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Sugar & Sparrow

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Favorite Thanksgiving Cake Recipes

October 31, 2022 · In: Cake, Recipes

The traditional Thanksgiving meal is probably my favorite of all time. It’s basically all of my favorite foods spread out on one big table and absolutely no judgement on how high my plate gets. I love it so much that I eat the leftovers for breakfast. And lunch. And so on. 

While I really enjoy making pies for the dessert table, I’m also over the moon for cake and do my best to represent. I’ve been really inspired by traditional Thanksgiving and holiday flavors over the years, and have been able to translate some of those flavor combinations into cake form. Whether you’re looking to add some variety to your dessert spread or you want to venture from the tradition of serving pie, here are my absolute favorite cakes for Thanksgiving: 

Chocolate Caramel Pecan Pie Cake

Inspired by my all-time favorite pie to make for Thanksgiving, this Chocolate Caramel Pecan Pie Cake is next level delicious. It features layers of decadent chocolate cake, pecan pie filling, and homemade salted caramel, all wrapped up in brown sugar buttercream frosting. If you’re looking for a decadent cake with traditional Thanksgiving flavors, this one is it.

pecan pie cake recipe with salted caramel drip and brown sugar buttercream

Pumpkin Pie Layer Cake

This one is inspired by the most iconic Thanksgiving dessert there is: pumpkin pie. And even if you are already planning a pumpkin pie for your dessert table, this Pumpkin Pie Layer Cake still makes a beautiful addition. It’s got amazing textures and flavors going on between the spiced pumpkin cake, pumpkin creme filling, pie crust pieces, and brown sugar buttercream. And the best part is, this one is way easy to throw together – just layer the components, refrigerate, and top with toasted marshmallow meringue if you’re feeling extra festive. 

Pumpkin Pie Layer Cake Recipe

Spiced Pumpkin Biscoff Cake

I paired my favorite pumpkin cake recipe with Biscoff frosting and it did not disappoint! This Pumpkin Biscoff Cake is perfectly spiced throughout – layers of deliciously moist spiced pumpkin cake, Biscoff cookie crumbles, and a beautiful Biscoff frosting that adds notes of cinnamon and caramel. It’s everything a Fall cake should be!

spiced pumpkin biscoff cake

Apple Crisp Cake

If you love apple crisp, you’re going to be obsessed with this Apple Crisp Cake! It tastes just like the real deal in cake form: layers of apple spice cake, apple pie filling, baked crumble topping, and cinnamon-vanilla buttercream. This will make a beautiful addition to your Thanksgiving spread.

apple crisp layer cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

Cranberry Orange Cake

This holiday flavor pairing is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and every celebration in between. My Cranberry Orange Cake recipe is a lovely orange-infused cake with fresh cranberries folded right into the batter, topped with a zesty orange buttercream to tie it all together. I love decorating this one with sugared cranberries and candied orange slices to make it look as festive as it tastes. 

cranberry orange cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

Pumpkin Chocolate Marble Cake with Brown Butter Frosting

Did you know that chocolate and pumpkin are a match made in flavor heaven? I know that for sure now. This gorgeous marble cake is so much simpler to whip up than you might think. You’ll make an easy pumpkin cake batter, add melted chocolate to part of it to make a spiced chocolate cake batter, then swirl the two batters together in each cake pan. The delicious brown butter frosting ties everything together beautifully and your guests will be so impressed with this cake inside and out.

pumpkin chocolate marble cake

Salted Caramel Apple Cake

One of my favorite Fall-inspired flavor combos of all, this Salted Caramel Apple Cake pulls out all the stops. It’s layers of apple spice cake and salted caramel buttercream made with homemade salted caramel, topped with vanilla buttercream and a dripping salted caramel apple for that extra wow factor. There are a lot of components going on in this one (all easy ones!), but it is one hundred percent worth it for these amazing flavors! 

salted caramel apple cake by sugar and sparrow

Pumpkin Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Buttercream

A Fall classic – layers of spiced pumpkin cake and tangy cream cheese buttercream. This Pumpkin Layer Cake is a true crowd pleaser and really easy to whip up. Decorate it with simple swirls or take advantage of how pipeable this cream cheese buttercream recipe is. No matter how you decorate, it’s sure to be a hit!

