Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls

Today was winter bike to work day.  In Boulder, at least.

The city organized this event and there were different restaurants around town that were giving out breakfast to the people participating.  So, I signed up last night before I went to bed (in all honesty: it was 60˚ today so it wasn't too much of a sacrifice) for the free bagel with schmear.

I'm the type of person that thinks breakfast is a cup of coffee.  Maybe a couple hours later, I'll eat something, but not right after I wake up.  The only time I really eat breakfast is on lazy weekends.  On the weekend, the whole breakfast story gets rewritten.  Taking your time on a Sunday morning in your pajamas, making an intricate meal, just sets your whole day off on the right foot.

And then there are some breakfasts that are worth even more time.  These aren't your bike-by breakfast bagels, or your sunday morning banana pancakes.  These are your sweet potato cinnamon rolls made from scratch Saturday night so you just have to bake them Sunday morning.

SWEET POTATO CINNAMON ROLLS
Recipe adapted from Vegetarian Times
Dough:
0.25 oz. (1 package) active dry yeast
3 1/3 c. bread flour
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 c. mashed, cooked sweet potato
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
Cinnamon-Pecan Filling
1/3 c. brown sugar, packed
1 3/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. butter, softened
3/4 c. chopped pecans, divided
Maple Glaze
3 Tbsp. cream cheese
2 Tbsp. good maple syrup
pinch salt
1 c. powdered sugar

1.  Stir yeast into 1/3 c. warm (not boiling) water and allow to activate for 10 minutes.

2.  Add sweet potato and vegetable oil to water/yeast mixture.  Combine with flour, sugar and salt.  Knead or use bread hook on stand mixer to combine.  Dough should form a ball and pull away from the sides of the bowl.

3.  Place in a greased bowl.  Cover with a greased piece of plastic wrap.  Allow to double in size (about 1 hour).

4.  Grease a 9x13" pan.  Set aside.

5.  Roll dough out into a rectangle.  Spread 2 Tbsp. butter (from filling ingredients) on dough.  Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.  Top with half of the chopped pecans.

6.  Starting on the long edge, roll up dough.  Cut roll into 12 1" slices.  Place in greased pan.  Cover and let rise for 45 minutes or until double in size.  (*You can also allow the dough to rise, refrigerate overnight, and in the morning allow the dough to rise one more time, before baking.)

7.  Bake for 18-20 minutes at 375˚.

8.  Combine maple glaze ingredients and spread over warm cinnamon rolls.  Sprinkle with remaining pecans.

Pin It