Sunday, December 25, 2011

Making Merry in the Suburbs with Sweet Potato Bourbon Cake

Merry Christmas from suburban Long Island, where the Bundt Cake is a time-honored holiday tradition. I learned to bake using a Bundt Pan and I still appreciate the form and the function. Even the most austere confection, emerges from the pan with a certain aerodynamic style. I’ve proudly owned my Bundt Pan for more than three decades, and it has serviced me well through many a holiday season.

This Sweet Potato Bourbon Cake (recipe found here) will certainly impress my family at the conclusion of Christmas dinner today – especially my brother Jim from Tennessee – as it is bathed in a merry helping of his hometown spirit, Jack Daniels.

It’s perhaps a less fussy holiday cake than previous years, but the sweet potato – a final gift from Restoration Farm - gives it a lovely orange hue, and the bourbon and butter glaze evokes rich flavors of caramel. I also like the subtle wreath of chopped pecans that encircles the crown.

However, if you prefer your Christmas holidays with a touch more bling, feast your eyes on this:

The streets of Long Island are a mecca for holiday glitter. You might find it a tad gaudy, but I think it is just an expression of the warmth that radiates from all our homes this day. A warm and Happy Christmas to all of you!

©2011 T.W. Barritt All Rights Reserved

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Doesn't that look delicious! Merry Christmas....enjoy your day...and your bourbon bundt cake!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Love your sweet potato bourbon cake and glad you included the bourbon for your Tennessee brother. I shall pass along the Long Island Christmas photo to my brother-in-law and his wife who just moved to be near us from Mineola where they lived for forty years. This is their first Christmas away from home.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you T.W. from our house to yours.
Cheers,
Sam

Karen (Back Road Journal) said...

Merry Christmas, T. W. I hope you are having a wonderful day. Thank you for sharing the recipe. I make mashed sweet potatoes with rum so I know that I will enjoy your cake recipe.

~~louise~~ said...

Merry Christmas T.W! I do hope you are enjoying your holiday dinner. A Bundt Cake laced with Bourbon is sure to bring warmth and cheer:)

Thank you so much for sharing that gorgeous Long Island house. It was just what I needed to make my day!!! Stay Safe, Louise:)

Fresh Local and Best said...

Merry Christmas T.W. I'm impressed with the Christmas decorations on that LI home. It certainly puts our house to shame.

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

I'm sure everyone who gets a piece of that cake will be merry indeed! Thanks for sharing that glimpse of LI bling, too. It brings back memories of my years in New Jersey.

Mary Bergfeld said...

The cake sounds delicious. I hope you had a wonderful holiday. We certainly enjoyed ours. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary

Kat said...

T.W., hope you had a very nice day yesterday. The cake sounds like it would be a big hit. Might have to give it a try. I don't own a bunt pan, but have a tube pan that would work.

Zany said...

The holidays are much brighter with bourbon...

Catherine said...

Dear T.W., I love bundt cakes too! They always look great when they come out of the pan. I like the sweet potato bourbon cake you made. I bet your brother was in heaven with this cake.
As for the streets of Long Island I agree, we do go all out for Christmas. I always made it a point to drive around at Christmas and look at the decorations. The homes are so bright and beautiful. My kids and I did that every year. I can't imagine what Long Island looks like from outer space!!!
I am so glad I made friends with my fellow Long Islander and I wish you the brightest Christmas season and a very blessed and Happy New Year!! Catherine

tasteofbeirut said...

I love the idea of combining earthy and wholesome sweet potatoes with sinful bourbon! Haha! Merry holidays to you! hips!

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Having grown up on Long Island, I can honestly say I know exactly what you mean. That cake looks delicious and all of the toy soldiers lined up on the lawn cracked me up!

Maris (In Good Taste) said...

I love the Christmas decorations! It must be true about great minds as we both are thinking sweet potatoes. This looks delicious!

Velva said...

Pure simple cakes like this one, are my favorites. Ditto on the bundt pans. I think I have had mine for 20+ years. It has never failed me.

As for the home decor-love it. You have not seen holiday front yard decor until you have lived in the south-OMG!

Happy New Year to you and your family. I am looking forward to all of your blog posts in 2012.

Velva

Deana Sidney said...

And sweet potatoes are so good for you too!!! Even better with bourbon... it must be a glorious cake. As soon as I recuperate from the holidays, this is on my list...
Have a great New Years, TW, delicious and fun... I know it will be.

PS LOVE the house... what do people get up to to collect like that@!

Anonymous said...

The cake looks so tasty & apart! Yummie!

The toy soldiers look lovely but for me this is way to much decoration!!