SOUTHERN SWEET POTATO CAKE

Southern Sweet Potato Cake image

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

Provided by RheyganD

Time 2h25m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 22

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

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 728.2 calories, Carbohydrate 83.8 g, Cholesterol 81.8 mg, Fat 42.4 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 6.9 g, SaturatedFat 11.5 g, Sodium 419.6 mg, Sugar 59.2 g