Made with mashed potatoes, this spice cake from Southern living has a delicious melody of spices and nuts and is perfect for so many occasions.
Mashed Potato Cake Dessert – What?????
I must confess in real life and cookbooks this cake is called “Mashed Potato Cake” and I ran across this eye catching recipe in my mom’s [amazon link=”B000JWEB4K” title=”Southern Living Cake’s Cookbook” /].
I’ve heard of potato cakes (all nice and fried with cheese and bacon and fat), but a mashed potato dessert cake, who knew????
It seemed like an easy, normal cake recipe with simple ingredients (no cheese or bacon or bacon grease) and I loved the spices in the cake. Plus, it’s from Southern Living, which is the cooking gospel for those of us below the Mason-Dixon line.
So, without much hesitation I rolled the spices and mashed potatoes and tried this interestingly named spice cake.
Old Fashioned Autumn Spice Cake or Holiday Spice Cake
After one bite I was transported back in time. This delightfully spiced cake reminded me of grandma’s spice cake or a 1950’s spice cake. I can just see June Cleaver or Donna Reed whipping up one in a [amazon link=”B0043NLZ9U” title=”vintage yellow Pyrex mixing bowl” /]. Then serving it at fall or Holiday coffee to their lady friends wearing puffy dresses, gloves, heals and pearls (BTW, this is also what June and Donna would have worn to make the cake).
This classic tasting cake has cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg that blend together perfectly and create a warm cozy flavored cake. It’s perfect anytime of year, but especially for fall or the Holidays. Plus, it’s a moist cake, which is easy to make with simple ingredients.
Ingredients In Southern Living Mashed Potato Spice Cake
- Brown Sugar
- Butter – Use room temperature for best results
- Eggs – Beaten, room temperature
- Cooked mashed potatoes
- All purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground cloves
- Ground nutmeg
- Milk
- Unsweet chocolate Melted
- Chopped nuts
Spice Cake Cream Cheese Glaze Ingredients (Optional)
- Cream cheese – room temperature
- Butter – room temperature
- Powdered sugar – sifted
- Vanilla
- Milk – room temperature
How Do You Make A Spice Cake From Scratch?
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Cream sugar and butter.
- Add beaten eggs and mashed potatoes.
- Combine dry ingredients and add to mixture alternately with milk.
- Stir in melted chocolate and nuts.
- Bake in a greased tube or bundt pan at 350 for 1 hour.
- Let cool for 12-15 minutes.
How To Make Cream Cheese Glaze For Spice Cake (Optional)
- Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth
- Add powdered sugar and mix well.
- Add vanilla and beat until smooth.
- Warm glaze until it is pourable. You can also add milk after warming, depending on how thick you like it.
- Pour, spoon and spread glaze on cooled cake.
[amazon box=”B07FXPDZH4,B06XS52KYX,B07MNRDZL4″ grid=”3″]
Try This Cake With Cream Cheese Glaze
This cream cheese glaze is totally optional. I made it without the glaze and it was loved by all who indulged. However, this cake’s warm toasty spices go so well with tangy cream cheese glaze and the glaze is easy peasy to whip up. So, If you like or are obsessed with cream cheese frosting, this is a perfect pairing.
Why Is A Cake Made With Mashed Potatoes?
Potatoes add moisture and structural formation to cakes. Plus, you can add some fiber and nutrients to your cake by the addition of potatoes. It will make that sinful cake a little more heavenly.
Final Thoughts On This Southern Living Spice Cake
To me adding mashed potatoes to a dessert cake was a little edgy and bold. However, it ended up being a lovely all around cake. It’s a yummy cake so perfectly spiced and moist and easy to make. In addition, it can be served for so many occasions, especially those fall and holiday coffees and brunches. Just like June Cleaver and Donna Reed.
In case you have any queries regarding the recipe feel free to reach out via the comment section or the contact page. Also, if you have tried this recipe, I would love to hear about your experiences.
I have linked to our related recipes below and I’m sure you will love them.
More Spice Cake Recipes From Scratch
Pumpkin Pie Cake Southern Living
Sweet Potato Pound Cake Recipe
The Best Spice Cake Recipe (From Southern Living Cookbook)
The Best Spice Cake Recipe (From Southern Living)
Equipment
- Stand or Hand Mixer
- Bundt or Tube Pan or 2 Loaf Pans
Ingredients
Ingredients For Spice Cake
- 2 cups Brown Sugar
- 1 cup Butter Room Temperature
- 4 Eggs Beaten
- ½ cup Cooked mashed potatoes
- 2 cups All purpose flour
- 2 tsp Baking powder
- ½ tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp Ground cloves
- 1 tsp Ground nutmeg
- 1 cup Milk
- 1 ounce Unsweet chocolate Melted
- 1 cup Chopped nuts
Ingredients For Cream Cheese Glaze (Optional)
- 4-6 ounces Cream cheese Room Temperature. How much cream cheese flavor you want depends on the amount of cream cheese you use.
- 4 TBS Butter Room Temperature
- 1-1½ cups Powdered sugar Sifted
- 2 tsp Vanilla
- ½ TBS Milk Use more if you like your icing thinner.
Instructions
Instructions For Spice Cake
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Cream sugar and butter. There should be no grittiness and mixture should be pale yellow.
- Add beaten eggs and mashed potatoes.
- Combine dry ingredients and add to mixture alternately with milk.
- Stir in melted chocolate and nuts.
- Bake in a greased tube or bundt pan at 350 for 1 hour.
- Let cool for 12-15 minutes.
Instructions for Cream Cheese Glaze (Optional)
- Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth
- Add powdered sugar and mix well.
- Add vanilla and beat until smooth.
- Warm glaze until it is pourable. You can also add milk after warming, depending on how thick you like it.
- Pour, spoon and spread glaze on cooled cake.