Sweet Potato Bundt Cake with Spiked Sugar Glaze

Source: Adapted from In the Sweet Kitchen

3/4 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup dark rum
1 (40 ounce) can sweet potatoes, drained
4 large eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup mild-flavored vegetable oil
2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
3/4 cup buttermilk
Spiked Sugar Glaze (recipe follows)

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10-inch fluted tube or Bundt pan.

In a small, non-reactive bowl, soak the raisins in the rum for at least 30 minutes or up to several hours. Drain the raisins and reserve rum; you will use some in the cake and some in the glaze. Add 1/4 cup rum to the sweet potatoes; using a potato masher or large fork, roughly mash them or whip in a food processor.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs just to break them up. Add sugar and beat until the mixture is thick and pale. Add vegetable oil and vanilla; beat to blend. Add mashed sweet potato mixture and mix until thoroughly combined.

In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add the flour mixture to the batter in three additions, alternating with the buttermilk in two additions. Fold in raisins. Pour into pan. Bake in center of oven for 1 hour to 1 hour, 20 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean and the cake is just beginning to pull away from the sides of the pan. Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then invert onto the rack. Set over a baking sheet to catch the excess glaze.

While cake is cooling, prepare the glaze. With a long skewer, poke holes all over the cake, concentrating on the top. Spoon about half the warm glaze over the top. Let the cake and remaining glaze cool for 10 to 15 minutes, until it has thickened slightly. Pour over the cake, letting it dribble down the sides, then allow the cake to cool completely before cutting and serving or wrapping and storing.

Makes 14 servings.

Spiked Sugar Glaze: Combine 1/2 cup tightly packed dark brown sugar, 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, and 3 tablespoons whipping cream in a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Continue to boil until the mixture thickens somewhat, about 3 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and stir in the reserved 1/4 cup rum.

Per serving: Cal 484 (39% fat) Fat 21 g (6 g sat) Fiber 2 g Chol 72 mg Sodium 323 mg Carb 65 g Calcium 50 mg