Sweet Potato Dump Cake

This sweet potato dump cake recipe, developed in our test kitchen by culinary expert Kathryn Standing, is perfect for all your holiday potluck needs. 

Sweet Potato Dump Cake Ingredients

These are the ingredients you’ll need to make this easy sweet potato dump cake recipe: 

• Canned sweet potatoes: This recipe starts with two cans of sweet potatoes in light syrup, drained.
• Butter: You’ll need two sticks of salted butter, divided. 
• Sweetened condensed milk: Sweetened condensed milk is the decadent secret ingredient.
• Vanilla: Take the flavor up a notch with vanilla extract. 
• Spices: Pumpkin pie spice adds spicy, warm, cozy flavor. Use store-bought pumpkin pie spice or . 
• Cake mix: Use store-bought boxed yellow cake mix or boxed spice cake mix. 
• Pecans: Chopped pecans are optional, but they add welcome crunch and flavor. 

How to Make Sweet Potato Dump Cake

You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make homemade sweet potato dump cake: 

1. Beat the sweet potatoes, a stick of melted butter, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, and spice in a large mixing bowl until almost smooth. 
2. Spread the sweet potato mixture evenly into the prepared pan, then sprinkle with cake mix.
3. Place cold butter pieces evenly over cake mix and sprinkle with pecans.
4. Bake until golden brown and set. 

Test Kitchen Tips

This recipe was developed in our test kitchen. Check out some tips and tricks from culinary experts that might make the cooking process easier:

• For a slightly less sweet cake, substitute three cups of canned sweet potato puree for the drained sweet potatoes
• You can also use fresh sweet potatoes, if you prefer a less sweet cake. Find sweet potato cooking instructions below. 
• Don’t forget to let the cake sit in the pan for about 20 minutes before serving, as it needs time to set completely. 
• If you’d like to customize this cake, add marshmallows to the top in the last 5 minutes or add coconut to the cake before baking.

How to Store Sweet Potato Dump Cake

Allow the cake to cool completely, then cover tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to five days. 

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