What are the best cakes to serve on Thanksgiving?

Pie and Thanksgiving go hand in hand. Practically every table this holiday will have at least one pumpkin pie on it, more if Aunt Betty didn’t get the email and made her special “Pumpkin Pie in the Sky” pie no one can stand. Apple and pecan will also be incredibly popular with the dessert crowd.

But believe it or not, rumor has it some people actually don’t enjoy eating a slice of pie. We know, we don’t understand it either, but it’s apparently true.

Which is why many families offer other choices than just the tradition pie options. We recently talked about the fact that cookies have begun to become more and more popular on Thanksgiving because, well, cookies. And word on the foodie grapevine is that you can add cakes to that list as well.

While cake is mostly associated with birthdays, weddings and special occasions, it can be a perfect fit on Thanksgiving as well. Mostly because it’s cake and if you know someone who doesn’t like pie or cake, you need to find new friends.

What are the most popular cakes to serve on Thanksgiving?

So exactly what kind of cake should you make this Thanksgiving? Glad you asked. Because there are a lot of options to choose from and recipes to work with.

First, and most obviously, there are lots of apple cakes you can go with. From the simplicity of an Apple Pie Cake or an Apple Spice Cake to something more complex such as a Cranberry and Apple Cake or an Apple Spiced Walnut Cake, anything with apple will work fine.

The same can be said for pumpkin. It’s not just for pie anymore and can offer a nice change of pace on Thanksgiving. There are Pumpkin Layer Cakes, Pumpkin Rolls and even Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake.

Feel like thinking a bit outside the box? You can go with a Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, a Meyer Lemon-Cranberry Bundt Cake, or something extravagant like a Chocolate Pecan Pavlova. Or you can go in the other direction and keep it incredibly simple and make a classic Coconut Cake or even a Carrot Cake.

The Bottom line here? Unlike pie, where you traditionally have to stick with variations on pumpkin and apple, with cake the sky is the limit. As long as it’s a flavor you and your guests enjoy, there is a cake that will bring a smile to everyone’s face.

And really, that’s what Thanksgiving is all about.

What do you think Guilty Eats Nation? Will you be having cake or pie this Thanksgiving? Leave a comment below and let us know or join the conversation on our Facebook and Twitter pages. And Happy Thanksgiving!