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The Process – {Sweet Potato Ginger Spice Cake with Toasted Marshmallow Filling and Brown Sugar Maple Buttercream}

January 7, 2012 by Kaitlin 33 Comments

I’ve learned a lot of things in college. Some about the world, some about laundry, some about people, some about science… You get it.

Thankfully, not everything I learn gets pounded in my head. To the delight of students everywhere, profs – generally – seem to understand that not every little bit of information they share with us is something that necessarily needs to be committed to memory.

But if I have learned anything, it’s that when an instructor repeats themselves – blatantly or not – you’d better take note. Pepper that definition in the margins and season your textbook with fluorescence; repetition means at least one of the following:

a) it’s on the midterm
b) it’s on the final
b) it’s just plain important


So, to save my poor future self the headache, I do my best to just memorize the important stuff as it’s delivered. It’s the only way to be safe.

Which means that when prof started dropping dates and advice at least twice a class in regard to an upcoming career and internship fair, I made myself a note. Multiple notes on multiple notebooks and devices that I saw whenever I switched classes, sent a text, checked my email, or turned on my computer. That date was there, which I knew meant I would be, too.

But after sharing the date, prof would share his favorite line of advice with the class:

“First impressions are the most important.”

Um. Duh. He threw out the tip as all-knowingly as he was able – a skill the man had truly mastered – and went about sharing tactics for being memorable. His rhetoric was laughable and simplistic as he carried on in that monstrous lecture hall; an endless stream of advice about standing too close and standing too far away and watching your language and not bad-mouthing other bosses and maintaining eye contact and being honest and – woah. Really, dude? I felt like I was sitting on on some sort of Remedial Basic Human Functioning course.

Naturally, I pulled my phone from my pocket and texted H about going shopping for an outfit to wear to the career fair later that evening.

I was feeling confident when we left the mall; one trip to the grocery store poorer and one dress richer. I had decided not to buy new shoes and accessories in the interest of practicality, choosing instead to wear what I had at home in addition to the professional robing that I had, until then, lacked. Everything was set, it seemed, until sleep began to lace my eyes. It was at that moment that prof’s advice began replaying in my mind – each time louder than the last. It made me nervous, and understandably so, certain that his tedious repetition and over-explanation must have been of some importance. Suddenly apprehensive, I lost a lot of self-confidence in a matter of seconds.

When I woke up in the morning, I was distraught. The hair framing my face was at an awkward length – somewhere between barely ponytail-able and kinda cute left loose – and I had awful circles under my eyes. My mascara did that annoying thing where it leaves a trail of dots on your eyelids.

An unfortunately red zit had made a home on the side of my nose.

Outside it was stormy and cold, but I stumbled into my dress and only pair of black shoes – the ones that I had forgotten added 4 inches to my 5 foot 8 inch self – and stepped into the driver’s seat of my impressively/embarrassingly old car. Of course, I’d incorrectly assumed I had an umbrella in my car, so I walked into the building with slicked-back hair and smeared makeup; a complete mess sporting a cheap binder with a pair of [thankfully dry] resumes waiting inside.


When I approached the booth of the company I most wanted to work for, I felt severely unprepared. I was awkward and choppy, and though I planned to avoid mentioning that I had never been to a career fair before (as prof had suggested many times), I found the words somehow floating in the air. He’d told us to appear confident so as to make ourselves more appealing, but it wasn’t happening. He told us to speak eloquently and clearly, but… That wasn’t happening. His common sense tips for respecting personal space and being honest came to me naturally, but other than that… Prof had done nothing but stress me out.

So I took matters into my own hand.

Instead of talking about only work and job experience, we talked about bacon. And breakfast. And blogs. I’m pretty sure she could tell I wasn’t sure of myself, which probably helped make the irrelevant conversation more comfortable, but just talking about familiar things made me feel better AND sound like I wasn’t a total moron. It was a quick exchange, no more than five minutes, but I dropped off my resume and headed home a little less stressed, and still positive of nothing.

But I did learn something. The last-minute stressing didn’t do much good for me. In the end, if the company wanted me, they’d let me know. If not… Well, there’d be other opportunities. But in order to make their decision easier, I realized that the most important thing to do was to just be myself.

