Sweet Potato Pound Cake

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I love baking with sweet potatoes—I’ve made Sweet Potato Bread, Sweet Potato Biscuits, Loaded Sweet Potato Muffins, and Sweet Potato Cinnamon Cake… so I thought it was about time to try a sweet potato pound cake! I found a recipe that I tweaked a little, using some brown sugar along with granulated sugar in the batter, and adding a little more cinnamon and nutmeg, plus some chopped pecans.

Having a slice of this cake is like having a little slice of sweet potato heaven! It’s rich and moist, and I really like the cinnamon-nutmeg flavors in this. The glaze on top is great, too, giving the cake a light orangey sweetness. It’s a perfect dessert for enjoying with a cup of coffee or tea during the fall and holiday seasons!

Sweet Potato Pound Cake

Servings: 12
Time: 1hr 30mins
Difficulty: easy
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SWEET POTATO POUND CAKE by NancyC, adapted from Taste of Home

Makes 12 servings

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar, well-packed
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 cups cold mashed sweet potatoes (if using canned, you’ll need a 40-ounce can)
1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped (optional)

ORANGE GLAZE

1 1/2 cups confectioners’ (powdered) sugar
3 Tablespoons orange juice
1 heaping Tablespoon of chopped pecans, for garnish

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg; add to the creamed mixture in the large bowl alternately with the mashed sweet potatoes. Then fold in the pecans and mix just until combined (batter will be stiff).

Pour into a greased and floured 10-inch bundt pan. Bake at 350˚F for 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

While cake is cooling, mix the glaze in a small bowl. Combine the confectioners’ sugar, orange peel, and orange juice, blending well. When cake is cool, drizzle glaze over cake and top with additional chopped pecans, if desired.

Recipe from NancyC | nancy-c.com

Do you like baking with sweet potatoes? What’s your favorite sweet potato dessert?

Sharing at Mix it Up Monday, Silver Pennies Sundays, Inspire Me Monday, Weekend Potluck, Meal Plan Monday, Fiesta Friday, Thursday Favorite Things, Full Plate Thursday, Wonderful Wednesday, Hearth and Soul, Happiness is Homemade, Meal Plan Monday.

50 thoughts on “Sweet Potato Pound Cake”

Darya April 29, 2014 at 9:31

Oh this looks so delicious. I love sweet potatoes, and never think of using them for anything… sweet! Thanks for the inspiration.

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1. nancyc Post authorApril 29, 2014 at 1:03
  
  You’re welcome! I love sweet potatoes, too! 🙂
  
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eclecticoddsnsods April 29, 2014 at 9:41

wow you do surprise me every time! work of art

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1. nancyc Post authorApril 29, 2014 at 1:03
  
  Thank you! 🙂
  
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Sweet and Savoury Pursuits April 29, 2014 at 10:56

That cake looks beautiful, I was just thinking that I should bake something using sweet potatoes. Now I have a recipe I can use!

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1. nancyc Post authorApril 29, 2014 at 1:02
  
  Thanks so much, and hope you like the cake! 🙂
  
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strictlydelicious April 29, 2014 at 11:10

Oh my goodness. My family loves pound cake, but we’ve certainly never tried it this way before! I love the idea to incorporate sweet potato into the cake batter! And that glaze…. whew!

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1. nancyc Post authorApril 29, 2014 at 1:04
  
  I love pound cake, too, and the sweet potatoes in this make it so good and moist!
  
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Nancy April 29, 2014 at 12:13

Looks delicious, Nancy. I’ve never had a sweet potato cake [only pies]. The orange glaze seems to be the perfect finishing touch…great compliment to the sweet potato flavor! Very nice. 🙂

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1. nancyc Post authorApril 29, 2014 at 1:05
  
  Thanks, Nancy! 🙂
  
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Lisa April 29, 2014 at 1:41

Beautiful!

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cristinavintu April 29, 2014 at 2:57

iamyyyy…..looks so delicious!!….I love sweet potato…well done Nancy :*

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1. nancyc Post authorApril 29, 2014 at 7:11
  
  Thanks, Cristina! 🙂
  
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randle April 29, 2014 at 3:50

This looks so delicious! I love cooking sweet potatoes instead of pumpkin. Can’t wait to try this pound cake. 🙂

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1. nancyc Post authorApril 29, 2014 at 7:14
  
  Yes, I love baking things with sweet potatoes! Hope you like this cake! 🙂
  
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tableofcolors April 29, 2014 at 4:17

Oh, goodness! This cake looks wonderful. And I have a large sweet potato in my fridge…and I was planning that tomorrow is a baking day! Thanks for the recipe…I will be trying it in the morning, if my baby lets me. 🙂

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1. nancyc Post authorApril 29, 2014 at 7:15
  
  It’s nice when you have the ingredients on hand, isn’t it? Hope you enjoy the cake! 🙂
  
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Jess April 29, 2014 at 7:04

Nancy this cake looks divine! And as to your question, I’ve made both Sweet Potato Bread and Biscuits- both were delicious 🙂

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1. nancyc Post authorApril 29, 2014 at 7:19
  
  Sounds like you are a big sweet potato fan like I am, Jess! 🙂
  
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Trisha April 29, 2014 at 8:53

Yummy! I love sweet potatoes so I will definitely have to give this a try!

