Southern Sweet Potato Pound with Cream Cheese Cloud

Prepare to be amazed by this truly next-level **Sweet Potato Pound Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting**! This isn’t just a dessert; it’s a culinary masterpiece that promises an experience of pure indulgence with every bite. Our recipe delivers an incredibly rich and buttery texture, perfectly balanced by a medley of warm, inviting spices that infuse the cake throughout. What sets this pound cake apart is the delightful, gooey cinnamon swirl generously woven into the batter, adding pockets of spiced sweetness. Crowned with a tangy, velvety cream cheese frosting, this cake achieves a creamy richness that elevates it to extraordinary heights, making every forkful a moment of pure heaven.

If your heart beats for the comforting flavors of sweet potatoes, and you’re eager to explore more delightful creations, you must try some of our other cherished recipes. After mastering this decadent pound cake, we highly recommend our Sweet Potato Pie Bars for a chewy, sweet treat, or journey back to tradition with Grandma’s Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie Recipe, a timeless classic that brings warmth to any table.

A beautifully frosted sweet potato pound cake with thick cream cheese frosting, elegantly placed on a white serving plate with spoons, ready to be enjoyed.

This ultimate sweet potato pound cake gracefully blends two cherished soul food favorites into one irresistible dessert. It captures the comforting, spiced essence of a classic sweet potato casserole, harmoniously paired with the dense yet wonderfully fluffy and buttery goodness that defines a perfectly baked classic pound cake. The result is a truly unique creation that offers the best of both worlds, making it a standout treat for any gathering or a cozy evening at home.

What truly makes this cake a showstopper is its irresistible, tender crumb. It’s a texture that literally melts in your mouth, providing a luxurious experience that is rich and satisfying without ever feeling overly dense or heavy. The secret to this delightful mouthfeel is partly attributed to the ingenious cinnamon streusel filling. This flavorful ribbon of cinnamon-sugar not only adds a delightful textural contrast with its subtle crunch but also infuses every slice with an extra layer of warm, aromatic spice, creating a truly dynamic flavor profile.

And to complete this magnificent dessert, a generous layer of smooth cream cheese frosting provides the perfect finish. This velvety topping introduces just the right amount of tangy sweetness, creating a beautiful balance that complements the cake’s warm spices and natural sweet potato flavor. It’s the unifying element that brings all the rich components together, resulting in a cohesive and utterly delicious dessert. After you’ve savored every crumb of this masterpiece, we encourage you to explore other delightful recipes like our moist sweet potato bread or the equally indulgent butter pecan pound cake.

Table of Contents

  • Why This is the Ultimate Sweet Potato Pound Cake Recipe
  • Essential Sweet Potato Pound Cake Ingredients
  • Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
  • How to Make the Perfect Sweet Potato Pound Cake
  • Pro Baking Tips for a Perfect Pound Cake
  • Storage Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions
  • Explore More Delicious Pound Cake Recipes
  • Sweet Potato Pound Cake Full Recipe Card

Why This is the Ultimate Sweet Potato Pound Cake Recipe

This sweet potato pound cake isn’t just another recipe; it’s an experience crafted to enchant your taste buds and impress your guests. Here’s a closer look at what makes this particular version stand out as the absolute best and why it deserves a spot in your baking repertoire:

