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Sweet Potato Cornbread

Featured in Fresh Bread Made Simple.

A mix of sweet potatoes and cornmeal creates this moist twist on traditional cornbread. Honey butter glaze on top adds a sweet touch. Great as a side or snack!

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Emily Watson
Updated on Mon, 24 Mar 2025 23:19:56 GMT
Golden cornbread squares stacked on a black rack. Pin it
Golden cornbread squares stacked on a black rack. | thefamilycooks.com

Next-Level Sweet Potato Cornbread brings together soft, juicy textures with an exciting spin on regular cornbread. Crafted using sweet potato mash, cozy seasonings, and a rich brown sugar honey topping, this bread goes wonderfully with bold dishes like chili or cooked greens. It adds a touch of sweetness to complete any dinner.

How This Dish Captured My Family's Hearts

Whenever I whip up this cornbread, amazing smells of sweet potatoes and spices fill my home. These flavors blend into something way better than ordinary cornbread. I adore how it works for everything from pairing with hot chili to munching on with my breakfast java. It's turned into that one recipe my buddies constantly ask me for.

Your Ingredients List

  • Sweet Potatoes: 1 cup smooth mash from fresh roots or canned options.
  • Cornmeal: The yellow type gives you that traditional gritty feel.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Adds the right backbone and works with the cornmeal.
  • Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove for those fall-like warm notes.
  • Brown Sugar: Brings richness and sweetness to your bread.
  • Butter and Oil: These make sure each bite stays moist and tasty.
  • Buttermilk: Helps create that soft texture and adds extra flavor.
  • Baking Powder and Soda: These make your cornbread puff up nicely.
  • Eggs: They hold everything together so your bread doesn't crumble.
  • Honey Glaze: Brown sugar, honey, and butter mixed for a shiny sweet topping.

Cooking Steps Breakdown

Get Your Sweet Potato Ready
Cook sweet potatoes in boiling water until soft, remove skins, and blend until creamy. 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 Items
In another bowl, stir sweet potato mash, eggs, butter, oil, vanilla, and buttermilk until blended. Add color drops if you want.
Put It All Together and Cook
Slowly mix dry stuff into wet stuff until just blended. Pour mix into a greased 8-inch pan and bake at 400°F for 40 minutes. Cover with foil after 20 minutes. It's done when a toothpick comes out clean.
Top It Off and Enjoy
Stir brown sugar, honey, and melted butter for your topping. Brush lots over your warm bread before eating.

Tasty Meal Combos

I love serving this cornbread with rich chilis and soups but it works just as well next to Southern favorites like greens or roasted chicken. I've often found myself grabbing pieces as a midday treat with some coffee. That sweet topping makes it feel special no matter what you eat it with.

Nailing The Recipe

After many tries I've found that taking extra time with the sweet potato really counts. I always blend until it's super smooth with no stringy pieces for the best result. Don't overmix your batter and you'll get light, fluffy cornbread. And definitely cover it with foil while baking to get that beautiful golden top without burning.

Storage Tips

Got some left? Wrap it up tight in plastic or foil after it cools down completely. It'll stay good in your fridge for three days or you can stick it in the freezer for up to three months. Just warm it up in the microwave or pop it in a low oven for ten minutes and it'll taste almost fresh-baked again.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What's the easiest way to make sweet potato puree?

Boil unpeeled sweet potatoes until soft enough to pierce. Cool, remove the skin, and puree in a processor until smooth. Use one cup for the dish.

→ Why is foil used halfway when baking?

Covering with foil stops the top from getting too dark while letting the inside bake thoroughly.

→ Do I need warm eggs for this?

Yes, eggs at room temperature blend better in the batter, giving you an even texture once baked.

→ Will adding food coloring change the taste?

No, the orange coloring is optional and just for looks. It won't affect the flavor at all.

→ Why mix brown sugar in hot butter?

Hot butter melts the sugar smoothly, helping the glaze turn out silky without any grainy bits.

Conclusion

This updated take on cornbread uses sweet potatoes for extra flavor and a soft texture. Pair it up with your favorite meal for a perfect match.

Potato Cornbread

This moist, hearty cornbread combines sweet potatoes and warm spices, topped off with a smooth honey butter glaze—ideal for any savory dish.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
40 Minutes
Total Time
55 Minutes

Category: Breads

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 8 Servings (8 pieces)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 1 cup mashed sweet potatoes, cooked.
02 1¼ cups fine yellow cornmeal.
03 ¾ cup plain flour.
04 ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder.
05 ¼ teaspoon vanilla essence.
06 1 tablespoon baking powder.
07 ½ cup granulated sugar.
08 ½ cup melted butter, unsalted.
09 1 teaspoon regular salt.
10 ½ teaspoon baking soda.
11 ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg or ground nutmeg.
12 ⅛-¼ teaspoon ground clove spice.
13 ¼ cup packed light brown sugar.
14 2 whole eggs plus 1 yolk, brought to room temperature.
15 2 tablespoons plain vegetable oil.
16 1 cup tangy buttermilk.
17 4 tablespoons melted butter, for brushing.
18 2 tablespoons honey, to glaze.
19 2 tablespoons brown sugar, for brushing on top.

Instructions

Step 01

Heat your oven to 400°F. Grease an 8-inch dish with butter, then stir all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

Step 02

In a separate bowl, mix mashed sweet potato, eggs, yolk, melted butter, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla. You can add food coloring here if you'd like.

Step 03

Slowly fold your dry mix into the wet mix, stirring gently. Don't overmix. Pour everything into the prepared pan.

Step 04

Put the dish in the oven for 20 minutes. Cover it lightly with foil and bake another 20 until firm.

Step 05

Blend honey, brown sugar, melted butter, a pinch of salt, and some cinnamon. Brush this over the hot bread right out of the oven. Do another coat or two as it cools.

Notes

  1. Steam or boil your sweet potatoes before mashing.
  2. Make sure eggs aren't cold; room temperature works best.
  3. Decorative food coloring is optional.

Tools You'll Need

  • Glass dish, 8 inches wide.
  • Big bowls for mixing.
  • Food processor to puree.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Includes butter and buttermilk (contains dairy).
  • Contains eggs.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: ~
  • Total Fat: ~
  • Total Carbohydrate: ~
  • Protein: ~