With a fluffy texture, a naturally sweet flavor, and a hint of cozy spices, these Sweet Potato Muffins are a new favorite veggie muffin in our house. They are lightly sweetened, store well, and are delicious topped with honey, butter, or cream cheese.

sweet-potato-muffins-in-muffin-pan

Sweet Potato Muffins

These easy muffins are a great option for breakfast, snack, or to serve as a simple side with chili or soup. Once the sweet potato is prepared—you can roast it at home or start with canned sweet potato puree—making the muffins is as simple as stirring the ingredients together in a bowl.

The result is a homemade batch of muffins that are so darn good topped with a little butter and honey (or on their own if you’re more of a purist!).

We like these for breakfast, snack, or as part of an easy cold lunch. The main thing to know about this recipe is that you’ll need to have some Sweet Potato Puree ready to go. You can do that step a few days ahead or use canned sweet potato puree from the store. Up to you.

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Ingredients You Need

To make this recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients.

ingredients-in-sweet-potato-muffins-on-counter.
  • Mashed sweet potato, very smooth and cool or at room temperature. I usually use homemade mashed sweet potatoes, but you could use canned sweet potato puree, too.
  • Milk: Dairy or unsweetened plain nondairy works here.
  • Unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt in the recipe.
  • Maple syrup: You could use honey if you prefer for kids over age 1.
  • Egg: This helps the batter bind together, as well as stay moist and tender.
  • Vanilla extract: A little vanilla adds a hint of flavor that works well with the rest of the flavors.
  • All-purpose and whole wheat flour: I like to use a mix of flours in this recipe so it’s light and also has some of the nutrients from the whole wheat flour.
  • Baking soda: This is key to making sure they bake through well, so be sure yours is fresh.
  • Cinnamon: This adds to the cozy, warm spice in the recipe.
  • Optional: Chocolate chips or lemon zest. I usually add one or the other to ensure they have plenty of flavor.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a look at how to make these muffins. Scroll down to the bottom of the recipe for the full information.

how-to-make-sweet-potato-muffins-step-by-step
  1. Stir together the wet ingredients, going slowly to get everything well combined.
  2. Stir in the dry ingredients.
  3. Portion into a muffin tin.
  4. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.

TIP: I use a spatula to stir the batter together. It’s fairly thick due to the sweet potato, so be gentle but firm to get it mixed.

What’s the best sweet potato to use in muffins?

To make the mashed sweet potato, you can make Mashed Roasted Sweet Potato or Crock-Pot Sweet Potatoes. Blend them very smooth in the blender or in a food processor and be sure to let them cool fully before you add them to the batter.

You can prep the sweet potatoes 3-5 days ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use. You can also use store-bought sweet potato puree.

cut-up-sweet-potato-muffins-on-plate

Flavor Additions

You can stir in a handful of chocolate chips to the batter. Or add 2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest. Don’t do both, just pick one or the other! They both lend a nice flavor boost to the muffins.

How to Store

Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the fridge for up to 5, or in the freezer in a zip-top freezer bag with as much air removed as possible for up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature.

Best Tips for Success

  • Be sure to puree the sweet potatoes fully before starting the batter. I usually run it through my blender to make sure it’s smooth and lump-free.
  • You can also use store-bought sweet potato puree.
  • Add fresh lemon zest or chocolate chips to add more flavor.
  • Use pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon if you prefer.
  • Gluten-free: Use cup-for-cup gluten-free flour in place of the wheat flours.
  • Dairy-free: Use nondairy unsweetened plain milk, and use vegetable oil for the butter.
  • Egg-free: Omit the egg. Increase the milk to 1 ¼ cups. Bake as directed.
  • The baking soda is crucial in this recipe since it helps the batter rise nicely even though the batter is very thick. Be sure to check to make sure yours isn’t expired!

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sweet-potato-muffins-in-pan

Fluffy Sweet Potato Muffins

Tender and moist, these muffins are lightly sweetened with warm spices. Plan to prepare the sweet potatoes at least an hour—and up to 3 days—before you start making the muffins to allow time to cool. You can make these plain, with chocolate chips, or with lemon zest.
5 from 68 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes
Cuisine American
Course Snack
Calories 145kcal
Servings 12

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and grease a standard-size 12-cup nonstick muffin tin well. (I use classic Pam spray.)
  • Add the sweet potato, milk, butter, maple syrup, egg, and vanilla to a medium bowl. Stir together, going slowly and gently, until fully combined.
  • In a separate medium bow, stir together the flours, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add the optional sugar if using. Stir gently into the sweet potato mixture.
  • To add chocolate chips, sprinkle a few on top of each muffin before baking or stir into the batter. To add lemon zest (without chocolate), stir the fresh lemon zest into the batter.
  • Divide among the prepared muffin tin, using about ¼ cup batter in each, and bake for 16-20 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. (In my oven it was right at 18 minutes. To make as mini muffins, bake for about 12-14 minutes.) Let cool for a minute in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
  • Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

