27 Cakes Grandma Baked Every Thanksgiving and Loved by Everyone

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Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without Grandma’s cakes. Every recipe had its charm, from spiced favorites to creamy classics, and they all made the holiday feel special. These cakes are easy to bake and bring the same joy and nostalgia to your own table. Sharing them with family or friends is a way to keep traditions alive and create new memories while honoring the old.

Old Fashioned Apple Cake

 

Fresh apples and a hint of orange zest make this spiced cake a timeless favorite. Perfect with vanilla ice cream, it’s the cake Grandma always served at Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Apple Cake

Pumpkin Roll Cake

Soft pumpkin cake rolled around a creamy filling makes this dessert a showstopper on the Thanksgiving table. It’s the kind of treat Grandma baked when she wanted to impress the family.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Roll Cake

Perfect Carrot Cake

Moist and spiced, with thick cream cheese frosting, this carrot cake has all the warmth of Grandma’s kitchen. It’s a Thanksgiving classic that everyone looks forward to each year.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Cake

Simple Vanilla Cake from Scratch

Soft, buttery, and simply sweet, this homemade vanilla cake is a comforting addition to the Thanksgiving table. One-bowl simplicity with classic flavor makes it a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Simple Vanilla Cake Recipe

Black Forest Cake

Chocolate cake layered with cherries and whipped cream brings a vintage feel to the Thanksgiving table. Grandma’s Black Forest Cake is rich yet light enough for everyone to enjoy.
Get the Recipe: Black Forest Cake Recipe

Vanilla Bundt Cake

This tender Bundt cake is simple but always disappears first at Thanksgiving. Serve plain, dusted with sugar, or with a glaze—Grandma knew it would please the crowd.
Get the Recipe: Vanilla Bundt Cake Recipe

Angel Food Cake Strawberry Shortcake

Light, airy, and layered with fresh strawberries, this angel food cake adds a refreshing note to the Thanksgiving spread. Grandma baked this when she wanted a dessert that felt delicate and special.
Get the Recipe: Angel Food Cake Strawberry Shortcake

Red Velvet Cake

With its deep red layers and creamy frosting, red velvet cake brings a festive touch to Thanksgiving. Grandma’s version always had everyone sneaking an extra slice.
Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Recipe

Classic Chocolate Cake

Soft, rich, and comforting, this chocolate cake is exactly what Grandma baked every Thanksgiving. Top it with whipped cream or frosting, and it becomes the centerpiece of the dessert table.
Get the Recipe: Classic Chocolate Cake Recipe

Italian Cream Cake

Grandma’s Italian cream cake was always the first to disappear at the holiday table. With pecans, coconut, and cream cheese frosting, it’s indulgent, nutty, and full of old-fashioned charm.
Get the Recipe: Amazing Italian Cream Cake Recipe

Pineapple Upside Down Cake From Cake Mix

Retro and sweet, this pineapple upside down cake was a Thanksgiving staple in Grandma’s kitchen. Quick to make with cake mix and topped with caramelized fruit, it always drew a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Upside Down Cake from cake mix

Easy Apple Cake

Light, spiced, and simple, this one-bowl apple cake was Grandma’s solution for a quick, delicious dessert. It fit perfectly at the end of a big Thanksgiving meal.
Get the Recipe: Easy Apple Cake

Pumpkin Crumb Cake

Thick streusel and pumpkin spice made this crumb cake a cozy, comforting treat. Every Thanksgiving, Grandma’s version disappeared fast, especially with coffee on the side.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Crumb Cake

Pumpkin Poke Cake with Caramel

Caramel and toffee bits soaked into this pumpkin cake, making each bite decadent. Grandma’s poke cake was always the showstopper that vanished in no time.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Poke Cake with Caramel

Pineapple Poke Cake

Sweet, creamy, and tropical, this pineapple poke cake brought a cheerful twist to Grandma’s Thanksgiving table. Pudding, Cool Whip, and juicy pineapple made it impossible to resist.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Poke Cake

Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Crunchy, buttery, and full of pumpkin spice, this cake was a hit at every Thanksgiving table. Grandma loved how the pecans and cake mix came together for a dessert that disappeared fast.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Lemon Icebox Cake

Cool, creamy, and refreshingly simple, this lemon icebox cake was Grandma’s go-to when the oven was full. No baking needed, yet it always stole the show on the dessert table.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Icebox Cake

Simple Apple Cinnamon Cake

Cozy, sweet, and packed with apples, this one-pan cinnamon cake brought a rustic charm to Grandma’s Thanksgiving. Easy to make, but big on flavor and warmth.
Get the Recipe: Simple Apple Cinnamon Cake

Ultimate Banana Cake

Moist, nutty, and bursting with banana flavor, this cake was a family favorite that Grandma baked for every Thanksgiving. The rich frosting makes each slice irresistible.
Get the Recipe: Ultimate Banana Cake Recipe

Meyer Lemon Pound Cake

Bright, buttery, and fresh, this Meyer lemon pound cake added a citrusy twist to Grandma’s Thanksgiving spread. A drizzle of lemon glaze made each slice glow alongside the pumpkin pies.
Get the Recipe: Meyer Lemon Pound Cake

Pumpkin Caramel Cake

Sweet pumpkin paired with smooth caramel frosting made this cake a Thanksgiving favorite. Grandma’s version was always rich, indulgent, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Caramel Cake

Pumpkin Cheesecake Cake

Layers of spiced pumpkin cake and creamy cheesecake come together in a dessert that feels like a warm hug. Perfect for Grandma’s Thanksgiving table, it’s as beautiful as it is flavorful.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Cheesecake Cake

Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler (Highly Rated!)

A gooey caramel layer and tender cake make this pumpkin pecan cobbler a nostalgic favorite. It’s the kind of dessert Grandma would bake that has everyone going back for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler

Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake

Soft, buttery cake topped with sweet cinnamon crumble makes for a perfect holiday morning treat. It’s the kind of cake Grandma always set out for Thanksgiving brunch.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake Recipe

Lemon Cranberry Coffee Cake

Bright lemon and tart cranberries make this cake feel light and cheerful on the Thanksgiving table. Grandma’s twist on a classic, it’s great for dessert or the next-day brunch.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Cranberry Coffee Cake

Apple Coffee Streusel Cake

Tender apples and a sweet crumb topping make this cake a cozy fall staple. Grandma always knew apple desserts were the heart of Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Apple Coffee Cake Recipe

Maple Cake

Rich maple flavor with a creamy glaze and crunchy walnuts make this cake unforgettable. It’s a dessert Grandma would bake to fill the kitchen with cozy fall aromas.
Get the Recipe: Maple Cake Recipe