~Trisha

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1. nancyc Post authorApril 29, 2014 at 9:33
  
  Enjoy the cake, Trisha! 🙂
  
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Sylvia @superfoodista.com April 29, 2014 at 9:38

I love this! Sweet potato is so fantastic for baking! I made little cakes with them before, soooo good! 😉 Thanks for sharing your cake looks just fabulous!

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1. nancyc Post authorApril 29, 2014 at 10:21
  
  Thanks, Sylvia! Hope you enjoy the cake! 🙂
  
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Sherry April 29, 2014 at 10:15

Oh, that looks delicious! I love the humble sweet potato!
Sherry

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Patty Nguyen April 29, 2014 at 11:01

Sweet potatoes are so tasty! I know it’s spring, but this would be a great addition to my Thanksgiving dinner spread! My mom is a picky eater so I’m always on the lookout for recipes she would enjoy. 🙂

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1. nancyc Post authorApril 30, 2014 at 1:02
  
  You’re right, Patty–this would be a great dessert for Thanksgiving! I actually first thought about making this last autumn, but I never got around to it–too many recipes to try and so little time! 🙂
  
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  1. Patty Nguyen April 30, 2014 at 3:11
    
    I feel your pain. I, too, have a sweet potato cake I’ve been sitting on since the fall!
    
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lapetitecasserole April 30, 2014 at 4:34

I’ve tried to make a cake with potatoes once, it was really good and really funny prepare a cake boiling potatoes… I bet that this version with sweet potatoes is 10 times better! thanks a lot Nancy for sharing it!

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1. nancyc Post authorApril 30, 2014 at 7:54
  
  You’re welcome, and hope you get a chance to try it! 🙂
  
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MyKabulKitchen May 1, 2014 at 8:52

I love sweet potato BUT never thought to bake with it, what a great idea looks delicious 🙂

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1. nancyc Post authorMay 1, 2014 at 8:58
  
  Since you love sweet potatoes, you’ll definitely need to try this out! 🙂
  
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plutrell May 4, 2014 at 2:12

Sounds delicious…I never would have thought to use sweet potatoes in a pound cake. I just might give this a try! Thanks for sharing on the Thursday Blog Hop!!

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1. nancyc Post authorMay 4, 2014 at 2:23
  
  You’re welcome, and enjoy the cake! 🙂
  
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createwithjoy May 11, 2014 at 5:26

This is scrumptious!
Congratulations – you are one of my featured guests, Nancy, at this week’s Inspire Me Monday at Create With Joy! 🙂

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1. nancyc Post authorMay 11, 2014 at 5:37
  
  Thanks so much! I just now saw your post! 🙂
  
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tableofcolors May 15, 2014 at 4:53

Hi Nancy, I tried out your cake and it turned out perfect. I also included your recipe in a blog post. Thank you for the inspiration.

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1. nancyc Post authorMay 15, 2014 at 6:35
  
  You’re welcome, and glad you liked the cake! Yes, it would be a wonderful cake for Thanksgiving time!
  
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Traditionally Modern Food May 21, 2014 at 4:47

Set potato cake yum yum:)

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April J Harris November 7, 2018 at 7:32

I’ve make sweet potato quick bread but I’ve never used this veggie in a pound cake. Your cake looks beautiful! Sharing tomorrow on the H&S Facebook page. Thank you for sharing, and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Hope you are having a lovely week!

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1. nancyc Post authorNovember 7, 2018 at 8:24
  
  Thanks so much for sharing this on your Facebook page, April! Hope you are having a great week too! 🙂
  
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Karren Haller October 21, 2019 at 10:19

Thank you for sharing on #omhgww, I have Pinned to share, it looks amazing!!!

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1. nancyc Post authorOctober 22, 2019 at 7:09
  
  Thanks so much for Pinning, Karren! 🙂
  
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Clearissa Coward October 23, 2019 at 2:15

I make a mean sweet potato pie but now I get to make the cake. Thank you for sharing with #omhgww.

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1. nancyc Post authorOctober 23, 2019 at 7:50
  
  Hope you enjoy the cake Clearissa! 🙂
  
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Miz Helen October 29, 2019 at 9:11

Your Sweet Potato Pound Cake is perfect for the season! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday.
Miz Helen

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1. nancyc Post authorOctober 30, 2019 at 8:09
  
  Thanks and hope you are having a great week too! 🙂
  
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createwithjoy November 4, 2019 at 2:28

Congrats Nancy on being featured at Inspire Me Monday at Create With Joy – this cake is amazing! 🙂

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1. nancyc Post authorNovember 4, 2019 at 7:59
  
  Thank you SO much for featuring this! 🙂
  
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