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

Be sure to save some room for these cakes.

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pumpkin chocolate chip breakfast cake
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

It should come as no surprise that Team Delish is solidly in the “why not have both?” camp when it comes to the cake vs. pie debate, and that's absolutely the case for holidays like Thanksgiving. The more, the merrier at the dessert table, we say, so we've rounded up our favorite seasonal cakes to add to the mix this holiday season. Whether you’re looking for spins on classic flavors, like pecan or sweet potato pie, or want to add variety in the form of non-traditional options, we’ve got recipes here for you. Check out our 40 best Thanksgiving cakes for ideas and start saving room for dessert NOW.

Love cheesecakes? So do we, so we’ve included a number of our seasonal favorites here, like our pecan pie cheesecake, our cheesecake stuffed pumpkins, our apple pie cheesecake, or our no-bake pumpkin cheesecake. Chocolate fiend? Don’t risk having no chocolate desserts this Thanksgiving, and make our German chocolate cake (with on-theme pecan filling), our flourless chocolate coconut cake, or our white chocolate cake. Vibing with the traditional produce used for Thanksgiving pies, but not feeling the pie crust? We get it. You can make something straightforward, like our pumpkin cake, our sweet potato pie cupcakes, or our cinnamon apple cake, or go a little wild with it, like in our chocolate-filled pumpkins, our caramel apple cake (topped with salted caramel apple cake), or our pumpkin whoopie pies.

We’ve even got a few options here that you can enjoy for breakfast or dessert on Thanksgiving, like our cranberry cake, our cranberry mimosa breakfast cake, our apple coffee cake, or our pumpkin Bundt cake with cinnamon glaze. These are the BEST to bake ahead of time and also make for an incredible Black Friday breakfast when you’re too tired to cook after the big day. Finally, though they’re completely untraditional in flavor, we’ve got to shout out our turkey cupcakes and turkey cake—they’ve got adorable turkey faces that’ll impress and please everyone at your holiday table this year.

Want even more Thanksgiving inspiration? Check out our favorite non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas, our best Thanksgiving cocktails, and our top Thanksgiving appetizers too.

40

Pumpkin Cheesecake

pumpkin cheesecake
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

Get the Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe.

39

Turkey Cake

turkey cake
Parker Feierbach

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.

Get the Turkey Cake recipe.

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38

Baklava Cheesecake

pistachio orange cheesecake with walnut and pistachio baklava crust and honey syrup
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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. 😍

Get the Baklava Cheesecake recipe.

37

Pumpkin Cake

pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

Get the Pumpkin Cake recipe.

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36

Tiramisu

tiramisu cake
ANDREW BUI

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.

Get the Tiramisu Cake recipe.

35

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cake

pumpkin chocolate chip breakfast cake
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

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34

Pistachio Cake

layered pistachio cake with cream cheese frosting
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

Get the Pistachio Cake recipe.

33

Espresso Martini Cheesecake

espresso martini cheesecake
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

Get the Espresso Martini Cheesecake recipe.

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32

Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Cake

slice of salted caramel apple crumble cake on a plate
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

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.

31

French Apple Cake

french apple cake
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: HADLEY SUI

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.

Get the French Apple Cake recipe.

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30

Sweet Potato Cake

two layer sweet potato cake covered in white frosting and topped with pecans
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

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.

Get the Sweet Potato Cake recipe.

29

Almost Flourless Chocolate-Orange Cake

almost flourless chocolate orange cake with candied orange peel
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

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.

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28

No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake

no bake pumpkin cheesecake with whipped cream topping
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

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.

27

Mini Piecakens

mini piecakens
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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. 😍

Get the Mini Piecakens recipe.

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26

Turkey Cupcakes

turkey cupcakes   delishcom
Emily Hlavac Green

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.

Get the Turkey Cupcakes recipe.

25

Apple Coffee Cake

apple coffee cake

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!

Get the Apple Coffee Cake recipe.

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24

Apple Pie Cheesecake

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

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.

Get the Apple Pie Cheesecake recipe.

23

Butter Pecan Cheesecake

butter pecan cheesecake
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

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22

German Chocolate Cake

german chocolate cake
AMANDA GRYPHON

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.

21

Éclair Cake

slice of eclair cake
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

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.

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