40 Thanksgiving Cakes That Will Rival Any Other Dessert On The Table

Pumpkin cheesecake is the prima donna of all the holiday desserts: rich, decadent, and always a bit over the top, she stops the show wherever she goes.

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Have you ever seen a cake so adorable? Impress everyone from your in-laws to kids with this super-easy, super-cute Thanksgiving dessert! The feathers are made by brushing white chocolate onto parchment paper and then chilled until hardened. Use your favorite cake recipe or stick with boxed to keep it simple like we did.

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Baklava is already one of our not-too-sweet dessert faves, so turning it into a cheesecake felt like an obvious way to take things to the next level. The crust is made from layers of butter-brushed phyllo dough, chopped walnuts and pistachios, and a hearty drizzle of honey, just like a traditional baklava. 😍

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We are very pro-cream cheese and pumpkin here at Delish. If you prefer a more classic frosting, use our favorite buttercream. It will still be just as good; feel free to add some cinnamon or pumpkin spice to jazz it up a little.

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It’s hard not to love a creamy, light slice of tiramisu, but we especially love it in cake form. Whether you’re looking for a slightly more approachable take on the Italian classic, or are just a tiramisu fanatic looking for a clever twist, this recipe will make for the perfect end to any Thanksgiving meal.

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This breakfast cake is really just a pumpkin spice muffin in cake form, which probably doesn’t help the muffin vs. cupcake debate. We like to think of it in the same category as a coffee cake, and we don’t really second guess serving that to our Thanksgiving brunch guests with a cup of coffee. Go ahead and serve this cake with a pumpkin spice latte to really escalate the fall vibes.

Get the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cake recipe.

Ground pistachios are added in with the flour to create a subtly green-hued cake with a nutty flavor and texture. There's a hint of cardamom in there to add intrigue, as well. The cake then gets a thin layer of cream cheese frosting for a tangy addition that perfectly ties it all together.

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Espresso martini connoisseurs, this cheesecake is for you. The cheesecake filling is spiked with coffee liqueur and espresso to make it super-rich and creamy, and the top gets the iconic dusting of cocoa powder over an espresso-infused whipped cream. Don’t worry, we’d never leave out the espresso beans either.

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Ready to flex your fall baking skills? Featuring three layers of tender, lightly spiced apple cider cake sandwiched with apple pie filling, buttery crumble, and salted caramel, this apple crumble cake recipe will delight and impress anyone who’s lucky enough to snag a piece. Plus, this cake is easy to assemble as it chills, meaning you can give it some time to rest before frosting!

Get the Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Cake recipe.

When we’re looking for a simple but impressive cake recipe that couldn’t be easier to make, we turn to this French apple cake that's perfect for every occasion: A special occasion dessert? An afternoon snack? A fall brunch treat? French apple cake is the answer. It truly is one of the easiest cakes we've ever made, but don't let that fool you: It's also one of the best cakes we've ever had.

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If sweet potatoes + marshmallows are a must-have combo for you, let us introduce your new favorite fall dessert. This spiced sweet potato cake is taken truly over the top by a marshmallow fluff-based frosting. With a tender, moist cake and a fluffy, sweet frosting, this cake just might be the new star of your Thanksgiving celebration.

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In the list of great chocolate duos, chocolate and orange are pretty much a power couple. This almost flourless chocolate cake gets its added burst of orange flavor from both 2 tablespoons of finely grated orange zest and 2 to 3 tablespoons of Cointreau or other orange liqueur and really puts it over the top.

Get the Almost Flourless Chocolate-Orange Cake recipe.

Figuring out how to make all of the pumpkin desserts during Thanksgiving while the turkey is in the oven can be a nightmare. That's why you need this no-bake cheesecake. While we love our classic pumpkin cheesecake, we go crazy for the no-bake option—it's a MAJOR time-saver.

Get the No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe.

Inspired by pastry chef Zac Young’s viral three-layer piecaken, these fun-sized versions feature a tiny cranberry pie baked inside a spiced pumpkin cupcake, crowned with a generous dollop of whipped cream, more cranberry pie filling, and a tiny round of sugary pie crust. 😍

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You could stick to your guns and make a pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. OR you could make these stupidly adorable turkey cupcakes. You can turn a chocolate cupcake into a cute little turkey with simple decorations like candy corn, M&M's, and pretzels. These are so easy to make and will definitely win the hearts (and mouths) of all of your Turkey Day guests.

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Apples work wonders in this easy coffee cake that's perfect for breakfast or dessert this Thanksgiving. 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!

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Layered and absolutely stunning, this apple pie cheesecake really changes the game for us. Now we can enjoy two iconic desserts—apple pie and cheesecake—all in one bite.

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Toasty, buttery pecans turn a classic cheesecake into an even more decadent and rich dessert. Butter pecan brings us comfort, and the flavors go so well into a cheesecake. Our traditional graham cracker crust gets a little boost with more pecans to make it even better.

Get the Butter Pecan Cheesecake recipe.

This is a sweet, not-too-chocolatey cake that is filled and frosted with rich, sticky coconut and pecan filling. The toasted coconut and pecans mixed with evaporated milk and butter to make a custardy, almost caramel-like filling that is dangerously delicious. It's truly what makes this cake so unique.

Get the German Chocolate Cake recipe.

Traditional pâte à choux, the French dough used to make classic éclairs and profiteroles, can be a difficult pastry to make, so for this cheater version, we use graham crackers. They're not technically anything like an éclair, but they're still great for layering in this cake and become soft as the cake chills (sort of like in an icebox cake!).

Get the Éclair Cake recipe.