  • A Holiday Season Essential: Nothing captures the heartwarming spirit of fall and winter celebrations quite like this rich and spiced sweet potato cake. Its comforting aroma and deeply satisfying flavor profile make it an ideal dessert for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any festive gathering during the cooler months. It evokes tradition, coziness, and a sense of generous indulgence, perfectly suited for sharing with loved ones. Imagine the enticing scents of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg wafting through your home as this festive cake bakes!
  • Unmatched Moisture & Depth of Flavor: The secret to this pound cake’s extraordinary moistness and profoundly delicious flavor lies in the generous inclusion of freshly mashed sweet potatoes. Unlike many traditional pound cakes that can sometimes lean towards dryness, the natural sugars and creamy texture of the sweet potatoes infuse every fiber of this cake, resulting in a tender crumb that remains incredibly moist and fresh for days. This unique ingredient not only adds an earthy sweetness but also deepens the overall flavor profile, harmonizing beautifully with the warming spices and setting it apart from any standard pound cake you’ve tried.
  • Effortlessly Customizable for Your Palate: While this recipe is absolutely perfect as written, it also serves as an excellent foundation for your creative baking adventures. Feel empowered to personalize it to suit your specific tastes or dietary preferences! You can easily swap the cinnamon streusel filling for a crunchy pecan crumble, incorporate chopped walnuts or toasted pecans directly into the batter for an added textural dimension, or even experiment with different spice blends like a touch of allspice or cardamom for a unique aromatic twist. This inherent versatility ensures that each time you bake it, you can create a new and exciting variation tailored precisely to your preferences, making it truly your signature dessert.

Essential Sweet Potato Pound Cake Ingredients

A delectable slice of sweet potato pound cake resting on parchment paper, beautifully garnished with fragrant cinnamon sticks and star anise pods, highlighting its spiced essence.

For precise measurements and quantities, please refer to the comprehensive recipe card located at the end of this article.

  • Large Sweet Potatoes: These vibrant root vegetables are the undeniable star of our pound cake, contributing not only their characteristic natural sweetness and beautiful hue but also an unparalleled moisture and tender crumb. By roasting and then carefully mashing them into a smooth purée, we unlock their authentic, deep sweet potato flavor, ensuring the cake is rich and deeply satisfying without becoming overly heavy. Always choose firm, unblemished sweet potatoes for the best results. These versatile spuds are also a key ingredient in our delightful sweet potato tres leches recipe!
  • All-Purpose Flour: Serving as the foundational structure of our pound cake, all-purpose flour provides the necessary framework for the cake to hold its shape beautifully. Unlike the lighter cake flour sometimes preferred for more delicate bakes, this particular recipe, with its naturally higher liquid content from the sweet potatoes and sour cream, benefits significantly from the stronger gluten structure that all-purpose flour offers. This ensures a wonderfully soft yet sturdy crumb that holds up perfectly under the rich ingredients.
  • Warm Spices (Cinnamon, Ground Ginger, Nutmeg, Cloves): This thoughtfully curated blend of aromatic spices is what truly defines the cake’s signature fall and winter profile. Ground cinnamon offers pervasive warmth, ginger introduces a subtle, zesty kick, nutmeg adds a hint of earthy sweetness and complexity, and cloves provide a deep, resonant aromatic note. Together, these spices create a complex and incredibly inviting flavor profile that not only perfectly complements the natural sweetness of the sweet potato but also truly enhances its taste in every single bite.
  • Kosher Salt: Even a small pinch of kosher salt plays a surprisingly crucial role in this sweet potato pound cake. It doesn’t make the cake salty; rather, it acts as a powerful flavor enhancer, expertly balancing the inherent sweetness from both the sugars and the sweet potatoes while simultaneously intensifying and bringing forward all the other delicious, nuanced flavors within the cake.
  • Baking Soda: This humble yet essential leavening agent is critical for giving our pound cake its desirable lift and contributing to its wonderfully light and fluffy texture. Baking soda reacts with the acidic components naturally present in the batter (such as the sour cream and brown sugar) to produce carbon dioxide, which in turn helps the pound cake rise beautifully and evenly throughout the baking process.
  • Butter and Vegetable Oil: The strategic combination of these two fats is paramount to achieving the cake’s incredibly luxurious texture. High-quality butter imparts an unmatched richness and a classic, deeply buttery flavor that makes this pound cake truly melt in your mouth. We generally recommend using salted butter for an enhanced depth of flavor, but unsalted butter can certainly be used if you prefer more precise control over the salt content. Vegetable oil, on the other hand, contributes additional, much-needed moisture and ensures an exceptionally tender crumb, actively preventing the cake from drying out prematurely. Always ensure your butter is at perfect room temperature for optimal creaming.
  • Granulated Sugar and Brown Sugar: This dynamic duo of sugars provides a perfectly balanced and multi-dimensional sweetness to the pound cake. Granulated sugar offers a clean, straightforward sweetness and contributes to the cake’s delicate, slightly crisp crust. Brown sugar, with its inherent molasses content, adds a deeper, more nuanced sweetness alongside subtle notes of caramel. This carefully considered blend significantly contributes to the cake’s moistness and rich, appealing color.
  • Flavoring (Vanilla Extract, Maple Extract): Vanilla extract is a cornerstone flavoring in nearly all baking, providing a foundational warmth and depth that elegantly rounds out the cake’s overall flavor profile. Maple extract, while entirely optional, truly elevates the autumnal theme of this dessert, complementing the sweet potatoes and spices with its distinct, cozy aroma and taste. It delivers an extra boost of seasonal flavor that is truly enchanting.
  • Large Eggs: Eggs fulfill multiple vital functions within our pound cake: they provide essential structure that prevents the cake from collapsing, they bind all the diverse ingredients together smoothly, and they contribute significantly to both its rich flavor and its wonderfully moist texture. Using large, room-temperature eggs is crucial, as they emulsify properly with the fats and sugars, resulting in a cohesive, tender, and beautifully integrated batter.
  • Sour Cream: A true MVP in this pound cake recipe, sour cream introduces a delightful tanginess that brightens the flavor profile and contributes immensely to the cake’s overall tenderness and moisture. Its mild acidity works to tenderize the cake’s gluten, resulting in an exceptionally moist and velvety texture that notably stays fresh for an extended period. It is absolutely crucial for achieving that signature pound cake tenderness without adding any undesirable heaviness.

