Monday, March 29, 2010

Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls


I'm a little sad that this will be my last sweet potato post for awhile. They are such a great year round treat and so very versatile. Alas, my family has turned a bright shade of orange and, since they don't want to risk being poster children for bad tanning products.... I bid farewell. But not before I share my last hurrah:

Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls with Orange Cream Cheese Icing

Dough:
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons yeast (1 package)
3-3 1/2 cups flour (I used bread flour)
1/2 cup cooked, mashed sweet potatoes
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon grated orange peel


Filling:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons cooked, mashed sweet potatoes

Icing:

4 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
2 - 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Combine the milk and butter in a measuring cup and microwave for about 45 seconds on high or until the temperature is 110 ° F. (bathwater warm). If it gets too hot, just let it cool for a few minutes. Pour into a large mixing bowl and stir in the sugar and then the yeast. Let this mixture stand for about 5 minutes, or until it begins to foam.




Add two cups of the flour, sweet potatoes, cardamom, salt, and orange peel to the yeast mixture and beat well. Add the remaining flour, ½ cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has just pulled together, turn it onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes. (Alternately, add 3 cups of the flour right away and just use the dough hook on your mixer to knead the dough for about five minutes).



I love the orange color of the dough...this is going to be so good!

Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover with a clean damp towel. Allow dough to rise until double, about 1 hour. In the mean time, in a small bowl, mix together the softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and 3 tablespoons sweet potatoes.

Roll out the dough into a 12X9 inch rectangle (I like to do this on my Silpat). Spread the dough with the cinnamon/sugar mixture.  Roll up the dough and pinch seam to seal. Cut into 12 equal sized pieces and place into a greased 9X13 inch pan. Cover and let rise until doubled.



If you look closely, you can see the flecks of orange peel.



My filling got a little warm and melty. I was a bit concerned that I made too much, or that I should have chilled it......



.......and it was a little messy getting the rolls cut (I used the dental floss method), but it was all good in the end. Next time I may chill the dough for a bit before slicing, but there was just enough filling to make a nice gooey roll.


Bake at 375 ° F. for 25 to 30 minutes or until browned. Remove from oven and frost while warm.



For icing, combine cream cheese, butter, vanilla, orange juice and orange peel in a medium sized bowl. Beat well with a hand mixer. Slowly beat in enough of the powdered sugar to make the desired consistency.






I think the best part of making these with sweet potatoes is that they didn't dry out right away.

And there you have it: warm, gooey, soft, and sweet....with a hint of orange and a subtle sweet potato taste. My husband snarfed up two of them immediately. I think the recipe is a keeper.....




14 comments:

  1. Those look great! You have definitely given a new definition to sweet potatoes! I never knew they had so many uses!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow! That looks delicious! Very fluffy! I must try it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh yeah! Do you know how utterly delicious this would be with my morning coffee??? How fast can you FedEx one to me???? PlEEEEEEEEEZZ!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I missed the post that explained why you had so many sweet potatoes, but I have enjoyed seeing what you did with them. The combination of sweet potato and orange sounds amazing in these rolls. They look fantastic!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. These sound amazing!! I just discovered the great combo of sweet potato and orange..YUM! I love that these don't dry out (I hate when that happens). Way to go!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh ya...and is there really a such thing as too much filling? the gooeier the better!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is a fabulous looking recipe!! I've never seen sweet potato cinnamon rolls! I can't wait to try these!

    ReplyDelete
  8. wow these look so yummy..I love sweet potaotes..yum

    sweetlife

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ah, first I see your sweet potato ice cream, now this?! I wish I lived at your house ;)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I had no idea you could do all of these things with sweet potatoes! All of your recipes look wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh yes, gotta add this to my cinnamon roll collection.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I just got very excited by this! I LOVE sweet potatos and I LOVE cinnamon rolls. Can't wait to try these! thanks for sharing!
    http://cuppycakebakes.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. They not only look great, they taste great too! And the smell....:)
    Too bad they dry out so fast (second day)...maybe I had them in the over a few minutes too long?!

    ReplyDelete