These Sweet Potato Rolls take dinner rolls to a whole new level! They’re soft, pillowy, ever-so-slightly sweet and feature a salty, herby topping. Serve sweet potato dinner rolls with a slather of butter for Thanksgiving or enjoy them as buns for chicken sandwiches, burgers, pulled pork and more.

Sweet Potato Rolls

These sweet potato rolls are a definite show-stopper. Oftentimes dinner rolls are relegated to being the “filler,” or the side dish you always have but think little about. Not these—these sweet potato rolls have so much going for them. They’re soft, tender, slightly sweet, salty and herby. Schmear a warm roll with soft butter and you’ll be in heaven!

And because they’re baked on a sheet pan as individual rolls (not packed together in a baking dish) these rolls can be enjoyed in a variety of ways—as a side dish for Thanksgiving, as burger buns or pulled pork buns, to make a sandwich, and more.

Curious how I came up with this recipe? I joined the Bake from Scratch team for their Bread Box project with Red Star Yeast. This recipe is a variation of their Everything Bagel Potato Buns.

Sweet Potato Dinner Roll Ingredients

cubed butter, two eggs, flour, salt, milk, sweet potato puree, water, yeast and sugar measured out and set on a counter

Flour

Both all-purpose flour and white whole-wheat flour are used in these rolls. For one, we love baking with whole-wheat flour here at ZK, and two, it adds a nice nutty flavor to the rolls which pairs wonderfully with the sweet potato. 

Sugar

Sugar is important for adding sweetness (not surprisingly) and feeding the yeast.

Yeast

Platinum Yeast is THE key to taking the intimidation out of baking with yeast. It’s also the key to getting great results every time. Red Star Platinum Yeast strengthens the dough and creates more “spring” in these sweet potato rolls.

Platinum Yeast may be substituted 1:1 for Active Dry or Instant Yeast. Instant yeast has a faster rate of action than active dry yeast; therefore, your dough MAY rise faster. Simply monitor your dough while it is rising and adjust the time as needed.

Sweet Potato

For this recipe we’re using mashed sweet potatoes. But one thing to note: it’s important to use mashed sweet potatoes that have been roasted. Boiled sweet potatoes will add too much additional liquid to the dough (and dilute the sweet potato flavor). Follow the baking instructions in this recipe. If you don’t want to dirty a food processor, you can skip the puréeing step in favor of your hands or a potato masher.

Seasoning  

Za’atar Seasoning is such a delicious spice blend for these sweet potato rolls! This spice blend features toasted sesame seeds, dried thyme and oregano, ground sumac and salt. It’s herby, slightly tart (thanks to the sumac) and toasty, all of which pair wonderfully with sweet potato!

sweet potato dinner roll torn in half showing fluffy inside

How to Make Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls

Yeasted dinner rolls are far easier than you may think. Here is the simple process for how to make sweet potato dinner rolls.

  1. Make the Sweet Potato Purée
  2. Overhead image of sweet potato puree in a glass container set on a marble table

    For the best texture and flavor, we recommend using sweet potato purée made from roasted sweet potatoes.

    Prick sweet potatoes all over with a fork. Roast in a 425ºF oven until skins are wrinkly and potatoes are very tender, 50–60 minutes. Let cool slightly, then peel off skins; purée as directed.

  3. Mix the Dough Ingredients Together
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine some of the all-purpose flour, sugar, salt and yeast. Mix this just to combine. Combine the water, milk and butter in a saucepan and heat just until it registers 120–130°F (49–54°C). Add this milk mixture to the mixer with the dry ingredients and beat together until combined.

    sweet potato puree in a large glass mixing bowl with an egg and yeasted batter
    yeast batter with egg and sweet potato added

    Beat in the egg and mashed sweet potato then beat in the remaining flour. Mix until a shaggy dough forms then switch to the dough hook attachment and knead until the dough is soft, elastic and slightly tacky. If dough is too sticky, you can add more flour (by tablespoon) as needed.

    orange-hued dough in a large glass mixing bowl
    Post-kneading ready for proofing
  5. Proof the Dough
  6. orange-hued dough formed into a ball in a large glass mixing bowl
    Pre-rise

    Form dough into a large smooth ball and place in a greased bowl (flip the dough a couple times to coat it in oil). Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or loosely lay a piece of plastic wrap over top. Allow the dough to rise until doubled in size in a warm draft-free area of your kitchen—this should take about 50 minutes.

    orange-hued dough risen in a large glass mixing bowl
    post-rise

    Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it dough then let it rest for about 10 minutes.

    orange-hued dough risen and punched down in a large glass mixing bowl
    punched down
  7. Form the Dough Into Dinner Rolls
  8. orange-hued dough balls arranged on a parchment-lined baking sheet
    Unbaked rolls

    Divide the dough into 12 portions then shape each portion into a smooth dough ball (keep the dough balls covered while you work to keep them from drying out and forming a skin on the dough). Pat each ball into a 3-inch disk then place on baking sheets and allow them to rise once more (covered) until puffed—this will take about 30 minutes.

