Sweet Potato Layer Cake Food

SWEET POTATO LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat oil and sugar. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the sweet potato, water and vanilla. , In a small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff; fold into the sweet potato mixture. Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; add to potato mixture and mix well. Stir in pecans. Pour into three greased and lightly floured 9-in. round baking pans. , Bake at 350° for 22-27 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks. , For frosting, in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, whisk the sugar, milk and eggs yolks until smooth. Add butter; cook, whisking constantly, until mixture is thickened and coats the back of a metal spoon, about 10-12 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in the coconut, pecans and vanilla. Transfer to a small bowl; cool for 10 minutes. , Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with a third of the frosting. Repeat layers.

SWEET POTATO LAYER CAKE WITH SPICED PECAN BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Make Spiced Pecans: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast them for 10 minutes, until fragrant. Meanwhile, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl, using your fingers to mix everything thoroughly. Stir in the melted butter to make a paste. Add the toasted pecans to the mixture and stir to coat, then spread them evenly on the baking sheet and return to the oven for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven, drizzle over the rum, and bake for 8 more minutes, stirring once. Remove from the oven, cool completely and leave the oven on. When cool, chop the pecans into medium-fine pieces, some larger than others, and set aside.
• Meanwhile, pierce the sweet potatoes with a fork. Microwave on high until very tender, about 8 minutes per side. Cool, peel, and mash the sweet potatoes with a potato masher or fork.
• Lower oven temperature to 325 degrees F. Spray 2 (8-inch) round cake pans with nonstick baking spray and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs and sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy, 4 minutes. Add the canola oil; beat on medium until combined. Add the mashed sweet potatoes and mix until combined. Sift together cake flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger and then mix the dry ingredients into the sweet potato mixture. Mix in vanilla and rum. Fold in 1 1/4 cups of the chopped Spiced Pecans by hand. Evenly distribute cake batter into the prepared pans, and transfer to the oven. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let pans cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto rack; cool completely.
• Make the buttercream while the cake is baking: Beat the egg yolks in the clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high until very thick, about 5 minutes. Combine the sugar with the syrup in a small saucepan, and set over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until the mixture comes to a full boil. Immediately scrape the mixture into a heatproof 1-cup glass measure. With the mixer on high speed, pour a few tablespoons of the sugar mixture into the yolks and beat for a few seconds. Repeat until all of the syrup has been added. Beat until the bowl has cooled to room temperature. On medium speed, add the butter, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating well after each addition. The frosting will begin to come together after all of the butter has been incorporated (it will look curdled first, but be patient and it will come together beautifully!). Scrape the bowl and beat in the vanilla and salt. Mix in 3/4 cup chopped Spiced Pecans.
• Cut each cooled cake layer in half horizontally, creating 4 layers. Set 1 layer, cut side up, on a cake round or cake plate and spread a thin layer of frosting on the surface. Stack next layer on top, and frost. Repeat frosting-and-stacking process until each layer is frosted. Spread remaining frosting on sides and top of cake. Arrange remaining Spiced Pecans decoratively on top of cake. Chill for 1 hour or serve immediately if you can't wait!
• A viewer, who may not be a professional cook, provided this recipe. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe and therefore, we cannot make representation as to the results.

SWEET POTATO LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat then oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease two 8-inch cake pans. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Add sweet-potato puree, water, oil, vinegar, and vanilla and whisk well to form a smooth batter.
• Evenly divide the batter between prepared cake pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow cakes to cool for 15 minutes in the pans, then remove and allow them to cool completely before frosting.
• For the frosting, beat margarine with an electric mixer for 30 seconds in a large bowl. With the beaters going, slowly add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla and beat for 2 to 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape down teh sides of the bowl and beat an additional 30 seconds. For the filling, transfer one-third of the frosting to a small bowl, add 1/4 cup each of the coconut and pecans and stir well to combine.
• To assemble the cake, place one layer on a serving platter. Spread the filling evenly on top of the first layer. Place the remaining layer on the first. Frost the sides and top of the cake with frosting and then sprinkle the remaining coconut and pecans over the top.

SOUTHERN SWEET POTATO CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Combine shortening, vegetable oil, and flour in a bowl; mix very well. Brush two 9x9-inch cake pans with the mixture. Reserve remaining mixture for future baking.
• Beat sugar, eggs, oil, and vanilla extract together in a large bowl.
• Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt together in a separate bowl. Add to the sugar mixture gradually, mixing constantly to prevent lumps. Stir in sweet potatoes. Fold in chopped pecans. Divide batter between the prepared pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool in the pans for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Make the frosting while cakes are cooling. Combine confectioners' sugar, cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, orange zest, and allspice in a medium bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy.
• Place 1 cooled cake layer on a serving plate. Cover with frosting. Add second cake layer. Frost the top and sides. Sprinkle pecans on top.

SWEET-POTATO LAYER CAKE WITH ORANGE-CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Pierce potatoes with fork; place on small baking sheet. Roast potatoes until soft, about 1 hour. Cool, peel, and mash potatoes. Measure 2 cups mashed potatoes; cool to lukewarm (reserve any remaining potatoes for another use). Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.
• Butter and flour two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides; line pans with parchment. Sift flour and next 6 ingredients into medium bowl. Combine oil, 1 cup sugar, and brown sugar in large bowl; whisk until smooth. Whisk in eggs 1 at a time, then mashed sweet potatoes. Whisk in flour mixture in 3 additions. Stir in 2/3 cup walnuts and 2/3 cup cranberries. Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool cakes completely in pans on racks.
• For frosting:
• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in powdered sugar, scraping down bowl often. Beat in orange juice concentrate and vanilla.
• Cut around pan sides; turn out cakes. Peel off parchment. Place 1 cake layer, flat side up, on platter. Spread 3/4 cup frosting over. Top with second cake layer, flat side down. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Combine orange peel, 3 tablespoons sugar, remaining 1/4 cup walnuts, and 1/4 cup cranberries in small bowl. Stir to coat with sugar. Transfer to sieve; sift off excess sugar. Sprinkle fruit and nut mixture decoratively atop cake. Chill until frosting sets, at least 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome; keep chilled. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.)