pumpkin cake recipe by sugar and sparrow

Spiced Vanilla Chai Cake

If you’re looking for a truly unique dessert for your Thanksgiving spread, look no further than this Spiced Vanilla Chai Cake. It’s cozy Autumn in cake form with layers of chai tea infused cake and chai spiced vanilla buttercream. The perfect cake to contrast your traditional Thanksgiving desserts!

spiced vanilla chai layer cake recipe

I hope you have the best Thanksgiving and are able to spend it safely with the ones you love. It’s such a special time of year, and being with the people we love makes it all the more magical. If you make any of these delicious cake recipes for your Thanksgiving meal I would love to know! Leave a comment below and feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram to show me. I love to see what you create!

By: Whitney · In: Cake, Recipes · Tagged: thanksgiving, thanksgiving cake recipes, thanksgiving desserts

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Comments

  1. Razwana amin says

    December 22, 2021 at 10:46 am

    Hi can I have ur receive for vanilla sponge cake please

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      December 22, 2021 at 11:27 am

      Hi there! My vanilla cake recipe is here: https://sugarandsparrow.com/vanilla-cake-recipe Enjoy!

      Reply
  2. Michael J Robinsmith says

    November 15, 2022 at 12:52 pm

    Followed all the way through everything looking for the Black Velvet cake. Looks amazing. Also that pumpkin spice cake sounds so good

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      November 16, 2022 at 3:08 pm

      Thanks so much, Michael! If you are having a hard time finding the Black Velvet Cake it’s right here: https://sugarandsparrow.com/black-velvet-cake-recipe/