Video

Notes

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the fridge for up to 5, or in the freezer in a zip-top freezer bag with as much air removed as possible for up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature.
  • To make the mashed sweet potato, you can make Mashed Roasted Sweet Potato or Crock-Pot Sweet Potatoes. Do this step ahead of time (even up to three days ahead if you store it in an airtight container in the fridge) so the sweet potato is cool when you make the muffin batter.
  • These are very lightly sweet. The additional sugar is there if you think your family would prefer them a little sweeter.
  • Be sure to puree the sweet potatoes fully before starting the batter. I usually run it through my blender to make sure it’s smooth and lump-free. You can also use store-bought sweet potato puree.
  • Gluten-free: Use cup-for-cup gluten-free flour in place of the wheat flours.
  • Dairy-free: Use plain unsweetened nondairy milk and vegetable oil instead of butter.
  • Egg-free: Omit the egg. Increase the milk to 1 ¼ cups. Bake as directed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1muffin, Calories: 145kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 26mg, Sodium: 252mg, Potassium: 126mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 1744IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 43mg, Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Rate in the comments and tag @yummytoddlerfood on IG!

This post was first published October 2020.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    We didn’t cook the potatoes first, just used the blender. We also left out the sugar and these turned out amazing. Thank you

  2. 5 stars
    So yummy! Light fluffy and such a warm cozy smell and taste! Skipped the sugar and they were perfectly sweet as is! I was lazy and just microwaved the sweet potato to cook but I may try roasting next time for an even cozier flavor

  3. These are divine! Thank you! I added a tablespoon of sugar plus some chocolate chips and my picky eater ate them saying yummy! That’s a huge win for me 😁

  4. 5 stars
    I substituted canned pumpkin for the sweet potato, worked great for a pantry version of this.
    Perhaps less depth of flavor since the sweet potato isn’t roasted to caramelize, but still delicious! Yet another great recipe we’ll be saving, thanks!

  5. 5 stars
    Love them, love them, love them and I will be making them more often! I did the lemon version, 2 tsp sugar, served with some cream cheese and wow! Second batch loading…

  6. 5 stars
    The first time I made these I wasn’t too fond of them. They tasted a little bland but I also didn’t add sugar and the sweet potato was not mashed well so I take fault from that. I made these again today and wow! They came out so good 🤤. I did have to make a couple tweaks since I didn’t have everything I needed. I used whole wheat instead of part AP flour, honey in place of maple syrup, and purple sweet potato in place of regular sweet potato. I also threw the sweet potato in the blender to puree it vs hand mashing. They came out really tasty and my muffins turned a dark teal color 😂. Not sure why but thankfully my 2 yr old was turned off by the color and happily scarfed down his muffin🙌🏻. Also we didn’t have regular chocolate chips so I topped a few muffins with these edible glitter sparkly chocolate chips I found in the back of the pantry 😁. I can’t wait to make these again 😀

  7. These came out great. I went light on sugar for my toddlers and they liked them. I used the blender to puree the sweet potato and mix all the wet ingredients – very smooth and the muffin texture was moist and light.

  8. 5 stars
    Great! Subbed butter for canola oil & corn syrup for maple to make it cheaper and turned out great!

  9. 5 stars
    These turned out soooo good. I subbed coconut oil for the butter, doubled the cinnamon bc I didn’t have chocolate chips or lemon zest, and added a big spoonful of coconut sugar. My 3 year old and 1 year old and I all loved them. Will def make again! Thanks for always having awesome recipes!!

  10. 5 stars
    I had a sweet potato I needed to use up and saw this recipe and decided to try it, so glad I did!! I made a couple tweaks to the recipe but they turned out great!! I didn’t have whole wheat flour so I just used regular. And instead of maple syrup I substituted the same amount in applesauce because I didn’t want to do maple syrup AND sugar. I also added 1/4c infant cereal for some iron. It took mine 18 minutes to be fully cooked. They are cakey in the center and just the right amount of sweetness! Will definitely make again!!

  11. Looking forward to trying this! I’m hoping to use applesauce instead of maple syrup — if I did that, would you make any other modifications to the recipe?

    1. I haven’t tried that so I can’t say for sure, but it may make the muffins moister and a little harder to bake through. Maybe add 1-2 tbsp more flour if you do this. That’s my best guess. Let me know how it goes!

    1. I haven’t tested that so I can’t say for sure, but it may be a slightly different texture at the end since that is likely a thinner puree than what you’d have if you made it from a whole potato.

  12. 5 stars
    These were great. I didn’t have whole wheat flour, so I used oat flour instead, and topped with mini chocolate chips. My toddler is a happy camper.

  13. 5 stars
    Just made these. I made them for my baby, but if I was making them for myself, it would have tasted better with the added sugar and a little more salt.

