Martine and Myrna Bazin’s Sweet Potato Cake (Pain Patate)
We loved discovering this Haitian cake just as much as the connections it has sparked. It’s Ricardo’s neighbour Martine and her mother, Myrna, who were kind enough to share a bit of their culture through this recipe. Its surprising purple sweet potato base gives it a texture that’s both firm and soft like bread. Follow […]
Ingredients
- 1 cup (210 g) brown sugar
- 1 cup (150 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 3 white-fleshed sweet potatoes with purple skin (about 2.2 lb/1 kg), peeled and cubed (see note)
- ¼ cup (55 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup (55 g) vegetable shortening, softened
- ¼ cup (60 ml) evaporated milk
- ¼ cup (60 ml) coconut milk
- 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla
- 1 cup (140 g) raisins
Instructions
- With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Generously butter and flour an 11 x 8-inch (28 x 20 cm) rectangular baking dish.
- In a bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, baking powder, salt and spices. Set aside.
- In a large pot of boiling water, cook the potatoes for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain. Return the potatoes to the pot.
- Using a potato masher, purée the hot potatoes with the butter and shortening until smooth. Add the evaporated milk, coconut milk and vanilla. Using a spatula, fold in the dry ingredients, then the raisins.
- Over medium heat, cook the potato mixture for 10 minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. The mixture will now be shiny and sticky like a choux paste. Spread the mixture out in the prepared dish.
- Bake the bread for 1 hour until the bottom is amber and caramelized. Let cool completely before cutting into squares.
We loved discovering this Haitian cake just as much as the connections it has sparked. It’s Ricardo’s neighbour Martine and her mother, Myrna, who were kind enough to share a bit of their culture through this recipe. Its surprising purple sweet potato base gives it a texture that’s both firm and soft like bread. Follow the guide and, like us, learn a few techniques.