Sweet Potato Pancakes with Cinnamon Cream Syrup

I cannot believe that my little June is two years old. Last Sunday we celebrated her 2nd birthday with friends, family and a potato head themed birthday party. 😂 June adores her potato head, which she affectionally calls "Yatwo". Since her party was potato head themed, I decided to stick with potatoes for the food as well. For our gathering with friends in the morning, I made these sweet potato pancakes! And for dinner with our families we had a loaded baked potato bar, and cupcakes with the eyes, lips, and noses from potato heads as toppers. 

I told you guys I would figure out how to make the sweet potato pancakes I had in Nashville, and with the deadline of June's party set, I figured it out.

If you've actually had sweet potato pancakes from Pancake Pantry before, I will tell you right know that these are not nearly as sweet or sugary. As completely delicious as those were, it was literally like eating cake and icing. I cut way back on the sugar, so I wouldn't feel bad eating an entire stack of them for breakfast.

I also used my KitchenAid® Artisan® Mini Mixer to speed up the process.  (Let's be real though, I use it whenever I can because it's so cute.) It's literally just a lighter and smaller version of the iconic Kitchen Aid stand mixer. I love that it stores easily in my small cupboards, and how it's small enough to sit on my counter and not hit my upper cabinets when I lift up the paddle/top part to add more ingredients. Again, did I mention how cute it is?!

INGREDIENTS: Makes about 16 small pancakes

• 1 cooked sweet potato (1 cup, mashed, give or take)
• 1 1/4 c. milk
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar
• splash of vanilla
• 1 c. flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp. nutmeg (or just a dash)
• 1/8 tsp. cloves (or just a dash)
• pecans - optional topping

CINNAMON CREAM SYRUP 

• 1/2 c. sweetened condensed milk
• 1/4 c. maple syrup
• 1 tbsp. cinnamon

First, cook your sweet potato however you prefer. On the day of June's party, I was already baking other potatoes in the oven, so I did it that way. However, when I tested this recipe earlier in the week, I peeled my potato, diced it into cubes and steamed it until soft. (Poke with a fork to make sure it's soft enough to mash in your mixer.) One time I even peeled, diced and microwaved it. So really, any method works!

Once your sweet potato is soft and fully cooked, dump it into your mixing bowl and mix until smooth. Scrape down the edges of your mixer, and then add the milk, egg, vanilla and brown sugar. Mix on medium high until well combined. It should look like a very runny sweet potato soup at this point.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Mix well.

Add flour mixture to wet ingredients and mix until combined. Don't over do it! Just go until its totally incorporated and then stop.

Heat your griddle or pan to a medium heat. If using a non-stick cooking surface, there is no need to spray it with oil. Using your tablespoon from earlier, scoop pancake batter onto griddle. I know it seems like way too small of a scoop, but just try it! It creates the perfect little pancake size - just right for stacking 3-5 on your plate.

While still keeping an eye on your pancakes, combine your sweetened condensed milk, syrup, and cinnamon in a microwave save bowl. Heat it in the microwave briefly before you serve it on your pancakes!

Finally, stack hot pancakes on a plate and drizzle them with the cinnamon cream syrup! Top it all off with chopped pecans. Then dive right in and enjoy. 😍

This post was sponsored by KitchenAid. As always, all opinions and recipes are my own.

Dark Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe

If you have followed me for any amount of time, you already know that I could start off any food post I do with "dark chocolate <insert food of choice here>" recipe. Let's be real though. If you can't add dark chocolate to something, what's the point? I kid, I kid........ kind of.

I have loved my Grandma's banana bread recipe for years because it's moist and delicious and is loaded with walnuts. Last year though, I tried out a chocolate banana bread recipe I'd found online and it was reallllly good, just too sweet. So, like most thinks I cook or bake, I've now modified it to make it my own by combining the best parts of both recipes.

This bread is perfect for a baby shower, holiday breakfast or just a casual brunch at home over the weekend. And while it's loaded with chocolate, it's not overly sweet, so you don't have to feel too bad about eating several pieces. 😉

DARK CHOCOLATE BANANA BREAD

• 3 very ripe bananas (thaw if frozen)
• 1/2 c. butter, melted
• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 c. milk
• 1 c. flour (all purpose, or bread)
• 1/2 c. cocoa powder (dark or regular)
• 1 c. semisweet or dark chocolate chips
• 1/2 c. chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a loaf pan with non stick baking spray and coat with a little flour/cocoa if you'd like.

Mash bananas in large bowl or mixer. Add in melted butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla. Mix well, but not on a high speed.

In a separate bowl mix together your dry ingredients - flour, cocoa, salt and baking soda.

Add your dry ingredients to the mixing bowl and stir until just combined. Gently stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts.

Transfer batter into the prepared pan. (My batter was the consistency of chocolate pudding.) Sprinkle the top with chocolate chips and walnuts, because it's prettier that way. 

Bake 40-60 minutes - or until a cake tester comes out clean. I know that's a big range of time, but it's alway best to watch your loaf specifically and know how your oven works. I set my timer for 40 minutes, clean up and go do something else, and then monitor it more closely after the first 40 minutes are up until it's just right!

Cool in pan, on a wire rack.

Finally, slice into that bad boy and enjoy while it's still a touch warm. It's delicious!!! If you don't consume the entire thing immediately, wrap bread tightly with plastic wrap and keep at room temperature for up to a few days.

Enjoy!