This Sweet Potato Cinnamon Roll Recipe is a must-have for your fall and holiday recipe collection. These soft, sweet, and decadent rolls are made with warm flavors. The sweet potato filling offers a gooey, sweet taste of cinnamon and brown sugar, making it a perfect addition to any brunch or dessert. If you want a delicious recipe for your Fall or holiday baking, these cinnamon rolls are a must-try.
I recall going to the mall on Saturdays, and the only thing that would grab my attention was the heavenly scent of fresh, cinnamon-baked goods. I know you have experienced this exact thing while walking through a mall. LOL, I honestly have not seen a mall without some sort of cinnamon roll store in it. I mean, who can resist indulging in a nice, warm cinnamon roll, especially with an irresistible aroma?
Here in the south, it’s common to have sweet potatoes all year round, whether it’s a side dish or dessert. But also, we tend to eat more sweet potatoes during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays.
We love cinnamon rolls, and we love ourselves some sweet potatoes, and what better way to bring two of the best yumminess (in my opinion) together! I couldn’t be more excited about this recipe. Friend, you’re in for an absolute treat!
What are Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls?
Sweet potato cinnamon rolls are a delightful twist on a classic treat. Infused with the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes, spices of cinnamon, and nutmeg. With a sweet potato brown sugar filling, these rolls are soft, fluffy, and utterly irresistible.
Why You’ll Love Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls
There are so many reasons why you will fall in love with these sweet rolls. Here are my three top reasons why you will love these sweet treats.
- Make-ahead Friendly – Perfect for breakfast or a cozy afternoon snack, they can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator or freezer. First, let them rise and bake when you’re ready to enjoy a warm, gooey treat. Then, topped with a creamy icing, these cinnamon rolls will become a favorite for family gatherings or quiet mornings at home.
- Super Fluffy and Soft – The sweet potato helps keep the cinnamon rolls light and fluffy.
- Warm Flavors in every bite – If you love the flavors of cinnamon, brown sugar, and a pinch of nutmeg with your sweet potato, then this is the recipe for you.
So whether you enjoy them as a cozy breakfast or a delightful dessert, they’re perfect for any time of day. Be sure to explore more delicious sweet treats to complement your menu.
Ingredients Needed
Please see the Recipe Card below for the exact measurements.
Dough
- Mashed Sweet Potato
- Flour
- Yeast
- Salt
- Eggs
- Milk
- Butter
- Sugar
Filling
- Cinnamon
- Brown Sugar
- Butter
- Nutmeg
- Mashed Sweet Potato
Icing
- Confectioner Sugar
- Milk
- Vanilla Extract
Ingredient substitution
- Simple Substitute: Use Sweet Potato Instead of Pumpkin
- For a thicker consistency, use heavy whipping cream.
How to make Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls
Step 1
Prepare the sweet potatoes by either peeling them or cubing them sweet potatoes to roast in the oven, baking them in the oven with the skin on, or boiling them. (This is a good time to take your butter out of the fridge, set it onto a dish, to get it to room temperature) Once the sweet potatoes are done, take one part of the cooked sweet potato to add to the dough. The rest will be used later for the filling.
Step 2
Let’s make the dough, starting with a large bowl, adding warm milk and a pinch of sugar. Add the yeast to the milk to dissolve and wait a few minutes until the mixture starts to foam. Add in the mashed sweet potato, melted butter, salt, egg, and sugar. Slowly add the flour one cup at a time until a nice soft dough has formed.
Flour your surface and knead for about 6 minutes with your hands or use a mixer with the dough hook. (side note: the dough will be slightly sticky, but should still be able to pull away from your hands or the hook)
Step 3
Allow the dough to rise by placing the dough in a greased bowl, then covering it and allowing it to rise in a warm place. ie, near the stove or in the microwave. This is the first rise, so this will take 1 1/2 – 2 hours.
Step 4
Make the Sweet Potato Filling by combining the already cooked sweet potato, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. Mix all ingredients well.
Step 5
Time to Fill and Roll once the dough has risen, punch it down in the middle. Turn the dough out onto a clean surface that has been lightly floured. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a rectangle shape. First, spread the softened butter over the dough, then add the sweet potato mixture. Begin rolling the dough tightly to form a log.
Step 6
Prepare for the second rise, slicing the log into equal pieces and placing each roll onto a prepared pan (butter, baking spray, or parchment paper). Cover the rolls to allow them to rise again.
Step 7
Bake the sweet rolls until golden brown. Allow them to cool down a bit before adding the icing on top.
Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Rolling Pin
- 1 Stand Mixer with kneading hook optional
Ingredients
Dough
- 4 cups All Purpose Flour
- ½ cup Mashed Sweet Potato
- 2¼ tsp. Active Dry Yeast
- ⅓ cup Sugar
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 1 cup Milk warm
- 2 Egg
- ¼ cup Butter Unsalted
Sweet Potato Filling
- 1 cup Sweet Potato
- 2 tbsp. Cinnamon
- 1 tsp. Nutmeg
- 1 cup Brown Sugar
- 1 stick Butter Soften
Icing
- 1 cup Powder Sugar
- 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
- 3 tbsp. Milk or Heavy Whipping Cream
Instructions
- Start by baking or boiling the potato until fork tender. once done mash and mix until smooth. (½ cup will be for the dough and the remaining sweet pototo will be for the filling)
- In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm milk with a pinch of salt. once the yeast mixture has foam, then add the eggs, sugar, salt, sweet potato, and butter. Slowly add in the flour and gently mix until a soft dough forms.
- Lightly sprinkle flour onto the surface or mat and knead the dough by hand for 1-2 minutes. If using a stand mixer with a kneading hook, knead until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased mixing bowl. Cover with a clean towel and place bowl in a warm place to allow the dough to double in size for 1-1½ hours. Punch down the middle of the dough to release the air.
- Turn the dough onto a floured surface, and roll dough into a rectangle. Spread the soften butter from end to end then add the sweet potato mixture on top of the butter. Start with a tight roll and roll into a log shape.
- Slice into equal pieces and place in a greased 9×13 pan.. Cover and let the sweet rolls rise until double in size for 35-40 minutes. Preheat the oven 350℉.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool before glazing.
