Cinnamon and Spice Sweet Potato Bread — 🍁🍠🍂 Wondering what to do with those leftover sweet potatoes? Make this quick bread recipe! Sweet potatoes do a wonderful job of keeping this bread extremely soft and moist. It’s almost like cake it’s so soft, springy, and bouncy!
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This sweet potato bread turned out ridiculously soft, moist, tender, and richly spiced. It’s almost like cake it’s so soft, tender, and springy!
It’s easy to make, and no mixer is needed. Stir everything together and pop the loaf into the oven for about an hour. And your house will smell heavenly during that hour.
The sweet potatoes, oil, and buttermilk all do a wonderful job of keeping the bread supremely soft and moist.
Although I’ve compared it to cake, it’s not cakey if that makes sense. It doesn’t have an airy, flaky crumb that many cakes have; otherwise known as being dry.
The interior is tender, springy, and bouncey with a dense crumb. The crust is firmer and slightly chewy. Normally I shun crust and edge pieces on bread, but I found myself seeking them out, like chewy edge pieces on brownies.
It’s perfect on it’s own and doesn’t even need butter. It’s that moist and flavorful. But twist my arm and a little butter never hurts. Or try a Vanilla Browned Butter Glaze for an extra treat.
Sweet potatoes can do no wrong.
This sweet potato bread is delicious, it’s like Starbucks pumpkin bread just better. Thanks for the awesome recipe 😋 — Crystal
Sweet Potato Bread Ingredients
This is such a quick and easy recipe for sweet potato bread that calls for very basic ingredients.
To make this sweet potato bread recipe, you’ll need:
- Sweet potatoes
- Water
- Eggs
- Canola oil
- Buttermilk
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Light brown sugar
- Baking soda
- Spices
- Salt
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Sweet Potato Bread
If you’ve made pumpkin bread before, you can certainly make a sweet potato loaf!
Full instructions can be found in the recipe card below, but here’s an overview of the baking process:
- Begin by steaming two medium sweet potatoes or one very large sweet potato. Drain off any water that’s pooled, and mash with a fork.
- After the potatoes cool just a bit so you don’t scramble the eggs, crack two eggs over them, add oil, vanilla, buttermilk (or yogurt or sour cream) and whisk together in a large bowl to create a sort of sweet potato puree.
- In another bowl, combine flour, sugars, baking soda, and a variety of spices.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry, and mix until combined. Take your time and make sure everything is well combined, but use a gentle hand when stirring so you don’t over-develop the gluten, resulting in tougher bread.
- Turn the batter out into a 9×5-inch loaf pan or two 8×4-inch pans. I used one 9×5-inch or you can opt for two 8×4 loaves (they will be short) or bake as a Bundt.
Recipe Variations
One thing I love about this recipe is how easy it is to customize! Here are some simple recipe variations you can try:
- Adjust the spices: I used cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Feel free to mix-and-match the spices based on what you have and enjoy. Try pumpkin pie spice, cardamom, or other favorites.
- Add mix-ins: You can try adding mix-ins like chocolate chips, chopped nuts such as chopped pecans, or dried fruit.
- Use a different loaf pan: I used a 9×5-inch loaf pan to make this recipe, but two 8×4-inch pans will also work. Or, use a small Bundt pan.
- Make muffins: Skip the loaf pan altogether and make muffins instead! Reduce the bake time to 18 – 22 minutes (use your best judgement when testing for doneness).
Recipe FAQs
Possibly, but I’ve only made the recipe as written so I can’t say for sure. If you give this a try, leave me a comment letting me know how your bread turned out!
Bread will keep at room temperature for up to 1 week. I store my bread by wrapping the completely cooled loaf in plasticwrap, and then placing loaf inside a gallon-sized Ziplock.
I’m sure you can! I imagine this sweet potato spice bread will keep up to 6 months in the freezer.
You could roast the sweet potatoes, but that takes almost an hour, the potatoes will be drier from being roasted than steamed, and you’d need to make some tweaks with dry and wet ingredient ratios in your batter.
No, it tastes more like a pumpkin bread. The bread is sweet, but not too sweet with just the right amount of natural sweetness from the sweet potatoes. The spices are homey and comforting.
