Turn an ordinary sweet potato into a crave-worthy dessert!
Most of us probably don’t think of sweet potatoes when we think about dessert. Most of the time, they are merely a side dish. But perhaps we’re just not thinking outside the box enough. After all, something with the word “sweet” in it should be an obvious dessert option, right? In fact, various parts of the world have been turning sweet potatoes into dessert for centuries, with Southern cuisine helping to make it popular everywhere.
A baked sweet potato is like no sweet treat you’ve had before. It’s essentially a normal sweet potato baked in the oven and filled with the kind of toppings you’d expect to find in a typical dessert. It may well be one of the most nutrient-rich desserts you’re ever likely to try. At the same time, it’s also rich in flavor, which is why it’s an ideal option for health-conscious people who don’t want to miss out on the good stuff. With toasted pecans, crisp coconut flakes, and rich chocolate, this delectable treat is bound to become a favorite, especially during fall and winter.
Is A Baked Sweet Potato Dessert Healthy?
Since this dessert is centered around a sweet potato, it has plenty of nutritional value. Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin C, potassium, beta-carotene, and a host of other nutrients. Other ingredients like cinnamon, coconut flakes, and pecans also add nutritional value. Even the dark chocolate has antioxidants in it. The best part is that the dessert is sweet enough and doesn’t need any additional refined sugars.
The Importance Of Planning Ahead
If making this dessert for guests, the best thing you can do is to plan ahead. Bake the sweet potatoes well in advance and place them in fridge. This way, when it’s time to serve the dessert, you can focus on assembling the other ingredients without waiting for the potatoes to bake while everyone waits patiently. If the potatoes are baked ahead of time, all you have to do is warm them up, top them as you wish, and your dessert will be ready to serve.
How to Make Ahead and Store
The sweet potatoes for this recipe can be baked 3 to 5 days in advance and kept in the fridge. Likewise, the ingredients for the toppings can be prepped and stored in the fridge 1 or 2 days ahead of time.
Serving Suggestions
Just in case this baked sweet potato dessert isn’t enough, try it with a scoop or two of healthy ice cream on the side. We recommend this Cottage Cheese Ice Cream or perhaps this Healthy Ice Cream With Chocolate and Pomegranate. Another delicious idea would be to serve your sweet potato dessert with a mug of frothy Vegan Hot Chocolate.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 medium sweet potato
- 1/2 tablespoon coconut yogurt
- 1/2 tablespoon peanut butter
- 2 teaspoons toasted coconut flakes
- 2 teaspoons toasted pecans
- 2 teaspoons chopped dark chocolate
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Pierce the sweet potato several times with a fork to allow steam to escape during the baking process.
- Place the sweet potato on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and bake for approximately 45 minutes, or until it is tender and starts to release its natural sugars.
- Carefully make a slit along the top of the baked sweet potato. Gently press on the ends to open it up and create a space for the toppings.
- Stuff the sweet potato with coconut yogurt, peanut butter, toasted coconut flakes, toasted pecans, dark chocolate, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Serve warm and enjoy your baked sweet potato dessert.
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