12 autumn cake ideas

Spiced beetroot cake

Earthy beetroot is perfect during the colder months and it makes sponge cake deliciously moist. This spiced beetroot cake is given an extra autumnal boost by a toffee cream cheese icing – perfect for cold, dark November evenings.

Recipe: Spiced beetroot cake

Blackberry and cinnamon sponge squares

Juicy autumn blackberries top these sweet squares, which have whole fresh blackberries mixed through the cake batter. A tart and tangy mascarpone icing finishes these cakes off beautifully.

Recipe: Blackberry and cinnamon sponge squares

Blackberry and blueberry bundt

This light fruit cake is stuffed with fresh berries and ground almonds, it’s nothing like a traditional dense fruitcake. A drizzle of simple icing, a sprinkling of berries and some flaked almonds make it into an attractive centrepiece.

Recipe: Blackberry and blueberry bundt

Bramley apple and olive oil cake

This fruity apple and sultana cake is made with olive oil instead of butter, and it’s topped with crunchy walnuts. Eat the cake as it is, or serve with apple puree and Wensleydale cheese.

Recipe: Bramley apple and olive oil cake

Halloween cupcakes

October is the perfect time to get a bit silly with your baking, and have some fun decorating – especially if you have young grandchildren due to visit over half term. Mix up some orange icing, buy a selection of sprinkles and icing pens and let them decorate their own spooky cupcakes.

Recipe: Halloween cupcakes

Chocolate and raspberry brownies

If you’re lucky enough to have a bountiful crop of autumn raspberries but you’re a bit over raspberries and cream this late in the season try pairing them with chocolate in these deliciously rich brownies. A dollop of crème fraîche will finish it off nicely.

Recipe: Raspberry and chocolate brownies

Blackberry and chocolate fairy cakes

These cute little chocolate fairy cakes are egg and dairy free, and can be made with gluten-free flour if needs be, so they’re perfect for serving to grandchildren with allergies. The icing is made by mashing fresh blackberries with icing sugar.

Recipe: Blackberry and chocolate fairy cakes

Sticky toffee pudding cupcakes

Sticky toffee pudding and cupcakes combine in these glorious cupcakes with a salted caramel icing that’s perfect for Bonfire Night.

Recipe: Sticky toffee cupcakes

Apple, almond and raspberry energy bars

These little cakey snack bars have virtually no saturated fat but they each contain over 5g of protein. They’re ideal for packing with a flask of tea to head out on an autumn woodland walk.

Recipe: Apple, almond and raspberry energy bars

Beetroot and chocolate cake

Beetroot and chocolate make a classic cake combination, and this cake works equally well as a dessert. Chunks of dark chocolate mixed into the batter give the cake little pockets of oozy, chocolatey goodness.

Recipe: Beetroot and chocolate cake

Carrot and honey cake

Sweet honey and carrot with crunchy coarsely ground hazelnuts and the subtle warmth of cinnamon and cloves makes this a satisfying cake to sit down with at the end of a long day.

Recipe: Carrot and honey cake

Coffee walnut fudge cake

A nutty cake with a little bit of a pick-me-up, what more do you want just after the clocks go back?

Recipe: Coffee and walnut fudge cake

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