Skip to main content

Sweet Potato and Orange Muffins

A warm and comforting combination of whole-wheat flour, sweet potatoes, warm spices and tangy orange make these muffins perfect for breakfast or a snack.
Kid friendly
Pulled-apart fluffy and moist sweet potato muffins.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Makes: 12 muffins
Nutrition Facts: View label

Ingredients

⅔ cup all-purpose flour
⅔ cup whole-wheat flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¾ cup mashed sweet potatoes (cooked from fresh or canned and drained)
⅓ cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
⅔ cup orange juice
¼ cup grated carrot
¾ teaspoon vanilla

Directions

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Rinse or scrub fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.
  3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease muffin tins for 12 muffins.
  4. In a medium bowl, combine flours, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg.
  5. In a separate bowl, combine sweet potatoes, brown sugar, eggs, orange juice, carrots and vanilla. Mix well.
  6. Add dry ingredients to liquid ingredients. Stir gently until flour is moistened.
  7. Fill muffin tins ¾ full. Bake 20 minutes or until tops are browned and bounce back when touched lightly in the center.
  8. Cool 5 minutes and loosen around the edge of each muffin to remove from tins.
  9. Cool completely then store in an air-tight container at room temperature.

Notes

  • Add 2 teaspoons orange zest for even more orange flavor. Grate or peel and chop the colored part of the orange peel only. Freeze extra zest for up to 3 months.
  • No orange juice? Use pineapple juice.
  • No sweet potatoes? Use canned or frozen and thawed pumpkin purée.

Comments

This recipe worked well for me. I shared it at a park pop-up event and just about everyone liked it. Many kids would give it a thumbs up and parents would take the recipe saying they'd try it at home. I made mini muffins for a sample size. They were moist and flavorful. I love that these have two veggies, fruit, and whole wheat making them healthy and nutritious while still tasting great. 

I sampled this recipe at a pantry meeting, and noticed that the taste of the leaveners was really strong. I made it myself and noticed it again, so in the next batch I cut it down to 1 teaspoon of baking powder and baking soda each. They still rise well and the taste improved.

I also used pumpkin instead of sweet potato for our pantry demo and it turned out really well! 

Lydia, thanks very much for your comments. We will try this recipe again to consider a change to the amount of leavening. And thanks for trying them with squash as an ingredient - we appreciate knowing how adaptable the Food Hero recipes are.

I didn't have orange juice or enough sweet potato leftovers when I made this.  I substituted pineapple juice for the orange juice and used half sweet potatoe and half pumpkin.  I also doubled it and it turned out great in both mini and regular muffins as well as a small loaf.  While I missed the orange juice flavor, the pineapple juice still came through with a tropical flare. 

We recently revised this recipe to make only 12 muffins since that is the standard number of muffins in a muffin tin.  This recipe does best when baked immediately after the batter is mixed.  Enjoy!

The Food Hero Team

You might also like...

Recipes A to Z (without photos)

Cranberry Applesauce
Bowl of smooth apple and cranberry puree.

Cranberry Applesauce

A new way to enjoy applesauce that is bright, flavorful and kid-approved.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
6 cups
Veggie and Egg Rice
Bowl of rice, egg and vegetable mix.

Veggie and Egg Rice

Enjoy this filling, fresh and healthy recipe that is ready in 30 minutes.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
20 minutes
Makes:
8 Cups
Pumpkin Fruit Dip
Small bowl of pumpkin dip served with apple slices, banana and grapes.

Pumpkin Fruit Dip

This quick and simple dip is creamy, full of warm spices, and perfect for dipping your favorite fall fruits.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
3 Cups
Frozen Fruit Yogurt
Footed glasses filled with a creamy fruit dessert.

Frozen Fruit Yogurt

A kid-approved, 3-ingredient treat that only takes a few minutes to make and uses your favorite fruit.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
3 ½ cups
Peanut Sauce
Bowl of Peanut Sauce shown with bowls of raw vegetables for dipping.

Peanut Sauce

This smooth and nutty sauce is so easy to make. It adds savory flavor to grilled chicken and meats, noodle dishes, stir-fries and grain bowls. It's even delicious as a dip for raw vegetables.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Makes:
about ½ cup
No-Knead Whole-Wheat Bread
slices of bread from a rustic loaf

No-Knead Whole-Wheat Bread

This recipe uses a long rise time instead of kneading to make a whole-grain bread with nice texture and flavor.
Prepare:
20 minutes + 13 hours rising
Cook:
50 minutes
Makes:
20 pieces