  9. Bake the Rolls
  10. orange-hued dough balls topped with seasoning on a parchment-lined baking sheet
    Pre-bake

    Brush the dough balls with egg wash then sprinkle seasoning over top. Bake the rolls until they are golden brown. You can also bake by internal temperature, these rolls are done baking when an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 200ºF.

    baked dinner rolls with seasoning on a parchment-lined baking sheet
    Baked sweet potato rolls

Sweet Potato Roll Recipe Tips

  • Make the mashed sweet potato ahead of time. This is a huge time-saver! I usually roast the sweet potato 1–3 days ahead of time. Just pop it in the oven when you know you’ll be home for at least 45 minutes. It takes minimal work, and cuts down on total prep time of these rolls by quite a bit. Store the mashed sweet potato in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
  • Use room temperature ingredients. By warming the water, milk and butter together, we take care of the most common cold-ingredient offenders. But make sure the egg and mashed sweet potato are at room temperature before adding to the dough (especially if you make the mashed sweet potato in advance).
  • Use the Right Kind of Yeast. These rolls use Red Star Platinum Yeast for a reason! It’s the unicorn of active dry yeast—it increases the amount of rise, is super effective in whole-grain breads and rolls, and decreases the risk of your dough collapsing post-bake. It’s a must. I love to use it to make my No Knead Focaccia.
sweet potato dinner rolls on a wire rack with one roll on a white plate with a schmear of butter

Make Ahead Tips

Any kind of make-ahead or prep-ahead tips for baking is important. But especially for holiday baking recipes. There are a few ways you can prep or make these rolls in advance.

The first prep-ahead method is letting the dough rise overnight in the refrigerator.

This first rise (post kneading) usually takes about 40 minutes at room temperature. Skip that room temp rise and instead cover the bowl with the dough with plastic wrap and place in the freezer. When you’re ready to proceed with the recipe, punch down the dough and allow the dough to rest and come to room temperature, covered, for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Form the dough balls and continue with the final rise before baking. Keep in mind, the final rise may take a bit longer due to the dough being slightly chilled.

The second prep-ahead method is letting the shaped dough balls rise overnight in the refrigerator.

Once the dough balls are shaped, place them on baking sheets (or in a dish—though you’ll need to move them to a baking sheet for baking) and cover tightly with a piece of plastic wrap coated with nonstick cooking spray. Allow the dough balls to come to room temperature (about 30 minutes to 1 hour) prior to baking.

You can also make these ahead of time, here’s how to store or freeze them.

Fresh bread and rolls are best enjoyed the same day they’re baked. But even as major bread-fans, our two-person household can’t get through a full batch of 12 rolls in a day. 

These sweet potato rolls can be stored at room temperature for three days. If you don’t anticipate getting through them in three days, you can freeze them. To freeze these sweet potato dinner rolls, wrap them in plastic wrap followed by foil and store them in the freezer for up to 2 months. Defrost the rolls at to room temperature then reheat in a 300°F (149ºC) oven until warmed through.

sweet potato dinner roll with butter spread on it on a white plate

FAQs

Can I use pumpkin puree?

We haven’t tested this recipe using pumpkin puree, so we can’t guarantee it will work. If you want to try it, we recommend draining as much liquid from the canned pumpkin puree as possible. Check out this Pumpkin Cookie recipe for instructions on how to drain the pumpkin.

How do I know if my yeast is good?

If you add your yeast to a cup of warm water or milk, it should get foamy and smell yeast in about 10 minutes. If the yeast mixture doesn’t foam, then you need to get new yeast.

Can these rolls be made vegan?

We haven’t tested this, and we don’t recommend attempting to make this recipe vegan. You could easily make these dairy free by using soy milk and vegan butter, but you really need the eggs in order to achieve the correct texture and structure.

Variations on These Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls

  • Swap the za’atar for dried rosemary. 
  • Mix dried oregano, thyme and/or rosemary into the dough.
  • Skip the za’atar and brush the tops of the baked rolls with warm honey right before serving.
  • Keep it simple by skipping the za’atar and instead brush the warm rolls with melted butter right before serving.
sweet potato dinner roll with butter spread on it on a white plate

More Bread Recipes to Love

Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls Recipe

5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Rising Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 25 minutes
Yield 12 rolls
Category Side Dish
Cuisine American
Author Lauren Grant

Description

Soft, pillowy, and ever-so-slightly sweet, these sweet potato rolls make a great side dish or burger bun.

