17 Showstopping Cakes for Thanksgiving

• Prep:  25 min
• Total:  1 hr 30 min
• Ingredients:  14
• Servings:  8

Ready for a fresh fall dessert that’s rooted in tradition? Pick this recipe for a simple scratch cake that might remind you of something Grandma used to make. Similar to a pound cake but with fragrant, sweet cardamom cutting through its rich buttery crumb. Sliced apples strewn across the top melt into the cake just slightly during baking for a pretty look that only needs a dusting of powdered sugar to be complete. The end result is an apple dessert that’s not too sweet but incredibly flavorful. It’s as perfect with a steaming cup of coffee at breakfast time as it is mounded with whipped cream after dinner. And since it’s ready to serve in just over an hour, it’s totally weeknight friendly!

Ready for a fresh fall dessert that’s rooted in tradition? Pick this recipe for a simple scratch cake that might remi...

• Prep:  20 min
• Total:  1 hr 15 min
• Ingredients:  12
• Servings:  8

We love upside-down cakes, and this unbeatable combination of pecan pie and upside-down cake is no exception. Brown sugar, melted butter and pecan halves are mixed together and spread in a cake pan, which then gets topped with a sweet Bisquick™ batter, baked, and drizzled with a powdered sugar-milk glaze. The end result is a gooey pecan pie layer that sits atop a fluffy—yet dense—cake, instead of a pie crust. This dessert is a wonderful treat for fall (or all year-round for pecan pie lovers!) and tastes especially delightful when served with a side of from-scratch sweetened whipped cream. We love this cake as a sweet addition to any meal—either a post-dinner treat or even as a star of your next brunch party!

We love upside-down cakes, and this unbeatable combination of pecan pie and upside-down cake is no exception. Brown s...

• Prep:  1 hr 30 min
• Total:  3 hr 30 min
• Ingredients:  21
• Servings:  12

If you’re looking for a baking project or beautiful (and wildly delicious!) layered cake for a special occasion, look no further than this Black Forest Layer Cake. Three layers of a moist chocolate cake are separated by a from-scratch cherry filling (made with dark sweet cherries) that’s both rich and tart in its taste, then frosted with a Swiss buttercream frosting and decorated with shaved chocolate and a pile of maraschino cherries. What makes this cake truly special is the “double dam” frosting border! Frosting is piped twice on the outside edge of the cake layer so there’s a thick layer of buttercream that holds in the cherry filling. The end result is a dramatic black and white look and a touch of extra Swiss buttercream for frosting lovers. This cake is an absolute stunner, and it will reward the baker and the guests alike!

If you’re looking for a baking project or beautiful (and wildly delicious!) layered cake for a special occasion, look...

• Prep:  40 min
• Total:  3 hr 15 min
• Ingredients:  18
• Servings:  12

Say “hello” to a stunning dessert that will steal the show at your fall party, Thanksgiving dinner, special occasion, or just to make as the perfect seasonal baking project. This masterpiece of a cake has three from-scratch pumpkin layers that get added flavor from fall spices: cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, and from toasted pecans that are stirred into the cake batter before it's baked. What takes this cake to the next level is the dulce de leche-cream cheese frosting: a tangy-sweet combination that’s both filled in-between the layers of the cake, and frosted all around it. Frosting mounds piped onto half of the cake and sprinkled with cinnamon give it a unique look that’s both whimsical and picture-perfect.

Say “hello” to a stunning dessert that will steal the show at your fall party, Thanksgiving dinner, special occasion,...

• Prep:  45 min
• Total:  3 hr 30 min
• Ingredients:  14
• Servings:  12

If you love butterscotch, you’re going to want a slice (or two!) of this incredible pudding layer cake. Made easy with Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix, this cake’s three layers are given extra flavor with milk, melted butter and butterscotch pudding mix. The layers are separated by a from-scratch butterscotch-dark chocolate buttercream frosting that’s then used to frost the entirety of the cake. Crushed pretzels are used to decorate the sides of the cake, while caramel is poured on top to double down on the butterscotch flavor. The caramel is then sprinkled with sea salt for a sweet-and-salty combination that’s undeniably delicious.

If you love butterscotch, you’re going to want a slice (or two!) of this incredible pudding layer cake. Made easy wit...

• Prep:  60 min
• Total:  3 hr 5 min
• Ingredients:  11
• Servings:  12

This layered cake is pure chocolate confection. Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ chocolate cake mix gets an extra chocolaty plus-up from the addition of chocolate pudding before baking. A from-scratch dangerously good dark chocolate buttercream frosting covers the three layers of cake. The special addition that takes this dessert to the next level? A toffee bits crunch that’s sprinkled among the frosting in between the cake layers, and then piled atop the cake. For an extra-fun touch, we added small frosting stars piped around the edges of the top of the cake! It’s a truly over-the-top chocolate dessert that makes a gorgeous centerpiece, and makes any chocolate-loving guest very happy.

This layered cake is pure chocolate confection. Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ chocolate cake mix gets an extra chocolat...

• Prep:  15 min
• Total:  1 hr 15 min
• Ingredients:  10
• Servings:  8

The quintessential fall berry falls head over heels in this sweet-tart spin on an upside down cake. Cranberries, butter and brown sugar go on the bottom of your cake pan before the batter, but once the cake’s turned out, they form a caramelly top that pops with cranberry tartness. Stock up on cranberries while they’re in season—this cake can be made year-round with frozen berries.

The quintessential fall berry falls head over heels in this sweet-tart spin on an upside down cake. Cranberries, butt...

• Prep:  15 min
• Total:  1 hr 45 min
• Ingredients:  13
• Servings:  8

Maple syrup isn’t just for pancakes and this decadent bundt proves it. Made with maple syrup in the batter and frosted with maple syrup too, this is the perfect recipe to use one of fall’s best ingredients.

Maple syrup isn’t just for pancakes and this decadent bundt proves it. Made with maple syrup in the batter and froste...

• Prep:  25 min
• Total:  5 hr 45 min
• Ingredients:  14
• Servings:  18

The pumpkin and cake layers in this dessert magically switch places as they’re baking and then get topped with a gorgeously fluffy cream cheese whipped cream.

The pumpkin and cake layers in this dessert magically switch places as they’re baking and then get topped with a gorg...

• Prep:  30 min
• Total:  2 hr 25 min
• Ingredients:  14
• Servings:  16

We added pureed pears and pumpkin pie spice to cake batter to create a moist and flavorful cake.

We added pureed pears and pumpkin pie spice to cake batter to create a moist and flavorful cake.

• Prep:  2 hr 0 min
• Total:  8 hr 0 min
• Ingredients:  16
• Servings:  12

A towering cheesecake torte that's packed with favorite fall flavors, this dessert gets a quick start with Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ butter recipe yellow cake mix and frosting.

A towering cheesecake torte that's packed with favorite fall flavors, this dessert gets a quick start with Betty Croc...

• Prep:  15 min
• Total:  2 hr 10 min
• Ingredients:  7
• Servings:  12

Make this easy delicious pumpkin cake for a fall gathering.

Make this easy delicious pumpkin cake for a fall gathering.

• Prep:  15 min
• Total:  2 hr 50 min
• Ingredients:  9
• Servings:  16

This moist pumpkin cake is poked and filled with caramel sauce, topped with cream cheese frosting and drizzled with more caramel for an easy, over-the-top dessert.

This moist pumpkin cake is poked and filled with caramel sauce, topped with cream cheese frosting and drizzled with m...

• Prep:  30 min
• Total:  2 hr 35 min
• Ingredients:  9
• Servings:  12

Wow guests with this show-stopping chocolate layer cake that’s finished with a luscious cream cheese-caramel frosting topped with a mountain of caramel corn.

Wow guests with this show-stopping chocolate layer cake that’s finished with a luscious cream cheese-caramel frosting...

• Prep:  20 min
• Total:  1 hr 5 min
• Ingredients:  12
• Servings:  16

Fresh apples and pumpkin come together in this upside-down dessert that makes 2 cakes, so it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser!

Fresh apples and pumpkin come together in this upside-down dessert that makes 2 cakes, so it’s sure to be a crowd ple...

• Prep:  50 min
• Total:  5 hr 20 min
• Ingredients:  12
• Servings:  12

This ultra-moist pumpkin cake boasts a truffle-like chocolate center; the scratch cream cheese frosting is the literal icing on the cake!

This ultra-moist pumpkin cake boasts a truffle-like chocolate center; the scratch cream cheese frosting is the litera...

• Prep:  15 min
• Total:  2 hr 50 min
• Ingredients:  8
• Servings:  12

Classic butterscotch flavor with a twist! A buttery yellow cake poked with sweet butterscotch pudding and topped with whipped topping and toffee.

Classic butterscotch flavor with a twist! A buttery yellow cake poked with sweet butterscotch pudding and topped with...