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This sweet potato Bundt cake is irresistibly moist, tender, and perfectly spiced for fall. Topped with rich cream cheese frosting to bump up its decadence!
This sweet potato Bundt cake with cream cheese frosting is the best cake for this holiday season!
Made with mashed sweet potatoes and cozy spices, this fall-ready Bundt cake is so moist and full of flavor.
The cake comes out perfectly tender with a fine crumb, and the ultra-decadent cream cheese frosting just makes this festive treat worthy of being the centerpiece of your autumn feast.
It makes a delicious alternative to the usual apple or pumpkin cake this baking season!
What Is Sweet Potato Bundt Cake?
I know what you’re thinking, “sweet potato in a cake???” I was also skeptical, but trust me, this sweet potato Bundt cake is what the fall baking season is all about.
National Bundt Cake Day is right around the corner, and what better way to kickstart the celebration than baking a Bundt cake that features a delicious autumn symbol?
I’m talking about the humble sweet potato!
Sweet potato Bundt cake is your favorite Bundt cake made extra moist thanks to mashed sweet potatoes. This recipe is also ready to take the spotlight on your Thanksgiving table because it’s full of warm spice and everything nice.
And as if the spiced sweet potato Bundt is not enough, it’s made extra heavenly with cream cheese frosting, a classic, crowd-pleasing topping on any tender cake. 😋
Why You’ll Love This Moist Sweet Potato Bundt Cake Recipe
- Easy But Impressive: Bundt cakes are one of the easiest cakes you can bake at home, and this sweet potato cream cheese Bundt cake is a perfect example. The star of the recipe, mashed sweet potatoes, makes the cake effortlessly moist.
- Balanced Flavor: With just the right sweetness and richness, plus the aromatic, warm flavors from the spices, this fall Bundt cake is a crave-worthy treat whether you have a sweet tooth or not.
- Breakfast And Dessert In One: Like our apple cider muffins, this sweet potato Bundt cake with cream cheese frosting is a breakfast and dessert in one! Savor a thick slice of this treat with coffee on a crisp autumn morning, or indulge in pure sugar bliss by pairing this cake with my three frosting ideas below.
What Does Spiced Sweet Potato Bundt Cake Taste Like?
Sweet potato cream cheese Bundt cake is perfectly spiced and its sweetness is just enough to let you know that you’re eating a cake. 😋
It’s not overly luscious like your usual slice of frosted cake.
Personally, I love Bundt cakes because of this very reason. They’re so moist and tender but not as dense as a pound cake. (Check our peach cobbler pound cake if you’re interested in Bundt cake’s denser but equally delicious cousin.)
And don’t worry; this sweet potato Bundt cake does not taste like you’re just eating mashed sweet potatoes. Instead, it’s full of autumnal flavors that are perfect with the airy texture and tender crumb of the thick cake.
Adding the cream cheese frosting on top is totally up to you, but the rich, sweet, and slightly tangy topping really complements the softness of the cake.
This Bundt cake is the perfect candidate if you want to serve something other than sweet potato pie this holiday season.
Ingredients For Sweet Potato Cream Cheese Bundt Cake
Sweet potato Bundt cake:
- Cake flour – This easy sweet potato Bundt cake will set you up for success with cake flour for a perfectly tender cake.
- Baking powder – To help the cake rise.
- Baking soda – Besides helping the Bundt cake rise, baking soda also ensures a light texture on the cake.
- Ground cinnamon – I didn’t call this spiced sweet potato Bundt cake fall-ready for no reason. Of course, it’s full of autumn spices like cinnamon that complement the sweetness of the cake.
- Ground nutmeg – Another delicious spice to make this treat holiday-ready.
- Ground ginger – Ginger for a dessert recipe? Yes! Its “spiciness” makes the flavor of the sweet potato cream cheese Bundt cake more interesting with every bite.
- Kosher salt – Enhances the flavors in the Bundt cake. I’m willing to argue that salt is a must in any sweet treat!
- Eggs – Make sure your eggs are at room temperature for a lump-free cake batter!
- Light brown sugar – Gives the ideal “deep” sweetness to our light cake.
- Vegetable oil – Makes our sweet potato spice cake deliciously tender.
- Applesauce – Another ingredient that adds an autumnal flair to this dessert. It also helps make the crumb moist and rich.
- Mashed sweet potatoes – You’ll need about two medium-sized potatoes for this recipe. You can also use canned sweet potato puree, but make sure to drain the excess liquid.
- Vanilla extract – Bumps up the flavor of our baked dessert and frosting.
- Chopped walnuts – You can use any add-ins to your sweet potato cake batter, but walnuts are just an easy pick, especially for a fall dessert!
- Butter – We’ll use unsalted butter to grease the baking pan.
- Flour – Besides butter, flour will make it easier to release the cake from the pan.
