Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls are light and fluffy with a beautiful hue from the sweet potatoes.
These rolls are baked to a golden brown and are perfect served for everyday dinners or for the holidays.
Homemade rolls
Is there anything better than homemade rolls? I think not! For every holiday, I am always in charge of bringing the rolls. That includes Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Easter and any large family celebration.
Some years I bring these delicious sweet potato rolls. But I do like to alternate with my other favorites including oatmeal dinner rolls and a basic dinner roll.
I will often change the shape of the rolls too, but my favorite shape is just a round dinner roll.
The sweet potato adds a beautiful color to the rolls and just a touch of flavor. Although the sweet potato is pretty subtle.
Key Ingredients
- Sweet Potato - I used one large sized sweet potato. You can also use a yam. I like the brightly colored orange ones because they add a beautiful color to the rolls. Cook your sweet potato by boiling with the skin on until soft or by microwaving until soft. Remove the peel and mash well.
- Flour - For this recipe, I use regular all-purpose flour. If you wanted to use an whole wheat flour, I'd recommend using a white wheat flour and using half all-purpose and half wheat flour.
- Liquids - Milk (whole milk or 2% milk), eggs and melted butter.
- Honey - Adds just a touch of sweetness to these rolls.
- Yeast - I use regular active dry yeast
Step by step directions
- Place warm milk, honey and yeast in a mixing bowl. Stir to combine and allow mixture to sit for 5 minutes until bubbly.
- Mix in mashed sweet potatoes, eggs, butter and salt
- Add 2 cups of flour and mix well
- Continue adding flour until the dough forms a ball. Add a bit more flour until the dough is slightly tacky, and not sticky. You may not use all the flour.
- Knead for 4-5 minutes until the ball of dough is nice and elastic feeling.
- Lightly spray a large bowl with nonstick spray and place round of dough into bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let dough double in size. This may take 1 ½ - 2 hours, depending on your kitchen.
- After dough has risen, gently deflate dough. Divide and shape rolls.
- Place on a greased baking sheet or on a parchment lined baking sheet
- Cover lightly and let rise for 30-45 minutes.
- Brush with melted butter and bake in a preheated 375°F oven
- Bake for 18-20 minutes
- Brush rolls with butter again when they come out of the oven
Recipe tips
- Form rolls into any shape you'd like. Check out the video in the recipe card on different ways to shape rolls.
- Rise time will vary depending on the temperature of your kitchen
- Be certain to fully preheat your oven to 375°F before baking
- Allow baked rolls to fully cool on a baking rack
To make ahead of time
During the holidays or for busy family gatherings, making these rolls ahead of time saves time during dinner preparation.
Make the dough in the evening, cover and refrigerate. In the morning remove from fridge, punch down dough and allow it to come to room temperature (30-60 minutes.) Shape, let rise and then bake.
Frequently asked questions
Once the rolls are fully cool, place in an airtight container or storage bag. To reheat, place rolls on a baking tray and cover tightly with foil.
Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes.
Allow the rolls to fully cool, then place in an airtight container. Keep at room temperature for 3-4 days.
Rolls can also be frozen for 1-2 months.
More delicious holiday recipes
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Be sure to check out all my bread recipes!
Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk (warmed)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 3 Tablespoons honey
- 1 cup sweet potato (cooked and mashed)
- 3 whole eggs
- 3 Tablespoons butter (melted and cooled)
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 5 ½ - 6 cups flour
- 2 Tablespoons butter (melted)
Instructions
- In a large bowl of a stand mixer, add milk, yeast and honey. Let sit for 5 minutes until bubbly.1 cup milk, 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast, 3 Tablespoons honey
- Add sweet potato, eggs, butter and salt. Mix1 cup sweet potato, 3 whole eggs, 3 Tablespoons butter, 2 teaspoon salt
- With mixer running slowly add the flour. Continue adding flour until dough comes together and begins to form a ball. You might not use all the flour.5 ½ - 6 cups flour
- Knead in mixer for 5 minutes.
- Remove from mixing bowl and place into a large greased bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled; 1 - 1 ½ hours.
- Remove cover and punch dough down.
- Divide dough and shape into rolls
- Cover lightly and let rise for 30 - 45 minutes.
- Just before baking, brush top of rolls lightly with melted butter.2 Tablespoons butter
- Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 15-18 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool slightly for a few minutes on a baking rack. Brush with butter again, while rolls are still warm. Remove from baking sheet and continue cooling.
Video
Notes
- Form rolls into any shape you'd like
- Yield will vary depending on the size and shape of your rolls
- Rise time will vary depending on the temperature of your kitchen
- Be certain to fully preheat your oven to 375°F before baking
- Allow baked rolls to fully cool on a baking rack
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
Fred G says
Great use for sweet pots
Sasha @ Eat Love Eat says
These look great! So light and fluffy!
Kathy says
They are light, fluffy and delicious!
Katie Crenshaw says
These are such beautiful little dinner rolls. I am hosting a dinner party soon. I will be making these!!
Kathy says
Your guests will be very impressed!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says
I would ask for these over and over again too, Kathy! They look like fluffy little clouds!
Kathy says
It's hard to eat just one!
Tina says
This looks like a great weeknight meal option! My husband likes some sort of bread with every dinner, this is perfect! Thanks for sharing.
Kathy says
I hope you give these a try!
CakePants says
These look wonderful! I've made sweet potato bread before (more similar to banana bread than sandwich bread), but never anything like this. It also looks like a great way to use up a lone, left over sweet potato...which is a situation in which I find myself often!
Kathy says
Thanks! Now you will know what to make the next time you have some left over sweet potatoes!
Kathy says
Hi Kathy, Thanks for the great recipe! I posted a photo of mine on my blog with a link back to your recipe. (I used half whole wheat flour with mine). Thanks again!
Kathy says
I checked out your pic! They turned out lovely. I'll have to try a blend of whole wheat flour next time.
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Love sweet potato dishes. And how light, fluffy, and soft these dinner rolls are — so delicious perfectly baked.
Kathy says
Very light and fluffy!