If you’re looking for a delightful twist on classic cookies that bring cozy fall flavors to your kitchen, this Sweet Potato Honeybun Cookies Recipe is your new best friend. Combining the natural sweetness and silky texture of mashed sweet potatoes with a cinnamon-spiced swirl and a honey glaze, these cookies are irresistibly soft, flavorful, and perfect for sharing. Each bite feels like a warm hug, making them a favorite for holidays, snacks, or anytime you want a sweet treat with a touch of wholesome goodness.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients are simple but essential to crafting the perfect balance of softness, sweetness, and spice in your cookies. Each item plays an important role, from the tender sweet potato creating moisture, to the cinnamon and nutmeg that add that comforting warm flavor.
- 1/2 cup mashed sweet potato: Adds natural sweetness and moisture, keeping the cookies soft and tender.
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour: The backbone of the cookie’s structure, giving it just the right crumb.
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter: Brings richness and helps create a tender texture.
- 1/2 cup brown sugar: Provides deep molasses notes and chewiness.
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar: Enhances sweetness and helps with cookie browning.
- 1 egg: Binds the ingredients together and adds moisture.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract: Boosts overall flavor with a warm aroma.
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda: Helps cookies rise and become light.
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder: Adds extra lift for the perfect texture.
- 1/4 teaspoon salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavors.
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon: Infuses cozy spice throughout the dough.
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg: Adds a subtle warmth and earthy depth.
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (for swirl): Creates the sweet cinnamon swirl in the cookie center.
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (for swirl): Gives the swirl its signature spicy zing.
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar: The base for the delicate honey glaze on top.
- 1 tablespoon honey: Adds floral sweetness and helps the glaze shine.
- 1 tablespoon milk: Thins the glaze for perfect drizzling.
How to Make Sweet Potato Honeybun Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Cream Together Butter and Sugars
Start by creaming the unsalted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is fluffy and pale in color. This step is crucial because it traps air, helping the cookies rise beautifully while giving them a light texture.
Step 2: Mix in Sweet Potato, Egg, and Vanilla
Next, add the mashed sweet potato, egg, and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture. Blend everything until smooth and well combined. The sweet potato lends moistness and a lovely natural sweetness here, setting these cookies apart from the usual.
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients and Stir into Wet
Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a separate bowl. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently just until everything melds. This careful combining prevents overworking the dough, resulting in tender, soft cookies.
Step 4: Prepare the Cinnamon Swirl Filling
Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon for the swirl in a small bowl. This sweet and spicy mixture will be the delightful surprise in the center of each cookie, reminiscent of a honeybun’s signature spiral.
Step 5: Shape the Cookies with the Swirl
Scoop 2-tablespoon balls of dough and flatten them slightly on your palm. Place a small spoonful of the cinnamon-sugar swirl mixture in the center, then carefully fold the edges over to encase the swirl. Roll gently back into a ball, ensuring the swirl is sealed inside. Place each cookie ball about 2 inches apart on a lined baking sheet.
Step 6: Bake and Glaze
Bake your cookies at 350°F for 11 to 13 minutes, or until the edges are just set but the centers remain soft. Allow them to cool completely on a wire rack. Whisk together powdered sugar, honey, and milk for the glaze, then drizzle generously over your cooled cookies. The glaze adds a shiny, sticky finish that’s both beautiful and delicious.
How to Serve Sweet Potato Honeybun Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
To make your cookies look extra inviting, consider a light dusting of cinnamon or a few tiny pecan pieces on top of the glaze. These little touches enhance both texture and aroma, making your Sweet Potato Honeybun Cookies Recipe irresistible even before the first bite.
Side Dishes
Serve these cookies with a hot cup of spiced chai tea, rich coffee, or even warm apple cider. Their soft, sweet, and spiced profile pairs perfectly with cozy drinks, rounding out an afternoon snack or dessert plate wonderfully.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun twist, arrange the cookies in a spiral on a rustic wooden board with small bowls of honey and cinnamon sugar for dipping. You could also stack them in a mason jar for a charming gift idea that shows you care, sharing the joy of this Sweet Potato Honeybun Cookies Recipe with loved ones.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. The cookies remain soft and flavorful, as the sweet potato keeps them moist longer than regular cookies.
Freezing
Freeze unglazed cookie dough balls by placing them on a tray until firm, then transferring them to a freezer bag. They keep well for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, pop them straight into the oven, adding a minute or two to the baking time.
Reheating
To enjoy leftovers warm, microwave a cookie for 10 to 15 seconds or reheat in a low oven. This quick warm-up brings back that soft, tender texture and makes the honey glaze slightly melty and scrumptious.
FAQs
Can I use canned sweet potato puree for this recipe?
Absolutely! Canned sweet potato puree works well and saves you some prep time. Just make sure it’s plain with no added spices or sugars to keep the flavor balanced.
What makes these cookies different from regular sugar cookies?
The secret lies in using mashed sweet potato and the cinnamon swirl in the center, which create a moist, tender cookie with warm autumnal flavors, unlike traditional sugar cookies.
Is it possible to make this recipe vegan?
To make a vegan version, replace the butter with vegan margarine or coconut oil, use a flax or chia egg substitute, and select a plant-based milk for the glaze. The outcome will still be delicious!
Can I skip the glaze?
You can, but the honey glaze adds a lovely sweetness and shiny finish that complements the spiced dough beautifully. Without it, the cookies will be less sweet but still tasty.
How do I know when the cookies are done baking?
Look for edges that are set and just starting to turn golden while the centers remain soft. Overbaking will dry them out, so keep a close eye during those last minutes for perfect results.
Final Thoughts
There is something truly special about baking and sharing the Sweet Potato Honeybun Cookies Recipe — it’s warm, comforting, and a celebration of fall flavors wrapped into one. These cookies make both everyday moments and special occasions a little sweeter and a lot more joyful. I hope you give this cozy recipe a try and enjoy every delicious bite as much as I do!
Print
Sweet Potato Honeybun Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Sweet Potato Honeybun Cookies are a delightful twist on classic cookies, featuring mashed sweet potato for moisture and natural sweetness, combined with warm spices and a sweet cinnamon swirl. Finished with a honey-infused glaze, they offer a soft, flavorful treat perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1/2 cup mashed sweet potato
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Swirl Filling
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Glaze
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1/4 cup granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps incorporate air for tender cookies.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in 1/2 cup mashed sweet potato, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to the creamed butter and sugars until smooth and fully combined, ensuring an even batter.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg. Gradually add this dry mix to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Prepare Cinnamon Swirl: In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup brown sugar with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. This will be used to create a cinnamon sugar swirl inside each cookie.
- Shape Cookies with Swirl: Scoop 2-tablespoon portions of dough and flatten each slightly. Place a small amount of the cinnamon swirl mixture in the center, then fold the edges of the dough over the filling and roll gently back into balls to seal the swirl inside.
- Bake Cookies: Place the dough balls 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 11–13 minutes or until the edges are set but the center remains soft. Remove and allow cookies to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Make and Apply Glaze: Whisk together 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon honey, and 1 tablespoon milk until smooth. Drizzle this glaze over the cooled cookies and allow it to set before serving.
Notes
- Ensure sweet potatoes are well mashed and cool before adding to prevent cooking the egg prematurely.
- Do not overmix the dough once flour is added to keep cookies tender.
- For a stronger cinnamon flavor, you may increase the cinnamon in the swirl mixture slightly.
- If you prefer a thicker glaze, reduce the milk quantity.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or freeze for longer storage.