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients

The perfect complement to our spiced sweet potato pound cake, this cream cheese frosting is simple to make and utterly delicious:

  • Cream Cheese: The cornerstone of our luscious frosting, cream cheese provides its signature tangy flavor, which perfectly cuts through and balances the sweetness of the pound cake. Ensure it is softened to room temperature for a guaranteed lump-free, silky-smooth consistency.
  • Powdered Sugar: Also widely known as confectioners’ sugar, this finely milled sugar is essential for sweetening the frosting and achieving its incredibly smooth, silky, and easily spreadable texture. Sifting it before use is recommended to prevent any lumps.
  • Vanilla Extract: A classic and indispensable addition, vanilla extract beautifully rounds out the frosting’s flavor. It introduces a sweet, fragrant note that elegantly ties together both the tanginess of the cream cheese and the warm, spiced flavors of the underlying sweet potato cake.
  • Whole Milk: This ingredient is the key to achieving that ideal pourable, glaze-like consistency for your frosting. Whole milk helps to thin the frosting to a perfect consistency, allowing it to beautifully cascade and coat the sweet potato pound cake like a dream, creating an appealing sheen and a delightful creamy finish. Ensure it’s at room temperature for optimal blending.
  • Pinch of Salt: Just a tiny amount of salt in the frosting helps to enhance and balance the sweetness, preventing it from being cloyingly sweet and elevating the overall flavor profile.

For an alternative frosting experience, you might enjoy the rich, buttery cream cheese glaze from our classic cream cheese pound cake or the vibrant and tropical topping of our pineapple pound cake!

How to Make the Perfect Sweet Potato Pound Cake

Follow these detailed steps carefully to create a moist, flavorful, and beautifully frosted sweet potato pound cake that will impress everyone:

Roasted and mashed sweet potatoes on aluminum foil, cooling and ready for mixing into the pound cake batter.

