A perfect Fall breakfast or dessert recipe for baked Cinnamon Sweet Potato Doughnuts! Gluten-free, grain-free, vegan, & paleo, these doughnuts have all the healthy superfood nutrition of the delicious sweet potato and nothing else!
Storytime! This is another recipe from the long "to post" folder. However, this one has quite a unique story behind its creation. It's from last year, but since we're in the beginning stages of FALL EVERYTHING season, some comforting sweet potato doughnuts seemed fitting! (Sorry, not pumpkin, but still good!) This is one of those recipes that was "saved" and if you know my way of cooking, baking, and thinking, there is no such thing as failures!
Where shall we start? Well, once upon a time, I was trying to make homemade gnocchi. This was my first time trying it and obviously, as you can tell by what I've already said, the gnocchi making didn't work out this day. I didn't go in with a good plan, just some mashed sweet potato and sweet potato flour, thinking gnocchi would magically appear. A good gnocchi dough did not appear, that's for sure! It was just a sad, very wet, mess. Not stable enough for boiling these little pillows for joy!
For me, it is such a sin to have to throw away not just food, but POTATOES! That was NOT going to happen; I needed to save this wet sweet potato mess I had my mixing bowl. So with a bit of fast tweaking and something to thicken it all up, I somehow managed to create a perfect batter for...DOUGHNUTS! The food angels say down from the heavens that day! We would not have an orange mess in the trash, but beautiful baked dough rings of sweet SWEET potato goodness!
I may not have had dinner that night, but I did have some wonderful cinnamon sweet potato doughnuts for munching! What was the lesson we can learn from all this? Never give up...never! Even when you feel like all your hard work and intended roadmap are completely in the trash, stop, breath, and just re-evaluate the options at hand. There is 95% always a way to avert a complete failure. It may not be anything close to what you wanted or expected, but it is not a failure. You can still find some success, just in another way. There will always be another chance to retry your original plan (just look at these beauties!) For this moment, this time, just take a new direction in stride.
The motto I want you to take away from this sweet potato gnocchi/doughnut story is this..."When in doubt, doughnut it out!" Remember that little gem and I guarantee you'll never feel like a failure or that all is lost ever again. The sweet potato resurrection! When you have a wet and mushy mess, just add a little hearty love and keep that oven heated, ready to bake up some success right before your very eyes!
Cinnamon Sweet Potato Doughnuts
Cinnamon Sweet Potato Doughnuts
A perfect Fall breakfast or dessert recipe for baked Cinnamon Sweet Potato Doughnuts! Gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, vegan, & paleo, these donuts have all the healthy superfood nutrition of the delicious sweet potato and nothing else!
- Cook Time: 18 mins
- Total Time: 18 mins
- Yield: 8 1x
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Mashed Sweet Potatoes (about 2 medium potatoes, baked, cooled, skin removed)
- 1 Cup Sweet Potato Flour
- ½ Cup Arrowroot Starch
- 1 Tsp Baking Powder
- 1 Tsp Cinnamon
- ½ Tsp Pure Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract
- 1 TB Unsweetened Shredded Coconut (optional topping)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients (except the shredded coconut) and mix well to form a thick batter.
- In 2 greased doughnut pans, evenly scoop out the batter into 8-10 doughnuts molds.
- Bake the doughnuts for 16-18 minutes (add the coconut to the tops 5 minutes before finished if you are using it).
- Remove and let cool on a wire rack.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
I think the coconut looks like snow :O I'm not ready for THAT season just yet! Let's keep it pumpkin, apple, and sweet potato season for...a while 😉 So today we averted failure, made doughnuts, and are thinking of snow? That's life in my kitchen! So go ahead, never fail, try a new direction, make some gnocchi AND doughnuts, and create your OWN success!
So tell me:
+ What been your latest failure "averted" success in the kitchen?
+ Do you try to make things work out no matter what ends up happening?
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handmade by amalia
My kind of treat.
Amalia
xo
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Amy @ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
I guess I wouldn't feel too guilty eating these, since they have sweet potatoes in them 😉
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Food and guilt don't go together on this blog!
Olivia- Reinvented Collection
hello Rebecca,
I believe fall is an experience for all the senses and food is a large part of what makes fall so wonderful with the scents of fall coming from the kitchen.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That's nice!
