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Tasty Sweet Potato Cornbread

As seen in: Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes: Create the Perfect Holiday Feast

This fluffy cornbread blends mashed sweet potatoes with warm spices, finished with a butter glaze sweetened with honey. A comforting choice for sides or snacks.

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Refreshed on Thu, 01 May 2025 15:03:59 GMT
Golden pieces of cornbread stacked on a black rack. Save it
Golden pieces of cornbread stacked on a black rack. | iamcooker.com

Country-style Sweet Potato Cornbread brings together fluffy texture with deep flavors. This tasty twist on traditional cornbread uses sweet potato puree, cozy spices, and a drizzle of brown sugar honey topping. It goes great with hot chili or a bowl of greens. You'll love this sweet treat alongside any main dish.

The Heartfelt Story Behind This Dish

Whenever I make this cornbread, amazing smells of spices and sweet potatoes take over my kitchen. These flavors mix to create something that stands out from regular cornbread. I'm amazed by how it works with everything from hot dishes to breakfast. My friends won't let me show up to gatherings without bringing it along.

Ingredients You'll Want

  • Sweet Potatoes: 1 cup smooth puree from fresh or canned options.
  • Cornmeal: Yellow type gives you that classic grainy bite.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Balances out the cornmeal and holds everything together.
  • Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove for that cozy fall feeling.
  • Brown Sugar: Gives both sweetness and rich undertones.
  • Butter and Oil: Makes every mouthful soft and rich.
  • Buttermilk: Creates softness and adds a hint of tang.
  • Baking Powder and Soda: Makes your cornbread puff up nicely.
  • Eggs: Keeps everything together as it bakes.
  • Honey Glaze: Brown sugar, honey, and butter blend for a shiny sweet coating.

Step-by-Step Cooking Guide

Get Your Sweet Potato Ready
Cook sweet potatoes in boiling water until soft, remove skins, and mash until no lumps remain. Set aside 1 cup.
Combine Your Dry Stuff
Stir cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and sugars together in a big bowl.
Mix Your Wet Ingredients
In another bowl, stir sweet potato puree, eggs, butter, oil, vanilla, and buttermilk until blended smoothly. Add color if you want.
Mix and Bake Your Bread
Slowly add dry mix to wet mix, stirring just enough to combine. Pour into a greased 8-inch pan and bake at 400°F for 40 minutes. Cover with foil halfway through. It's done when a toothpick comes out clean.
Top and Enjoy
Stir brown sugar, honey, and melted butter for your glaze. Brush all over the hot cornbread before serving.

Foods That Go Well With It

I always grab this cornbread when I'm making thick stews and chilis, but it tastes just as good with Southern cooking like greens or roasted chicken. Sometimes I can't help grabbing a piece with my afternoon coffee. That sweet topping makes it feel special no matter what you're eating it with.

Tips For Success

After many tries, I've found that spending extra time on the sweet potato mixture really matters. I always blend until it's completely smooth with no strings for the best feel. Don't overmix your batter if you want it fluffy and soft. And don't forget to cover with foil partway through baking - that's how you get that nice golden top without burning.

Storage Ideas

If you've got some left, wrap it up tight in plastic or foil after it cools down. It'll stay good in your fridge for three days or in your freezer for up to three months. Just warm it up in the microwave or put it in a low oven for ten minutes to make it taste fresh again.

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A freshly baked golden-brown cake in a glass baking dish, sitting on a wooden surface. | iamcooker.com

Common Questions

→ How should I make the sweet potato puree?

Boil the sweet potatoes with their skins until soft. Let them cool, peel off the skin, and blend them into a smooth mixture. Use a cup of it here.

→ What’s the purpose of foil while baking?

Foil helps keep the top from getting too dark after 20 minutes, giving the middle a chance to bake evenly.

→ Why use eggs at room temperature?

Using room temp eggs makes them mix more easily with the other ingredients and keeps the bread texture nicely even.

→ Does adding food coloring change anything?

The food coloring just makes the bread look more orange. It doesn’t change how it tastes, so it’s totally optional.

→ Why mix sugar with hot butter?

Sugar melts better into the butter when it’s hot. This prevents any gritty bits in the glaze.

Final Thoughts

This updated take on cornmeal bread uses mashed sweet potatoes to add softness and flavor—perfect to go with any main dish.

Sweet Potato Cornbread

Cornbread with sweet potatoes and cozy spices, topped with a glossy honey and sugar butter glaze. A great match for savory meals.

Preparation
15 Mins
Cooking Duration
40 Mins
Complete Duration
55 Mins
By: sofia


Complexity: Moderate

Origin: American

Output: 8 Portions (8 pieces)

Diet Types: Plant-Based (with dairy/eggs)

What You'll Need

01 1 cup buttermilk.
02 2 eggs and 1 extra yolk, at room temp.
03 1 tablespoon baking powder.
04 ¾ cup plain flour.
05 ½ teaspoon baking soda.
06 ¼ cup packed light brown sugar.
07 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon.
08 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
09 ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract.
10 ½ cup regular sugar.
11 1¼ cups yellow cornmeal.
12 4 tablespoons melted butter (for topping).
13 ⅛-¼ teaspoon ground clove.
14 ⅛-¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg.
15 1 cup mashed, cooked sweet potatoes.
16 2 tablespoons honey.
17 ½ cup butter, melted.
18 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar (for topping).
19 1 teaspoon salt.

Preparation Steps

01 Step

Set the oven to 400°F and grease an 8-inch glass pan. In a big bowl, mix up the dry ingredients.

02 Step

In another bowl, stir together the sweet potatoes, eggs, yolk, oil, buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla. You can add a bit of food color if you'd like.

03 Step

Slowly add the dry mix to the wet mix, stirring gently until blended. Pour it all into the prepared pan.

04 Step

Bake for 20 minutes, cover loosely with foil, then bake another 20 minutes or so until it’s done.

05 Step

Combine melted butter, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, and salt. Spread it on the warm bread a few times while it cools.

Additional Tips

  1. Cook whole sweet potatoes before turning them into a mash.
  2. It’s better if your eggs aren’t cold.
  3. Adding orange coloring is totally up to you.

Required Equipment

  • Glass baking pan, 8 inches.
  • Big mixing bowls.
  • Food processor or blender.

Allergen Notice

Review ingredients for possible allergens and seek professional medical advice if uncertain.
  • Contains dairy (butter, buttermilk).
  • Contains eggs.

Nutritional Information (Each Portion)

Consider these values as estimates rather than definitive health guidance.
  • Energy: ~
  • Fat Content: ~
  • Carbohydrates: ~
  • Protein Content: ~