Which, for some reason, is something prof neglected to mention.

Autumn Delight Cake slightly adapted from Sweetapolita
I know it’s no longer autumn, but we’ve been enjoying a mild winter for a number of weeks, so I’m keeping the autumn spirit alive with this cake. It’s a combination of dense, fluffy and smooth that I’m sure you’ll love. The toasted marshmallow filling is my favorite component!

Printable Recipe

Sweet Potato Ginger Cake

2 lbs (908 g) sweet potatoes (about 3 large)
2 c (230 g) cake flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp powdered ginger
2 c (400 g) sugar
4 eggs, room temp
1 1/4 c (315 ml) sunflower oil (or vegetable, safflower, canola oil)
2 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp brandy or dark rum
3/4 c (120 g) crystallized ginger chips

Preheat oven to 350F. Oil and line two 8″ cake pans and set aside.

Place the sweet potatoes on a microwave-safe plate and pierce them with a fork. Microwave until they are tender throughout, about 7-8 minutes per side, and allow to cool. When they are cool enough to handle, remove the skin and mash into a coarse puree. Set aside.

In a medium size bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Set aside.

Combine the eggs and sugar in the bowl of your mixer and beat together with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the oil and beat to incorporate. Add the cooled sweet potato puree, vanilla and rum, then mix until well combined.

Sift the mixed dry ingredients over the batter in one addition and mix gently to combine, scraping the sides of the bowl. Fold in the crystallized ginger chips.

Divide the batter between the two prepared pans and smooth the tops with an offset spatula. Bake until the top springs back when gently pressed, about 40 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on a rack for ten minutes, then remove from pans and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in the fridge to cool completely.

Brown Sugar and Maple Swiss Meringue Buttercream
Please click here for a step-by-step guide to making Swiss Meringue Buttercream and troubleshooting tips!

5 egg whites
1 1/4 c (250 g) light brown sugar
1 1/2 c (340 g) butter, room temp and cut into cubes
2 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp maple syrup

In a double boiler, cook the egg whites and sugar over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture is hot, about five minutes (test by rubbing some between your fingers. If it’s completely smooth, it’s done). Pour into another bowl (a stand mixer is preferable) and whip on high speed until room temp. Then, on a medium-low speed, add the butter, waiting until each piece is completely incorporated before adding the next. The buttercream may turn into a soupy curdled mess during this process, but if you continue beating it for a few minutes it will become light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and maple syrup, then beat to combine.

Whipped Toasted Marshmallow Filling
This is best used immediately (but it keeps fine in the cake), and should be kept at room temperature until needed for assembly. Also, it tastes amazing. Try to save some for the cake πŸ˜‰

12-16 standard-size marshmallows
1 c (227 g) butter, room temp
1 c (125 g) confectioner’s sugar, sifted
2 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
7.5 oz Marshmallow Fluff
pinch of salt

Turn on your broiler and arrange marshmallows on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Place tray in lower rack of oven and broil until browned on top, keeping a close eye on them. Remove the tray and carefully flip the marshmallows. Return to the oven and broil until the other half is browned. Cool on a wire rack.

Whip the butter with the paddle attachment until very light and fluffy, about 8 minutes.

Add the confectioner’s sugar, milk, vanilla and salt and mix slowly to incorporate, then beat for another 6 minutes.

Add the cooled toasted marshmallows and marshmallow fluff, mixing on low speed for about 2 minutes.

Assembly
Click here for a tutorial for assembling layer cakes, and here for my preferred frosting method.

2 x 8″ Sweet Potato Ginger Cake
Whipped Toasted Marshmallow Filling
Brown Sugar Maple Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Remove the chilled Sweet Potato Ginger Cakes from the freezer and level them. Cut each in half horizontally.

Set one layer down on your serving plate and top with 1/3 of the Whipped Toasted Marshmallow Filling. Spread evenly from the center out to the edges. Place another layer on top, and add another third of the filling. Spread to the edges and repeat one more time. After placing the last layer of cake on top, crumb coat the entire cake with the Brown Sugar Maple Buttercream to seal in any stray crumbs. Frost as desired with remaining buttercream.

