Best autumn cake ideas

Plum Cake with Sloe Gin Recipe

Use apples, pears, quince and more to make our seasonal cakes for cosy autumn afternoons, then get planning for winter and beyond

Autumn cake ideas

Pear cake

Put autumnal pears at the heart of this indulgent cake. To get the nutty flavour you need to cook the butter until the milk solids turn golden, then cool and cream with the sugar as in a standard cake method. It takes a bit longer but is worth it for the flavour.

Toffee apple cake

This autumnal cake is a celebration of cold, crisp bonfire evenings and brisk walks through the leaves. Drizzle extra toffee or caramel sauce for a more indulgent tea time treat.

Blackberry cake

Blackberries are at their prime in the autumnal months of September and October. Make these sweet berries the star of this pretty cake with fresh fruit baked into the sponge and a vibrant coulis drizzled over freshly whipped cream.

Sloe gin cake

Autumn is the time to gather sloe berries to ensure they’re super ripe. Make your own sloe gin and combine with dark purple plums to create this boozy autumnal bake.

Plum and earl grey pound cake

This plum and earl grey pound cake makes for the perfect afternoon treat with a cup of tea (earl grey, naturally). It’s an easy recipe to make but it looks really good and tastes even better.

Quince cake

Quince and honey is a great autumnal flavour combination. Try them together in this recipe for an easy bake that looks really impressive.

Apple upside down cake

Turning a cake into something even more special is easy when you make it upside down. Sticky apple slices and a hint of star anise in this recipe will make an easy dinner-party dessert or the best family pud for autumn.

Winter cake ideas

Clementine layer cake

This is a festive spin on a classic victoria sponge – instead of jam and cream it is layered with a homemade clementine curd (you can use shop-bought if you prefer) and a champagne-spiked cream. Try more festive cake recipes here.

Blood orange polenta drizzle cake

Change up the classic lemon drizzle with juicy blood oranges. Our polenta cake is easy to make and the ideal sweet treat to accompany your morning coffee.

Grapefruit angel cake

Use red and pink grapefruit in this citrusy winter cake. The grapefruit and poppy seeds angel cake with white chocolate frosting is a great twist on a classic and looks stunning. You’ll need an angel cake tin for this as the cake won’t rise properly in a conventional tin.

Passion fruit layer cake

An easy-to-make springy sponge cake layered with the tangy, fresh-tasting sweetness of a passion fruit icing. This cake would make a lovely afternoon tea treat.

Double lemon, gin and tonic cake

Plenty of citrusy lemons go into this boozy bake, making it a great winter treat. It’s easy to make and sure to please a crowd – a new way to enjoy your G&T.

Banana and passion fruit loaf

This banana and passion fruit loaf is a great way to use up bananas, plus it’s easy and looks impressive. Bananas are in season all year round, and passion fruit is at its best during the winter months.

Spring cake ideas

Rhubarb pound cake

This recipe for rhubarb pound cake is guaranteed to please. Rhubarb not only tastes delicious but looks beautiful and as well. We’ve hidden white chocolate chips in the middle, too, for an extra treat.

Pineapple upside down cake

Go retro with this recipe for pineapple upside-down cake. By roasting the pineapple before baking you lose some of the water and get a neater-looking cake