Step 1: Prepare the Sweet Potatoes. Begin by preheating your oven to a robust 425°F (220°C). Carefully arrange the sweet potatoes in a single layer onto a sturdy baking sheet. Roast them for an ample 30 to 40 minutes, or until they become exquisitely fork-tender, easily pierced with no resistance. Once cooked, remove them from the oven, allow them a moment to cool slightly, then carefully peel away their skins. Mash the tender sweet potato flesh until it achieves a perfectly smooth and lump-free consistency. It is absolutely crucial to let the mashed sweet potatoes cool completely to room temperature before incorporating them into your batter; this vital step prevents the batter from becoming too loose or inadvertently altering its temperature, which can affect the final texture of your pound cake.

Dry ingredients - flour, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, salt, baking soda, and nutmeg thoroughly whisked together in a bowl.

Step 2: Prepare Pan and Dry Ingredients. Take a 15-cup bundt pan and liberally spray its entire interior with a high-quality nonstick baking spray (or grease it thoroughly with butter and dust with flour). Ensure every intricate crevice is meticulously coated to prevent any sticking later. Set the perfectly prepared pan aside. In a generously sized mixing bowl, combine and thoroughly whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, kosher salt, and baking soda. This crucial step ensures that all the dry ingredients and vibrant spices are evenly and uniformly distributed throughout the mixture, which is fundamental for achieving a consistently flavored cake. Set this bowl aside for later use.

Butter, mashed sweet potatoes, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and eggs mixed together in a stand mixer bowl, forming a rich batter.

Step 3: Cream Wet Ingredients for Batter. In the spacious bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, introduce the softened room temperature butter, vegetable oil, rich brown sugar, granulated sugar, and the completely cooled mashed sweet potato purée. Cream these ingredients together on medium speed for a good 2 minutes until they are thoroughly combined and lightened. Do not be alarmed if the mixture appears somewhat soupy at this initial stage – this is perfectly normal and expected due to the natural moisture content of the sweet potatoes. Next, carefully add the vanilla extract and the optional maple extract. Then, one by one, incorporate the large eggs, mixing thoroughly after each individual addition to ensure full integration. Again, the batter might appear to “break” or look slightly separated; this is still entirely normal and will flawlessly come back together as additional ingredients are introduced. Always remember to diligently scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl periodically to ensure all components are fully incorporated into the mixture.

Cinnamon sugar filling perfectly whisked together in a bowl, ready to create a delicious swirl in the cake.

Step 4: Prepare the Cinnamon Swirl. In a separate, small mixing bowl, simply whisk together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon until they are thoroughly and evenly combined. This straightforward yet incredibly effective mixture will create the irresistible cinnamon swirl that adds delightful pockets of spiced sweetness and a beautiful visual element throughout your baked sweet potato pound cake. Set this fragrant mixture aside, ready for layering.

Half of the sweet potato pound cake batter in a bundt pan topped with cinnamon sugar, awaiting the remaining batter.

Step 5: Gradually Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients. With your stand mixer set to a low speed, begin to gradually add precisely half of the pre-whisked dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing only until they are just combined – this should take approximately 10-15 seconds. Next, pour in the room temperature sour cream and continue to mix just until it is fully incorporated into the batter, which should take around another 10 seconds. Finally, add the remaining half of the flour mixture and mix just until the batter achieves a smooth, homogenous consistency with no visible streaks of flour remaining, typically requiring about 15-20 seconds. It is paramount to exercise caution and avoid overmixing at this stage, as excessive mixing can overdevelop the gluten, resulting in a tough and undesirable cake texture.

A bundt pan filled with layered sweet potato pound cake batter, showcasing the cinnamon swirl before baking.

Step 6: Layer the Cake and Initiate Baking. Carefully pour precisely half of your prepared sweet potato cake batter into the generously greased and floured bundt pan, ensuring it is spread evenly across the bottom. Next, generously sprinkle the fragrant cinnamon streusel mixture evenly over this first layer of batter, creating a delicious ribbon. Then, with care, spoon the remaining half of the cake batter over the streusel, ensuring it completely covers the cinnamon mixture. Gently smooth the top surface of the batter with a spatula. Preheat your oven to a moderate 325°F (160°C). Bake the pound cake for approximately 1 hour and 10 to 20 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the very center of the cake comes out completely clean, indicating perfect doneness. Be aware that baking times may vary slightly depending on the individual characteristics of your oven.

