sweet potato bourbon bundt cake

Guess who's coming to dinner? Me and this yummy bundt cake! My friends are getting together on Saturday for a pre-thanksgiving dinner. It's a tradition we started last year as a fun way to try out new recipes and make dishes not approved for our traditional family celebrations. As I mentioned last week, I've been looking for an interesting cake recipe, and I decided this one fits the bill perfectly... it sounds mouthwateringly delicious, and I'm a fan of anything with a bit of southern flair. Can't wait to try it out!

{image & recipe via martha stewart}

Sweet-Potato Bourbon Bundt Cake

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pan
2 large eggs
1 cup cooked sweet potato
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup bourbon or apple juice
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
3/4 teaspoon salt
Nonstick cooking spray with flour
3 tablespoons chopped pecans
**Bourbon Syrup

Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together brown sugar, butter, and eggs until very light and fluffy. Add sweet potato and vanilla; beat to combine. Add flour, milk, bourbon, baking powder, pie spice, and salt; mix until just incorporated. Lightly spray a 10 or 12 cup Bundt pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle bottom and up sides of the pan with pecans. Pour in cake batter.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely on wire rack. Brush cake with bourbon syrup. Serve cake slices with any remaining syrup.

**Bourbon Syrup
Makes enough for one 10- to 12-cup Bundt cake

Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons bourbon

Directions
In a small saucepan, bring sugar and 1/2 cup water to a boil. Cook 5 minutes. Add butter, vanilla, and bourbon. Cook until syrupy, about 5 minutes.