Description
This Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Bread is a ‘Sweet Potato Delight’—a soft, golden-orange yeast loaf that rivals any bakery sandwich bread. By swapping traditional white potatoes for sweet potatoes, this bread gains a tender, moist crumb and a subtle sweetness that makes incredible toast. It’s sturdy enough for sandwiches yet soft enough to eat plain with butter.
Ingredients
— The Sweet Potato Base —
1 cup (approx. 1 medium) sweet potato, peeled, boiled, and mashed until perfectly smooth
— The Yeast Mixture —
¾ cup warm milk (110°F/43°C)
2 ¼ teaspoons (1 packet) instant yeast
2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (feeds the yeast)
— The Dough —
3 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour blend (bread-friendly blend like King Arthur or Cup4Cup)
2 large eggs, room temperature
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted (or vegetable oil)
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 ¼ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional, for a subtle warm ‘delight’ flavor)
— The Finish —
1 tablespoon melted butter (for brushing)
Instructions
1. Prep the Potato: Boil the peeled sweet potato chunks until fork-tender. Drain well and mash until absolutely smooth (no lumps!). Let it cool to lukewarm (room temperature) before using. If it’s too hot, it will kill the yeast.
2. Activate Yeast: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm milk, honey, and instant yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until frothy and bubbly.
3. Mix Wet Ingredients: Add the cooled mashed sweet potato, eggs, melted butter, and vinegar to the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed until combined.
4. Add Dry Ingredients: Add the gluten-free flour, salt, and cinnamon (if using). Beat on medium speed for 3–4 minutes. The dough will be thick, sticky, and vibrant orange—it will not form a smooth ball like wheat dough.
5. Shape: Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan generously. Scrape the sticky dough into the pan.
6. Smooth: Wet your fingers or a spatula with warm water and smooth the top of the loaf into a nice dome shape. (GF bread doesn’t smooth itself out while baking, so shape it now!).
7. Rise: Cover loosely with oiled plastic wrap. Place in a warm, draft-free spot for 45–60 minutes, or until the dough has risen just over the rim of the pan.
8. Preheat: While the dough rises, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
9. Bake: Bake for 45–55 minutes. The loaf should be deep golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. If the top browns too quickly, tent it loosely with foil for the last 15 minutes.
10. Cool: Remove from the oven and immediately brush the top with melted butter for a soft crust. Let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool COMPLETELY before slicing.
Notes
Cooling is Critical: Do not slice this bread warm! The starches from the sweet potato need time to set. If you cut it too early, the texture will be gummy.
Smooth Mash: Ensure your sweet potato mash is very smooth. Lumps will create wet spots in the bread.
Flavor Profile: Without cinnamon, this is a savory sandwich bread. With cinnamon, it becomes a ‘Sweet Potato Delight’ perfect for French toast or breakfast.
Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days, or slice and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 50
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 260
- Fat: 5
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 2
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 45