Cream cheese frosting:
- Confectioners’ sugar – Powdered sugar will sweeten and thicken our luscious frosting.
- Cream cheese – Rich and delectably tangy, cream cheese makes the best frosting for our spiced sweet potato Bundt cake.
- Half and half – This will help us get the perfect consistency on our cream cheese frosting for the Bundt cake.
Tools Needed To Prepare Sweet Potato Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Bundt pan for baking the cake
- Bowls for the ingredients
- Sieve for sifting the dry ingredients
- Baking rack for cooling the frosted sweet potato Bundt cake
Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Sweet Potato Bundt Cake
Caramel sauce
As promised, I’ll share other frosting options for this super moist sweet potato Bundt cake if you don’t want to use cream cheese frosting.
A personal favorite in my household is a simple caramel topping made with light brown sugar, butter, and heavy cream. 🤤
Coffee syrup
For my simple dessert lovers out there, you can also just brush some coffee syrup all over your sweet potato Bundt cake until it’s nice and soaked.
Combine granulated sugar, coffee, and some water, and you have yourself a quick coffee syrup.
Despite the cozy weather, getting out of bed will surely be easier if you know you’ll wake up to a slice of coffee-soaked moist cake.
Bourbon glaze
Want something that suits your refined holiday dessert table? Make this sweet potato Bundt cake with a bourbon glaze!
Just combine brown sugar, butter, heavy cream, and bourbon.
How to Make Sweet Potato Bundt Cake
Ingredients:
For the sweet potato Bundt cake:
- 1 1/2 cups cake flour
- 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup plus 1 tbsp light brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp applesauce
- 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- Butter for greasing the pan
- Flour for the pan
For the cream cheese frosting:
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup half and half
Tools you need:
Instructions:
STEP 1: Gather and measure the ingredients for your sweet potato Bundt cake. Preheat the oven to 350°F and place the rack in the center of the oven.
STEP 2: Butter and flour the Bundt pan.
STEP 3: Sift the dry ingredients over a medium-sized bowl. Set aside.
STEP 4: Combine eggs and brown sugar using the paddle attachment of the stand mixer on medium-high speed. Beat for 3 minutes or until the mixture thickens and turns light in color.
STEP 5: Add the vegetable oil and applesauce. Mix on medium speed for 30 seconds or until combined.
STEP 6: Add the mashed sweet potato and vanilla extract. Mix until combined.
STEP 7: Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed just until combined. Then, fold in the walnuts.
STEP 8: Pour the Bundt cake batter into the pan. Bake for 45 minutes. You can also do the toothpick test at the 35-minute mark.
STEP 9: Remove the sweet potato Bundt cake from the oven. Allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, turn the cake out onto a baking rack to finish cooling.
STEP 10: While you’re waiting for the sweet potato cake to cool, mix the sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla extract for the frosting until smooth.
STEP 11: Add the half and half and stir to combine.
STEP 12: Pour the cream cheese frosting over the sweet potato Bundt cake. You can also sprinkle more cinnamon on top. Slice away and enjoy!
What To Serve With Spiced Sweet Potato Bundt Cake
This sweet potato Bundt cake is ready to be served on its own because it’s already topped with a rich cream cheese frosting. 😋
Another option you can try is to take a slice of unfrosted cake, drizzle some maple syrup on top, and sprinkle it with spiced nuts.
If you’re in the mood for autumnal vibes, try the sweet potato Bundt cake with vanilla ice cream and grilled apples!
But if you ask me, this sweet potato cream cheese Bundt cake is perfect with fall-inspired blends.
Try it with our take on Apple Crisp Frappuccino (This is as delicious as the Starbucks drink!), or for my vegan friends out there, you might love this pumpkin pie smoothie.
Tips About Making Sweet Potato Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- The key to a soft and velvety sweet potato Bundt cake is ensuring that your mashed sweet potatoes are also nice and smooth. Don’t hesitate to use a food processor to puree your sweet potato mixture!
- Worried that your Bundt cake will break when you remove it from the pan? Just butter and flour all the pan’s nooks and crannies and allow the cake to cool first IN THE PAN before turning it out.
- Always fill your Bundt pan just to two-thirds full. Otherwise, the cake might overflow.
How To Store Sweet Potato Cream Cheese Bundt Cake
- Fridge: This sweet potato Bundt cake with cream cheese frosting stores well in the fridge! You can keep it for up to 3 days. If you have not frosted the cake yet, it can last for 5 to 7 days.
- Freezer: You can freeze this sweet potato Bundt cake, but do not frost it if you intend to store it this way. Unfrosted Bundt cake can be wrapped and frozen in a freezer-safe container for about 3 months.
- Serving: Allow the Bundt cake to thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.
What’s the Difference Between Cake and Bundt Cake?