Melissa
Saved these to my doughnut pin board. Can't tell my kids they are sweet potato's or they will never give them a try. Lol
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
But everyone loves potatoes!!!
Annmarie
I keep saying this but I really need to get myself a donut pan so I can make all your delicious recipes! These look amazing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
If you're still saying it, than you'll probably never get one 😛
Melissa
I think my husband would go wild over these!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That's good to hear!
Morgan Miller
These look so delicious, cake donuts are my favorite. I think I would try a coconut glaze though for an extra sweet touch.I so appreciate your honesty and embrace of recipe mistakes. So many times I have ruined a dish that I planned days/weeks in advance and just went to plan B. Its so encouraging to know I'm not the only one who flubs.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Lol, well it's not a flob, so....
Elaine @myrunexperiment
Can you substitute coconut flour for the sweet potato flour? This is the first time I've heard of sweet potato flour and have never noticed it being sold at the market I frequent. Sounds delicious though - my girls love it when I make donuts and this is definitely a healthier option!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You need to buy the flour online. No do not sub coconut flour.
Crystal@WhatTreasuresAwait
These look so delicious!
kimmythevegan
They are so pretty! I love the shredded coconut topper - very nice touch. I'm actually glad you did a sweet potato recipe, I'm seeing all things pumpkin and I'm sadly sensitive to it :/ But these I can EAT =D
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Sweet potato will always reign supreme!
Crystal Green
This looks like a great recipe to try. I'm sure plenty of people appreciate the fact that it's gluten free.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Sure!
Nikki Frank-Hamilton
Well aren't these a wonderful failure! LOL I haven't had breakfast yet and now I want one of these! ASAP I love fall flavors, sweet potato or pumpkin. And pairing up the sweet potato with cinnamon and vanilla? I'm in! YUM!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The perfect breakfast!
indah nuria
Oh my...It looks so tempting. Good and healthy for sure
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You bet!
nadia
Ooo they look so delicious! I recently bought a doughnut tray so I definitely need to give this recipe a go 😀
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yay!!! Your life is about to change!
Kathleen - Bloggers Lifestyle
I would never have thought to make sweet potato doughnuts. They look quite easy to make and should taste good.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Super easy and delish!
Cecilia Lynne
Yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
#Lol
jess larson | playswellwithbutter
yuuuuuuuuum!!! these look SO delish - craving one to dunk into my saturday coffee right now!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That would be the perfect way to start the weekend!
Sarah
Now these are definitely some doughnuts that I can get behind! Love!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Ahh yea! Well that's what I like to hear!
Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite
These looks so delicious! And I love how simple they are. Bring them on!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Simple delights!
Colleeen
These look lovely Rebecca. I had my first potato donut in Portland, ME and was hooked immediately. Although, it's pretty hard to find anything to hate about a Chocolate Sea Salt Potato Donut!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That sounds incredible!
Marla
Hi Rebecca,
What a great ides - sweet potato donuts - healthy, tasty, and how I love sweet potatoes in any recipe. Gives a great healthy flavorful new twist to conventional donuts. Pinned & tweeted!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Valerie
I so have to try this! These look so very good!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes! Please do!
Lara
I would totally try this! Good for you for not just scrapping it!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, I hope you do try it for yourself!
Miss Polkadot
Ah, what a happy ending to that sweet potato story! We seem to think in similar ways because I'd likely have taken the situation as a hidden little life lesson of persevering and still seeing some success in it after all.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Never a failure!
Quentin Jessen
I love doughnuts, but am always conscious of how fattening they can be. At least these are super healthy (as well as look and sound delicious), so I've got to give this one a try! 🙂 Thank you!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
No food has to be unhealthy if you know how to cook!
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine
Man, I have to buy a donut pan! Why have I resisted for so long? 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
AHHH! Yes, please!!!! I'LL buy you one 😛
Gina
These look amazing!! I've been dying to make some of my own doughnuts, but a little hesitant. Sweet potato doughnuts are such a smart and healthy idea. These are going onto the "must make" Pinterest board!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Why are you hesitant? They are SO easy! (At least the baked healthy ones are!)
