31 Spice Cake Recipes For A Sweet Holiday Season

If you're on the hunt for the best spice cake recipe, you've hit the jackpot.

By

Mary Shannon Wells

Updated on September 4, 2024

Southern Living Apple Spice Cake cut into 9 pieces to serve — Photo:
Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

There's nothing like a homemade spice cake to get in the fall and holiday spirit. Made with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, spice cake recipes have just the right amount of zing when paired with sweet ingredients. From the classics like pumpkin spice cakes and apple spice cakes to pretty creations like Pumpkin Spice Battenberg and jam cakes, we have plenty of options to get you from fall to the new year.

Whether you want to curl up with a cozy apple slice and a cup of coffee or you need to serve a stunning layer cake for an elegant dinner party, these recipes are just divine. From the start of fall to Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, this round-up is festive, comforting, and oh-so-delicious. With timeless ideas like these, your family might have a new holiday tradition in store. These recipes will comfort you through the entire fall and winter seasons.

01 of 31

Pumpkin Cake

Pumpkin Cake - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Warmly spiced pumpkin cake is layered with a spiced whipped cream for a light but comforting fall dessert. Give the cake a final shake of fresh nutmeg for a beautiful presentation.

02 of 31

Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Cinnamon Coffee Cake — Antonis Achilleos

Bake this classic all the way through for a light and tender crumb, or cut the bake time short for serious gooey goodness in the center. The sweet, crunchy streusel—which would also be divine on muffins, by the way—is balanced by a sour cream mixture that keeps the sugar from going off the charts. You'll be asked to serve this spice cake recipe repeatedly.

03 of 31

Hummingbird Cake

Hummingbird Cake on a green cake stand — Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman

The Hummingbird Cake is our most popular recipe of all time, and you'll see why once you try a slice. This Southern classic cake is made with pineapples and bananas and is fashioned into three delicious moist layers topped with cream cheese frosting and pecans. This recipe was first submitted to Southern Living by Mrs. L.H. Wiggins of Greensboro, North Carolina in 1978.

04 of 31

Pumpkin Dump Cake

Pumpkin Dump Cake — Micah A. Leal

You’ll love this seasonal cake not only for its fall flavors, but also for its ease. In true dump cake style, add all ingredients to create a pumpkin filling and top with boxed yellow cake mix and butter to create a warm, satisfying dessert that's perfect for holidays and weeknights.

05 of 31

Honey Bun Cake

Honey Bun Cake — Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck

Things just got more fun on the holiday dessert buffet. Made with a yellow cake mix and a spiced filling, this dreamy recipe turns honey buns into a special occasion treat.

06 of 31

Pecan Pie Cake With Browned Butter Frosting

Pecan Pie Cake With Browned Butter Frosting — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners

Know someone with a fall birthday? This pecan-filled, multi-layer cake with nutty browned butter frosting is perfect for a celebration.

07 of 31

Apple Pecan Carrot Cake

Apple-Pecan Carrot Cake — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Everything you love about fresh apple cake and carrot cake is in one dreamy recipe that's topped with fluffy Mascarpone Frosting. Drizzle the cake with Apple Cider Caramel Sauce over the frosting, and garnish with pecans.

08 of 31

Pumpkin Layer Cake With Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Layer Cake with Caramel-Cream Cheese Frosting — Alison Gootee; Styling: Suzonne Stirling

New Orleans-based cookbook author and food blogger Joy Wilson shared this beautiful recipe with us, and the best part about it is the cake layers, which can be made up to three days before your event. The gorgeous and tasty caramel and cream cheese frosting looks the best when applied with a small offset spatula to give it that swirly effect on the cake.

09 of 31

Southern Sweet Potato Cake

Southern Sweet Potato Cake — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Erin Merhar

This moist cake isn’t fancy, but it’s big on holiday flavor. Bake the spiced sweet potato batter in a 9-inch square pan. Substitute canned sweet potato puree if needed. Brown sugar icing ties it all together.

10 of 31

Pumpkin Spice Heath Cake

Pumpkin Spice-Heath Cake — Alison Miksch

Sheet cake recipes are the easiest way to feed dessert to a crowd, meaning this recipe is perfect for the holidays. Topped with cream cheese frosting, toffee, and almond candy bits, this scrumptious pumpkin spice cake will be a winner at your next fall party.

11 of 31

Apple Stack Cake

Apple Stack Cake — Photo: Victor Protasi; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Ronni Lundy's Apple Stack Cake is a labor of love that's so worth it. This cake is best when "cured" for two or three days. After making the cake, simply wrap it in cheesecloth and plastic wrap, then store it in a cool, dark place (that's not your fridge) for two to three days.

12 of 31

Pumpkin Pecan Coffee Cake

Pumpkin-Pecan Coffee Cake — Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely

Whether for a relaxing afternoon or breakfast, welcome holiday guests with plates of this spiced cake and hot coffee. A sugar topping crisps as it bakes. This cake freezes well, so it’s easy to make ahead and pull out before guests arrive.

13 of 31

Pumpkin Spice Bundt Wth Brown Sugar Icing & Candied Pecans

Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This Bundt cake is a total stunner for fall parties. Be sure the icing is still warm when you spoon it over the cake for the prettiest results.

14 of 31

Pumpkin Pound Cake

pumpkin pound cake — Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey

Pair this comforting cake with coffee or ice cream—or both. Bake the pound cake in a Bundt pan for a pretty presentation. A maple-butter glaze takes this deliciously simple cake over the top.