The easiest way to spot the difference between a regular cake and a Bundt cake is by noticing their shapes.
Bundt cakes are baked in a Bundt pan, which has a unique circular shape, and some pans even come in fun designs!
On the other hand, classic cakes are usually round or rectangular and not ring-shaped. They’re also more embellished than Bundt cakes, which are often served with a simple syrup or cake glaze.
Why Do Bundt Cakes Take Longer to Bake?
Bundt cakes take longer to bake than most cakes because of their denser texture. They’re also often thick and large, so of course, they’ll need a longer baking time.
Pro tip: Your Bundt cake is done if you insert a toothpick in the center of the cake, and it comes out clean.
How Do You Keep a Bundt Cake Moist?
The best way to keep your Bundt cake moist is proper storage.
Place it in an airtight container after cooling instead of just letting it sit out.
However, because of the unique Bundt cake shape, I suggest getting a Bundt cake keeper.
It comes with its own lid, and as you can see from its shape, it is perfectly designed to store a Bundt cake.
Speaking of keeping the cake moist, here are a few tips on how to get moist cakes for a fuss-free baking journey!
FAQ About Bundt Cakes
Do you cool a Bundt cake in the pan or out?
Yes, and this is an absolute must! Cool the Bundt cake in the pan for at least 10 minutes before you transfer it to a cooling rack. This will ensure that the cake is firm enough, and it also gives the cake enough time to contract, so it’ll be easier to remove.
Do you flip a bundt cake right out of the oven?
No. You don’t want to flip your Bundt cake right out of the oven, or it might break. Give it some time to rest in the pan so it can contract for a flawless cake release. (It’s super satisfying!)
How do you cook sweet potatoes for Bundt cake?
For the mashed sweet potatoes in this sweet potato Bundt cake recipe, boil them for 30 minutes over medium-high heat until tender. Then, make sure the mashed sweet potatoes are at room temperature before using them in the cake batter.
Sweet Potato Bundt Cake
This sweet potato Bundt cake is irresistibly moist, tender, and perfectly spiced for fall. Topped with rich cream cheese frosting to bump up its decadence!
Ingredients
Sweet potato Bundt cake:
- 1 1/2 cups cake flour
- 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup plus 1 tbsp light brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp applesauce
- 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- Butter for greasing the pan
- Flour for the pan
Cream cheese frosting:
Instructions
- Gather and measure the ingredients for your sweet potato Bundt cake. Preheat the oven to 350°F and place the rack in the center of the oven.
- Butter and flour the Bundt pan.
- Sift the dry ingredients over a medium-sized bowl. Set aside.
- Combine eggs and brown sugar using the paddle attachment of the stand mixer on medium-high speed. Beat for 3 minutes or until the mixture thickens and turns light in color.
- Add the vegetable oil and applesauce. Mix on medium speed for 30 seconds or until combined.
- Add the mashed sweet potato and vanilla extract. Mix until combined.
- Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed just until combined. Then, fold in the walnuts.
- Pour the Bundt cake batter into the pan. Bake for 45 minutes. You can also do the toothpick test at the 35-minute mark.
- Remove the sweet potato Bundt cake from the oven. Allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, turn the cake out onto a baking rack to finish cooling.
- While you're waiting for the sweet potato cake to cool, mix the sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla extract for the frosting until smooth.
- Add the half and half and stir to combine.
- Pour the cream cheese frosting over the sweet potato Bundt cake. You can also sprinkle more cinnamon on top. Slice away and enjoy!
Notes
- For the best texture on your sweet potato Bundt cake, make sure your mashed sweet potato is nice and smooth. You can use a food processor to puree it!
- For a flawless release, make sure you butter and flour all the nooks and crannies in the Bundt pan. Then, be patient and allow your sweet potato cake to cool in the pan. This ensures that the cake will be firm enough and won't break once you turn it out.
- Why is my Bundt cake overflowing? Be careful not to overfill your Bundt pan! It should only be about two-thirds full with the batter so your cake has enough space to rise.
* This recipe was originally published on 11/2011 by Jaclyn. Notes and photos were updated on 11/2023.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 60Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 40mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 0gSugar: 5gProtein: 1g
* Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for the most accurate results.
Conclusion
No need to stress about your seasonal dessert menu. This easy sweet potato Bundt cake with super moist crumbs is the centerpiece you’re looking for!
This fall, turn sweet potatoes into something else than a sweet potato pie.
Enjoy a luscious cake that’s tender, light, and made extra dreamy with its cream cheese topping.
Pair it with other spiced autumn drinks and treat yourself to a cake that can also be enjoyed as a breakfast!
Got leftover sweet potatoes? Make a sweet potato hash, or browse these yummy sweet potato recipes!
And for other treats that will make holidays sweet and cozy, you might love these recipes: