a sweet-salty balance.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups flour
• 1 ½ cups brown sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ½ tsp cloves
• ½ tsp cardamom
• 1 cup salted caramel sauce

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two cake pans.
2. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs.
3. Mix dry ingredients, alternate with milk.
4. Bake 30 minutes, frost with caramel frosting, and drizzle with extra sauce.

3. Oatmeal Cream Pie Cake Recipe

This cake tastes like the nostalgic oatmeal cream pies but in layered cake form—soft, spiced cake with creamy filling.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 ½ cups oats (ground)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda

Filling

• 8 oz cream cheese
• ½ cup butter
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line two round pans.
2. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs.
3. Stir in oats, flour, and spices, alternating with buttermilk.
4. Bake 30–35 minutes. Frost layers with cream filling.

4. Bourbon Apple Cider Cake Recipe

Bourbon apple cider cake is rich, moist, and packed with seasonal flavor. The bourbon glaze makes every slice unforgettable.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups flour
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup apple cider
• ¼ cup bourbon
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a bundt pan.
2. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs.
3. Mix dry ingredients, add cider and bourbon.
4. Bake 40–45 minutes. Drizzle with bourbon glaze.

5. Toffee Pecan Caramel Cake Recipe

This cake combines toffee bits, crunchy pecans, and caramel for a rich fall treat perfect for gatherings.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups flour
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup toffee bits
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease cake pans.
2. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs.
3. Mix dry ingredients, fold in pecans and toffee.
4. Bake 30–35 minutes. Drizzle with caramel sauce.

6. Caramel Pumpkin Cake Cheesecake Recipe

Pumpkin cake meets cheesecake with caramel topping for the ultimate layered autumn dessert.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• ½ cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ½ tsp ginger
• 1 tsp baking powder

Cheesecake Layer

• 16 oz cream cheese
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a springform pan.
2. Mix pumpkin cake batter and pour into pan.
3. Beat cheesecake layer, spread over pumpkin batter.
4. Bake 55–60 minutes. Top with caramel once cooled.

7. Pumpkin Spice Coffee Cake Recipe

Pumpkin spice coffee cake is soft, moist, and topped with a cinnamon streusel perfect for cozy mornings.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• ½ cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ½ tsp ginger
• 1 tsp baking powder

Streusel

• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup flour
• ¼ cup butter
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 pan.
2. Mix cake batter and pour into pan.
3. Sprinkle with streusel topping.
4. Bake 35–40 minutes until golden.

8. Cinnamon Roll Layer Cake Recipe

Cinnamon roll layer cake has swirled spiced layers and cream cheese frosting for a cake that tastes just like a bakery cinnamon roll.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups flour
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda

Frosting

• 8 oz cream cheese
• ½ cup butter
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line three cake pans.
2. Mix batter with cinnamon swirl.
3. Bake 25–30 minutes. Frost cooled layers with cream cheese frosting.

9. Orange Spice Cake Recipe

Orange spice cake blends citrus brightness with cinnamon and cloves for a refreshing twist on classic fall flavors.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups flour
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup orange juice
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp cloves
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two pans.
2. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs.
3. Stir in dry ingredients, alternate with orange juice.
4. Bake 30–35 minutes. Cool and frost as desired.

10. Cranberry Orange Cake Recipe

Cranberry orange cake balances tart cranberries with sweet citrus for a festive fall dessert that doubles as a holiday showstopper.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups flour
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 cup cranberries (fresh or dried)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp cinnamon

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease loaf or round pan.
2. Mix batter, fold in cranberries.
3. Bake 40–45 minutes until golden.
4. Cool and glaze with orange icing if desired.

Final Thoughts

These 10 fall cakes bring seasonal comfort with flavors like apple, pumpkin, caramel, and spice. Perfect for cozy afternoons, they work beautifully for holiday gatherings or a simple treat with tea. From cheesecake hybrids to spiced citrus bakes, each recipe highlights what makes autumn baking so special.