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Cakes

« Review – {Stollen}
Fit – {Grapefruit Poppy Seed Cupcakes with Strawberry Rhubarb Jam and Cream Cheese Swiss Meringue Buttercream} »

Comments

  1. Where My Heart Is says

    January 7, 2012 at 4:16 am

    I've just printed out the recipe. Can't wait to give it a go. Sounds pretty healthy too, sweet potato and all πŸ™‚

    Reply
  2. Zeflower says

    January 7, 2012 at 12:42 pm

    aahh YOURE AMAZING!!

    Reply
  3. Elizabeth says

    January 7, 2012 at 4:14 pm

    This is so pretty! The marshmallow filling sounds and looks delicious!

    Reply
  4. Elizabeth M says

    January 7, 2012 at 11:20 pm

    The cake looks beautiful!

    Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    January 8, 2012 at 4:10 am

    Love the cake! I was wondering…when you make Swiss Meringue Buttercream, does it turn out to have a slight off-whitish hue to it due to the butter, or is it completely white?

    Reply
  6. whisk-kid.com says

    January 8, 2012 at 4:34 am

    Thanks very much, guys! <br /><br />Where My Heart Is, I totally agree! So healthy πŸ˜‰ <br /><br />Anonymous, I really looked at a batch recently because someone else asked me that question, and it&#39;s more off-white than pure white. It&#39;s kinda more of a cream color πŸ™‚

    Reply
  7. thelittleloaf says

    January 8, 2012 at 4:40 pm

    This looks absolutely amazing! Your decoration skills are incredible and I love the sound of that maple buttercream. It&#39;s gorgeously thick too – I hate stingy application of frosting πŸ™‚

    Reply
  8. Lily says

    January 8, 2012 at 11:20 pm

    very cute pine cone decorations lovveee ittt

    Reply
  9. Faygie says

    January 8, 2012 at 11:38 pm

    I made this cake for Thanksgiving. It&#39;s fantastic!!

    Reply
  10. Cathy @ Savory Notes says

    January 9, 2012 at 7:55 am

    The worst interview of my life was for admission to a women&#39;s liberal arts college… Everyone kept telling me to smile (because I&#39;m not a natural smile-er), and talk about positive things! So I smiled. A LOT. And EVERY freaking thing I said was positive. I could tell I even made the interviewer at the admissions office uncomfortable. Needless to say, I didn&#39;t get into the college (of

    Reply
  11. Elizabeth says

    January 9, 2012 at 4:07 pm

    This cake is SO pretty. πŸ™‚

    Reply
  12. Jess says

    January 9, 2012 at 4:20 pm

    The design on this cake is simple and stunning. wonderful job

    Reply
  13. Julia says

    January 10, 2012 at 6:50 pm

    Being yourself is totally the way to be! I&#39;d hire someone if they wanted to talk about bacon and cake, yep, I sure would! Frankly, I&#39;d vote for someone for president if their entire campaign was simply based on bacon and cake. And your cake, Kaitlin, your pastry skills are immaculate!

    Reply
  14. Anonymous says

    January 11, 2012 at 9:02 pm

    I love your blog, your stories, and ESPECIALLY your cakes (and everything else you make). I hope you&#39;ll post if you hear back from the company! Maybe next time you should bring them some of your cakes – I&#39;d hire you if you brought that into my office once a week πŸ™‚ Good luck!

    Reply
  15. Lisa Marie says

    January 18, 2012 at 2:24 am

    I made this cake tonight and my buttercream was not quite as fluffy as yours appears to be. I think it may have been me not letting the egg whites cool down enough before adding the butter. It had almost a runny consistency, even when complete. Can you please give me pointers on what I may have done wrong :-/

    Reply
  16. freeeatsfood.com says

    January 19, 2012 at 8:37 pm

    This is such a beautiful cake! That toasted marshmallow filling looks divine. I saw Sweetapolita&#39;s version when she posted it and I was swooning then. Now I MUST make this! πŸ™‚

    Reply
  17. Lauren A says

    January 20, 2012 at 4:05 pm

    Beautiful cake!! Looks AMAZING

    Reply
  18. Mackenzie@The Caramel Cookie says

    January 21, 2012 at 10:47 pm

    Putting yourself out there for jobs is sooo intimidating!Good luck!<br />And the cake look beautiful and delicious :).