Made this recipe for my neighbors. As usual, I made two loaves – one for my house, one as a gift. That first loaf lasted an hour before my family finished it off. — Amber
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Cinnamon Sweet Potato Bread
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups mashed sweet potatoes, 2 medium or 1 very large
- 3 tablespoons water
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup canola or vegetable oil
- ¼ cup buttermilk, (or yogurt, Greek yogurt, sour cream, or buttermilk powder mixed with the proper amount of water as stated on package)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Spray one 9-by-5-inch loaf pan (what I used), or two 8-by-4-inch loaf pans, or a 10-cup Bundt pan, or a muffin pan with floured cooking spray or grease and flour the pan(s); set aside.
- Peel the sweet potatoes and chop them into 1-inch sized chunks. Place chunks in a large, shallow microwave-safe bowl. Add 3 tablespoons water, cover with plastic wrap, and cook on high power for 15 to 17 minutes, or until potatoes are very fork-tender. (Or boil in a pot of water on the stove, drain very well). Pour off any water. Mash sweet potatoes with a fork. Allow them to cool momentarily so you don't scramble the eggs.
- To the mashed sweet potatoes, add the eggs, oil, buttermilk, vanilla and whisk until combined; set aside. (I used buttermilk powder and added 1 tablespoon powder to the dry ingredients and 1/4 cup water to this wet mixture)
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients – flour, sugars, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, optional salt, and whisk to combine.
- Pour the wet sweet potato mixture over the dry ingredients, and stir to incorporate. Take your time stirring until no stray bits of dry ingredients are visible, folding and scraping the bottom of the bowl with a spatula as necessary because it’s very easy to miss dry ingredients hiding at the bottom of the bowl in this batter. Stir and fold with a gentle hand as to not over-mix and over-develop the gluten, which results in tougher bread.
- Turn batter out into prepared pan(s), smoothing the top lightly with a spatula. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes for a 9×5 pan, or until top is domed, golden, loaf is springy to the touch, and cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Tent pan with foil in the last 15 minutes of cooking if top is browning a bit fast before interior has cooked through; if it takes longer than 70 minutes, so be it – bake it longer. Baking Times – I estimate that 8×4 loaves will take about 40 to 45 minutes, a Bundt about 1 hour, muffins about 18-20 minutes, but I haven't tried those versions and they are just guesstimates. No matter what, always bake until your item is done, however long that takes in your oven given your pan.
- Allow bread to cool in pan for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More Fall Bread Recipes:
ALL OF MY QUICK BREAD RECIPES!
Applesauce Bread with Cinnamon Honey Butter – This applesauce bread is packed with fall flavors and comes together quickly. I serve mine with homemade honey butter, because why not?
Apple Carrot Bread— This apple carrot bread tastes like carrot cake that’s been infused with apples. It’s a no mixer recipe that goes from bowl to oven in minutes!
Apple Pie Bread with Streusel Topping — 🍎🍏🍁 If you like apple crumble pie, you’re going to love this EASY no-mixer apple pie bread! Soft, tender, moist bread with the contrast of the slightly crunchy crumble topping is PERFECT!
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread — This is without a doubt the BEST pumpkin bread recipe! This pumpkin cream cheese bread tastes like it has cheesecake baked into the middle. You’ll definitely want a second slice!
Applesauce Bread with Cinnamon Honey Butter— This applesauce bread is packed with fall flavors and comes together quickly. I serve mine with homemade honey butter, because why not?
Cranberry Orange Bread— The fresh cranberries in this cranberry orange bread contrast nicely with the sweet orange glaze, making it the perfect blend of sweet and tart!
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread— This pumpkin chocolate chip bread is truly the best homemade pumpkin bread you’ll ever make. It’s moist, packed with chocolate chips, and tastes like fall!
Apple Fritter Bread — The bread tastes as decadent as the apple fritters of my childhood, no deep frying required and it’s more like cake disguised as bread.
Originally posted April 3, 2013 and reposted September 18, 2020 and October 25, 2024 with updated text.
Why have I never baked with sweet potatoes?! This looks delish!
I love that you used leftover potatoes in this bread. Jason would’ve asked for fries but I’d much rather sink my teeth into a slice of this!
