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This Sweet Potato Cake is infused with bourbon and all topped off with a maple frosting. A tasty dessert to bring to any of your family gatherings.
When I say that this cake is beyond words, I am not exaggerating – it is that good! Everything just works together and is absolutely amazing.
I know some people view sweet potatoes as a savory dish but trust me when I say baking with sweet potatoes is one of my favorite things ever.
This Sweet Potato Cake is regularly on our baking rotation in the fall, obviously since it has bourbon in it, we keep it to the adults-only, even though the alcohol cooks out when baking, it does not cook out fully.
The bourbon really does enhance the flavor of this cake, and paired with the maple, you have a combination that is made in heaven.
If you love sweet potatoes and cakes, then I highly suggest that you make this Sweet Potato Cake. Trust me, you will not regret it.
Some of my other favorite cake recipes that we have on our site include: Homemade Caramel Cake, Angel Food Cake and Carrot Cake Loaf.
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
- Perfect for parties and gatherings.
- The alcohol is optional but highly recommended.
- Make a large batch.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED (FULL RECIPE BELOW):
All-purpose flour
Baking powder
Pumpkin pie spice
Light brown sugar
Salted butter
Eggs
Mashed sweet potato
Vanilla extract
Milk
Bourbon
Unsalted butter
Powdered sugar
Heavy cream
Maple extract
Caramel sauce to serve
HOW TO MAKE A SWEET POTATO CAKE:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with baking spray, set aside.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and pumpkin spice, set aside.
- In the body of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the brown sugar and butter until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing in the first one fully before adding the next one.
- Mix in the mashed sweet potato and vanilla.
- Add ⅓ of the flour mixture, stir to combine. Add half of the milk, and mix it in. Repeat with ⅓ of the flour and the remaining milk. Add the last ⅓ of the flour, mix it in, then mix in the bourbon, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Smooth the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.
- While the cake cools, make the frosting. In the body of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, add the butter and mix with the powdered sugar a little at a time until fully mixed in.
- Add the heavy cream and maple extract, stir to combine. Turn the speed up to medium-high and whip for 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Once the cake is cool, add the frosting. Cut and serve with caramel sauce.
DO I HAVE TO USE THE CARAMEL SAUCE?
No, this is optional, but it really gives this cake a nice sweet balance and brings out the flavors. We highly recommend it drizzled over each slice.
CAN I ADD ANY ADDITIONS TO THE CAKE?
If you want to add some extras into your batter, you can, some of my suggestions include: chopped nuts, butterscotch chips, and cinnamon chips.
If you want to add more to the top, you can switch up the sauces to a butterscotch, vanilla sauce, or just simple whipped cream.
CAN I MAKE THIS NON-ALCOHOLIC?
Absolutely, if you want to make this more kid-friendly or just are not a fan of alcohol (or bourbon) in your desserts, you can replace the amount of bourbon with the same amount of milk.
HOW TO STORE:
This can be stored in an airtight container where it will keep on the countertop for up to 3 days and in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
You can also freeze this cake. Place the cake pan, covered with plastic wrap and then foil, in the freezer, and it will keep for up to 3 months.
To defrost, remove from the freezer into the refrigerator or countertop until thawed.
TIPS AND TRICKS:
- You can make this non-alcoholic, replace the bourbon with milk.
- The caramel sauce is amazing on this, but completely optional.
- Other frostings can be used, cream cheese, regular vanilla buttercream, a cinnamon buttercream, etc.
- You can add additions to the cake batter, see above for some suggestions.
- This can be frozen, see above on how to do that.
Are you looking for that perfect holiday dessert that is unique but super flavorful? Then you have to give this Sweet Potato Cake a try.
If you like this recipe you might also like:
If you’ve tried this SWEET POTATO CAKE or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and what shenanigans I’m getting into!
Sweet Potato Cake
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 ½ cups light brown sugar packed
- ⅓ cup salted butter softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup mashed sweet potato
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup milk
- ⅓ cup bourbon
For the maple frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons maple extract
- Caramel sauce to serve
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with baking spray, set aside.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and pumpkin spice, set aside.
- In the body of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the brown sugar and butter until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing in the first one fully before adding the next one.
- Mix in the mashed sweet potato and vanilla.
- Add ⅓ of the flour mixture, stir to combine. Add half of the milk, and mix it in. Repeat with ⅓ of the flour and the remaining milk. Add the last ⅓ of the flour, mix it in, then mix in the bourbon, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Smooth the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.
- While the cake cools, make the frosting. In the body of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, add the butter and mix with the powdered sugar a little at a time until fully mixed in.
- Add the heavy cream and maple extract, stir to combine. Turn the speed up to medium-high and whip for 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Once the cake is cool, add the frosting. Cut and serve with caramel sauce.
Notes
- You can make this non-alcoholic, replace the bourbon with milk.
- The caramel sauce is amazing on this, but completely optional.
- Other frostings can be used, cream cheese, regular vanilla buttercream, a cinnamon buttercream, etc.
- You can add additions to the cake batter, see above for some suggestions.
- This can be frozen, see above on how to do that.
Nutrition
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