The Ultimate Show-Stopping Turkey Cake

Before You Begin

To ensure a smooth assembly process, prepare the following components ahead of time: mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, sausage stuffing, and sweet potatoes. Rewarm everything except the cranberry sauce just before assembling the cake.

Turkey Layers

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground turkey breast
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1/3 cup finely chopped yellow onion
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh sage leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
• Unsalted butter, for coating the pans

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle.
2. Coat two 8-inch cake pans with butter.
3. Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl until combined.
4. Divide the mixture evenly between the pans and smooth out the top.
5. Bake for 25 minutes or until cooked through.
6. Let cool for 10 minutes and blot away excess fat from the surface.

Sweet Potato Layer

Ingredients:

• 1 pound sweet potatoes
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• Pinch ground mace or nutmeg
• Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

1. Steam the sweet potatoes until tender, about 20-25 minutes.
2. Mash the sweet potatoes with milk, butter, brown sugar, salt, and mace or nutmeg until smooth.

Assembly

Ingredients:

• About 5 cups Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes (warm)
• 1/2 cup cranberry sauce (chilled and excess liquid drained)
• 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 cups pre-cooked sausage stuffing (warmed or uncooked)
• 1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
• Gravy, for serving (optional)

Instructions:

1. Arrange a rack in the lower third of the oven.
2. Unmold one turkey layer and place it bottom-side up on an overturned 8-inch cake pan or in an ovenproof serving dish.
3. Spread 1 1/4 cups of mashed potatoes over the top, leaving a 1/2-inch border.
4. Spread the cranberry sauce evenly over the mashed potatoes.
5. Pack the stuffing in an even layer over the cranberry sauce.
6. Spread another 1 1/4 cups of mashed potatoes over the stuffing.
7. Unmold the second turkey layer and place it bottom-side up on top of the mashed potatoes.
8. Transfer the cake to a baking sheet and bake until heated through, about 30-40 minutes.
9. Broil the cake until the marshmallows are golden, about 1-2 minutes.
10. Serve immediately with gravy, if desired.

Tips and Variations

Tips:

• To ensure a smooth assembly process, prepare all the components ahead of time.

Variations:

• You can customize the cake by using different types of cheese, herbs, or spices in the turkey layers.
• Consider adding other ingredients, such as diced bell peppers or chopped bacon, to the turkey layers for added flavor.