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Thanksgiving Cake Ideas – The prettiest Thanksgiving Cakes around

When planning a Thanksgiving celebration there are many factors and components to consider. From food to dessert, decorations to guest lists, every piece brings a little joy to the day. Adding a decorated cake can add to the sense of the holiday and boost the mood. Plus, it’s also a great center piece or decoration. Read on for our favorite Thanksgiving cake ideas.

identifying the person who took the photo Scratch Bakeshop

What Makes a Great Thanksgiving Cake

The best Thanksgiving cake will have a decadent and satisfying taste, a beautiful texture, and will be attractive and fit the theme. With almost limitless options for flavoring both cake and icing it can be fun to add a seasonal or themed flavor. Apple cinnamon, carrot cake, pumpkin roll, and fall spice layer cake are all popular ways to spice up a Thanksgiving cake. Add layers of icing between the cake layers to help it stay sticky and also to add a well-rounded cake with cream cheese icing or complimentary icing flavors.

Fall flavors are often associated with the harvest season. Pumpkin, cinnamon, apples, allspice, pineapple, graham crackers, and so many other wholesome and comforting flavors are associated with the time of year. Spices are used to create a feeling of heat and warmth. And it goes well with the chill in the air and the shortening of the days. The combination of flavor and decoration is key to making the best Thanksgiving cake.

Colorful Thanksgiving Cakes

colorful thanksgiving cake
identifying the person who took the photo Gracie Mae’s Cakes

Cakes and decorations are both used to add color to any setting. And it’s a fun way to decorate a dessert. The use of bright and lively colors will help to draw attention to the cake and it can be used to brighten up the table. Plus, add more color than the traditional browns, oranges, and yellows that make up a holiday table.

sunflower thanksgiving cake
identifying the person who took the photo Better Buttercream Cakery

Darker shades of purple, green, and blue, offer a pop of color while still staying in the warm and cozy section of the color wheel. They go well with traditional fall and harvest colors and are easily added to any table setting. Add a lighter shade of yellow to lighten the space and create depth.

cake decorated with pumpkin thanksgiving
identifying the person who took the photo Gracie Mae’s Cakes

Using color patterns can also increase interest and add an extra special touch. Stripes, circles, leaves, and more can be added to the outside of the cake. They can represent the tastes inside or the colors that match the room settings.

Fun Thanksgiving Cake Ideas

turkey themed thanksgiving cake
identifying the person who took the photo Denise’s fun

Make your holiday laugh with these funny Thanksgiving cake ideas. They are used to add fun and laughter and can add a little spice to any gathering. Using a fun saying on the side of the cake can create interest and conversation among guests, whether they’re family or friends. For any group with a sense of humor, a funny Thanksgiving cake is sure to be a hit. And will be the topic of conversation for days or even weeks after the gathering.

funny thanksgiving cake
identifying the person who took the photo Denise’s fun

Other ideas for a funny cake are to include decorations or make the cake in a silly or fun shape. Adding items on top made of fondant or cupcakes and matching a saying, joke, or representing food draws attention. Please your guests by making your cake into a turkey or pumpkin. Fill it with characterized animals, or use a visual pun to decorate the top and sides of your cake. For added fun, create a pun and add a surprise color, shape, or pattern to the inside of the cake.

fun thanksgiving cake idea
identifying the person who took the photo Denise’s fun

Pretty Thanksgiving Cake Ideas

thanksgiving cake ideas
identifying the person who took the photo Yuliya Guryanova

Add a touch of elegance to your table with a beautiful Thanksgiving cake. Include colors that compliment each other, perhaps embellishments that will definitely take center stage. Basket weaving can add dimension, while splashes of color and caramel will create movement on the surface. Harvest-appropriate flowers can be added to the sides and top, bringing some of nature’s beauty to the table.

fall thanksgiving cake
identifying the person who took the photo Gracie Mae’s Cakes

Icing flowers and ribbon can be looped around the cake and added to other decorations for a touch of color and class. Texture can be a great way to add interest to a cake. And edible glitter or edible silver or gold leaf will definitely add sparkle to your Thanksgiving cake.

For a beautiful cake, look for things that are elegant and flow well. Watercolor images are transferred onto the cake, or intricate designs are added to reflect colors and table settings or space decorations. Delicate decorations will fit well and can bring a unique and subtle approach to harvesting. While flowers, leaves, pumpkins, ombre shades, and beautiful colors can create a beautiful cake.

When to Enjoy the Best Thanksgiving Cake

pumpkin thanksgiving cake
identifying the person who took the photo Denise’s fun

These cakes are not only a great dessert for a party but can easily be used as a center piece for a sideboard or a dessert table. It can be added to the table after the meal is over. Or taken out an hour later for a dessert before everyone went their separate ways for the night. When you are a guest at a gathering around the holidays, bringing a cake made to eat is a great way to contribute. Plus it shows appreciation to those hosting the meal.

quite a thanksgiving cake
identifying the person who took the photo Gracie Mae’s Cakes

If you are hosting a gathering in your own home, you can display your cake inside a glass cover while the food is being enjoyed, allowing everyone to enjoy it before it is cut. This will add extra color and detail to the table setting and the feel of the room. It doubles as a dessert as well as a decoration for the space. This will help guests feel as if they are truly appreciated and that you have gone the extra mile to prepare a meal they will enjoy. The extra effort that goes into the best Thanksgiving cake is a combination of flavors included as well as decorations. And with so many different techniques, there’s sure to be one to please any group.

blessing the thanksgiving cake
identifying the person who took the photo Scratch Bakeshop

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About the Author

Photo by Author

Jane Sheriff is the founder, creative director, party planner and mother of three. She started Darling Celebrations in 2012 to share easy and beautiful ideas for celebrating life’s special events.

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