Baby Sweet Potato Cakes With Pecans and Sticky Caramel Sauce

DIRECTIONS

• Beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.
• Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition.
• Combine flour and baking soda.
• Gradually add half of flour mixture to butter mixture, beating at low speed until blended, and stopping to scrape bottom and down sides of bowl.
• Add remaining half of flour mixture, and beat until blended.
• Add vanilla and next 5 ingredients, beating at medium speed until smooth.
• Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray, filling two-thirds full.
• 3. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool in pan on a wire rack 5 minutes.
• Remove warm cakes from pan, and sprinkle with toasted pecans.
• Top each cake with 2 1/2 Tbsp Caramel-Pecan Sauce (*recipe follows).
• Serve with vanilla ice cream or ice-cold heavy cream, if desired.
• *Caramel-Pecan Sauce:.
• Cook butter and sugar in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes or until butter melts and sugar dissolves.
• Whisk in heavy cream and coffee granules. Bring mixture to a light boil, stirring constantly.
• Turn off heat, and let stand on cooktop until slightly cool, stirring often. Makes 2 cups.