Description
Comforting cinnamon maple sweet potatoes bring warmth to any dinner table with their rich, caramelized flavor profile. Hearty roots kissed by sweet maple and fragrant spices promise a delightful side dish you’ll crave alongside roasted meats or holiday spreads.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 medium sweet potatoes, cleaned and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted for coating
- 1/3 cup maple syrup, plus an additional 2 tablespoons for topping
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts, for crunch
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon, for warmth
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon thyme, for a hint of earthiness
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 400F (200C) and slice sweet potatoes into uniform rounds, maintaining or removing the skin based on preference.
- Create a flavorful coating by whisking melted butter with ground cinnamon, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
- Thoroughly coat sweet potato slices in the seasoned butter mixture, ensuring even distribution of spices.
- Spread the coated slices in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, preventing overcrowding for optimal roasting.
- Roast the sweet potatoes for 25-30 minutes, achieving a tender interior while maintaining a slight firmness.
- Meanwhile, craft the walnut topping by blending maple syrup, roughly chopped walnuts, additional ground cinnamon, and fresh thyme leaves.
- Once initial roasting completes, carefully remove the baking sheet and generously distribute the maple-walnut mixture over each sweet potato slice.
- Return to the oven for an additional 8-10 minutes, allowing the topping to caramelize and develop a rich, golden-brown color.
- Transfer to a serving platter and optionally garnish with crumbled feta cheese for an extra layer of tangy complexity.
Notes
- Slice sweet potatoes uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Choose fresh, firm sweet potatoes with smooth skin for the best roasting results.
- Use parchment paper or a silicone mat to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Adjust baking time based on sweet potato thickness and individual oven variations.
- For a vegan version, replace butter with olive oil or coconut oil.
- Toast walnuts briefly before chopping to enhance their nutty flavor and crunchy texture.
- Control caramelization by watching closely during the final roasting stage to prevent burning.
- Try alternative nuts like pecans or almonds for different flavor profiles.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 270 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3.5 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg