With a fluffy texture, a naturally sweet flavor, and a hint of cozy spices, these Sweet Potato Muffins are a new favorite veggie muffin in our house. They are lightly sweetened, store well, and are delicious topped with honey, butter, or cream cheese.
Sweet Potato Muffins
These easy muffins are a great option for breakfast, snack, or to serve as a simple side with chili or soup. Once the sweet potato is prepared—you can roast it at home or start with canned sweet potato puree—making the muffins is as simple as stirring the ingredients together in a bowl.
The result is a homemade batch of muffins that are so darn good topped with a little butter and honey (or on their own if you’re more of a purist!).
We like these for breakfast, snack, or as part of an easy cold lunch. The main thing to know about this recipe is that you’ll need to have some Sweet Potato Puree ready to go. You can do that step a few days ahead or use canned sweet potato puree from the store. Up to you.
Contents hide 1 Sweet Potato Muffins 2 Your toddler won’t eat? Help is here! 3 Ingredients You Need 4 Step-by-Step Instructions 5 What’s the best sweet potato to use in muffins? 6 Flavor Additions 7 How to Store 8 Best Tips for Success 9 Related Recipes 10 Fluffy Sweet Potato Muffins
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Ingredients You Need
To make this recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients.
- Mashed sweet potato, very smooth and cool or at room temperature. I usually use homemade mashed sweet potatoes, but you could use canned sweet potato puree, too.
- Milk: Dairy or unsweetened plain nondairy works here.
- Unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt in the recipe.
- Maple syrup: You could use honey if you prefer for kids over age 1.
- Egg: This helps the batter bind together, as well as stay moist and tender.
- Vanilla extract: A little vanilla adds a hint of flavor that works well with the rest of the flavors.
- All-purpose and whole wheat flour: I like to use a mix of flours in this recipe so it’s light and also has some of the nutrients from the whole wheat flour.
- Baking soda: This is key to making sure they bake through well, so be sure yours is fresh.
- Cinnamon: This adds to the cozy, warm spice in the recipe.
- Optional: Chocolate chips or lemon zest. I usually add one or the other to ensure they have plenty of flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at how to make these muffins. Scroll down to the bottom of the recipe for the full information.
- Stir together the wet ingredients, going slowly to get everything well combined.
- Stir in the dry ingredients.
- Portion into a muffin tin.
- Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
TIP: I use a spatula to stir the batter together. It’s fairly thick due to the sweet potato, so be gentle but firm to get it mixed.
What’s the best sweet potato to use in muffins?
To make the mashed sweet potato, you can make Mashed Roasted Sweet Potato or Crock-Pot Sweet Potatoes. Blend them very smooth in the blender or in a food processor and be sure to let them cool fully before you add them to the batter.
You can prep the sweet potatoes 3-5 days ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use. You can also use store-bought sweet potato puree.
Flavor Additions
You can stir in a handful of chocolate chips to the batter. Or add 2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest. Don’t do both, just pick one or the other! They both lend a nice flavor boost to the muffins.
How to Store
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the fridge for up to 5, or in the freezer in a zip-top freezer bag with as much air removed as possible for up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature.
Best Tips for Success
- Be sure to puree the sweet potatoes fully before starting the batter. I usually run it through my blender to make sure it’s smooth and lump-free.
- You can also use store-bought sweet potato puree.
- Add fresh lemon zest or chocolate chips to add more flavor.
- Use pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon if you prefer.
- Gluten-free: Use cup-for-cup gluten-free flour in place of the wheat flours.
- Dairy-free: Use nondairy unsweetened plain milk, and use vegetable oil for the butter.
- Egg-free: Omit the egg. Increase the milk to 1 ¼ cups. Bake as directed.
- The baking soda is crucial in this recipe since it helps the batter rise nicely even though the batter is very thick. Be sure to check to make sure yours isn’t expired!
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