Sweet Potato Extravaganza

 With Thanksgiving on the horizon I thought it would be a good idea to over come my dislike for sweet potatoes.  For years I have passed up sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving dinner and even those lovable sweet potato fries!  What better way to start this process then by adding it to one of may favorites... a cupcake! One of my students sent me this link for some awesome looking cupcakes and I went for it.  I went to the store and for the first time ever purchase sweet potatoes! I bought 5 of them.....

I followed "How Sweet It Is" recipe for Sweet Potato Pie Cupcakes with Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting.  I doubled the recipe to make 24 cupcakes but I always find myself with excess frosting so I stayed true to the original recipe.  These cupcakes are delicious and all of my staff appreciate them greatly!

Sweet Potato Pie Cupcakes
makes 12 cupcakes


graham crust
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 teaspoon sugar
cupcakes
1 1/3 cups loosely packed brown sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
6 ounces cooked, mashed sweet potato
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cupcake tin with liners. In a small bowl, mix melted butter, sugar and graham cracker crumbs until moist, then press about 1/2-1 tablespoon of crumbs into the bottom of each liner.
2. In a large bowl, whisk egg and sugar together until combined and no lumps remain. Add in vanilla extract and butter, then whisk in sweet potato. Add in flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg, then add in milk and stir until combined and smooth. Drop about 1/4 cup of batter on top of each graham cracker crust. Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until cupcakes are set and spring back at the touch. 3. Let cool completely before frosting.

Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups marshmallow fluff
3 cups of powdered sugar
1-2 teaspoons milk, if needed

Beat butter in the bowl of electric mixer until creamy. Add in fluff and beat for 2-3 minutes, then add in vanilla extract. With the mixer on low speed, add in powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until fully incorporated. Once all the sugar has been added, beat on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes. If mixture if too runny, add a bit more sugar. If it’s too thick, add a bit of milk one teaspoon at a time. Frost cupcakes and drizzle with caramel sauce and crushed cinnamon pecans.