Ingredients

  • 2 ¾ cups (333 grams) all-purpose flour, divided
  • 2 cups (236 grams) white whole-wheat flour
  • ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons (10 grams) Morton kosher salt
  • 1 (0.25-ounce) package (7 grams) Platinum Yeast
  • ½ cup (120 grams) water
  • ½ cup (120 grams) whole milk
  • ¼ cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, cubed
  • ½ cup (123 grams) mashed sweet potatoes (roasted, peeled, and mashed), room temperature *see notes
  • 2 large eggs (100 grams) room temperature and divided
  • 2 tablespoons za’atar seasoning
  • Flaky sea salt
  • High quality butter, for serving

Instructions

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat 1½ cups (188 grams) all-purpose flour, sugar, salt, and yeast at low speed until combined.
  • In a medium saucepan, combine ½ cup (120 grams) water, milk, and butter; cook over medium-low heat until butter is melted and an instant-read thermometer registers 120–130°F (49–54°C). 
  • Add warm milk mixture to flour mixture; beat at low speed for 1 minute, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add mashed potatoes and 1 egg (50 grams).
    sweet potato puree in a large glass mixing bowl with an egg and yeasted batter
  • Beat at low speed until well combined, about 1 minute.
    orange-hued batter in a large glass mixing bowl
  • With mixer on low speed, gradually add whole-wheat flour and remaining 1 cup all-purpose flour, beating just until a shaggy dough forms.
    orange-hued dough in a large glass mixing bowl
  • Switch to the dough hook attachment. Beat at low speed until a soft, elastic, and slightly tacky dough forms, 12–15 minutes; add up to remaining ¼ cup (31 grams) all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon (8 grams) at a time, if dough is too sticky (*see note). Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface, and shape into a smooth round.
    orange-hued dough in a large glass mixing bowl
  • Lightly oil a large bowl. Place dough in bowl, turning to grease top.
    orange-hued dough formed into a ball in a large glass mixing bowl
  • Cover with clean kitchen towel and let rise in a warm, draft-free place (75°F/24°C) until doubled in size, 40–50 minutes. 
    orange-hued dough risen in a large glass mixing bowl
  • Position oven rack in top third of oven. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. 
  • Punch down dough; cover and let stand for 5–10 minutes.
    orange-hued dough risen and punched down in a large glass mixing bowl
  • Turn out dough onto a clean surface; divide into 12 portions (about 86 grams each). (Keep portions covered as you work.) On a clean work surface, shape each portion into a smooth dough ball. Using your hands, pat each ball into a 3-inch disk. Place 6 dough disks, evenly spaced, on each prepared sheet. Cover with clean kitchen towel and let rise in a warm, draft-free place (75°F/24°C) until puffed and tops are rounded, 25–30 minutes.
    orange-hued dough balls arranged on a parchment-lined baking sheet
  • In a small bowl, whisk remaining 1 egg (50 grams). Working with one batch at a time, brush tops and sides of dough with egg wash. Sprinkle dough rounds with za’atar and additional flaky sea salt (or kosher salt).
    orange-hued dough balls topped with seasoning on a parchment-lined baking sheet
  • Bake, one batch at a time, until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted in center registers 200°F (93°C), 13–15 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking. Serve warm or at room temperature. Best served same day.
    baked dinner rolls with seasoning on a parchment-lined baking sheet

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Notes

Mashed Sweet Potatoes: to prepare the mashed potatoes, follow the baking instructions in this recipe. You can skip the pureeing in the food processor, just use your hands or a potato masher to mash the roasted potatoes. 
Kosher salt: if you’re using Diamond Crystal kosher salt, increase the salt to 1 tablespoon.
The dough will not pass the windowpane test due to the whole-wheat flour. However, it should attempt to pass the windowpane test. By this I mean it should be able to stretch into a thin layer without breaking immediately. If it tears right away, without stretching into a thin layer at any point, knead the dough for 1 minute, then test again.

Nutrition

Calories: 245kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 7gFat: 5.5gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 334mgFiber: 2.5gSugar: 5g
Like this? Leave a comment below!I love hearing from you and I want to hear how it went with this recipe! Leave a comment and rating below, then share on social media @zestfulkitchen and #zestfulkitchen!
sweet potato dinner roll with butter spread on it on a white plate

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This recipe and article was created in partnership with Bake From Scratch Magazine and Red Star Platinum Yeast. This recipe was adapted from their Everything Bagel Potato Buns. As always the thoughts, opinions, photos and content are all my own.

This recipe article was originally published on August 31, 2021.

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About The Author

Lauren Grant is a professional culinary food scientist, food writer, recipe developer, and food photographer. Lauren is a previous magazine editor and test kitchen developer and has had work published in major national publications including Diabetic Living Magazine, Midwest Living Magazine, Cuisine at Home Magazine, EatingWell.com, AmericasTestKitchen.com, and more.

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5 from 4 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I love to bake on the weekends, so this week I decided to try your sweet potato dinner roll recipe. They turned out perfect, thanks to your great instructions. I think I will plan to make these for Thanksgiving too. I pinned the recipe to save it.