I said in a previous thread that I wanted to convert my sweet potato layer cake (which is really moist) to a bundt cake.  I think I made it with one try.  I cannot wrap my head around percentages and math.  I just chose an amount by which to increase the flour.  It is an oil cake and for this I tried 50/50 oil and butter.  (I may try increasing the flour sometime with the layer cake so it is easier to torte.  The cake is very popular so I will have to get approval of the frequent buyers. 

I am not certain why the bottom (top now) is darker.  I do not it was in the over a couple of minutes too long but it did not seem to suffer.  (That is reflected in the dark crust that was the edges of the cake).  This was baked in my 6 cup bundt pan. 

Looks great, congrats on more successful recipe development! 

Did you increase the flour as a proportion of the overall formula, or were you talking about scaling the recipe?  In general, a layer cake requires more structure than a bundt, so nearly any layer cake will work well in a bundt without needing adjustment of the formula (other than maybe scaling).  I find that many recipes designed for a single 9x2 layer will work in a 6 cup bundt without needing to be scaled.  The pan volumes are different, but you can fill a tube pan 3/4 full instead of the 1/2 to 2/3 that goes in a layer pan.  TMI?  wouldn’t be the first time…

Not sure about the darker bit- my first thought was oven heat- did the oven need to finish pre-heating or was the door opened more times than usual?  But that wouldn’t have had such a clear line of demarcation- the line makes it look more like it was related to the level of the batter when you filled the pan.  I keep thinking of pH and temperature- what could have made the pH more acidic as the cake bakes (I’ve no idea what could make that happen), or could the batter have been warmer than the pan?  I’m stumped.

Thank you, Julie.  I am delighted with the result thus far.  I tried a sweet potato pound cake recipe I found on the internet (there are many) several months ago.  Converting my layer cake was the best idea. 

The layer cake is really moist and soft.  I think it holds up to the slicing because of the cream cheese frosting.  I used the amounts for two layers of 7 x 2.  And, just increaded the flour only by 25%.  I converted this from a recipe provided in volume measurement.  But I recall that the original was always pretty soft also.  Actually, that is not TMI - it is useful to know and remember. 

I am stumped on the line also.  I will be doing another test as I did not use the coconut and walnut I usually add (just did not want to waste it). 

Also, at some point I will try baking or microwaving the sweet potato.  Now, I boil them and puree the sweet potato with a potato ricer.  I am sure that contributes to the moistness.  If I do this, I will likely need to decrease the frosting.  And, this is only necessary to save labor.

I would not have the knowledge, instinct, or courage to test successfully like this were it not for this forum.  I love you people and this place!!

It looks great!  I never tried sweet potato cake. It really looks yummy.

Looks great to me! And what a nice picture

CRenee - 09 February 2013 02:32 AM

I am not certain why the bottom (top now) is darker.

I hypothesize that the exterior of the batter warmed too quickly before the batter started expanding. Could the oven temperature be too hot? Did you use the same temperature as you used for the layer cake?

CharlesT - 09 February 2013 01:59 PM

CRenee - 09 February 2013 02:32 AM

I am not certain why the bottom (top now) is darker.

I hypothesize that the exterior of the batter warmed too quickly before the batter started expanding. Could the oven temperature be too hot? Did you use the same temperature as you used for the layer cake?

‘
No Charles.  That certainly is something to consider.  I set at 325 for the first 20 minutes and then 350 for the remaining 30.  I do the layered cake at 350.  This is similar to what I do for a pound cake in that same pan.  I will set at 350 the next time.

CRenee - 09 February 2013 03:30 PM

I set at 325 for the first 20 minutes and then 350 for the remaining 30.  I do the layered cake at 350.  This is similar to what I do for a pound cake in that same pan.  I will set at 350 the next time.

I was actually going to suggest the lower temperature if you hadn’t been using it, although I suspected you already were. If you’re cranking the temp up to 350 after 20 minutes, though, I think this would produce the same scenario as Julie envisioned when she asked if you’d finished preheating or opened the door more often than usual. The bottom heating element would be active for an unusually long time as it struggled to raise the temperature, and the radiant heat would make the bottom of the pan pretty hot. I’d bet that leaving the temp at 325 would remove the color banding.

CharlesT - 09 February 2013 03:59 PM

CRenee - 09 February 2013 03:30 PM

I set at 325 for the first 20 minutes and then 350 for the remaining 30.  I do the layered cake at 350.  This is similar to what I do for a pound cake in that same pan.  I will set at 350 the next time.

I was actually going to suggest the lower temperature if you hadn’t been using it, although I suspected you already were. If you’re cranking the temp up to 350 after 20 minutes, though, I think this would produce the same scenario as Julie envisioned when she asked if you’d finished preheating or opened the door more often than usual. The bottom heating element would be active for an unusually long time as it struggled to raise the temperature, and the radiant heat would make the bottom of the pan pretty hot. I’d bet that leaving the temp at 325 would remove the color banding.

THank you, Charles.  I will give that a try then.

Thank you Flour Girl… Thank you SweetNess.  Photography is still challenging to me.

That’s a beautiful bundt cake, CRenee. Looking at this just reminds me I need to add yet another piece of equipment to my kitchen - a bundt cake pan.

CRenee - 09 February 2013 05:30 PM

Thank you Flour Girl… Thank you SweetNess.  Photography is still challenging to me.

You did great! The picture looks like I am looking through a window. I can almost taste your crumb.

Thank you MP..  Yes, at least one bundt pan.  I like Nordicware.

Flour Girl - 09 February 2013 08:57 PM

CRenee - 09 February 2013 05:30 PM

Thank you Flour Girl… Thank you SweetNess.  Photography is still challenging to me.

You did great! The picture looks like I am looking through a window. I can almost taste your crumb.

Thank you Flour Girl.  I just take severa shots and pick one.

Flour Girl - 09 February 2013 11:28 AM

It looks great!  I never tried sweet potato cake. It really looks yummy.

To make one, Just take Rose’s pumpkin cake and replace the pumpkiin with cooked pureed sweet potato

Beautiful bundt!  The picture is really pretty, too.