5 Maple Cake Recipes That Warm Your Heart This Fall

When the leaves start to turn and the air carries a crisp chill, nothing feels cozier than a cake sweetened with maple. Maple syrup adds depth, richness, and a natural sweetness that makes every autumn dessert feel special. These five maple cakes are warm, comforting, and downright irresistible.

Quick Summary

These maple cake recipes bring cozy fall flavors to your table. From pecan-studded layers to maple spice classics and caramel-drizzled delights, each cake combines warm spices, nutty textures, and creamy frostings to make autumn baking unforgettable.

1. Maple Pecan Layer Cake Recipe

Maple pecan layer cake is a nutty, buttery dessert that highlights the natural sweetness of maple syrup. The pecans add crunch and warmth, making this a perfect fall centerpiece.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • ½ cup milk

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease three cake pans.
  2. Cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy, then add eggs one at a time.
  3. Stir in maple syrup and vanilla.
  4. Whisk together flour and baking powder, then add to wet mix alternating with milk.
  5. Fold in pecans, divide into pans, and bake 25–30 minutes.
  6. Frost with maple buttercream and garnish with more pecans.

2. Maple Toffee Cake Recipe

This cake blends maple syrup with chewy toffee bits, creating a decadent, caramel-like flavor that melts in every bite.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 3 eggs
  • ¾ cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup toffee bits

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two round pans.
  2. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy, then add eggs and maple syrup.
  3. Mix dry ingredients separately, then combine with wet mix.
  4. Fold in toffee bits and pour batter evenly into pans.
  5. Bake 30–35 minutes and cool completely.
  6. Frost with whipped cream or maple glaze and sprinkle extra toffee on top.

3. Maple Spice Cake with Maple Frosting Recipe

Spiced maple cake is rich with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, balanced beautifully by sweet maple frosting.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ½ cups flour
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp ground cloves
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 ½ cups brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • ¾ cup maple syrup
  • ½ cup milk

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare two cake pans.
  2. Cream butter and sugar, then beat in eggs and maple syrup.
  3. Combine flour, spices, baking powder, and baking soda.
  4. Add dry ingredients and milk alternately into the wet mixture.
  5. Bake 30 minutes until golden brown.
  6. Frost with maple buttercream and dust lightly with cinnamon.

4. Maple Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Maple walnut cake is moist, nutty, and perfectly balanced by tangy cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • ¾ cup maple syrup
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line pans.
  2. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs and maple syrup.
  3. Mix dry ingredients and fold into wet.
  4. Stir in walnuts and pour into pans.
  5. Bake 25–30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
  6. Frost with cream cheese frosting and top with walnut halves.

5. Maple Cake with Irresistible Caramel Frosting Recipe

Maple syrup meets caramel frosting for a rich, indulgent dessert that captures the essence of fall.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ½ cups flour
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ cup milk

Caramel Frosting:

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup butter
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two cake pans.
  2. Beat butter and sugar until light, then add eggs and maple syrup.
  3. Mix flour with baking powder and add gradually with milk.
  4. Bake 30–35 minutes and cool completely.
  5. For frosting, melt butter and brown sugar, stir in milk, then beat in powdered sugar.
  6. Frost cake generously and drizzle with caramel for extra sweetness.

Final Thoughts

These maple cakes bring out everything we love about autumn—warm spices, nutty crunch, and cozy sweetness. They’re perfect for holiday tables, cozy gatherings, or just treating yourself on a crisp fall day.