Mel |avirtualvegan.com
What a happy mistake! I too hate to throw food away and always repurpose it some way. Sweet potato is one of my favourites and these are so healthy. I have never used sweet potato flour. I don't think I have even seen it anywhere but I will keep a look out next time I'm at the store. I really want to try it!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Obviously, it's something you need to buy online 😛
Laura @PetiteAllergyTreats
Ooooh! We love ALL things sweet potato! great idea!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Who doesn't!?
Mariam
This just sounds heavenly!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Lauren
These will fit my sweet potato obsession nicely!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Perfect!
Gin
You're my hero to even think of making donuts out of failed gnocchi, let alone actually doing it. Slap a little chocolate glaze on there and I'm in!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha! If you ever find yourself with a failing recipe, just call me over 😉
Sharon @ What The Fork
Pretty sure I've never had sweet potato in a doughnut!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Time to change that!
Linda @ Veganosity
So smart to turn that dough into doughnuts! They look amazing. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, right? Winning!
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day
I love anything sweet potato, so I'm definitely going to need to make these doughnuts!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Awesome! Thanks Amy!
Uma
These are healthy and good looking donuts:) Yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They are!
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free
Yum! Doughnuts that I can actually eat for breakfast! These look so hearty and nourishing.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, yes! You can feel so good about having a few!
Amber
These look so good! I have not made donuts in forever! And sweet potato makes everything better!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Time to bake!
Megan - The Emotional Baker
I hate to waste things, too! Glad you were able to repurpose the sweet potato - these look perfect 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, thanks Megan!
Pure Ella
Wow!! These look and sound amazing!! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks, Ella!
Natalie Tamara @TheTofuDiaries
It was lucky for us that the original recipe didn't go according to plan then, or we'd never have got to see these beauties! They sound absolutely gorgeous.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, I guess so! Thank you Natalie!
Gluten Free With Emily
The addition of the sweet potato sounds delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The addition? Haha, it's ALL potato!?
GiGi Eats
These sound truly delicious! I have yet to experiment with sweet potato flour, but it's on the agenda!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I bet.
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables
What a fun way to use sweet potatoes! The topping looks great too!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Kate
I love sweet potatoes with cinnamon - so perfect for dessert!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Just the classic potato spice!
Teffy @ Sprinkle of Green
These apeared in the recommended for me bit of Pinterest. Oh how it knows me well - they look divine Rebecca! Anything sweet potato sounds delicious, but these doughnuts really exceed everything! X
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
O, I'm glad 😉 They should be recommended for everybody 😉
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
I recently made scones with left over sweet potatoes so I have absolutely no doubt that these taste fantastic Rebecca!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Perfect for keeping things moist and soft!
Farrah
So um, I unearthed my donut pan! :]?
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I didn't bring mine :O
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living
These are definitely sweet potato goodness!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
All the way!
Platter Talk
I love the way your repurposed your original ingredients into a whole new recipe. Well done!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Elle @ Only Taste Matters
These look amazing! Two of my favorites combined! Pinned! Shared! Love it!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Mine too 😉 Thank you, Elle!
jules
I love using sweet potato flour! It would be perfect here - yum!
~jules
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Total potato!
Tara | Treble in the Kitchen
Well, it looks like your kitchen flop wasn't a flop at all!! Love that you repurposed the dough 🙂 Yum!!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, yes!!! We can never let a recipe die!
Heather @Bostongirlbakes
Love that you turned your cooking flop into success! And into dessert even better 🙂 I think dessert for dinner is totally a better plan anyway! These look scrumptious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, well I wouldn't call these doughnuts dessert. This is breakfast 100%
Demeter | Beaming Baker
I love that there aren't any failures in your kitchen! Plus, the fact that you don't like throwing food away. That totally makes me cringe and feel guilty, like... FOREVER. Too ingenious whipping these formerly would-have been gnocchi into doughnuts! 🙂 I agree that the coconut looks like snow... but we'll both keep that at bay for a few months. Hehe. 🙂 These look incredible!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Food waste is one of my biggest "beefs". If I see food get thrown out...feel my wrath!!
Ah! I hope so!!! The monsoonal rain today was bad enough!
Liz
These sound AMAZING! So delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you, Liz!
