Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls with Coconut

dessertbreakfast and brunchbread

Jan 28

Written By Veronica Fletcher

Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls with Coconut

Sweet potatoes are a part of our history, as well as ingrained in our present-day. There is comfort in sweet potatoes, whether the dish is savory or sweet. Sweet potatoes have become universal for a variety of meals, well-beyond just candied yams. It is evident in recipes such as my Sweet Potato Praline Scones and Sweet Potato Swiss Roll. In this recipe I'm sharing today, I'm combining two of my favorites-sweet potatoes and warm, fluffy cinnamon rolls-is one of the best things to come out of my quarantine.

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Ingredients

For the Sweet Potato Rolls:

½ c. whole milk
4 Tbsp. salted butter
1 large egg
2 ¼ tsp. (1 standard package) active dry yeast
1 c. warm sweet potato, mashed
¼ c. packed light brown sugar
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. salt
3 ⅔ c. all-purpose flour

For the Coconut Filling:

½ c. salted butter, softened
½ c. light or dark brown sugar, packed
¼ c. granulated sugar
1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. ground cloves
½ c. desiccated coconut

For the Coconut Cream Cheese Icing:

4 oz cream cheese, softened
4 Tbsp. butter, softened
1 c. confectioners’ powdered sugar
1 tsp. coconut extract
¼ c. Tbsp. milk

Instructions

To make the dough:

Lightly grease a large bowl and set it aside.
In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, warm the milk just until small bubbles begin to form around the edge of the pan; remove from heat. Add in the butter, egg, and yeast; stir until it’s completely melted. Allow the mixture to slightly cool while you mix your dry ingredients.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the mashed sweet potato, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt together on medium speed.
Add in 2 and 1/2 cups of flour, mix on medium-low speed until ingredients are evenly combined.
Switch out the flat paddle for the dough hook attachment. Add in the warm milk mixture and beat until combined. Add the remaining flour, a little bit at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix for 1 minute, scraping down the sides of the bowl frequently.
Once all of the flour has been added, increase the speed to medium and beat for 5 minutes.
The dough will be very soft. Place dough into a greased bowl. Turn the dough around in the bowl so all sides of the dough are coated.
Cover dough tightly with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm, draft-free environment until doubled in size. This will take about 1–1.5 hours.
Generously grease the sides and bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan and set it aside.
When the dough has doubled in size, gently punch the dough down to deflate it and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough a few times so it is smooth. If it is too sticky, knead in a little more flour.
Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a 12x18-inch rectangle. Be sure the dough is evenly thick. Spread the softened butter evenly on top.

To make the filling:

In a medium mixing bowl, combine both sugars, cinnamon, and ground cloves, and coconut; mix well. Sprinkle evenly over the softened butter.
Tightly roll up the dough to form an 18-inch log. Slice into even sections. Using a very sharp, straight-edge knife, cut into about 1.5-inch thick pieces. This should give you 12 rolls.
Arrange the rolls in the prepared baking pan with cut sides up. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap and allow the rolls to rise again in a warm, draft-free space until doubled in size. Approximately 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Bake for 23 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
Remove the pan from the oven and cool the rolls on a wire rack while you make the glaze.

To make the frosting:

Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, cream the softened cheese and butter in a medium bowl on medium speed until smooth. Add the coconut flavor and milk; beat on high until smooth. Add the confectioners’ sugar and beat on medium speed until creamy.
Drizzle over warm rolls.

A few notes to share before you start on your batch of rolls.

If you do not have a stand mixer, mix the dough together in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula.When greasing your bowl or baking dish, using a tablespoon of olive oil or nonstick spray is your best option.
If preparing the rolls the night before baking, after you have placed the rolls in the prepared baking pan and covered tightly, allow them to refrigerate for 8 to 12 hours. When ready to bake, remove the pan from the refrigerator and let the rolls rise in a warm, draft-free space until they’ve puffed up and almost doubled in size, about 2 hours.

2021 Black History Virtual Potluck

I’m participating in the 2021 Black History Virtual Potluck. A collaborative menu of recipes contributed by 40+ Black bloggers from around the globe in honor of Black History Month. See a sampling of some of the amazing participant recipes below.

Since the 1970s, the month of February has served as a time where we devote 28 days – and 29 if it's a leap year – to commemorating the well-known (and some lesser mainstream) Black men and women who have made significant contributions to America and the rest of the world in the fields of science, politics, law, sports, the arts, entertainment, and more. At the forefront of these great achievements in our history, and even present-day contests, food is intertwined.

Food has always been a part of our culture and identity within Black communities. Food serves as a comfort and strength source for my people, establishing a setting that welcomes shared & differing ideas. Oftentimes, at the center of these comforting meals are foods that include greens, beans & peas, okra, rice, sweet potatoes, fish, tropical fruits, and more.

In the states, we interchangeably refer to comfort food as soul food, but the truth is soul food is simply cooking with confidence and feeding the soul. Historically, soul food has been traditional. As the eating habits have evolved and techniques, the soul food experience becomes one of creativity and inherent instinct. Sweet potatoes are a part of our history, as well as ingrained in our present-day. There is comfort in sweet potatoes, whether the dish is savory or sweet. Sweet potatoes have become universal for a variety of meals, well-beyond just candied yams. It is evident in recipes such as my Sweet Potato Praline Scones and Sweet Potato Swiss Roll. In this recipe I'm sharing today, I'm combining two of my favorites-sweet potatoes and warm, fluffy cinnamon rolls-is one of the best things to come out of my quarantine.

Here is a sampling of a few wonderful recipes from other participants. You can also follow along for a full collective list on social media with #BHMVP2021.