Soul Food Apples & Sweet Potatoes Recipe
This comforting soul food dish combines the natural sweetness of apples and sweet potatoes with warm spices like cinnamon and a hint of curry. The flavors are rich and cozy, making it a perfect fall or winter treat, though it’s delicious any time of year.
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Large mixing bowl
- Cast-iron skillet or large pan
- Baking dish
- Hand mixer
Ingredients
For the Sweet Potatoes
- 3 large sweet potatoes
- Olive oil for drizzling
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon curry powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ cup milk
For the Apples
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 apples Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Gala, cored, peeled, and sliced into ¼-inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons cinnamon sugar mix of 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice as needed
Instructions
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into large chunks.
- Roast the Sweet Potatoes: Place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and toss to coat. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, then flip and continue baking for another 10 to 15 minutes, until they are soft enough for a fork to pierce easily.
- Mash & Mix: Transfer the roasted sweet potatoes to a bowl and mash with a fork. Stir in the cinnamon, curry, salt, melted butter, vanilla, honey, and milk. Use a hand mixer to blend until smooth and fluffy.
- Cook the Apples: Melt the butter in a cast-iron skillet or large pan over medium heat. Arrange a layer of apple slices in the pan and sprinkle with half of the cinnamon sugar. Cook for 2 minutes, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the apples, remove them from the pan along with any butter, and set aside. Repeat with the remaining apples.
- Assemble & Bake: Transfer the cooked apples to a baking dish and drizzle with the melted butter from the skillet. Spread the mashed sweet potatoes over the apples and bake for 10 minutes, or until the top begins to brown.
- Serve Warm: Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
Notes
- This dish is perfect as a soul food-inspired side or a subtly sweet dessert.
- You can swap honey for maple syrup for a different flavor twist.
- Serve with whipped cream or chopped pecans for extra texture and richness.
- The curry powder adds a mild depth of flavor but can be omitted for a more traditional taste.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!