Igor @ Cooking The Globe
I have never tried sweet potato doughnuts before. What an awesome idea. These little guys look mouth-watering!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They sure are!
The Food Hunter
They sound utterly delicious and perfect for fall
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Elizabeth DiBurro
I've never had a sweet potato doughnut before, but I bet they're amazing. Thanks for the recipe.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I don't think they're "sold in stores" 😛
Sarah- A Whisk and Two Wands
Love sweet potatoes and how these are grain free!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
All the goodness!
Patricia @Sweet and Strong
I have never made a dessert with sweet potatoes! These sound delicious, can't go wrong with doughnuts!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well that needs to change.
Nicole Dawson
I had a jelly roll fail miserably one time! Just wouldn't roll at all so I ended up using an icecream scoop to get it out of the pan and served it in cute little bowls with whip on top. It still was amazing, just not what I had planned. Love how you got donuts out of disaster 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
See! That's perfect!!! We can always make things work!
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner
Creative twist looks very tasty!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
What's the twist?
Linnaea
These look delicious! I imagine they would taste like pumpkin doughnuts...only without the slightly bitter edge pumpkin can have.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well I have cinnamon glazed pumpkin doughnuts as well!
Kim
Sweet potatoes are a favourite around here, I'll have to try these soon! I love how you can take something that isn't working and turn it into something so yummy.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
We can never waste sweet potatoes!
Erica D
Sweet potato flour? How interesting!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Wow, Erica.
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche
I would never have guessed that these started their life as gnocchi!! 😉 They look delicious.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahaha, destined for magic doughnuts 😉
Mandy
I love that! "When in doubt, doughnut it out!" ???????? Looks like an awesome save here! Doughnuts are my weakness, which is why I've been working on a grain free version myself. These look wonderful and I love the shredded coconut topping. I need to get my hands on some sweet potato flour now! ❤️
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
These doughnuts will save you on your AIP diet 😀
Alicia
Oh wow, these look absolutely delish! And made out of sweet potato...that's mad! Will DEFINITELY have to try these this winter! xx
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Perfect! Glad you'll try them!
Heather Kinnaird
doughnuts are always the answer! these are way better than gnocchi
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, doughnuts do always make us feel better 😉
Aish
Love innovation in food. The sweet potato donuts sound new to me and I already started liking them.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They're fantastic!
Brittany
Wow! These sound so yummy and refreshing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, I've never heard someone way a doughnut was "refreshing" 😛
Brittany
I might have a problem with how much I love donuts.... haha
Chrystal @ Gluten-Free Palate
These look super easy! Can't wait to try them.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Cricket Plunkett
I love sweet potatoes, and donuts, this is the perfect recipe for me!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Sounds like it!
Emily @ My Healthyish Life
I cringe at the thought of throwing sweet potatoes away. You turned it around very nicely :). The only thing I mess up regularly is an omelette...which becomes a scramble.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
See! There's always a way around a mess up!
Kristen @A Mind Full MOm
Rebecca, I knew I would love these by the title alone. But your recipe sealed the deal. I am SO making these!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Fantastic! Enjoy, my friend!
Chelsea Gray
Yummmm! Omg these sound (and look!) amazing!!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you, friend!
rachel @ Athletic Avocado
Loving the sweet potato goodness! Sweet potatoes are so underrated! These beauties would be perfect with the morning cup of joe 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Coffee, potatoes, doughnuts? Sounds like a good morning deal!
Susie @ Suzlyfe
I prefer not to think of things as kitchen failures--if I eat the evidence (there is always a way to make it edible!) then no one is the wiser, right?
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Exactly my thoughts!
Courtney
YES, give me ALL the sweet potato recipes! 🙂 These look divine! I need to try sweet potato flour.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
All we need are sweet potato recipes and dishes!
sarah@creatingbettertomorrow
Well I tried to make these pumpkin pancakes this weekend...somewhere in the recipe I went wrong...I knwo it was me and not the recipe but it was a DISASTER..I had to throw it all away I wish I would've thought to maybe just stick the batter in the oven and see if something came out of it...it was tasty just the wrong consistency for pancakes!
I might love sweet potatoes more than pumpkin for fall...these are on the 'to make' list!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Lol, well I suggest you try MY pumpkin pancake recipe then!