Southern Sweet Potato Cake Recipe
This delicious Southern Sweet Potato Cake Recipe is perfect to serve for any occasion.
For years we’ve enjoyed dining at Brick Street Cafe. Not only do they have a lovely, eclectic atmosphere but the menu, particularly the dessert menu is fabulous. The dessert selection alone is worth a visit. It’s like a tour of the South in dessert form! A good plan when dining at Brick Street Cafe is to have a light salad for supper to save up room for cake, because the cake serving size is crazy huge. One of the cakes they are famous for is their Sweet Potato Cake. It’s a lightly spiced cake, similar to carrot cake, but made with sweet potatoes and oh so moist.
I’ve been wanting to recreate the Southern Sweet Potato Cake for a while now, so a few months back I set out to conquer it. A few renditions later and I’ve settled on a cake that we are delighted with. It’s a moist cake with just the right amount of spice to compliment the sweet potato. And yes, there is real sweet potato in this cake about 4-5 of them to be exact. Just to push this Sweet Potato Cake over the top, I then paired it with a fluffy Cinnamon Honey Buttercream Frosting. Sweet potatoes, cinnamon and honey always make a good team, don’t they?
It’s a cake worthy of a special occasion or even just an ordinary day you’d like to make special. I hope you enjoy this cake as much as we have! Happy baking, y’all!
A few Sweet Potato Cake recipe notes:
- I’ve made this cake with and without freezing the cake layers. It is delicious either way but I do think freezing the cake layers (separately) creates a lovely dense and more moist cake. To freeze cake layers, wrap cooled layers (separately) in 2 layers of plastic wrap, then insert each wrapped layer in a ziptop plastic bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Don’t forget to label and date your cake!
- For the mashed sweet potatoes, I used my Quick Baked Potatoes method. It takes 30 minutes! The potato halves can be easily peeled, then mashed. If you’re planning on baked potatoes for supper, bake some sweet potatoes while you’re at it to have on hand for cake making.
- Try my Cinnamon Honey Buttercream Frosting Recipe with this cake for a delectable combo.
Southern Sweet Potato Cake Recipe
Southern Sweet Potato Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups mashed cooked sweet potatoes, cooled (about 4-5 sweet potatoes)
- 1 cup whole buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350-degrees F. Butter and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. Line bottoms with baking parchment and butter the top of those too.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and ginger. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a mixer, beat together butter and sugar on medium-high for 4-5 minutes until creamy, stopping to scrape down bowl at least twice. Gradually add beaten eggs. Beat on medium-high for 1-2 minutes until fluffy, scraping down bowl as needed. Add vanilla and sweet potatoes and beat until smooth, scraping down bowl as needed (scraping down the bowl is important stuff, y’all).
- Add the dry ingredients into the butter mixture in thirds, alternating with buttermilk. Beat on low speed until just incorporated, scraping down bowl as needed.
- Divide batter evenly between pans. Bake at 350-degrees F for 35-45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow to cool in pans for 10 minutes, then invert onto cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
This recipe makes a 2-layer 9-inch cake.Pair this cake with Cinnamon Honey Buttercream Frosting for a delicious combination.
Originally published September 18, 2o15.
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Wow! This cake looks fabulous!
It really is, Medeja! It will be one of our main holiday cakes.
I am excited to try this cake. I stumbled on your site a few weeks ago. Your website name attracted me. Then I saw you were in upstate SC. Now this! I have been browsing websites for a great sweet potato cake that would be like the one at Brick Street Cafe. Who would know better than someone who has actually been there? You have gained a new follower. I’ll post back in a few weeks when I have tried it out. Thanks so much.
So happy to hear you’re a fellow Brick Street Cafe fan, Annie! Let me know how it turns out for you.
Oh my goodness! I just had Brick Street’s version last week, and I got on here today to search for a similar recipe. I am totally trying this ASAP! Thanks!
I hope you enjoy it, Kati!
That’s why I’m trying this recipe. My wife and I love the cake from Brick Street.
I try this recipe and I liked the favor and texture of the cake. The one thing I saw as the cake looked like it was done enough.i baked it the allotted time required I also added 1tsp. Nutmeg would that have affected the baking.
No the nutmeg was not the cause, Betty Crocker cake mix is the difference.
Wow that sounds fantastic! I love sweet potatoes in desserts, this one looks like a perfect use for them 🙂
I am so obsessed with sweet potatoes – this looks perfect!
Me too, Rande! Let me know if you make it and how it turns out. It’s glorious!
