We’re big fans of desserts with sweet potatoes over here. And to get this roundup started, we’re sharing our favorite sweet potato cookie recipe! These sweet potato cookies are best as an after-school snack or Saturday afternoon baking project. They keep at room temperature for several days, and you can add them to school lunches. If you are not into all that, then just whip them up for yourself and scarf them down in a day or two at your leisure.

These are the perfect cookies to make in fall and winter, with a “pumpkin spice” vibe. Adding pecans and raisins makes the cookies feel like a healthy, responsible choice while still tasting like a total treat.

If you want to be extra, you can make your own sweet potato puree. It doesn’t take much time, and it adds to the flavor. But of course, canned works too.

A Word About Sweet Potatoes from California

Sweet potatoes may tantalize your taste buds, but how well do you understand them? There are some myths surrounding this root vegetable. First, it’s essential to note that a sweetpotato is NOT the same as a yam. It also differs from its standard potato counterparts, which are tubers. And get this: the word is actually sweetpotato. According to California Sweetpotatoes, “sweetpotato” is correct because their product is not, in fact, a sweet potato – it’s an entirely different vegetable.

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Sweet Potato Cookies

Becky Sue Wilberding

These are the perfect cookies to make in fall and winter, with a "pumpkin spice" vibe. Adding pecans and raisins makes the cookies feel like a healthy, responsible choice, even though they taste like a total treat.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Total Time 27 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 24 cookies

Calories 201 kcal

Equipment

• Baking Sheets
• parchment paper
•  3-TBSP cookie scoop
• Mixer
• wire rack

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 cup mashed sweet potato, homemade or canned.
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground allspice
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup raisins

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Beat in the mashed sweet potato until smooth, then add the egg and vanilla and mix just until combined.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and allspice. Mix into the butter mixture just until combined.
• Fold in pecans and raisins.
• Use a 3-TBSP (#20) cookie scoop to form balls. Place them about 1 inch (2 1/2 cm) apart on parchment-lined baking sheets.
• Bake for 10–12 minutes, until edges begin to brown
• Cool for 1 minute before removing to wire racks.
• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Video

Notes

TO MAKE YOUR OWN MASHED SWEET POTATO:

 

You’ll need about 1 large or 2 small sweet potatoes (roughly 1 lb) for 1 cup.

1. Peel and chop sweet potatoes into 2″ chunks.

2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the sweet potatoes and boil until tender, about 13–15 minutes.

3. Drain the sweet potatoes and let them sit in the strainer for a few minutes to remove all excess water.

4. Transfer back into the pot and use a potato masher or potato ricer to mash until smooth.

5. Set aside and allow the mashed sweet potatoes to cool to room temperature before adding.

 

MAKE AHEAD:

 

Refrigerate in a covered container for up to 4 days. If using canned, choose plain sweet potato puree, not candied yams in syrup or pie filling.

 

PRO TIP

 

For bakery-style cookies, set aside about 1/4 cup of the chopped pecans and 2 tablespoons of the raisins before folding them into the dough. After scooping, press the reserved chopped pecans and raisins onto the tops of the dough balls before baking.

 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 201kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 2gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 159mgPotassium: 141mgFiber: 2gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 2491IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg

Keyword sweeet potato cookies

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Even More Desserts with Sweet Potatoes We Know You Are Going to Love

After you bake a batch of these cookies, you will be wondering what desserts with sweet potatoes to try next! We’ve got ya covered. Keep scrolling below.

Easy Sweet Potato Pie

With a crisp crust and silky-smooth filling spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, this sweet potato pie from Beyond Sweet and Savory is so delicious and light, your guests will be coming back for more. 

Sweet Potato Sour Cream Cake

If you love sweet potatoes, you will love this Sweet Potato Sour Cream Cake from Bakes by Brown Sugar. Cooked sweet potatoes along with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger to create an incredibly flavorful cake. Sour cream helps create a tender crumb, and the bourbon adds a hint of sweetness.

Sweet Potato Marshmallow Bars

These Sweet Potato Marshmallow Bars from Britney Breaks Bread are one of those recipes where you take your first bite and SWOON. The bars are soft and airy. 

Sweet Potato Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This sweet potato pound cake from Britney Breaks Bread is moist, perfectly spiced, and full of warm cinnamon flavors. Topped with a rich cream cheese frosting – so good! It’s a delicious blend of sweet potato puree with hints of vanilla, nutmeg, and ginger, topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting. 

Sweetpotato Oatmeal Cookies

Dig into these delicious Sweetpotato Oatmeal Cookies from our friends at California Sweetpotatoes. They’re jam-packed with goodies including nuts, raisins, and chocolate chips, plus of course, good-for-you sweetpotatoes!

Sweet Potato Ice Cream Recipe

This decadent, perfectly spiced, and deliciously creamy Sweet Potato Ice Cream from Grandbaby Cakes tastes almost like the pie!  It’s even better when topped with toasted marshmallows, making it the perfect fall (or anytime) dessert.

Sweetpotato Gingerbread Cookies

These cookies from our friends at California Sweeetpotatoes are sweet-but-not-too-sweet, jam-packed with baking spices, and altogether irresistible. Sweetpotato puree in the dough adds fiber and nutrients, helps cut down on butter, and keeps the cookies deliciously tender for days and days.