Southern Sweet Potato Cake

Description

Perfect for the holidays! This Southern-inspired recipe has a mild sweet potato flavor that is complemented nicely with an orange zest-allspice buttercream.

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup shortening
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 5 eggs
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon grated orange zest
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Combine shortening
  2. vegetable oil
  3. and flour in a bowl; mix very well. Brush two 9×9-inch cake pans with the mixture. Reserve remaining mixture for future baking.
  4. Beat sugar
  5. eggs
  6. oil
  7. and vanilla extract together in a large bowl.
  8. Mix flour
  9. baking powder
  10. baking soda
  11. cinnamon
  12. pumpkin pie spice
  13. and salt together in a separate bowl. Add to the sugar mixture gradually
  14. mixing constantly to prevent lumps. Stir in sweet potatoes. Fold in chopped pecans. Divide batter between the prepared pans.
  15. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean
  16. 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool in the pans for 15 minutes
  17. then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely
  18. about 1 hour.
  19. Make the frosting while cakes are cooling. Combine confectioners’ sugar
  20. cream cheese
  21. butter
  22. vanilla extract
  23. orange zest
  24. and allspice in a medium bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy.
  25. 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.

Prep Time: 30 mins

Cook Time: 40 mins

Total Time: 2 hrs 25 mins

Servings: 16

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