I love how thick the icing is on this cake! mmm May have to make this for Thanksgiving! (yes I’m already planning haha)
This will be perfect for Thanksgiving, Angie! It will be making an appearance on our holiday table too. We’ll gobble, gobble it right up!
Do you happen to have the nutritional facts of this cake?
I’m sorry, I do not, Mattie.
I love the sweet potato cake from Brick Strret Cafe. It is the best cake EVER. Can’t wait to try this recipe!
I hope you enjoy it, Sandy!
I just happened to hop onto Pinterest hoping to find a recipe that might halfway resemble Brick Street’s sweet potato cake. I’m in Columbia so it’s a bit of a drive to satisfy that craving. Well ask and you shall receive because here I am! I cannot wait to whip this up tomorrow—this looks perfect!
I hope you enjoy it as much as we have, Jessica!
Do you know if I can can make this banana? And just switch out the sweet potatoes?
I’ve never had a sweet potato flavored cake, but this is the most perfect looking layer cake ever!
This is just beautiful Amy!! Looking forward to treating my family with this soon!
Obviously this cake sounds amazing but I am about dead with that frosting!!
Hi recipe looks delicious but what happened to the frosting ? I’m not familiar . Please help .thanks
The link to the frosting recipe that I like to use with this cake, Cinnamon Honey Buttercream Frosting, is just above the recipe. I will also add the link to the notes section of the recipe.
This is absolutely beautiful! Your frosting skills rock!
You had me at Cinnamon Honey Buttercream. Oh and cake. 😉
I made a sweet potato cake years ago and fell in love. I definitely am going to be trying this one!!
Amy, this is gorgeous. I may have to try this soon.
What a gorgeous cake. I’m going to be dreaming about that frosting!
I’ve never thought that freezing the cake layers would make it more dense and moist. I’ll have to try that next time.
Any suggestions for high altitude adjustments?
I have not tested this cake at a high altitude but I would follow basic recommendations for high altitude baking. Betty Crocker has a great chart with tips here: http://www.bettycrocker.com/how-to/tipslibrary/baking-tips/baking-cooking-high-altitudes
This cake was great. I adjusted the spices, sugar, and butter because I used leftover candy yams from a dinner this weekend. It is so moist. I can only imagine how perfect it would be if I followed your recipe to the T. Just a mom trying to whip up a cake with the quickness and this wowed everyone.
Yay for making your own adjustments! That’s what is so fun about cooking. I’m glad you and your crowd enjoyed it!
Hi Amy, this looks fantastic as I’m looking for a sweet potato-based cake recipe for my granny’s bday! Purple ones are her fav, any chance you’ve tried it with that and any adjustments required?
I have not tried it with that yet, but sounds like something I should try!
I baked this cake twice and neither rose like the one pictured. I bought new baking soda and powder, careful not to over mix, didn’t open the oven while baking, brought everything to room temp etc etc. The the only ingredient I changed was the buttermilk, I used lactose free whole milk and added the vinegar. I froze 3 layers, I’m going to make a 3 layer for Father’s Day. We ate the 4th layer and it’s so moist and delicious. Just can’t figure out were I went wrong. Both cakes were baked on high humidity days, not sure if that would affect the rise.
Hmmm … I’m not really sure what may be the trouble with the rise, Donna. There are always a variety of factors when baking that could change the results. Without testing it with a substitution, I’m not sure if the buttermilk substitution would have something to do with it or not.
Thank you for your quick reply. It’s possible that my sweet potatoes equaled more that 2 1/2 cups. I didn’t really measure. That and baking in the deep south on a rainy summer day might have affected the outcome. Can’t wait to make the buttercream frosting. I don’t even like sweet potatoes and this cake is scrumptious. Thank you for the recipe and the help.
I, too, have been looking for a sweet potato cake like Brick Street Cafe serves. Just this week I found out that DellaVentura in Greer also has a great Sweet potato cake. I then decided I had to find a recipe. I can’t wait to try this one!
Oooh … good to know! I hope you enjoy the recipe, Teresa.
The sweet potato cake served at DellaVenturas is actually made by Brick Street Cafe.
Have all the ingredients for this delicious looking cake! Just wondered if this recipe would work baked in a 13 x 9″ pan or a Bundt pan? Thank you!
I have not baked this in a 13×9 pan yet. I do have friends who have made it multiple times in loaf pans succesfully. I think a 13×9 should work, adjusting the bake time until done.
Your recipe is beautiful! Haha I wish it was the one Brick Street actually used. I used to work there, they just add vanilla pudding and sweet potatoes to Duncan Hines Yellow Cake mix XD This looks amazing.
Hmmm … how interesting!
