Dad's Sweet Potato Cake

2 1/4 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground alspice
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup dark brown sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk*
3/4 cup mashed sweet potatoes
1/2 cup chopped golden raisins (optional)

Preheat oven to 350F, grease two 9" round cake pans

Sift  together flour, baking power, soda, salt, cinnamon, alspice, and ginger

Combine and blend together in a medium  bowl potatoes, buttermilk
In a large bowl, cream butter gradually adding both sugars until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition.  Beating only until smooth after each addition, alternately add dry ingredients in fourths, and potato mixture in thirds..  Turn batter into prepared pans, and spread evenly.

Bake for about 30 minutes, or until cake tests done.  Cool and remove from pans.  Frost Using our favorite Cream Cheese Frosting.


* Since we never have buttermilk around, make your own by putting a tbsp of either vinegar and lemon juicei nto a 3/4 cup measuring cup and then filling it with whole milk..  Let stand for at least 5 minutes before using.