Smooth and creamy cream cheese frosting, perfectly whisked together in a bowl, awaiting its final application.

Step 7: Prepare the Luscious Cream Cheese Frosting. While your sweet potato pound cake is gracefully baking, it presents the perfect opportunity to prepare the utterly delectable cream cheese frosting. In the bowl of your stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened room temperature cream cheese for about 30 seconds until it transforms into a light, smooth, and creamy consistency. Next, add a small pinch of salt, the meticulously sifted powdered sugar, and the fragrant vanilla extract. Begin mixing these ingredients on a low speed until they are just combined and no dry pockets of sugar remain visible. Then, gradually add the room temperature whole milk, mixing only until the frosting achieves a smooth, beautifully pourable, glaze-like consistency – this delicate process should take approximately 10-20 seconds. Be very careful not to overmix the frosting, as doing so can thin it out too much.

A glorious sweet potato pound cake, elegantly drizzled with a rich cream cheese frosting, presented on a beautiful serving plate, ready to be cut into slices.

Step 8: Cool the Cake and Apply Frosting. Once the sweet potato pound cake has finished baking to perfection, carefully remove it from the oven and allow it to rest and cool in the bundt pan for exactly 10 minutes. This crucial resting period is essential as it helps the cake to firm up and significantly reduces the chances of it sticking to the pan upon release. After this vital 10-minute cooling period, carefully invert the bundt pan onto a sturdy wire cooling rack and allow the cake to cool completely to room temperature. Once the cake is thoroughly cooled, generously pour or gracefully spread the prepared cream cheese frosting over the top, allowing it to beautifully cascade down the sides of the pound cake. Serve individual slices with a luxurious scoop of creamy vanilla bean ice cream, a dollop of freshly whipped cream, or simply enjoy this magnificent masterpiece on its own for an unparalleled indulgent treat!

Pro Baking Tips for a Perfect Sweet Potato Pound Cake

Achieving a truly magnificent sweet potato pound cake is a delightful endeavor, and these expert tips will help ensure your creation is nothing short of perfection:

  • Bake Sweet Potatoes Ahead of Time: To significantly streamline your baking process and save valuable time on the day you plan to bake, consider roasting and mashing your sweet potatoes a day in advance. This crucial step not only helps with efficiency but, more importantly, ensures that your sweet potato purée is thoroughly cooled. Adding warm sweet potato purée to your batter can prematurely melt the butter, disrupt the emulsification, or adversely affect the consistency, potentially leading to a looser, less cohesive batter and ultimately a denser, less tender cake.
  • Achieve an Ultra-Smooth Sweet Potato Purée: If you find that a traditional potato masher isn’t yielding the desired silky-smooth, lump-free sweet potato purée, don’t fret! A food processor or an immersion blender will be your best ally. Blend the cooked sweet potatoes until they reach an exquisitely smooth and velvety consistency. This meticulous step ensures even distribution throughout your batter and guarantees a wonderfully uniform, fine texture in your finished pound cake.
  • Avoid Overmixing the Batter: This is a golden rule in baking, especially for pound cakes. Once you’ve added the flour to the wet ingredients, mix only until the ingredients are just combined and no dry streaks of flour are visible. Overmixing vigorously develops the gluten in the flour too much, which can result in a tough, chewy, and disappointingly dense pound cake rather than the desired tender, melt-in-your-mouth crumb. A gentle hand is key here.
  • Room Temperature Ingredients are Non-Negotiable: For both the rich cake batter and the luscious cream cheese frosting, always, without exception, use room temperature butter, cream cheese, and eggs. Room temperature fats cream together smoothly and efficiently with sugar, creating an airy, well-emulsified base that effectively traps air. This trapped air is vital for contributing to the cake’s light yet dense texture. Similarly, room temperature cream cheese blends seamlessly with powdered sugar for a gloriously lump-free, velvety frosting.
  • Use Fresh, Aromatic Spices for Maximum Flavor: The inherent warmth, complexity, and comforting aroma of this sweet potato pound cake heavily depend on the quality and freshness of your ground spices. Older, stale spices can significantly lose their potency and aromatic compounds, resulting in a flat, uninspired-tasting cake. Regularly check the dates on your spice cabinet and ensure your cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves are fresh and vibrant for the most impactful and comforting flavors.
  • Proper Pan Preparation is Crucial: Never underestimate the importance of meticulously preparing your bundt pan. Use a generous amount of high-quality baking spray (preferably one that contains flour) and ensure it thoroughly coats every intricate nook, cranny, and design element of the pan. For an extra layer of assurance, you can lightly dust the sprayed pan with a thin layer of flour, gently tapping out any excess. This meticulous step is absolutely vital for ensuring your beautiful pound cake releases cleanly and perfectly, preserving its stunning shape.
  • Resist the Urge to Peek During Baking: It can be tempting, but try to resist opening the oven door frequently, especially during the initial stages of baking. Sudden drops in oven temperature can disrupt the cake’s rise and cause your beautifully rising pound cake to sink dramatically in the middle. Trust your oven and the recommended baking time, only opening the door when it’s genuinely time to check for doneness using the toothpick test.
  • Allow for Adequate Cooling: Patience is a virtue in baking. While it’s tempting to frost a warm cake, doing so will cause the frosting to melt and slide right off. Always allow your pound cake to cool completely on a wire rack to room temperature before applying the cream cheese frosting. This ensures the frosting sets beautifully and adheres perfectly to the cake.

