Yesterday I posted a recipe for an excellent pumpkin pie. The ingredients list was interesting because along with the pumpkin, it included maple syrup, fresh ginger and candied yams. Not being a sweet potato or yam fan, but knowing I do like them in various bread recipes, I picked up an extra can of candied yams (Bruce's) and tried them in a biscuit recipe. Maybe if I eat enough sweet potato biscuits, I'll learn to like them straight!
This is a half-batch adaptation of Dorie Greenspan’s Sweet Potato Biscuit recipe. The twist? Some miniature chocolate chips! With or without the chips, they are great. While they come out of the oven smelling pretty strongly of sweet potato, the taste mellows as the biscuits cool and what you get is a dense, soft and tender, slightly sweet biscuit. I'm definitely going to try to include these as part of our Thanksgiving feast.
Candied Yam Biscuits with Chocolate Chips
1 cup all-purpose flour (I used 4.5 oz)
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
Pinch of cinnamon
1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into little pieces
15 oz can candied yams or sweet potatoes, drained and mashed
2-3 tablespoons miniature chocolate chips (use as many as you like -- 2-3 T is a suggestion)
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Thoroughly mix the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and brown sugar in a mixing bowl, making sure there are no lumps. Scatter the pieces of butter over the mixture. Using your fingertips, mix the cold butter into the flour until the mixture is coarse and mealy. Add the sweet potatoes and knead lightly with your hands until dough comes together – try not to overwork it. Knead in the chocolate chips.
Roll or press the dough out to about ½ inch thickness and cut as many biscuits as you can. I cut 5, but I was using a very large cutter.
Bake the biscuits for 15-18 minutes or until they are puffed and golden. Transfer to a cooling rack Give them 10 15 minutes on the rack before serving.
Anna says
I totally disagree with you, Louise. At least when it comes to these biscuits.
Amy says
These biscuits look so scrumptiously sweet, I can't wait to make them for our Thanksgiving meal. You are very creative and a great inspiration!
Mason Scheer says
Wait, yams are available at times other than Thanksgiving? This is news to me.
Yams have never really been my favorite, but I'm only ever had them plain (maybe we're not making them right). I never would have thought adding chocolate.
Julie says
I made these once with leftover mashed sweet potatoes--they're really good. Now I want to try it with the canned potatoes. I like the mini chips, but I might do it with currants or either fresh or candied ginger.
the blissful baker says
ohh these are so unique! they look so yummy!
Camille says
What a great idea!
You can never go wrong with yams 🙂
dani says
Yummy!!
Mackenzie @ The Caramel Cookie says
Yams are delicious! These sound wonderful with the chocolate chips!
vanillasugar says
that sounds good. sweet potatoes are so versatile. i love yams, not right out of the can but kicked up a few notches.
Pam says
I love a baked sweet potato (or yam) with a little butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. So good, it is almost a dessert instead of a side dish. And packed full of nutrition!
Louise says
Yams are good food, but they need to be something from the produce aisle not out of a can. 🙂
Cupcake Activist says
I've never eaten yams besides when they're served at Thanksgiving with marshmallows and brown sugar. I hear they are very healthy, so maybe I need to give them a try.