Sweet Potato Bread with Honey Butter

I found this recipe in my Betty Crocker bread machine book, and I only tinkered with it slightly. It sounded really rich and wonderful. It was!

Sweet Potato Bread with Honey Butter

1 c. canned sweet potatoes (or yams), drained and mashed
1/2 c. warm water
1/4 c. sour cream
1/4 c. maple syrup
4 1/2 c. flour
1 t. ground cinnamon
1 1/2 t. salt
1 pkt. quick active dry yeast

NOTE: to make this in the bread machine, add all ingredients in the order that the manufacturer recommends. Use "sweet" or "basic/white" cycle.

By hand instructions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, mix the yeast packet and warm water with 1/2 cup of flour, allow it to rest.
2. In a separate bowl, blend the sweet potatoes, sour cream, maple syrup, cinnamon and salt.
3. Measure out the other 4 cups of flour into another bowl (so you don't lose count).
4. Blend the sweet potato mixture into the large mixing bowl with the yeast, then slowly add the flour in to form a dough.
5. Gather dough and turn out onto a floured surface. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes.
6. Allow it to rise, covered, in a warm place for about 60 minutes.
7. Punch down dough and shape in preferred loaf pan. Cover and let rise again for 30 to 45 minutes, or until doubled in size.
8. Bake at 350˚ for 30-45 minutes, until crust reaches desired color.

Honey Butter
(What you really need to remember is that it is a 2:1 ratio of butter to honey.)

1/2 c. butter, softened
1/4 c. honey

Blend well with mixer. Keep refrigerated.


NOTE: What you see above is *very* soft butter mixed with Blueberry honey, which tends to be a little grainy. Still tastes good, but it has a texture to it that regular clover honey won't produce. This was not necessarily intentional; it was just what I had on hand when I made the bread. We ate it without complaint!



OTHER OPTIONS:


Cranberry Honey Butter

1 c. butter, softened
1/4 c. honey
1 c. whole cranberry sauce

In small mixer bowl at high speed, beat butter and honey until soft and fluffy. Reduce speed to low; add cranberry sauce. Continue beating, scraping bowl often, until well blended, 2-3 minutes. Cover; store in fridge.


Cinnamon Honey Butter

1 stick butter
3 T. honey
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. vanilla
1/4 t. salt
1/4 c. brown sugar

Mix all ingredients together with electric mixer. Store in fridge.