Hi holly. Are you sure that’s what they did? Sounds too easy for such a big seller. 🙂
I agree, Monica. 🙂
Yeah, actually they make the pie filling which is sweet potatoes, vanilla pudding, heavy cream, etc, but they set some aside and mix it with boxed cake batter. I read an interview with the owner and she said that pie recipe was a family secret from the owner’s husband, but she loves cake so she mixed his pie filling in and voila!
Hey, thank you! I can see that now. And it was Duncan Hines yellow that they mix it with? I’m so trying this as well. Btw, tried this cake here and it was fabulous (thank you Amy!)
Holly, do you know how many cups of sweet potatoes and boxes of vanilla pudding Brick Street used? Can’t wait to try your recipe.
Did they use instant pudding ? Someone told me they use the sweet potato pie filling in the cake wish they would publish a cook book .
Can you use 1 c white and 1 c brown sugar?
I have not tried it like that, but it should work.
Hey! I am also looking for a recipe like Brick Street’s delicious cake. I read somewhere that the owner’s husband has a secret sweet potato pie recipe that his mixes up. Then they add that filling to their coconut cake recipe (minus the coconut). So I tried to do that one year, and it made a delicious cake, but still not quite like theirs, so I want to give this one a whirl for an upcoming bridal shower. I was wondering if I need to make any changes to make it for cupcakes, and if the amazing looking cinnamon-honey-butter icing needs to be increased to ice the cupcakes sufficiently?
I would not change anything for cupcakes other than the cook time. As far as the icing, I’m not quite sure as I’ve never made cupcakes but the recipe makes a pretty good amount.
I made this cake and it came out too dense .The favor was very good I just don’t know what I did wrong. What do you think I could have done wrong ?
I made this cake and it was delicious, however it did not turn out like Brick St. Cafe. This was definitely a spice cake from the darker color to the heavy ginger taste. Next time I will adjust. Maybe leave out the ginger altogether because I don’t get that taste when I eat the Brick St. version. Also, their cake is more of a yellow color which makes me think I would like to try a yellow cake recipe from scratch and add sweet potatoes. I’ll keep this recipe for the holidays but continue to search for another sweet potato cake recipe. Thanks for sharing your version!
Hi – Do average grocery stores sell whole buttermilk or do you make your own for this recipe?
Making this tomorrow! Whole buttermilk? Is that something I can purchase at an average grocery store or should I make my own.?
Making this tomorrow! Whole buttermilk? Is that something I can purchase at an average grocery store or should I make my own.?
You can make your own with a combination of milk and lemon juice.
Just curious how can you call it Brick Street Cafe’s recipe if you don’t own the company? Read some of the reviews and someone said had too much of a ginger taste. I’m with her because their case doesn’t have a strong ginger/spice taste.
I don’t believe I called it Brick Street Cafe’s recipe. I said it was my rendition of a Sweet Potato Cake recipe that reminds me of Brick Street’s recipe.
Ohhh ok Amy yeah saw that. They use cream cheese icing. Is your icing not as sweet? Torn between which one to use for party on Saturday. Just now roasted my sweet potatoes.
I think either icing would be nice. The icing I used is fairly sweet. Of course, the honey may be reduced to taste. Happy baking, Sandra!
I have a sweet potato soufflé I made for Christmas. We didn’t have guests this year, so I have a lot left over. Could I use these to make the cake? What would your recommendations be?
I don’t think that would work for this cake as the sweet potato in your souffle has already had other ingredients added to it that would change the outcome for the cake.
I have made a different version of this cake. Guess you say, the old fashion Sweet Potato cake. The frost sure was different. Have made Butter Cream frosting, for the other cake. I am going to have to try this cake and frosting.
Could this be made with canned sweet potatoes?
Yes, I think they should work, Amanda.
Hi Amy,
I’ve been to Brick Street Cafe a few times and had their Sweet Potato Cake. Also, our son and his wife had that as their wedding cake last year. I truly love that cake. So I was just thinking, I wonder if I could find that recipe (it’s supposed to be a secret recipe). So I thought, let me try Pinterest and your recipe popped up. I am definitely gonna try it. I can’t wait.
Thanks so much!
I hope you enjoy it, Marie. Of course, this recipe is my version of theirs, and since their recipe is a secret it will not be exactly the same, but we love it just as much, if not more. Happy baking!
I stumbled across your blog b/c I’m trying to make Brick Street’s Sweet Potato cake for a birthday party! I searched by sweet potato cake and was so excited to see that you’ve had Brick Street’s so I have high hopes this will be great nock off!! Thanks
I’m going to try the cake for company this weekend. I’m short of time and want to try your freezing technique. Will the cake layers actually fit in standard-sized ziplock bags, or are there larger bags somehere?
