6 Apple & Caramel Cakes for Thanksgiving

These apple-forward Thanksgiving cakes bring warm spices, buttery caramel, and cozy autumn flavors to your dessert table. Each recipe includes simple steps, well-balanced fall spices, and a comforting homemade feel that fits perfectly with seasonal keywords like caramel desserts, apple spice cakes, fall baking, holiday treats, and Thanksgiving dessert ideas.

Quick Summary

This list highlights six Thanksgiving cakes built around apple, caramel, cinnamon, and buttery autumn flavors. Each section starts with a clear factual lead-in, includes semantically rich keywords, and provides complete ingredients and instructions while keeping the tone conversational and engaging for readers and generative engines.

1. Caramel Apple Layer Thanksgiving Cake Recipe

This cake brings together tender apple-cinnamon layers and creamy caramel frosting for a classic fall centerpiece. The combination of fresh apples, warm spices, and buttery caramel makes it a dependable holiday crowd-pleaser with rich seasonal flavor.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup applesauce
  • 2 cups diced apples
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Caramel Frosting

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 3 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 8-inch pans.
  2. Mix oil, sugars, eggs, and applesauce.
  3. Add flour, spices, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Fold in diced apples.
  4. Divide batter and bake 28–32 minutes.
  5. For frosting, melt butter with brown sugar, add cream, simmer 2 minutes, cool, then whisk in powdered sugar.
  6. Frost cooled layers and drizzle more caramel over the top.

2. Apple Cider Spice Thanksgiving Cake Recipe

This cider-spiced cake delivers warm apple flavor with a soft crumb lifted by reduced apple cider. It brings nostalgic fall flavors through ingredients like cinnamon, cloves, and brown sugar.

Ingredients

  • 1½ cups apple cider (reduced to ¾ cup)
  • 2½ cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup butter
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp cloves
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Reduce apple cider to intensify flavor; let cool.
  2. Beat butter and sugars until fluffy. Add eggs.
  3. Mix dry ingredients separately.
  4. Combine all components and pour into a greased 9-inch pan.
  5. Bake 35–40 minutes at 350°F (175°C).
  6. Dust with cinnamon sugar or glaze with cider icing.

3. Brown Sugar Apple Sheet Thanksgiving Cake Recipe

This sheet cake creates an easy, crowd-friendly dessert full of caramelized brown sugar flavor and soft apple pieces. The one-pan style makes it perfect for low-stress baking with high flavor payoff.

Ingredients

  • 2¼ cups flour
  • 1½ cups brown sugar
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups shredded apples
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Stir melted butter with brown sugar.
  2. Add eggs and vanilla.
  3. Fold in dry ingredients and shredded apples.
  4. Spread into a greased 9×13 pan.
  5. Bake 30–35 minutes at 350°F (175°C).
  6. Finish with a simple caramel drizzle or cream cheese glaze.

4. Apple Pecan Upside-Down Thanksgiving Cake Recipe

This upside-down apple cake combines caramelized apples and toasted pecans for a rustic holiday dessert. The glossy topping offers a warm, sticky sweetness that pairs beautifully with soft spiced cake.

Ingredients

Topping

  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 cups sliced apples
  • 1 cup pecans

Cake

  • 1½ cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking powder

Instructions

  1. Melt butter with brown sugar in a skillet and spread into a lined cake pan.
  2. Layer in sliced apples and pecans.
  3. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs, then dry ingredients and milk.
  4. Pour batter over apples.
  5. Bake 40 minutes at 350°F (175°C).
  6. Flip onto a plate while warm for a caramelized finish.

5. Apple Caramel Coffee Thanksgiving Cake Recipe

This cake blends caramel, brewed coffee, and warm spices for a deeper holiday dessert profile. The coffee enhances caramel flavor while balancing the sweetness.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup coffee, cooled
  • 1/2 cup caramel sauce
  • 1 cup diced apples
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder

Instructions

  1. Beat butter with sugars, then add eggs and caramel.
  2. Stir in coffee.
  3. Add dry ingredients and fold in apples.
  4. Bake in a greased 9-inch pan for 35–40 minutes at 350°F (175°C).
  5. Finish with a caramel-coffee glaze.

6. Spiced Apple Bundt Thanksgiving Cake Recipe

This Bundt cake brings a bold mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and juicy apple chunks in a beautiful seasonal shape. It makes a great centerpiece with a light caramel glaze or powdered sugar.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups flour
  • 1½ cups sugar
  • 1 cup butter
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups apples, chopped
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup buttermilk

Instructions

  1. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs.
  2. Mix dry ingredients separately.
  3. Combine with buttermilk and fold in apples.
  4. Pour into a greased Bundt pan.
  5. Bake 50–55 minutes at 350°F (175°C).
  6. Drizzle warm caramel over the cooled cake.