Storage Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions

Storage Guidelines for Your Sweet Potato Pound Cake

To ensure your homemade sweet potato pound cake remains as moist, delicious, and fresh as the day it was baked, proper storage techniques are absolutely essential. Once the cake has completely cooled to room temperature, wrap it tightly in several layers of plastic wrap or place it securely inside an airtight container. Stored at room temperature, your pound cake will retain its exquisite freshness and flavor for up to 3 days. If you need to extend its shelf life further, refrigerate the cake, where it will remain delectable for up to a week. For much longer-term storage, ensure the cake is fully cooled, then wrap it first in a layer of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. It can be safely frozen for up to 3 months. To serve after freezing, simply thaw the cake overnight in the refrigerator before bringing it to room temperature and enjoying.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Sweet Potato Pound Cake

What makes a pound cake different from a regular cake?

Pound cake, historically named because it was made with a pound each of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour, is distinct from regular cakes primarily due to its denser, richer texture. It typically has a significantly higher ratio of fat and eggs to flour compared to standard cakes and often relies on fewer chemical leavening agents like baking powder. This results in a more compact, exceptionally moist, and fine-grained crumb. Regular cakes, conversely, tend to be lighter and airier, often incorporating more leavening agents and a higher liquid content to achieve a fluffy texture.

How do you keep pound cake moist for longer?

To ensure your pound cake remains beautifully moist, several key practices are crucial. Firstly, and most importantly, avoid overbaking it at all costs; remove the cake from the oven as soon as a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean. Secondly, ensure you use sufficient amounts of fat, such as butter and eggs, as these ingredients are fundamental contributors to moisture and richness. Additionally, incorporating moisture-rich ingredients like sour cream and mashed sweet potatoes, as expertly done in this very recipe, works wonders in retaining internal moisture and significantly enhances the cake’s overall tenderness and velvety texture, keeping it fresh for extended periods.

Why does my pound cake often crack on top during baking?

Cracking on the top surface is an incredibly common and, in fact, an entirely normal characteristic of many pound cakes. This phenomenon typically occurs because the dense batter of a pound cake rises relatively slowly during baking. As the cake bakes, the exterior crust tends to set and bake before the internal center has fully expanded. As the center continues to rise and push upwards, the already-set outer crust, unable to stretch further, gracefully cracks, creating a beautiful, characteristic fissure. Far from being a flaw, this cracking is often considered a hallmark of a well-made pound cake and can actually aid in more even baking by providing an escape route for steam.

