With Thanksgiving around the corner, I wanted to share some favorite recipes that spotlight one of the holiday’s most beloved desserts: pie. These recipes are classic pie flavors reimagined as cakes, so they’ll satisfy pie purists and cake lovers alike. We enjoy both desserts, and turning pies into cakes creates beautiful, delicious hybrids perfect for the season.
From this selection of cakes that taste as good as they look, you’re sure to find one—or more—that you’ll love making and sharing with family this Thanksgiving.
FRENCH SILK PIE CAKE
Layers of dark chocolate cake sit on an Oreo crust, filled with chocolate pudding and finished with vanilla bean buttercream and chocolate shards or curls. Rich, decadent, and beautifully balanced, this cake is a favorite for chocolate lovers.
PUMPKIN PIE CAKE
This version leans into classic pumpkin pie flavors while keeping the profile true to the pie experience. The pumpkin cake is deliberately dense and moist—similar in texture to pumpkin pie—and pairs wonderfully with browned butter maple buttercream. It’s full of warm spices and comforts that make pumpkin desserts a fall staple.
BANANA CREAM PIE CAKE
A soft banana pudding layer rests on a vanilla wafer crust, topped with fluffy vanilla cream and fresh banana slices. The cake layers are sweet banana cake, and the buttercream is vanilla bean—together they capture everything you love about banana cream pie. Fresh banana slices are lovely on top; if you need to make the cake ahead, dried banana chips work well too.
RECIPE FOR THE BANANA CREAM PIE CAKE IS IN THE CAKE CONFIDENCE COOKBOOK.
KEY LIME PIE CAKE
This cake features a graham cracker crust, tangy key lime cake layers, and key lime buttercream, finished with a light graham cracker dust. Bright and refreshing, it’s a longtime favorite among followers and a perfect balance of tart and sweet.
THE RECIPE FOR THE KEY LIME PIE CAKE IS IN THE CAKE CONFIDENCE COOKBOOK.
BOSTON CREAM PIE CAKE
Ruffled chocolate details adorn a soft vanilla cake filled with an easy-to-whip French vanilla pudding. You can drizzle extra dark chocolate ganache for a classic finish, though the buttercream already includes that rich ganache flavor for a truly indulgent result.
THE RECIPE FOR THE BOSTON CREAM PIE CAKE IS IN THE CAKE CONFIDENCE COOKBOOK.
APPLE PIE CAKE
Soft cinnamon cake layers are frosted with brown butter vanilla bean buttercream, filled with apple pie filling and a hearty apple crumble, and topped with a cinnamon ganache and buttery pie crust leaves. Serve a la mode for an extra “apple crisp” touch. Whether you call it Apple Pie Cake or Apple Crisp Cake, it combines both dessert worlds deliciously.
BERRY COBBLER CAKE
Almond vanilla cake layers studded with fresh berries are paired with a vibrant berry compote filling. An oatmeal crumble is baked onto the cake and used as a garnish, while vanilla bean buttercream with a hint of cinnamon and fresh berries on top complete the cobbler-inspired experience. It tastes like triple berry pie but in cake form.
APPLE PIE COBBLER CUPCAKES
These cupcakes capture favorite fall flavors: cinnamon cake, apple pie filling, browned butter buttercream, apple pie crumble, a cinnamon drizzle, and a baked pie leaf on top. They’re portable, charming, and perfect for a fall gathering.
LEMON MERINGUE PIE CAKE
Lemony cake layers, soft lemon curd filling, and vanilla bean buttercream are coated in a cloud of meringue, just like a classic lemon meringue pie. The meringue is best added within an hour of serving and should be toasted with a kitchen torch for that signature finish. Serve with fresh berries if desired.
THE RECIPE FOR THE LEMON MERINGUE PIE CAKE IS IN THE CAKE CONFIDENCE COOKBOOK.
PEACH CRISP CUPCAKES
Inspired by peach cobbler, these cupcakes feature tender peach filling and a crumble baked on top for that beloved crisp texture. Paired with vanilla bean ice cream or enjoyed on their own, they capture the warm, comforting flavors of peach desserts year-round—frozen peaches work great when fresh aren’t available.
THE PEACH CRISP CUPCAKE RECIPE IS IN THE CAKE CONFIDENCE COOKBOOK.
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With pie season beginning again, I’ll likely add more pie-inspired cakes to this list.
If you make any of these recipes, I’d love to see your creations—tag @bakingwithblondie or use #bakingwithblondie on Instagram.
xo,
Happy Baking!
Mandy