I use gallon sized ziplocks.
How do you defrost these layers if you freeze them? Thinking of making 2 this week, one for tomorrow and one for Thursday but would obviously need to freeze the layers for Thursday. Excited to try this! Thanks!
Unwrap and let come to room temperature before frosting.
I made this in two loaf pans after an hour an 15 minutes I took them out still raw not sure what happened or why
I stumbled across your blog b/c I’m trying to make Brick Street’s Sweet Potato cake for a birthday party! I searched by sweet potato cake and was so excited to see that you’ve had Brick Street’s so I have high hopes this will be great nock off!! Thanks
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This cake was amazing! Personally, I think it’s better than Brick Street Cafe’s recipe (if that’s even possible). I will definitely be making this again soon! Thanks so much for sharing your recipe.
I’m so happy to hear it, Kelly! Glad you enjoy it as much as we do.
I just made this cake and frosting and it was so great.
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Howdy! Do you happen to have a weight for the 2.5 cups sweet potato (or for your flour)?
Thanks!
I don’t. Next time I make I’ll try to measure weights.
I just asked my husband what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday, and he mentioned sweet potato cake like Brick Street’s. We now live in GA, so no swinging over to the bakery there, but so glad yours was the first recipe i came across! I’ll be trying it out this weekend. Thanks!
I hope it turned out tasty for y’all, Heather!
We especially loved the frosting. I underbaked it a bit, so center was bit gummy, but favor was delicious. My cakes rose probably half inch above the pans, so I had some crusty edges to sample before I assembled them. I’ll try it again, since I’m kind of a cake novice.
One of the things I miss most about South Carolina…..Brick Street Cafe’s sweet potato cake. Gonna try this recipe tomorrow.
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This look phenomenal! So moist!
This cake was outstanding! I made it as a bundt, but I wish I’d made it as a layer cake to better appreciate the frosting. My son suggested a marshmallowy frosting, brûléed— yum!
Ooooh, what an excellent frosting idea!
Thank you very much for the lovely recipe! I made this last week and it was very moist, very cinnamon and very sugary. It worked as a cupcake as well as a pound cake. So both were so successful and my family and co-workers being the ‘sweet tooth’ people they are love it!
I am new diabetic so this time round I am going to put less sugar but I don’t know if it will turn out as good.
my question is can I make this with splenda? Will splenda ruin the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes.
I have not tried this recipe with a sugar replacement so I am not sure. Let me know if you try it and how it turns out.
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One of the best cakes for special celebrations! So flavorful and delicious!
I tried this cake today, it turned just great.. the texture and taste are just perfect… Thank you for such a delicious recipe…
Wow! I have some fabulous recipes but this is now going to be the top of my list! This was one of the best cakes I’ve ever made. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I’ve decided you are my new best friend!! Thank you many times over! (P.S. I did use a cream cheese frosting instead of the buttercream you recommended.)
Yay! So happy to hear it, Kim!
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This cake looks absolutely beautiful.. I can’t wait to bake it!
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sweet potato cake is the best!
So amazing! This is a dessert I will make for my family again and again!
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This cake is so amazing! I’ll take a sweet potato dessert over a pumpkin dessert any day!
Oops! I wanted to rate this recipe 5 stars, but it only showed up as 4.5!
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I live in Greenville and the Brick Street cake is always requested by my daughter for her birthday. It is pretty expensive so I thought I’d try to make one and I stumbled across your recipe. While I love buttercream and yours looks wonderful, my daughter wanted me to use the traditional cream cheese so that is the only change I made. Well everyone absolutely loved it! I decided to get a slice of the Brick Street cake to compare the two side by side. The first difference is that they use a ton of frosting – I made mine with 1 block of cream cheese, 1 stick butter, 3 cups powdered sugar plus vanilla and a pinch of salt and I probably should have doubled it (NOTE: my girls thought the frostings were very similar in flavor). There was definitely a difference in the texture of the cakes. Theirs is a lot more moist (and not necessarily in a good way). I did use your technique of putting the layers in the freezer so mine was pretty dense and moist. Theirs was lighter in texture but when you put it in your mouth it was much mushier. Yours also has a lot more flavor – my husband loved it and my daughter suggested a little less cinnamon but overall we liked the flavor of your cake better. Also, and I’m not sure if this is just because of Holly’s comment about Duncan Hines, theirs tasted like a box mix. I think my only suggestion if someone wants to push it more towards Brick Street is to figure out how to make the texture lighter and give it a “melt in your mouth” moistness. If I had to choose though – I’d take your cake! Thanks so much for the recipe.