Wow. That looks delicious. I must say that I have never actually cooked with a sweet potato! I have definitely eaten them and even ate that baked sweet potato, brown sugar, toasted almond dish every year my grandma made for Thanksgiving, but never have I made actual sweet potatoes or sweet potatoes baked into my goods in the 18 years I have been married! This bread may just change all of that! :-D
I know you love pumpkin…this is no different, really. And in 18 yrs never baking with them? You would love love love them. Lots of people on raw/vegan or similar dietary paths say that it’s the 1 cooked food they work in :) I bet you’d love them. Roasted/broiled in slices til crispy, touch of (coocnut) oil, sprinkle of cinn/sugar…so good!
Um…I’ve never eaten a sweet potato. *gasp* I think I’ve had one sweet potato fry…it was good. My parents hate them My husband hates them. I want this bread. I guess I’d get it all to myself?
Wait…WHAT??!! How does anyone hate a sweet potato? They’re warm, carby, slightly sweet…it’s like comfort food at it’s finest.
And I know you love pumpkin and carrot cake…so you will automatically love sweet potatoes. Girl. Tomorrow. Go to the store and buy one. Slice it into thin rounds and bake/broil til crispy with smidge of oil and salt and smear some melted PB (or ketchup) on that. Best.snack.ever.
Wait and you told me last week you had never eaten a date. Another sweet, dense, chewy gift of nature. Must try! :)
This looks amazing Averie! I haven’t made sweet potato in forever, but now I’m totally craving it. I love spiced, warm breads. Yumm!
The texture of this bread looks incredible, Averie! I can’t wait to try it. I love the flavor of sweet potatoes, and I’m looking forward to trying your microwave trick – I’ve never steamed them that way before, but I’ve clearly been missing out.
The texture is just awesome and yes, try the micro. So much faster and you dont heat up the whole house!
All of my favorite ingredients in this breakfast bread. Sweet potatoes give baked goods the most wonderful texture!
This is so you, Marla! Well, as close as any of my stuff is. But I know you love your sweet taters. So versatile and yes the best texture ever to anything they touch!
I have a loaf in the oven right now, and I have to think that the aroma in my kitchen is exactly what heaven will smell like!
I AGREE!!!!! It’s HEAVEN on earth. And in your house, right!!
Please LMK how it goes for you!
It turned out BEAUTIFULLY!!! Moist and delicious. I love your coconut oil recipe collection, and all the ways that you make traditional recipes healthier and/or unique. Just found your site in the last few months and it is quickly becoming my favorite cooking blog! Thank you!
Thanks, Beccalou, for the nice compliments and glad my site is becoming your fave cooking blog. That’s wonderful to hear! And I’m so glad this bread turned out beautifully for you…I just loved it and thanks for trying the recipe and LMK!
Sure wish I had a piece of this right now. :)
Oh, Averie! Your Sweet Potato Bread looks truly wicked! Honestly, you could write a really wicked quick breads book. I have sweet potatoes. And, I have coconut oil. Guess what I’m making tonight?! Still chilly here in Indy…and, I want to curl up and finish my tutorials (for blog) whilst feasting on your Cinnamon & Spice Sweet Potato Bread! Nom… xo
That would be a fun book, for sure!
Never thought I would say this in April, but I’m suddenly craving cardigans, falling leaves, the lovely scent of autumn (and of course several slices of this bread!). :)
It was cold and windy and icky the day I made this. It was like a fall day in the spring & perfect for this. But give me 80-90F year-round and I am very happy!
Great idea!! I can’t wait to try this.
I like to just slice a sweet potato, sprinkle with a little freshly ground pepper, and broil until crispy. A great side dish.
I am a huge lover of the sweet potato, so naturally this looks amazing!!
Uh, yum! I’m putting this on my “to bake asap” list. We’ve been going through a lot of sweet potatoes lately since my little one is getting started on solids now. I’ve been making more sweet potatoes for Paul and I, and this bread looks like something we’ll absolutely love!
looks sooo healthy and delicious! you have such a beautiful blog here. it’s perfection! I’ve never had bread with sweet potato.. will have to give it a try soon. Thanks!
Thanks for the wonderful compliments on my site!
I love sweet potatoes, this is my kind of bread!