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24 Apple Cakes To Help You Celebrate This Fall

Pie is so last year.

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apple spice cake
PHOTO; ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLIST; MARY RUPP

In the fall, there’s maybe nothing better than a cake full of seasonal apples. Why? Because there’s fruit in them, we think it’s totally reasonable to celebrate with them from breakfast to dessert! Check out our best 24 apple cake recipes for ideas—they might just edge out apple pie as your favorite this year.

Want something to enjoy alongside your PSL some fall morning? Try our apple coffee cake, our apple crisp pound cake, or our cheesecake-stuffed apple Bundt cake. Looking for a crisp fall afternoon pick-me-up? Our German, French, or Irish apple cakes are all classics—they’re not too sweet, so the apple flavor really shines through. If you do want something sweeter, try our caramel apple cake bars, our apple crisp mini cheesecakes, or our caramel apple cheesecake bars—they’re all handheld, which is great for taking a fall treat on the go (or for sharing with friends and family).

Looking for something truly spectacular? We got you whether you’re a master baker or a novice in the kitchen. If you’re looking for something simple yet impressive, try our apple dump cake, our caramel apple poke cake, or our caramel apple cheesecake icebox cake (lots of words for a very easy cake). Have a bit more baking prowess, and want a recipe to match? Try our apple crisp cheesecake, our caramel apple cake (topped with caramel apples 😍), or our apple pie cheesecake (complete with lattice crust!). You can take these to the next level by using homemade caramel sauce (but store-bought totally works too).

Want more seasonal celebration inspiration? Check out our favorite apple desserts, pumpkin pie recipes, and sweet potato desserts too.

1

Apple Pie Cheesecake

apple pie cheesecake with a pie crust
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: RILEY WOFFORD

Each bite of this dessert melds the flavors of a spiced apple pie filling and a buttery pie crust with a creamy cinnamon-y cheesecake with a graham cracker crust. Now you can enjoy two iconic desserts—apple pie and cheesecake—all in one!

Get the Apple Pie Cheesecake recipe.

2

Apple Spice Cake

apple spice cake
PHOTO; ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLIST; MARY RUPP

When baking this apple dessert, it’s best to use robust apples like Pink Ladies, Braeburns, or Honeycrisps. They should be sweet, tart, and sturdy to guarantee the perfect bite.

Get the Apple Spice Cake recipe.

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3

Apple Cider Donut Pound Cake

apple cider donut pound cake coated in cinnamon sugar
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Rich and dense with a cinnamon sugar coating that gets all over our fingers, this cake is warmly spiced and so much easier than frying up a dozen apple cider donuts.

Get the Apple Cider Donut Pound Cake recipe.

4

French Apple Cake

french apple cake
Joel Goldberg

This traditional French dessert starts with a simple rum cake batter that’s then filled with chunks of apple, ensuring every bite will be extra flavorful and moist. It’s got an almost custard-like texture and a sugary, crunchy top you’ll love.

Get the French Apple Cake recipe.

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5

Apple Dump Cake

apple dump cake
Emily Hlavac Green

This classic cake gets its name from its simplicity—just "dump" everything in a baking dish and go. A typical apple dump cake would include apple pie filling, but we've made ours from fresh apples instead (it's a great way to use up an apple orchard bounty!).

Get the Apple Dump Cake recipe.

6

Apple Crisp Cheesecake

apple crisp cheesecake
Emily Hlavac Green

One of the best things about this cheesecake? (Besides that caramel drizzle of course!) Since it's covered in toppings, you can skip the water bath. It might still crack, but no one will care when they're biting into that crunchy oat topping. 😍

Get the Apple Crisp Cheesecake recipe.

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7

Apple Coffee Cake

apple coffee cake

Apples work wonders in this easy coffee cake. They add extra sweetness as well as making the cake moist and tender. We love it with Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples, but your favorite baking apple will do the trick.

Get the Apple Coffee Cake recipe.

8

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Icebox Cake

caramel apple cheesecake icebox cake
Ethan Calabrese

The only thing that makes an icebox cake more tempting? When it has cinnamon-spiced apples and a cheesecake filling, of course!

