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    Home » Recipes » Sides & Snacks

    How To Make a Delicious Baked Sweet Potato...Fast!

    Published: Jul 16, 2018 · Modified: Jun 21, 2022 by Lauren · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe  ↓

    This is my favorite way to enjoy a baked sweet potato, AND there's a secret trick to help them bake faster!

    How to bake a sweet potato in a hurry

    Low and slow or high and quick? Foil or no foil? On the pan or on the rack?

    How do YOU bake your sweet potatoes for maximum flavor, sweetness, caramelization, and overall satisfaction?

    Over the past few months, I've been trying out numerous methods, including some of the above options, and this post is my ultimate fusion of those readings. There's nothing scientific about my findings...just some food blogger in Tucson on a mission for the best, quickest sweet potato fix!

    Choosing the right sweet potato

    This is the first step in creating my sweet potato heaven.

    I've had the most success with smaller varieties (about 2-3 inches in diameter). I also like to choose ones that are smooth (not wrinkled or pocked, which can indicate they are old), firm, and oval in appearance. The latter is more for convenience, as I cut the potato in half for this recipe.

    Preparing the potato

    I have to agree with the rinse and dry method. Having the skin wet in any way can cause a steaming reaction. This isn't something I really took the time to test, it just made sense to me, so I always dry my potato really well after rinsing.

    The secret to baking it fast!

    Here's the thing. I don't always have an hour plus to sit around waiting on a potato to bake through, SO....the most logical way to bake it in HALF the time is to CUT IT IN HALF! *forehead slap*

    In addition to the quicker bake time, I get the added benefit of having TWO sides of caramelized sweet potato goodness!

    Make it a dessert!

    My husband is a real trooper when it comes to trying out my recipes, and in the course of baking all of these potatoes, we discovered a delicious, dessert-like way of eating them!

    First, follow the below method for baking the potatoes.

    After the baked potatoes have cooled slightly, mash in a pat of butter or coconut oil, along with a dash or two of sea salt. Follow that with a hefty sprinkling of cinnamon and a drizzle of maple syrup.

    Fast baked sweet potato with maple syrup

    Then, if you're feeling really adventurous, top it all off with a small handful of marshmallows for a 'makeshift' sweet potato casserole!

    Other ways to use sweet potatoes

    I love to eat sweet potatoes by themselves, but they're also great when added to various recipes.

    In these cookies...

    Sweet potato chocolate chip cookies made with oats

    Or these brownies...

    Vegan sweet potato brownie with oats

    Or these muffins...

    Sweet potato and date muffins

    How to bake a sweet potato in a hurry
    Print Recipe
    4.17 from 6 votes

    Fast Baked Sweet Potatoes

    This is the best way I've found to make fast and delicious baked sweet potatoes!
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time40 mins
    Total Time45 mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Potatoes
    Servings: 1 potato
    Calories: 103kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 sweet potato
    • coconut oil
    • sea salt

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
    • Rinse your potato with water, then thoroughly dry it.
    • Cut about 1/2 inch off of each end of the potato.
    • Cut the potato in half, length-wise.
    • Rub coconut oil onto the flesh of each half.
    • Sprinkle each half with a bit of salt.
    • Place the halves flesh-side down onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
    • Place the pan into the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, until the potato is easily pierced with a fork (you should see sweet potato syrup oozing out).
    • Cool a bit and enjoy!

    Notes

    Nutrition facts do not take oil or salt into account and are based on an average size sweet potato. WW SmartPoints: 4

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Sugar: 7.4g | Fiber: 3.8g | Calories: 103kcal | Fat: 0.2g | Protein: 2.3g | Carbohydrates: 23.6g

    Notes:

    Instructions are for one potato, but you can bake as many as will comfortably fit on the baking sheet.

    Sweet potatoes freeze really well, if need be. Just bake them, as stated, let them cool, and place them into a freezer-safe container. When you're ready to use them, thaw first and warm or use as desired.

    Recipe Steps:

    Cut off the ends (for me, I've found this step helps the potato taste better, though I've made them without doing this too)...

    Cut in half...

    Oil and salt...

    Bake...

    Caramelized edges...mmmmmm

    Healthy easy baked sweet potatoes

     

     

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    Filed Under: Sides & Snacks

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. beaux

      July 18, 2018 at 5:05 pm

      Thanks for the recipe. This will be my late dinner.

      Reply
    2. Marney

      July 16, 2018 at 1:36 pm

      This is a really helpful post! I cant wait to try this!

      Reply

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    Hi there, I'm Lauren Goslin, and I've been a food blogger for over ten years. My goal with this blog is to show you healthy, lower sugar recipes that my family and I enjoy.

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