Purple Sweet Potato Bread

All natural, soft and fluffy; this Purple Sweet Potato Bread is full of flavor and subtle sweet notes.

It is chic yet easy to make and can be used in so many recipes or just served smothered with some salted butter.

Jump to:

• What is Loaf Bread
• This Purple Sweet Potato Bread
• Why this recipe works
• Sweet Potatoes vs Ube
• Ingredients and Substitutions
• How to make this recipe
• Expert Tips and Notes
• Storage and Serving
• Ways to cook Sweet Potato
• Other ways to get the purple color
• Recipe FAQs
• More Bread Recipes you will love
• Purple Sweet Potato Bread

Bread baking is always therapeutic. The process is satisfying, the results perfect. And once you start baking your own bread, you definitely fall in love with it. A fun weekend activity or a great way to have it prepped for the week.

From using various ingredients for color, flavor and texture to using more uncommon fruits and vegetables, we can do it all. It is a true delight to slice every loaf pan and see how the insides are.

There are various kinds of breads that can be baked at home. From the easy No-Knead Pumpkin Bread to the more complex Ciabatta Bread, we love them all.

What is Loaf Bread

Breads made in a rectangle pan yield loaves. These loaves are popular across the world. While there are some specific loaf breads in certain parts of the world, the more common ones like sandwich bread, whole wheat bread and honey oat bread are similar in many ways across the globe.

Loaf breads are a versatile ingredient. They can be used in so many recipes, or simply enjoyed with some salted butter, cheese or jam. And no wonder then that loaf breads are often a favorite baking project.

I have been baking loaves for a decade now. And this Chutney Swirled Bread, Pizza Braid, Original Sandwich Bread, Tricolor Bread, Whole Wheat Loaf and of course this Purple Sweet Potato Bread are the most loved.

This Purple Sweet Potato Bread

When making loaves of bread, the most interesting part is definitely to add various flavors and colors to them.

Potatoes are often added to bread for moisture. They are rich in fibre and make the bread fibre rich too. No wonder then, that potato breads are popular all over.

For me, this recipe was more for the color than the fibre content. I brought these purple sweet potatoes to make Undhiyu. I had a few leftover and decided to try a bread with them. And the result was so good; I have been making this bread loaf for years now. And no wonder it has been loved by everyone who tried it too.

Why this recipe works

• A super easy recipe with just 30 minutes of active time.
• Soft fluffy bread with versatile uses.
• A perfect way to include sweet potatoes in every diet.
• Buttery soft loaf of bread.
• It is packed with a gorgeous color, got naturally from potatoes.
• Easy to make Vegan by substituting unsalted butter with Olive oil.
• Perfect for sandwiches, French toast or simply slathered with butter.
• A make ahead recipe that is a perfect part of meal prep.
• Great to refrigerate or even freeze for longer.
• A chic Purple Sweet Potato Bread loaf to use in various sandwiches for a tea party or unicorn theme party.

Sweet Potatoes vs Ube

Whenever you go the Farmers' Market you would have chanced upon aisles filled with various colored and shaped potatoes. These are often difficult to decode, but this should help.

The long tubers are of various kinds; sweet potatoes, ube, yam etc. The sweet potatoes are either red skin with white inside, purple skin with purple inside or orange skin with orange inside.

Ube, a less likely find at the markets has lighter colored skin which is rough, almost like a bark. It is light violet inside and classified as a yam. Sweet potatoes on the other hand have smooth skin and drier flesh.

They are from different plant families and have different uses and nutrition. For this recipe we use Okinawan Sweet potatoes. However, regular purple potatoes will work too. Ube however, will not give us the right color and consistency.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• All purpose flour: We use this to make the bread. However, the same can be made with whole wheat flour and essential gluten too. Plus, bread flour is an option too.
• Sweet Potatoes: The core ingredient in the recipe, sweet potatoes add color, flavor and moisture to the bread. I like to use purple sweet potatoes but any colored sweet potatoes are great.
• Active dry yeast: Yeast is the rising agent in the bread. While both instant and active dry yeast work, I generally stick to active dry for loaf breads. I like to use instant yeast for focaccia, pizza etc.
• Unsalted Butter: We need some unsalted butter for the recipe. However, it can easily be replaced with olive oil for a Vegan version. If using unsalted butter, make sure it is at room temperature.
• Salt and Sugar: To activate the yeast we add sugar and salt. Plus, salt is added to the bread for flavor. As the potatoes are sweet, some salt does help balance the flavors.
• Water: Water is used to bind the dough together. Warm water is used to bloom the yeast, and added to the dough. Make sure it is warm but not hot.

