Thanksgiving Cake Designs
More than dessert—Thanksgiving cake designs are edible art that capture gratitude, tradition, and seasonal beauty while bringing families together around the holiday table.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Whisk
- 9-inch Cake Pans
- Cooling Rack
- Offset Spatula
- Parchment Paper
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour sifted
- 1 cup brown sugar for deeper caramel flavor
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup pumpkin puree unsweetened
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil or melted butter
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup buttermilk or milk + 1 tsp vinegar/lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line cake pans with parchment.
- In a large bowl, whisk flour, both sugars, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt.
- In another bowl, combine pumpkin puree, oil, eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk until smooth.
- Fold wet ingredients into dry until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Divide batter into prepared pans and bake 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool in pans 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack. Frost and decorate as desired.
- Decorate with autumn-inspired designs: apply crumb coat, frost generously, tint frosting in fall shades, and finish with accents like sugared cranberries or fondant pumpkins.
Notes
Design ideas: rustic naked cake with sugared berries, pumpkin patch with fondant pumpkins, harvest basket with candy corn, turkey-themed cake for kids, or elegant floral cake for formal gatherings. Keep colors balanced, use food-safe decorations, and always let the cake cool before decorating.