Thanks for your well-explained answer, Allison!

Last time I made yam "patties" rather than a "pie" that you cut up.
So yes, they were ready when I took them out of the oven.

I think last time I used quick oats. This time I used rolled oats, as I wanted it to come out a bit drier.
I also used only 1/4 cup water though Elaine's recipe calls for 1/3 to 1/2 cup.

It came out a bit too dry. Next time I will use a little more water.
I'll also add some salt. This time I used no spices.

Instead of peanut butter, I used almond butter plus some extra oil (as the recipe says to do, if not using peanut butter).

And on the topic of nut butter - I always empty out a new jar of almond butter into a bowl and stir with a whisk till the oil and the solids get incorporated. Then I put it back into the jar, and store in the fridge.

Last point - Elaine's yam cakes call for a cup of protein powder,
whereas Colette's do not include it. (If you read my *amendment*, I didn't make Elaine's recipe last time. I realized later that I had made Colette's.)
I think the protein powder gives the yam cakes substance and more solid texture.

So I'm pleased with the results, and will add a bit more water and some salt next time.

Sarit

: When I make them, the texture is sort
: of like a brownie - soft and chewy
: at the same time. I think it's the
: nut butter that gives it that
: texture. (Make sure your nut
: butter is well blended. If you
: don't mix it well, you either end
: up with too much oil, or at the
: bottom of the jar, not enough,
: which will not give you a good
: texture. I sometimes will open a
: new jar and mix it up with an
: electric mixer.) The texture is
: part of what I like about them. I
: wonder if you added too much
: liquid. I usually have to add a
: little water, but the dough is
: very thick and sticky and once I
: dump it in the baking pan, I have
: to use my hands or the back of a
: spoon to spread it out. Also, did
: you stick a knife or toothpick
: into the center to test whether
: they were really done?

: If you use regular rolled oats, they
: don't really cook because there
: isn't much liquid in the dough, so
: the bars will be tough.

: I have had them come out too dry
: (from rolled oats or nut butter
: that did not have enough oil) but
: I have never had them come out
: mushy.
: Allison