SWEET POTATO SHEET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease and lightly flour 2 sheet cake pans.
• Mix flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves together in a large bowl.
• Beat sugar and sweet potatoes in a bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add eggs, oil, and orange juice; beat until well combined.
• Pour flour mixture into potato mixture and beat for 4 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl twice. Pour batter into prepared sheet cake pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 60 to 90 minutes.

PECAN SWEET POTATO CAKE

Steps:

• Cake: set an oven rack in the middle of the oven; preheat oven to 350°; butter three 8-inch round cake pans; line them with parchment or wax paper cut to fit; then butter the paper; dust all over with fine dry bread crumbs, invert the pans over paper and tap gently to shake out excess; set aside.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, ginger, and nutmeg; set aside.
• In a big bowl of an electric mixer, beat the sugar and oil just to mix.
• Add in egg yolks; beat to mix.
• On low speed, add the sifted dry ingredients in three additions alternating with the boiling water and vanilla in two additions; remove the bowl from the mixer and set aside.
• Note: to prepare the potatoes-peel them and then grate them on the fine grater of a food processor or with a hand-held grater set over a piece of foil; use the side of the grater that has small, round-not diamond-shaped-openings; measure 2 cups tightly packed.
• Stir the potatoes and then the pecans into the batter.
• In a small bowl of an electric mixer (with clean beaters), beat the whites until they hold a straight shape when the beaters are raised, but are not stiff or dry.
• Without being too thorough, fold about one-third of the whites into the batter, then fold in the remaining whites, handling as little as necessary until just incorporated.
• Divide the batter among the prepared pans and smooth the tops.
• Bake the three pans on the same oven rack for 30-35 minutes, until the cakes barely begin to come away from the sides of the pan (these layers might not spring back when pressed with a fingertip, even though they will be done).
• Cool in the pans for 2-3 minutes; then cover each pan with a rack, turn the pan and rack over, remove the pan and paper lining, cover with another rack, and turn over again, leaving the layers right side up to cool.
• When you are ready to ice the cake, place four 12x4 inch strips of parchment or wax paper in a square pattern around the sides of a large cake plate; place one layer on the plate.
• Stir the apricot preserves in a small saucepan over medium heat to melt.
• Then press through a strainer; with a teaspoon or pastry brush, spread the first cake layer with 1/3 of the preserves; reserve the remaining preserves.
• Icing: add the sugar, cream of tartar, and water in a 6-cup saucepan; with a wooden spoon stir over medium heat until the mixture begins to boil.
• Cover airtight and let boil 3 minutes (this keeps the steam in the pot and dissolves any sugar crystals that cling to the sides).
• Uncover and insert a candy thermometer; increase heat to high and let boil, without stirring, until the thermometer registers 242°.
• Shortly before the sugar syrup is done (or when the thermometer registers about 236°--soft ball stage), add the salt to the egg whites in the large bowl of an electric mixer and beat until the whites are stiff (if the sugar syrup is not ready, turn the beater to lowest speed and let it beat slowly until the syrup is ready; or you can let the whites stand, but no longer than necessary).
• When the syrup reaches 242°, turn the mixer to high speed and gradually add the syrup in a thin stream (it may be easiest if you pour the syrup into a pitcher and add it from the pitcher).
• Then continue to beat at high speed, scraping the bowl occasionally with a rubber spatula, for about 5 minutes or until the icing is quite thick and stiff (if necessary, beat some more; the icing may still be warm when it is used).
• Add the vanilla and almond extract a minute or two before the icing is stiff enough.
• Spread the first cake layer with icing about ½ inch thick.
• Place the second layer over it and spread with 1/3 of melted apricot preserves, and then cover it with a layer of icing about ½ inch thick.
• Cover with the third cake layer and the remaining preserves.
• Now, it is best to ice the sides first; use a long, narrow metal spatula to ice the sides, thinly at first, and then build it up until it is about ½ inch thick, or thicker.
• Smooth the sides; use the remaining icing on the top; spread it smooth.
• After the sides and the top are smooth and even, then, with the back of a teaspoon or with the spatula, form swirls and peaks evenly on the top of the cake.
• To coat the sides with the coconut, first spread out the coconut the length of a foil or wax paper next to the cake plate.
• Take a handful of the coconut in the palm of your hand and turn your hand to place the coconut on the sides of the cake, starting at the top and working your way down.
• When much of the coconut falls onto the plate, remove it with your fingers and replace it either on the cake or on the pile of coconut on the paper.
• Then, use a long, narrow metal spatula to pick up the coconut that has fallen to the plate and return it onto the sides of the cake.
• Finally, fold the paper strips around the bottom up against the cake, and the coconut that has fallen to the strip will stick to the base of the cake; last, sprinkle all the remaining coconut over the top.
• Remove the paper strips by pulling each one slowly and gently toward a narrow end.
• Since the cake is so high, use a long-bladed knife to cut it and dinner plates to serve it on.

CITRUS-KISSED SWEET POTATO CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Line bottoms of 2 greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease paper., In a large bowl, beat sugar, oil, eggs and orange zest until well blended. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, pie spice and salt; gradually beat into sugar mixture. Stir in sweet potatoes., Transfer to prepared pans. Bake 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove paper. Cool completely., For frosting, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until blended. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar, orange zest, lemon juice and extract until smooth. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Decorate with orange peel. Refrigerate leftovers.