Can I use canned sweet potatoes as a substitute for fresh ones?

Yes, you absolutely can substitute canned sweet potato purée for fresh sweet potatoes in a pinch. However, it is vitally important to note that canned purée often contains a significantly higher moisture content. To prevent your cake batter from becoming overly watery or thin, we highly recommend an essential preparatory step: place the canned sweet potato purée into a cheesecloth or a fine-mesh sieve and gently press out as much excess liquid as possible before incorporating it into your recipe. While fresh sweet potatoes generally yield a deeper, more natural flavor and a superior overall texture, canned ones can still produce a delicious and satisfying result with this necessary modification.

Explore More Delicious Pound Cake Recipes for Every Craving

More Irresistible Pound Cakes to Try Next

Desserts

Pumpkin Pound Cake

Desserts

Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Desserts

Carrot Bundt Cake

Desserts

Mile High Pound Cake

Hungry for more delicious and beautifully crafted recipes? Subscribe to our newsletter today to receive the latest seasonal creations and baking inspiration delivered straight to your inbox as soon as they’re released! Never miss out on a new favorite dessert.

If you try this incredible Sweet Potato Pound Cake recipe, we would absolutely love to hear from you and see your stunning results! Please consider leaving a star rating on the recipe card below and sharing your thoughts, tips, or any delightful modifications in the comments section. Your valuable feedback genuinely helps our vibrant community of bakers! You can also proudly tag @BritneyBreaksBread on Instagram and use the hashtag #britneybreaksbread so we can admire and celebrate your beautiful baking creations!

Sweet Potato Pound Cake Full Recipe Card

Experience the ultimate comfort dessert with this Sweet Potato Pound Cake, featuring an incredibly rich, moist crumb, a symphony of warm spices, and a delightful, gooey cinnamon swirl. All crowned with a luscious cream cheese frosting, this cake is truly next level and perfect for any special occasion or cozy treat!

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes

Yields: 12 servings

Author: Britney

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (5 votes)

Pin Recipe
Print Recipe

Sweet potato pound cake topped with cream cheese frosting on a serving plate with spoons.

Equipment

  • Baking Sheet
  • 15-cup Bundt Pan
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Stand Mixer (with paddle attachment)
  • Whisk
  • Wire Cooling Rack

Ingredients

  • For the Sweet Potato Pound Cake:
  • 1 lb Large Sweet Potatoes (approximately 2 medium-sized)
  • 3 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 tbsp Ground Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp Ground Ginger
  • 1/2 tsp Ground Nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp Ground Cloves
  • 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) Salted Butter, softened completely to room temperature
  • 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
  • 2 cups Brown Sugar, firmly packed
  • 1 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 tsp Maple Extract (optional, but highly recommended for enhanced flavor)
  • 6 Large Eggs, at room temperature
  • 2/3 cup Sour Cream, at room temperature
  • For the Cinnamon Streusel Filling:
  • 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 tbsp Ground Cinnamon
  • For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • 4 oz Cream Cheese, softened completely to room temperature
  • 2 cups Powdered Sugar, sifted (to prevent lumps)
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 3-4 tbsp Whole Milk, at room temperature (adjust amount for desired pourable consistency)
  • Pinch of Salt

