39 Thanksgiving Cakes That Will Rival Any Other Dessert On The Table
It doesn't have to be ALL about pie.
In the cake vs. pie debate, we’re firmly in the “why not have both?” camp, especially on 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, like chocolate or ice cream, we’ve got recipes here for you. Check out our 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 crisp 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. Skip the stress and make cake instead. 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 caramel apples), or our pumpkin whoopie pies. Since you’re already straying from the norm of pies, you can feel free to get extra-creative with it.
We’ve even got a few options here that you can enjoy for breakfast or dessert on Thanksgiving, like our cranberry cake, our salted caramel pound 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.
German Chocolate Cake
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.
Turkey Cake
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.
Easy Pumpkin Cake
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.
Sweet Potato Cheesecake
Sweet potato adds a nuttiness and earthy sweetness that takes a normal cheesecake to another, more festive level. Add that to a gingersnap cookie crust, and you've got a spice-filled autumnal twist on a classic we bet you'll make over and over.
Get the Sweet Potato Cheesecake recipe.
Cranberry Cake
This cranberry pound cake is the perfect balance of sweet and tart. The cranberries will burst and release all of their juices while baking, making each bite extra-exciting. The sugar topping adds a subtle crunch too, and the sour cream keeps this cake moist for days.
Get the Cranberry Cake recipe.
Cookies 'N' Cream Ice Cream Pie
We know, we know, this says it's a pie, not a cake, but since it's pretty much a cross between both and ice cream, we're including it.It's got a buttery Oreo crust filled with a cookies 'n' cream ice cream and plenty of hot fudge sauce, so you'll love it no matter what it's called. 😉
Cheesecake Stuffed Pumpkin
Went a little overboard with the pumpkin décor this year? RELATABLE! Turn one into the most impressive dessert by stuffing it with cheesecake. 😋
Get the Cheesecake Stuffed Pumpkin recipe.
Cinnamon Apple Cake
This cake looks much more difficult to make than it actually is. Spiraling the apples on top will guarantee it's the most elegant-looking dessert in the room. Try and slice the apples as thinly as you can, about 1/4" thick, to make sure the apples are tender as the cake is cooked through.
Get the Cinnamon Apple Cake recipe.
Turkey Cupcakes
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.
Tiramisu
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.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Roll
Ready to kick off pumpkin season with the most impressive (but not intimidating!) fall dessert there is?! Luckily, there's no fret with this pumpkin cake roll. With a few simple tips, you'll have perfect swirls of cake and cream cheese filling that will have everyone oohing and aahing when you slice into it.
Get the Pumpkin Cheesecake Roll recipe.
White Chocolate Cake
A classic chocolate cake is always a good idea, but if you want to switch things up a bit, give this white chocolate cake a try. It's soft and layered with a white chocolate mousse and then frosted with a simple cream cheese frosting. We recommend using good-quality bars of white chocolate with this cake, as it will really make a difference.
Get the White Chocolate Cake recipe.
Apple Crisp Cheesecake
Apple crisp meets cheesecake in a collaboration of EPIC proportions. Take this to the next level with some homemade whipped cream too.
Get the Apple Crisp Cheesecake recipe.
Flourless Chocolate Coconut Cake
Don't be surprised when you see cracks in the top of this chocolate cake—this is normal with flourless cakes, since steam causes the batter to expand while baking. When the temperature cools, it'll collapse back down, creating the signature cracks. Topped with a layer of cocoa powder, the result is gorgeously artistic.
Sweet Potato Pie Cupcakes
Sweet potato pie is practically a MUST at Thanksgiving, but it can get a little repetitive. Not so when you turn it into cupcakes! This easy recipe uses boxed cake mix to make some of the tastiest cupcakes we've ever had.
Get the Sweet Potato Pie Cupcakes recipe.
Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
If you're looking for a perfect Thanksgiving cupcake, look no further. These easy sweets are full of pumpkin spice and topped with a simple cream cheese frosting. We love it sprinkled with some cinnamon sugar, but more pumpkin spice would also be delicious.
Get the Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes recipe.
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Is it a sandwich cookie? Or a handheld little cake? To be honest, we're still unclear! What we do know is that this autumnal spin on the classic American whoopie pie gives everyone an unreasonable amount of joy once we bring them out for Thanksgiving dessert.
Get the Pumpkin Whoopie Pies recipe.
Pumpkin Bundt Cake With Cinnamon Glaze
The sweet and salty cinnamon glaze and a little bit of black pepper in the batter sets this Bundt cake apart. They both enhance the other more common pumpkin spices, like cinnamon and allspice, without tasting overly salty or spicy. Yum!
Pecan Pie Cheesecake
When your dessert spread is absolutely filled with delicious pies, sometimes we need to switch it up a bit. Take your pecan pie to the next level by turning it into a rich and nutty cheesecake! Extra-creamy base + sweet and sticky pecan topping = best Thanksgiving dessert ever.
Get the Pecan Pie Cheesecake recipe.
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Icebox Cake
The only thing that makes an easy icebox cake more tempting? When it has cinnamon-spiced apples and a cheesecake filling.
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