15 of 31

Spiced Carrot Cake With Candied Pecans & Caramel Sauce

Erika Kwee's Spiced Carrot Cake with Candied Pecans and Caramel Sauce — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

If you'd like to make preparation a little easier the day you'll be serving up slices of this cake, you can prepare the candied pecans and caramel a few days in advance.

16 of 31

Hummingbird Bundt Cake

Hummingbird Bundt Cake — Jennifer Davick

A less time-consuming version of our ever-popular Hummingbird Cake we mentioned earlier in this roundup, this beautiful Bundt is drizzled with a cream cheese glaze. Pour glaze immediately after cooling the cake and top with pecans!

17 of 31

Apple Spice Cake

Southern Living Apple Spice Cake cut into 9 pieces to serve — Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Often added to spice mixes, including pumpkin pie spice, cloves get a chance to shine as the prominent spice in this cake. And as far as cream cheese frostings go, this one is super light and fluffy. The orange zest added into the frosting adds a bit of brightness that punches up this delightful dessert.

18 of 31

Eggnog Spice Cake With Bourbon Custard Filling

Eggnog Spice Cake with Bourbon Custard Filling and Eggnog Buttercream — Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

This boozy, four-layer cake has dressy holiday dinner party written all over it. Pipe zigzags by starting at the base of the cake and pipe a 1 ½-inch-wide zigzag of frosting up the side of the cake. Start the next piping at the base touching the first zigzag, and repeat the process until the sides are completed. Grate nutmeg on the top.

19 of 31

Tennessee Jam Bundt

Tennessee Jam Bundt Cake — Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

This classic Southern cake deserves a comeback. Tangy blackberry jam and rich caramel frosting pair perfectly with warm spices on the cake. Immediately pour frosting over the cooled cake.

20 of 31

The Ultimate Carrot Cake

Ultimate Carrot Cake — Alison Miksch

There's never a bad time for carrot cake. If you're really into the presentation, make our Candied Carrot Curls to top this all-time favorite cake. Frost with Brown Sugar-Cream Cheese Frosting in between layers and down the sides of the cake.

21 of 31

Blackberry Jam Cake

Blackberry Jam Cake — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Food Network star, chef, and cookbook author Damaris Phillips shared this timeless layer cake recipe, which was inspired by her Aunt Julie. Pipe on the caramel cream cheese frosting and top the cake with nuts and blackberries.

22 of 31

Spice Cake With Cranberry Filling

Spice Cake with Cranberry Filling — Photo: Hector Sanchez

Between the spice cake layers, cranberry filling, and apple cider frosting, we don't know what our favorite part of this recipe is. We're lucky we don't have to choose just one.

23 of 31

Fresh Apple Cake

Fresh Apple Cake — Hannah Zimmerman/Southern Living

This apple cake, filled with fresh Granny Smith apples and topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting, was made to feed a crowd. Don't be concerned if your batter seems super thick, that's exactly how it should be—nearly the consistency of cookie dough. Garnish the cake by sprinkling on the remaining pecans.

24 of 31

Japanese Fruitcake With Lemon-Coconut Frosting

Japanese Fruitcake Recipe — Hector Manuel Sanchez

This traditional recipe has been a reader favorite for decades, and it's a holiday tradition worth starting. The lemon-coconut frosting is enough to make you want to come back for seconds.

25 of 31

Chocolate Gingerbread Toffee Cake

Silky Ganache — Jennifer Davick

Go all out on holiday cheer with this festive recipe that's a true show-stopper. Spread ginger whipped cream on the tops and sides of the cake just before serving.

26 of 31

Spice Cake With Citrus Filling

Spice Cake with Citrus Filling — Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell

We can't resist a white cake for Christmastime, and this dazzling recipe is filled with holiday flavor. Use a kitchen torch to lightly brown the frosting, if desired.

27 of 31

Apple Cream Cheese Bundt Cake

Apple-Cream Cheese Bundt Cake — Greg Dupree

There isn't a recipe that feels more fall than this beautiful Bundt. The sweet cream cheese filling and homemade praline frosting are just the icings on the cake (is that too on the nose?). Garnish the frosting with toasted pecans.

28 of 31

Pumpkin Roll

pumpkin roll and slices on plates — Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Wow your holiday guests with a lightly spiced pumpkin cake roll filled with cream cheese frosting. You can make this cake up to three days ahead of your holiday gathering.

29 of 31

Cranberry Upside Down Cake

Cranberry Upside-Down Cake — Oxmoor House

A package of pound cake mix is the secret convenience ingredient in this simple cake. Beat the mix along with milk, eggs, and almond extract with an electric mixer on low for two minutes. Pour the batter over the cranberry mixture already in the slow cooker, and you are just a few short steps away from pairing this with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

30 of 31

Cranberry Orange Cake With Orange Buttercream

Cranberry-Orange Cake with Orange Buttercream — Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Once baked, the contrast of tart cranberries to tender sweet layers of cake is made even better by fresh citrus notes from a beautiful orange buttercream. The fresh orange juice and zest in the frosting makes it the perfect package. This is a hit for any occasion.

31 of 31

Persimmon Cake

Persimmon Cake — Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Emily Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Persimmons are native to China, and are typically used in Asian cooking. This recipe is surprisingly easy to execute—the cake batter can be completely stirred together by hand in one bowl. Southerners love our spice cakes, especially in the fall and around Christmastime, and this moist cake maintains a nice spice level from the cinnamon.

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