Description
Soft and warmly spiced sweet potato dessert bars made with mashed sweet potatoes and ground walnuts for a moist texture, topped with fluffy maple buttercream frosting for a cozy fall-inspired treat.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 egg yolk, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup cooked mashed sweet potato
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup finely ground walnuts
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup milk, room temperature
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (for frosting)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons maple syrup flavoring
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons whipping cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- In a large mixing bowl beat the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and egg yolk one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Mix in the vanilla extract and mashed sweet potato until smooth.
- In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, ground walnuts, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Add half of the dry mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Pour in the milk and stir gently.
- Add the remaining dry mixture and mix until a smooth batter forms.
- Fold in the chopped walnuts.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow the bars to cool completely before frosting.
- To make the frosting beat the butter with 1/2 cup powdered sugar until creamy.
- Add the remaining powdered sugar gradually, mixing well after each addition.
- Mix in the salt and maple flavoring.
- Add the vanilla extract and whipping cream one tablespoon at a time, beating until the frosting becomes light and fluffy.
- Spread the maple buttercream evenly over the cooled bars.
- Cut into squares or rectangles before serving.
Notes
- Make sure the sweet potato is fully cooked and mashed smooth before adding to the batter.
- Allow the bars to cool completely before frosting to prevent the buttercream from melting.
- Pecans can be substituted for walnuts for a different nutty flavor.
- Toasted nuts sprinkled on top of the frosting add extra crunch.
- The bars taste even better the next day as the spices develop.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 85 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
