Grilling: Ember-Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Maple Cinnamon Butter Recipe
This recipe features sweet potatoes roasted directly in grill embers, resulting in a uniquely smoky flavor and creamy texture. They are served simply with a warm, spiced butter made from unsalted butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt.
Equipment
- 1 Grill or Fire Pit For producing hot embers
- 1 Aluminum Foil Heavy duty recommended
- 1 Medium Bowl For mixing butter
- 1 Fork or Tongs For handling hot potatoes
- 1 Knife To check doneness and split potatoes
Ingredients
Main
- 4 large sweet potatoes or yams washed and scrubbed
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, cream together the softened butter, maple syrup, ground cinnamon, and kosher salt until well combined.
- Prepare your grill or fire pit for ember cooking, allowing the wood or charcoal to burn down to a bed of hot, glowing coals.
- Wash and thoroughly scrub the sweet potatoes, trimming any fibrous ends.
- Wrap each sweet potato tightly in two layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
- Nestle the foil-wrapped sweet potatoes directly into the hot embers, ensuring they are mostly covered.
- Rotate the potatoes every 15-20 minutes using tongs to promote even cooking.
- Check for doneness after about 45-60 minutes by carefully removing one potato and piercing it with a knife or fork through the foil; it should be very tender.
- Once tender, remove all potatoes from the embers.
- Carefully unwrap the hot potatoes.
- Split each potato lengthwise and serve immediately with a generous dollop of the prepared maple cinnamon butter.
Notes
Ensure you are using dying embers, not active flames, for even cooking and to prevent burning. Wrap potatoes tightly in multiple layers of heavy-duty foil to shield them from ash. Cooking time is highly variable based on ember heat and potato size, so check for tenderness frequently using a knife or fork. For an extra layer of flavor in the butter, consider adding a pinch of nutmeg or a splash of vanilla extract. These potatoes can also be roasted on indirect heat on a grill or in a conventional oven if embers aren't feasible.