      Reply

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@sugarandsparrowco

CARROT CAKE (recipe below) 🥕🎂 Y’all have b CARROT CAKE (recipe below) 🥕🎂 Y’all have been asking for a carrot cake recipe for YEARS and I finally whipped one up for my book, Anyone Can Cake. It’s perfectly spiced, has an extra moist crumb, and is just heavenly with cream cheese frosting. I ate an embarrassing amount during filming 😬😏⁣
⁣
CARROT CAKE⁣
YIELD: 3 6-inch layers or 2 8-inch layers⁣
⁣
INGREDIENTS⁣
2 1/2 Cups (333g) all purpose flour⁣
2 tsp (10g) baking powder⁣
1 tsp baking soda⁣
1/2 tsp salt⁣
2 tsp ground cinnamon⁣
1 tsp ground nutmeg⁣
1 tsp ground ginger⁣
1/4 tsp cloves⁣
1/2 Cup (100g) granulated sugar⁣
1 1/2 Cups (300g) packed brown sugar⁣
1 Cup (240ml) vegetable oil⁣
4 large eggs, room temperature⁣
3/4 Cup (135g) smooth unsweetened applesauce⁣
1 tsp pure vanilla extract⁣
2 Cups (260g) grated carrots (about 4 large)⁣
⁣
INSTRUCTIONS:⁣
1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF/177ºF. Grease and line three 6-inch (15cm) or two 8-inch 20cm) cake pans. ⁣
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. In another large bowl, whisk together the white and brown sugars, vegetable oil, eggs, applesauce, and vanilla. ⁣
3. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients using a rubber spatula until just combined, then fold in the grated carrots.⁣
4. Pour the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.⁣
⁣
Pair with my fave cream cheese buttercream recipe at https://sugarandsparrow.com/cream-cheese-buttercream-recipe/⁣
⁣
#carrotcake #creamcheesefrosting #carrotcakerecipe #eastercake #cakeideas #anyonecancake #baking #bake #layercake #bakedfromscratch #cakelover
[CLOSED! Winner TBA] Anyone Can Cake x Wilton GIVE [CLOSED! Winner TBA] Anyone Can Cake x Wilton GIVEAWAY 🥳 @wiltoncakes has been a HUGE part of my cake journey and I’m extra excited to gift ONE lucky winner every Wilton tool they could possibly need to make ⁣perfect layer cakes!⁣
⁣
ONE lucky winner will get everything in this Reel:⁣ ⁣
✨Gold piping tip set⁣
✨Cake turntable⁣
✨Navy and gold icing spatula set ⁣
✨Color Right Performance Food Coloring Set⁣
✨Icing comb set⁣
✨Icing smoother⁣
✨Cake leveler⁣
✨Set of two 8-inch cake pans⁣
✨a SIGNED copy of my book, Anyone Can Cake⁣
⁣
TO ENTER:⁣
⁣⁣1️⃣ LIKE this post⁣ ⁣
2️⃣ FOLLOW @sugarandsparrowco and @wiltoncakes⁣
3️⃣ TAG a couple friends who would love this prize below in separate comments. One comment = one entry ⁣⁣ ⁣
4️⃣ BONUS for commenting where you’re at in your cake decorating journey!⁣
⁣
That’s it! Ends March 25th at 11:59pm PST and is open to US residents only (sorry to my worldwide friends!). I’ll reach out to the winner via DM to claim the prize and if it’s you, please respond within 24 hours to claim. 🎉 Must be 18 or older. Not sponsored by Wilton or Instagram. Best of luck to all 🎉⁣
⁣
⁣#wiltoncakes #cakedecorating #cakes #cakelover #anyonecancake #cookbook #cake #sprinkles #cake #cookbookauthor #bakersofinstagram #bake #baking
(Ad) Buttercream Embroidery Cake Tutorial🧵🌸🎂 to celebrate March being National Craft Month, I decided to try out some new buttercream piping techniques and make the embroidery cake of my dreams! It ended up being so fun + easy with the perfect cake decorating supplies from @joann_stores 🙌🏼 Here’s how to make this happy little Spring-inspired cake:⁣
⁣
1️⃣ Frost your cake with a smooth buttercream finish and chill for at least 20 minutes.⁣
2️⃣ Use floral cookie cutters to imprint the buttercream.⁣
3️⃣ Outline the shapes using Wilton tip 2 or 3, then fill in the shapes with lines of buttercream piping. For some of the flowers, start at the edge of the shape and pipe a series of lines that connect in the center. For others, experiment with ways to fill in the shape with parallel lines, dots, or other embroidery-inspired piping. ⁣
4️⃣ Freehand some tiny dotted flowers and floral accents using those same piping techniques wherever your heart desires!⁣
⁣
The full tutorial + video for this pretty floral embroidery cake is linked in my bio! It’s the perfect way to welcome Spring 🌸⁣
⁣
#handmadewithjoann #joannpartner #embroidery #embroiderycake #baking #floralcake #cakeideas #buttercreamcake #bake #cakesofinstagram #cake #buttercream #cakelover #cakeart #nationalcraftmonth
Yellow Cake + Chocolate Frosting (aka Classic Birt Yellow Cake + Chocolate Frosting (aka Classic Birthday Cake) 🙌🏼 🥳 this one is extra nostalgic for me because it’s what my mama made for all my birthdays growing up 💛 this recipe rivals the box mix: super moist and fluffy layers of classic yellow cake (naturally colored with egg yolks) + silky smooth chocolate buttercream. Top with rainbow sprinkles for extra fun! 🎉⁣
⁣
Find this recipe linked in my bio + on page 147 of my book, Anyone Can Cake ✨⁣
⁣
#birthdaycake #yellowcake #chocolatefrosting #chocolatebuttercream #sprinkles #layercake #cakelover #cakesofinstagram #cake #bake #bakingfun #bakedfromscratch #anyonecancake #cakeideas #cakedecorating
Ombré Rainbow Sheet Cake 🌈🥳 for St. Patrick Ombré Rainbow Sheet Cake 🌈🥳 for St. Patrick’s Day or any day, because rainbow cakes are year round if you ask me 🫶🏽⁣
⁣
🎨 colors: custom mixed with @wiltoncakes color right food coloring system ⁣
🌈 piping tips: @wiltoncakes 1M for the rosettes, 104 for the ruffles, 32 for the swirls and stars⁣
⁣
#ombrecake #rainbowcake #sheetcake #cakedecorating #rainbow #stpatricksday #buttercreampiping #pipingskills #bakingfun #satisfyingfood #bake #cakeideas #cakelovers

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