Get the Caramel Apple Cheesecake Icebox Cake recipe.

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9

Apple Cider Donut Cake

apple cider donut cake
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

In our minds, fall isn't fall 'til we've had at least a dozen apple cider cake donuts. This super-sized version comes together in no time, and there's no deep-frying involved. That's a win in our book!

Get the Apple Cider Donut Cake recipe.

10

Apple Crisp Pound Cake

apple crisp pound cake
Parker feierbach

Though pound cakes are the perfect year-round dessert, we especially like them during fall. We dressed ours up to match the season with crisp apples and a buttery crumb topping that you'll want to put over everything.

Get the Apple Crisp Pound Cake recipe.

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11

German Apple Cake

german apple cake
Park Feierbach

This gorgeous apple cake is so much easier than it looks. The secret is, after you peel and quarter the apples, you cut them hasselback potato-style. That way, you don't have to worry about stacking the slices, and they stay together perfectly while baking!

Get the German Apple Cake recipe.

12

Surprise Caramel Apple Pound Cake

surprise caramel apple pound cake
Erika Lapresto

Just when you thought Bundt cake couldn't get better, this one has an apple hidden inside. Bake, slice (surprise!), and serve for the most autumnal breakfast or dessert ever.

Get the Surprise Caramel Apple Pound Cake recipe.

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13

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

caramel apple cheesecake bars
LUCY SCHAEFFER

Love cheesecake? Us too! Avoid the water bath and potential cracking by making these easy cheesecake bars instead. Bonus: Cutting these into bars take these from after-dinner dessert straight into afternoon snack territory. Woo hoo!

Get the Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars recipe.

14

Cinnamon Apple Cake

cinnamon apple cake
Parker feierbach

Spiraling the apples on top will guarantee this is the most elegant-looking fall dessert in the room, but don't worry—this cake looks much more difficult to make than it actually is. Hot tip: Drizzle a little caramel on the slices or serve with freshly whipped cream.

Get the Cinnamon Apple Cake recipe.

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15

Irish Apple Cake

irish apple cake
Emily Hlavac Green

This tender apple cake is jam-packed with fruit, which is why we think it's perfectly appropriate to eat a slice for breakfast. 😉 The custard sauce isn't totally necessary, but it is traditional and completely delicious.

Get the Irish Apple Cake recipe.

16

Caramel Apple Cake Bars

Caramel Apple Spice Cake Recipe
Ethan Calabrese

Want even MORE cinnamon-spice flavor for these dessert bars? Use a spice cake mix instead of a yellow cake mix.

Get the Caramel Apple Cake Bars recipe.

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17

Cheesecake Stuffed Apple Cake

dish, food, cuisine, ingredient, dessert, snack cake, baked goods, banana bread, glaze, produce,
Brad Holland

This is the perfect 2-in-1 dessert—cheesecake + apple Bundt cake (making this good for a decadent breakfast or dessert). Our best tip for success? Don't skip greasing and flouring your Bundt pan.

Get the Cheesecake Stuffed Apple Cake recipe.

18

Caramel Apple Cake

caramel apple cake
Jonathan Boulton

This gorgeous spice cake topped with a layer of caramel and caramel apples SCREAMS fall.

Get the Caramel Apple Cake recipe.

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19

Caramel Apple Pound Cake

an apple pound cake with cream cheese frosting and caramel drizzle
Charlie Gillette

It may seem tempting to pull this pound cake out early, but because there are so many delicious apples in the batter, it really takes while for all that excess moisture to cook out. After a shorter cook time? Reduce the amount of apples by half.

Get the Caramel Apple Pound Cake recipe.

20

Caramel Apple Poke Cake

Dish, Food, Cuisine, Ingredient, Produce, Recipe, Vegetarian food, Baked beans, Wheatberry, Vegetable,
Chelsea Lupkin

This poke cake is the ultimate in ease, since you can use store-bought cake mix, caramel sauce, and cream cheese frosting if you like. Want to make it more gourmet? Make it all from scratch instead.

Get the Caramel Apple Poke Cake recipe.

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