Description
Maple-glazed cinnamon roasted sweet potatoes deliver a comforting side dish that celebrates autumn’s warmth. Caramelized edges and sweet-spicy notes invite culinary explorers to savor this simple yet elegant accompaniment for your next meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- ¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) butter, melted
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp nutmeg (optional, for extra warmth)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract (optional, for depth)
- ¼ cup chopped pecans (optional, for crunch)
Instructions
- Preparation: Position oven rack centrally and preheat to 400°F, creating an optimal roasting environment for sweet potatoes.
- Surface Preparation: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and facilitate caramelization.
- Potato Preparation: Wash, scrub, and thoroughly dry sweet potatoes, then slice into uniform bite-sized wedges or cubes to ensure consistent cooking.
- Seasoning Blend: In a large mixing bowl, combine sweet potato pieces with maple syrup, ground cinnamon, and olive oil, tossing carefully to coat each piece evenly with the aromatic mixture.
- Roasting Process: Arrange seasoned sweet potato pieces in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, maintaining space between pieces to promote proper browning and prevent steaming.
- Baking: Roast in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, rotating the pieces midway to achieve a golden-brown exterior with crispy edges and tender interior.
- Finishing Touch: Remove from oven when sweet potatoes are fork-tender and beautifully caramelized, optionally garnishing with a delicate sprinkle of sea salt to elevate the flavor profile.
Notes
- Slice Precisely: Cut sweet potatoes into uniform, even-sized pieces to ensure consistent cooking and perfect caramelization throughout.
- Prevent Overcrowding: Space sweet potato chunks widely on the baking sheet to allow proper air circulation, preventing steaming and promoting crispy, golden edges.
- Balance Sweetness: Adjust maple syrup quantity based on personal preference or dietary needs, using honey or agave as alternative sweeteners for different flavor profiles.
- Enhance Nutrition: Experiment with additional spices like nutmeg or cardamom to boost flavor complexity while maintaining the dish’s nutritional benefits and keeping the core maple-cinnamon essence intact.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Side Dish, Snacks
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg