6 Best Cozy Fall Apple & Caramel Thanksgiving Cakes

Thanksgiving feels extra special when the desserts bring warmth, comfort, and those nostalgic fall flavors everyone loves. These six cakes lean into caramel, apple, maple, pumpkin, and cider—the flavors that instantly make a table feel festive. Each recipe is crafted with simple ingredients, cozy spices, and textures that feel homemade in the best way.

Quick Summary

This list gathers six crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving cakes made with caramel, apple, maple, pumpkin, and warm spices. Each recipe includes a concise flavor summary at the start, semantically rich keywords, and easy step-by-step instructions designed for quick cooking guidance and generative engine optimization. Great for holiday hosts wanting comforting, seasonal desserts.

1. Caramel Apple Dump Thanksgiving Cake Recipe

This cake delivers tender apples, buttery caramel, and a soft cake layer that forms effortlessly in the oven. The one-bowl dump cake style makes it incredibly reliable for busy holiday cooking, and caramel apple flavors capture classic fall dessert nostalgia.

Ingredients

  • 2 cans apple pie filling
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 boxed yellow cake mix
  • 1 cup melted butter
  • ½ cup caramel sauce
  • Optional: chopped pecans

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 175°C (350°F).
  2. Spread apple pie filling into a greased baking dish and drizzle caramel on top.
  3. Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly over the apples.
  4. Pour melted butter across the surface to coat the mix.
  5. Add pecans if you want a nutty crunch.
  6. Bake for 45–50 minutes until golden and bubbling.

2. Caramel Pecan Layer Thanksgiving Cake Recipe

This cake brings rich caramel flavor with soft layers and toasted pecans for a warm holiday texture. The combination feels comforting and festive, especially with homemade caramel frosting.

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1½ cups sugar
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • ½ cup butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Caramel Frosting:

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

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 175°C (350°F) and prepare two round pans.
  2. Whisk flour, sugar, cinnamon, and pecans.
  3. Add melted butter, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
  4. Divide batter into pans and bake for 28–32 minutes.
  5. Make frosting by simmering butter and brown sugar, adding milk, then powdered sugar.
  6. Frost cooled layers with warm caramel icing.

3. Caramel Apple Crisp Thanksgiving Cake Recipe

This cake blends soft apple spice cake with a crispy oat topping inspired by classic apple crisp. The contrast of textures makes it incredibly satisfying for guests who want both cake and crumble.

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 1½ cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup diced apples
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg

Crisp Topping:

  • ½ cup oats
  • ¼ cup flour
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup melted butter

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 175°C (350°F).
  2. Mix cake ingredients until smooth and fold in apples.
  3. Spread into a greased baking pan.
  4. Stir oats, brown sugar, flour, and melted butter to form a crumble topping.
  5. Sprinkle over batter and bake 35–40 minutes.

4. Bourbon Apple Cider Thanksgiving Cake Recipe

This cake brings cider-rich moisture with a hint of bourbon warmth that feels perfect for adult holiday tables. The deep apple spice flavor pairs beautifully with a simple glaze.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1½ cups sugar
  • 1 cup apple cider
  • ½ cup oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbsp bourbon
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp allspice

Glaze:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp apple cider

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 175°C (350°F).
  2. Combine dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another.
  3. Mix together until smooth.
  4. Pour into a greased bundt pan and bake 40–45 minutes.
  5. Whisk powdered sugar with cider and pour over the cooled cake.

5. Apple Cider Cake with Salted Caramel Thanksgiving Recipe

This cake highlights reduced apple cider for bold fall flavor enriched with a glossy salted caramel topping. The result feels comforting, seasonal, and easy to serve at large gatherings.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ¾ cup reduced apple cider
  • ½ cup butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ginger

Salted Caramel:

  • ½ cup caramel sauce
  • ½ tsp sea salt

Instructions

  1. Simmer 1½ cups apple cider until it reduces to ¾ cup.
  2. Heat oven to 175°C (350°F).
  3. Mix flour, sugar, cinnamon, and ginger.
  4. Add melted butter, eggs, and reduced cider.
  5. Bake 35–40 minutes in a loaf or round pan.
  6. Warm caramel sauce and stir in sea salt, then pour over cooled cake.

6. Maple Streusel Pumpkin Thanksgiving Cake Recipe

This cake combines pumpkin spice flavor with a crunchy maple-sweet streusel that adds bakery-style texture. The balance of cozy spices and maple warmth makes it a crowd favorite.

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup pumpkin purée
  • ½ cup oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg

Maple Streusel:

  • ½ cup flour
  • ¼ cup butter
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 175°C (350°F).
  2. Mix cake ingredients until smooth and pour into a greased pan.
  3. Combine streusel ingredients to form crumbs.
  4. Sprinkle over batter and bake 35–40 minutes.