Indulge your senses with a delectable creation that transcends the ordinary – Sweet Potato Spice Cake. This moist and flavorful treat is a harmonious blend of warm spices like cinnamon and ginger, perfectly complemented by the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes. Whether it’s a cozy autumn evening or a sunny summer day, this cake recipe from Louisiana Cookin is a versatile delight for every season. Follow along as we guide you through the steps of creating this heavenly dessert, complete with a luscious Browned Butter Frosting and a delightful garnish of chopped toasted walnuts.
Sweet Potato Spice Cake Ingredients:
- 1¼ pounds sweet potatoes, thoroughly rinsed
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup whole buttermilk
- ½ cup softened unsalted butter
- 1⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Garnish: chopped toasted walnuts
Browned Butter Frosting Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup softened unsalted butter
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tablespoon cane syrup
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions:
- Begin by preheating your oven to 425°F and lining a rimmed baking sheet with foil for easy clean-up.
- Pierce the sweet potatoes all over with a fork and place them on the prepared pan. Bake until fork-tender, approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Once done, let them cool enough to handle, then peel and discard the skins. Mash the flesh with a potato masher, reserving 1½ cups for the cake. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F.
- Spray a 9-inch round cake pan with baking spray that includes flour. In a large bowl, use a mixer to beat the softened butter and sugars at medium speed until fluffy, taking about 3 to 4 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla until combined.
- In a separate medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and pepper. Gradually add this flour mixture to the butter mixture alternately with the buttermilk, starting and ending with the flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until combined after each addition. Stir in the reserved 1½ cups of sweet potato until well combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, which should take about 35 to 40 minutes. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove it and let it cool completely on a wire rack.
- Once cooled, place the cake on a cake plate and generously spread the Browned Butter Frosting on top. For an extra touch of decadence, garnish with chopped toasted walnuts.
- For the Browned Butter Frosting, in a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir occasionally and let it cook until the butter turns a medium-brown color, emitting a delightful nutty aroma. This process usually takes about 10 minutes. Remove it from the heat and allow it to cool completely.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the browned butter, confectioners’ sugar, cream, cane syrup, and salt at low speed until well combined, which should take about 2 to 3 minutes. Increase the mixer speed to medium and continue beating until the frosting becomes fluffy, about 2 more minutes.
Indulge in the rich, comforting flavors of Sweet Potato Spice Cake, a delightful dessert that transcends seasons. With the warmth of cinnamon and ginger dancing on your taste buds and the sweet embrace of mashed sweet potatoes, this cake is a celebration of taste and texture. Top it off with the velvety Browned Butter Frosting and a sprinkle of toasted walnuts for a truly divine experience.
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