Instructions

  1. Prepare Sweet Potatoes: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Place sweet potatoes onto a baking sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes become incredibly fork-tender. Remove the skins and mash the flesh until it is perfectly smooth. Set aside and allow the mashed sweet potatoes to cool completely to room temperature.
  2. Prepare Pan and Dry Ingredients: Generously spray a 15-cup bundt pan with nonstick baking spray (or thoroughly grease and flour). Set the prepared pan aside. In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, kosher salt, and baking soda. Ensure all ingredients are well combined. Set this dry mixture aside.
  3. Adjust Oven Temperature: Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F (160°C) for baking the cake.
  4. Cream Wet Ingredients for Batter: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the room temperature butter, vegetable oil, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and the cooled mashed sweet potato purée. Beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes until well combined. The mixture may appear slightly soupy, which is normal. Add the vanilla extract and maple extract (if using). Then, add the large eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. The batter may appear to “break” or look separated; this is also normal and will come together. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure all ingredients are incorporated.
  5. Combine Wet and Dry: With the stand mixer on low speed, gradually add half of the whisked dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until just combined (approximately 10-15 seconds). Pour in the room temperature sour cream and mix until just incorporated (about another 10 seconds). Finally, add the remaining half of the flour mixture and mix until the batter is smooth and no streaks of flour remain, typically about 15-20 seconds. Be very careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a tough cake.
  6. Prepare Cinnamon Swirl: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the sugar and cinnamon until thoroughly combined. This will create your cinnamon swirl.
  7. Layer and Bake Cake: Pour half of the prepared cake batter into the greased bundt pan, spreading it evenly. Generously sprinkle the cinnamon streusel mixture over this first layer of batter. Then, carefully spoon the remaining half of the cake batter over the streusel, ensuring it covers the cinnamon mixture completely. Gently smooth the top. Bake for 1 hour and 10-20 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  8. Make the Frosting: While the cake is baking, prepare the cream cheese frosting. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the room temperature cream cheese for about 30 seconds until it’s smooth and creamy. Add a pinch of salt, the sifted powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Begin mixing on low speed until all ingredients are just combined. Then, gradually add the room temperature whole milk, mixing only until the frosting is smooth, pourable, and reaches a glaze-like consistency (approximately 10-20 seconds). Be careful not to overmix the frosting.
  9. Cool and Frost: Once the cake is finished baking, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool in the bundt pan for 10 minutes. This resting period is crucial for the cake to firm up. After 10 minutes, carefully invert the bundt pan onto a wire cooling rack and allow the cake to cool completely to room temperature. Once fully cooled, generously pour or spread the prepared cream cheese frosting over the top of the cake, allowing it to cascade down the sides.
  10. Serve: Slice and serve with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or simply enjoy this delightful masterpiece on its own!

Notes

  • Sweet Potato Preparation: Baking the sweet potatoes ahead of time and ensuring they are fully cooled before being added to the batter is crucial. This prevents the batter from becoming too loose and maintains the correct consistency.
  • Smooth Purée Tip: If you don’t have a potato masher, or desire an extra-smooth purée, use a food processor or an immersion blender to blend the cooked sweet potatoes until they are completely silky and lump-free.
  • Avoid Overmixing: After introducing the flour, mix the batter only until the ingredients are just combined. Overmixing can overdevelop the gluten, resulting in a tough and dense cake texture instead of a tender crumb.
  • Room Temperature Ingredients: Always use room temperature butter, cream cheese, and eggs. This ensures that they blend smoothly and emulsify properly, contributing to a creamier frosting without lumps and a more cohesive cake batter.
  • Fresh Spices Matter: For the most vibrant and comforting flavors, ensure your ground spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves) are fresh and potent. Older spices can lose their aromatic oils and won’t provide the same warmth and depth to your pound cake.

Nutrition Information (Approximate)

Calories: 736kcal |
Carbohydrates: 120g |
Protein: 8g |
Fat: 26g |
Saturated Fat: 14g |
Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g |
Monounsaturated Fat: 7g |
Trans Fat: 1g |
Cholesterol: 140mg |
Sodium: 344mg |
Potassium: 308mg |
Fiber: 3g |
Sugar: 88g |
Vitamin A: 6152IU |
Vitamin C: 1mg |
Calcium: 116mg |
Iron: 3mg

Please note: Nutrition information provided is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation. Actual nutritional values may vary.


Tried this incredible recipe?
Don’t forget to mention @BritneyBreaksBread or tag your beautiful creation with #BritneyBreaksBread on Instagram! We love seeing your delicious results.