Sweet potato and cranberry layer cake

This towering showstopper combines a few key flavor profiles of the Thanksgiving table into one celebration-worthy centerpiece: tender, spiced sweet potato cake layered with a tart cranberry filling and finished with a torched, marshmallow-like meringue frosting. If you prefer, you could swap the sweet potato purée for pumpkin purée. There's no reason to rush the process of making this -- both the compote and the cake layers can be made a day or two ahead. Cover the compote and wrap the cake layers tightly and store both in the fridge.