    Reply
  19. Ilan (IronWhisk Blog) says

    January 23, 2012 at 6:52 am

    Such a pretty cake!<br /><br />If you&#39;d like, I&#39;d eat it for you.<br /><br />I particularly like the piping and the pine cones.<br /><br />We don&#39;t really have pine cones in Canada… just snow.

    Reply
  20. Mr. P says

    January 23, 2012 at 1:40 pm

    Fingers crossed for you though! (I&#39;d hire you.)

    Reply
  21. whisk-kid.com says

    January 24, 2012 at 4:39 am

    Thank you thank you thank you!<br /><br />Cathy, I love your advice :D<br /><br />Lisa, I responded to your email πŸ™‚

    Reply
  22. Erin says

    January 24, 2012 at 3:30 pm

    That is a beautiful cake! Best of luck with your career choices! And being yourself is definetly always the best way, it&#39;s alwaysworse when you&#39;re uncomfortable and trying to conform to someone elses idea of how you should be!

    Reply
  23. Deena @ StayatHomeFoodie says

    January 27, 2012 at 3:34 am

    Lovely cake. <br />And don&#39;t stress the career stuff… if you&#39;re prepared and open to new things, great opportunities present themselves.

    Reply
  24. Cath says

    January 28, 2012 at 9:25 am

    What a great cake ! so lovely decorated… congratulations<br />cath

    Reply
  25. Dawnye7 says

    January 28, 2012 at 3:35 pm

    What a beautiful cake and story. And Thanks for being you.

    Reply
  26. Trissa says

    January 28, 2012 at 11:03 pm

    If you wanted to impress, just show them your blog. Surely someone who makes cakes as beautiful as yours would be an asset to any company! Good luck Kaitlin. You just be yourself and people will flock to you.

    Reply
  27. Rochelle Ramos says

    January 29, 2012 at 6:31 pm

    I&#39;m not the all-knowing-of-jobs, but I believe in not looking at the first impression that people give, or the second even… maybe the third. I also have a tendency to ignore all good advice and admit to things like shyness and nerves (of which I have both). I don&#39;t know about companies in general, but I&#39;d prefer someone who cares enough about said employment to be nervous, it shows

    Reply
  28. Janet says

    January 30, 2012 at 2:15 pm

    I miss you! Is all ok?? Hopeing you are busy at work. Come back soon as I am in need of a new baking swoon!

    Reply
  29. Kaitlin says

    January 30, 2012 at 10:11 pm

    Thanks so much for the kind and helpful comments, guys!<br /><br />Rochelle, I have to agree with you. People aren&#39;t really themselves until they&#39;re comfortable with others! <br /><br />Janet, totally fine, thanks! I had been hoping to get a new post up last night, but it had to wait until today πŸ™‚

    Reply
  30. Caking! says

    February 2, 2012 at 1:13 pm

    This looks so delicious! All my favourite autumnal flavours in a gorgeous cake, definitely trying it for a party later this month. Good luck with any future job opportunities – just take them a slice of this, sure to win anyone over!

    Reply
  31. whisk-kid.com says

    February 7, 2012 at 1:47 pm

    Thank you! I hope you&#39;ll like it!

    Reply
  32. Laura Dembowski says

    April 23, 2012 at 3:59 pm

    This cake looks absolutely amazing. I&#39;m going to try it with homemade marshmallow frosting, which may be my favorite thing on earth. And being yourself is one of the most important things in life. It&#39;s something I remind myself almost every day!

    Reply
  33. Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says

    October 1, 2013 at 6:40 pm

    Gorgeous cake! I think I could eat the entire cake myself!

    Reply

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Kaitlin Flannery

Butter-obsessed 24-year-old.

Kaitlin(at)Whisk-Kid(dot)com

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