These Sweet Potato Buns Are Perfect For Thanksgiving Dinner

Sweet potatoes and rolls are both quintessential parts of the Thanksgiving meal. What if you could combine the two into a unique delicacy? This sweet potato bun recipe does just that. Whether you run a small bakery and are looking for something unique for your customers or you're a home baker preparing dinner for family, these buns will make quite the impression.

Ingredients (makes 16 buns):

• 1 large sweet potato
• 4 1/2 cups bread flour
• 2 packets active dry yeast
• 1 3/4 cups warm milk
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Step 1: Prepare the sponge.

Combine the milk, honey, yeast, and 2 cups of the flour. Mix well to form a smooth, soft dough. Place this mixture in the refrigerator to rest for 4 hours.

Step 2: Prepare the potato.

While the sponge is resting, wash the sweet potato. Stab it a couple of times with a fork, and place it in a 350 degree F oven to bake for an hour or until very soft. Remove the potato from the oven, and let it cool to room temperature. Peel the potato, and mash it with a fork. Measure out one cup of the mashed sweet potato, and set the remaining potato aside.

Step 3: Make the final dough.

After the sponge has been refrigerated for four hours, remove it from the fridge. Add the remaining flour, butter, salt, and 1 cup of sweet potato to the bowl. Mix to form a cohesive dough. The dough should be slightly softer than your average bread dough but not overly sticky. Turn the dough into a floured surface, and knead it for 5 minutes.

Grease a bowl with a little vegetable oil, and place the dough in the bowl. Let it rest for 2 hours in a warm place.

Step 4: Shape and bake the buns.

Once the dough has rested, punch it down to remove the air. Use a sharp knife to divide the dough into 16 even pieces. Shape each piece into a ball. Place the dough balls about 2 inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet, and let them rise for 30 minutes. They should just be touching each other along the edges.

Bake the buns for 15 - 18 minutes in a 400 degree F oven. They should look golden brown when they're finished baking. Let them cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.

If you would like to try some potato buns before making them yourself, check out a bakery like Klosterman Baking Company.