See the recipe card for detailed ingredient information, measurements and nutrition.

How to make this recipe

1- Place sweet potatoes in a baking tray.

2- Apply 2 tablespoon oil all over and prick with a fork. Bake in a preheated oven at 425 F for 45 minutes, till fork tender.

3- Remove and peel completely.

4- Mash using a fork and set aside.

5- In a bowl add 1 cup warm water, 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon salt.

6- Add 2 ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast and stir. Place covered in a warm spot for 10-15 minutes, till frothy.

7- In the base of a stand mixer add 3 cups all purpose flour, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 cup mashed sweet potato and 3 tablespoon unsalted butter.

8- Add the yeast mixture.

9- Place the bowl in a stand mixer and start kneading with a hook attachment.

10- Knead well till the dough forms and about 5 minutes after.

11- Shape the dough into a tight round. Apply oil in the bowl and place the dough ball in it. Let the dough rise for 60-70 minutes in a warm place.

12- Once the dough doubles in size, punch it down.

13- Remove and lightly knead for a couple minutes.

14- Spread the dough on a baking tray into a rectangle of about 8 inches width.

15- Roll into a tight roll along the shorter side.

16- Grease a 9* 4 inch bread pan and place the dough log in it. Cover and rise for another hour in a warm place.

17- Once the dough almost reaches the top of the pan, spray some oil based spray.

18- Bake for 22-24 minutes in an oven preheated to 425 F. Remove pan from the oven.

19- Let the bread cool and transfer to a baking tray.

20- Once it cools, slice the bread into slices of desired thickness.

Expert Tips and Notes

• Use warm water (105-110 F) to bloom the yeast. Using cold water will not bloom the yeast and hot will kill the yeast. So make sure it is just right.
• Like all baked recipes, measure the ingredients for this purple sweet potato bread correctly. The recipe works on science and proportions.
• Ensure the ingredients are fresh. Dated yeast or flour will not work well in the recipe.
• Sweet potatoes are great for adding moisture, color and flavor to the bread. They can be of any color; white, orange or purple.
• Cook the potatoes well. If there are pieces in the mash, they will not mix to give an even color.
• Use a bread pan that fits the dough well. Because if it is too large, the bread will be pretty flat and small pans will have an overflow of dough as it rises and bakes.

Storage and Serving

This purple sweet potato bread is easy to slice once it cools down a little. Slicing hot bread is not a great idea as it crumbles instead of slicing.

Once the bread is out of the oven, cool to room temperature and wrap in plastic film. Set on the counter for some time and then slice it.

Leftover bread can be stored on the counter at room temperature for 1-2 days. Refrigerate after that for up to a week. The bread however freezes well. Simply wrap in double plastic and pop in the freezer. It is also a great idea to freeze slices for easy consumption.

Serve this bread with butter or simply use it to make sandwiches, French toast or even chic colored croutons.

Ways to cook Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes are easy to cook in one of three ways:

• Microwave: Cut the sweet potato in half and place in a container. Add ¼ cup water and microwave with a lid on for 8-9 minutes; till tender. Remove, peel and mash with a fork.
• Stovetop: There are two methods here. Simply peel and dice the potatoes and boil in a pan of 3-4 cups water till soft. This takes about 15 minutes. Else, place in the pressure cooker with ½ cup water and pressure cook for 3 whistles. Cool, peel and mash.
• Oven: This is my favorite way to cook the potatoes. Simply apply some oil on the potatoes, prick with a fork and place in a preheated oven at 425 F. Bake for 40 minutes or till it is cooked. Peel and use mashed.

Other ways to get the purple color

While fresh sweet potatoes are great not just for color and flavor, it helps with moisture content in the bread too. However, there are other ingredients that can be used.

• Fresh Ube will work instead of sweet potatoes. Though Ube is difficult to find fresh, it is a great addition.
• Frozen sweet potato or ube works well too. Simply thaw before adding.
• A lot of brands make sweet potato powder as well as taro and ube powders. These give a vibrant color to the bread too.
• Moreover, plant based food colors can always be used. Use ube extract in combination with purple color to get the perfect color and flavor.

Recipe FAQs

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