  14. 5 stars
    Do you think I could omit both the maple syrup and sugar? I am trying not to add unnecessary sweetness. Or would it be too bland without the maple syrup?

    1. If anyone other than the kiddo wants to eat some, I would leave the maple syrup in. You might be able to replace it with applesauce or mashed banana though. Let me know if you try that!

    1. You could use some mashed ripe banana in for some of the mashed sweet potato, but I don’t think I’d add more on top since they may not bake through as intended.

  15. 5 stars
    These are the best!! They turned out perfectly fluffy and just the right amount of sweetness. Everyone in the house loves them ❤️

  16. 5 stars
    These were so yummy! I did a little bit more sweet potato than called for and used pumpkin pie spice. Made mini muffins for my 10 month old (he loved them), and I added pecans for me and hubs 🙂
    Thinking about using this for my baby’s first birthday cake!

  17. 5 stars
    Super yummy, moist muffins! I am tempted to try canned pumpkin sometime as I just don’t always have sweet potatoes on hand. I added chocolate chips and that was just the right amount of sweetness. So delicious!

  18. 5 stars
    These came out great and fun recipe to try. My son gave them 2 thumbs up until I confessed it was sweet potato and then changed his rating lol.

    I left them to cool for a few hours before putting them in the fridge and they got moldy I think. Super bright green spots formed unless it was some other reaction? Thoughts?

    1. Hmmm, I have had that happen with muffins that had baking soda or powder and sunflower seed butter, but not with this recipe. I suspect it was something to do with the leavening though and not mold (that would have been really unusually fast for mold!)

  19. 5 stars
    I made your sweet potato muffins with purple sweet potatoes, I added the Brown sugar but omitted the chocolate and spices. I divided the recipe into 6 muffins in a silicone muffin Pan and cooked it for 40 minutes. Perfect for this 74 year toddler !

  20. 5 stars
    I’ve been making these for my family and we absolutely love them!

    I was wondering have you ever tried adding any kind of ground turkey or ground chicken? I have a 19-month-old and for the past month she has refused essentially any meat or beans and I’m trying to find a way to sneak them in was wondering if this muffin might be good for that?

    1. I’m glad to hear that! I haven’t tried adding meat to this and I worry about both taste and texture. Maybe you could add one or the other to one of my savory muffins like my Pizza Muffins or Veggie Muffins? That seems like a more natural fit to me.

  21. 5 stars
    These are really good! I made them with raisins that I soaked for a bit before using to make them juicy. I also subbed rye flour for some of the whole wheat flour. I felt that these taste wholesome and satisfying without tasting too “good for you”, if you know what I mean. The kiddo likes them too!

  22. 5 stars
    Made these today and my toddler loves them! I made them plain but I’d definitely do the zest or chocolate chips next time. For an adult they’re a little bland so I could taste some of the baking soda at the end of each bite. But I’d totally make them again with the additions!

    1. I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure that it would work the same. I suspect they would hold together fine, but they will be a lot denser I think. Let me know if you try it!

  23. 5 stars
    I scoured the internet for sweet potato muffins and landed on your recipe and we LOVED them. These were the perfect amount of sweetness. I did not have whole wheat flour on hand so subbed all purpose and they were so moist and fluffy. We had them for snack the day of and the next morning for breakfast. I already need to make a new batch for school lunches. Thank you for sharing this recipe, Amy!

  24. Is it normal that it comes out a bit gooey looking ? I’ve cooked it longer than requested.. and I put a fork through it nothing stuck into it so it seemed cooked but when I took a bite it was gooey.

    Thanks !

    1. No, that’s not normal. I would check to make sure that the baking soda you’re using is fresh as that is the most likely reason.

  25. 5 stars
    I made these for my 9 month old without sugar or maple syrup and he loved them! And I set a few aside for the adults and just drizzled icing on them. It was delicious!!!

  26. 5 stars
    This is so bizarre but not 24 hours after I baked these, bright green spots showed up throughout the muffin. It doesn’t look like mold, more like I added spots of green food dye or zucchini. Has this happened to you, or any idea what would cause it? They still taste and smell totally fresh and normal. It reminds me of when bananas oxidize and turn brown in the air.

    1. I believe it’s a rare reaction to baking soda and the ph level of other foods in a recipe. It sometimes happens when you have things like sunflower seed butter, carrots, or walnuts and baking soda in a recipe together. (I haven’t heard of it happening with sweet potato but you learn something new everyday!) When they come into contact with an alkaline substance, such as baking soda, they can change colors. It’s perfectly safe to eat. You could try making sure that the dry ingredients are more evenly distributed next time or reducing the baking soda slightly.

  27. 5 stars
    We added some extra milk and then added in some flax and chia seeds. So delicious! And of course we needed to added dark chocolate chips

  28. 5 stars
    These are very fluffy and the perfect muffin texture! I’ll be adding this recipe into my routine for muffins that I make for my kids for an easy breakfast. Super yummy, thank for the great recipe!