Sweet Potato Layer Cake With Spiced Pecan Buttercream

Serves: 2

Santos Walker

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

49

Spice

65

Sweetness

55

Sourness

47

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.8

Difficulty

Ingredients:

2.5 cups

Pecan Halve

4 large

Egg

3 cup

Sugar

1 cup

Canola Oil

2 cups

Cake Flour

2 tsps

Baking Powder

1 tsp

Salt

3 tbsps

Rum

6 large

Egg Yolk

Directions:

1

Make Spiced Pecans: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

2

Place the pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast them for 10 minutes, until fragrant

3

Meanwhile, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl, using your fingers to mix everything thoroughly

4

Stir in the melted butter to make a paste

5

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

6

Remove from the oven, drizzle over the rum, and bake for 8 more minutes, stirring once

7

Remove from the oven, cool completely and leave the oven on

8

When cool, chop the pecans into medium-fine pieces, some larger than others, and set aside

9

Meanwhile, pierce the sweet potatoes with a fork

10

Microwave on high until very tender, about 8 minutes per side

11

Cool, peel, and mash the sweet potatoes with a potato masher or fork

12

Lower oven temperature to 325 degrees F

13

Spray 2 (8-inch) round cake pans with nonstick baking spray and set aside

14

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

15

Add the canola oil; beat on medium until combined

16

Add the mashed sweet potatoes and mix until combined

17

Sift together cake flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger and then mix the dry ingredients into the sweet potato mixture

18

Mix in vanilla and rum

19

Fold in 1 1/4 cups of the chopped Spiced Pecans by hand

20

Evenly distribute cake batter into the prepared pans, and transfer to the oven

21

Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes

22

Let pans cool on a wire rack 10 minutes

23

Invert cakes onto rack; cool completely

24

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

25

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

26

Immediately scrape the mixture into a heatproof 1-cup glass measure

27

With the mixer on high speed, pour a few tablespoons of the sugar mixture into the yolks and beat for a few seconds

28

Repeat until all of the syrup has been added

29

Beat until the bowl has cooled to room temperature

30

On medium speed, add the butter, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating well after each addition

31

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!)

32

Scrape the bowl and beat in the vanilla and salt

33

Mix in 3/4 cup chopped Spiced Pecans

34

Cut each cooled cake layer in half horizontally, creating 4 layers

35

Set 1 layer, cut side up, on a cake round or cake plate and spread a thin layer of frosting on the surface

36

Stack next layer on top, and frost

37

Repeat frosting-and-stacking process until each layer is frosted

38

Spread remaining frosting on sides and top of cake

39

Arrange remaining Spiced Pecans decoratively on top of cake

40

Chill for 1 hour or serve immediately if you can't wait! A viewer, who may not be a professional cook, provided this recipe

41

The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe and therefore, we cannot make representation as to the results