Sweet Potatoes and Apples with Cinnamon and Maple combines tart apples, sweet potatoes, and warm cinnamon and spices to make the perfect fall side dish!
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I can’t believe that it’s been over 3 years since I first published this Sweet Potatoes and Apples with Cinnamon and Maple recipe.
This is one of my all-time favorite recipes because my oldest son, who was 8 at the time, came up with the recipe idea! He didn’t like sweet potatoes, but really loved his younger brother’s toddler snacks in sweet potato apple flavor.
Somehow, we got to talking and decided we should try to make a side dish that was based on the same flavors to see if he like it. Long story short, he loved it! And in the 3 years since we first shared this recipe, it’s been pretty popular with you guys too! It also inspired my recipe for Maple Bacon Sweet Potato Hash, which is a Pinterest favorite!
Why This Recipe Works
- Tart apples and sweet potatoes taste amazing together, especially with the addition of warm spices. The flavor is almost that of homemade apple pie!
- This is a family friendly recipe. My son ate all of his and didn’t complain once. Afterwards he told me it was good and he’d eat it again. He’s getting pickier by the day, so when he eats his dinner without complaining I am one happy mom!
- Not only does this recipe taste really good, it’s also very easy to make. Besides the fact you have to chop up the sweet potatoes, this ones a cinch!
How to Make Sweet Potatoes and Apples with Cinnamon and Maple
Prep!
Dice the sweet potato and apples into bite-size cubes. I like to cut mine into about 1/2″ cubes.
Tip: try to dice your sweet potatoes and apples as evenly as possible. This will help them all cook evenly and you won’t be left with some pieces being mushy and some not being fully cooked.
Create!
Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium high heat.
Add the sweet potatoes and cook, stirring frequently, until almost tender, about 10-15 minutes depending on what size you diced your potatoes.
Add the apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the sweet potatoes and apples are tender, about another 5-10 minutes.
Drizzle with maple syrup and stir to evenly coat.
Present!
Serve warm.
Tips and Techniques for the Best Sweet Potatoes and Apples
- If you prefer a sweeter recipe, you can swap in a sweeter apple variety like Fugi or Gala.
- Try to cut your sweet potatoes and apples into as evenly-sized pieces as possible. This will help them all cook at the same rate so that you don’t end up with mushy or hard pieces.
- Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Use within 4-5 days.
FAQ’s
- Can you freeze sweet potatoes and apples? While you can freeze this recipe, it’s best eaten the day of or stored in the refrigerator. There can be changes in the texture after being frozen and reheated.
More Sweet Potato Side Dish Recipes to Try
- Lemon Roasted Broccoli & Sweet Potatoes
- Spiralized Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar Honey Butter
- Candied Sweet Potatoes with Fruit
Love this Sweet Potatoes and Apples recipe? Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more!
Sweet Potatoes and Apples with Cinnamon and Maple
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3.5 cups sweet potatoes * diced from 3 medium potatoes
- 3.5 cups apples * diced from 3 apples (I use Granny Smith)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large frying pan over medium high heat.
- Add the sweet potatoes and cook, stirring frequently, until almost tender, about 10-15 minutes.
- Stir in the apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cover and continue to cook, stirring often, until the sweet potatoes and apples are fork tender, about another 5-10 minutes.
- Drizzle with maple syrup, stir, and serve.
Notes
Tips and Techniques for the Best Sweet Potatoes and Apples
- If you prefer a sweeter recipe, you can swap in a sweeter apple variety like Fugi or Gala.
- Try to cut your sweet potatoes and apples into as evenly-sized pieces as possible. This will help them all cook at the same rate so that you don’t end up with mushy or hard pieces.
- Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Use within 4-5 days.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published April 16, 2016. It was updated with new images, more thorough instructions, tips, techniques, and FAQ’s in October 2019.
Jenni says
This is the perfect fall side dish! It was so easy to make and tasted so great! I want to make it every day!
Marisa Franca says
What a great idea. It could be a healthy dessert. It could also be a fantastic side with chicken or pork — or turkey now that I think of it. With all the holiday dinners coming up this is a unique way to serve the sweet potatoes.
Catherine says
I love the idea of sweet potatoes tossed with apples! What a wonderful Fall side dish.
Pavani says
Tart apples with sweet potatoes sounds like a perfect combo both in terms of flavor and also for the season. Adding cinnamon must have made with even more yummy!!
Catalina says
I love this flavor combo! This dish would be perfect for Thanksgiving dinner!
Veena Azmanov says
I love how simple and easy this is. Maple, cinnamon, apple and sweet potato all go well together. But I must admit I have never had apples and sweet potato together. Can’t wait to try.
Dan Zehr says
A lightweight ingredient list is what I love. I LOVE how easy and delicious this is and that it’s so unique. Thank you!
Mahy Elamin says
Great recipe for Side Dishes. Very well! Looks tasty! This recipe is perfect for me and my family. Thank you!
Denay DeGuzman says
What a beautiful combination of textures and flavors. This sweet potatoes and apples recipe is the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving dinner!
April says
I thought you can’t be surprised with a potato recipe these days but I was wrong! Combining tart apples with sweet cinnamon and sweet potatoes is just genius – well done!
Claudia Lamascolo says
I love all these fall flavors and this is perfect side dish for Thanksgiving cinnamon is my favorite fall spice on everything !
Lauren says
Yes! I definitely find myself sprinkling it in everything!
Gloria says
This sounds like a great FALL flavoured side dish. Perfect for holiday dinners and potlucks too. I think it would work well on the brunch menu too.
Lauren says
Thanks Gloria – I never thought about serving it at brunch before – great idea!
Karyl Henry says
Wow, what a perfect Fall recipe! My parents are vegetarian, and they will love this…I’m definitely sharing this with them
Lauren says
Thanks for sharing Karyl 🙂
Kirstie says
Looks so delicious. About how long does the cooking process take? It helps me with planning.
Lauren says
Ahh so sorry! This is one of my earlier recipes…I totally should have included an estimate on the time! I’d need to remake it to be sure, but plan on 20 to 30 minutes. You can put a cover over the pan to speed up the process some too, but make sure to stir them every few minutes so they don’t stick 🙂 Hope this helps!
Leila says
I have just recently started eating sweet potatoes and this sounds so delicious! I can’t wait to try it! Im pinning it to add to my menu!!
ourlittleeverything says
We eat a ton of sweet potatoes – they are so good for you! Hope you like the recipe!
Christine Anne says
This sounds amazing! I love eating raw apples with cinnamon but this sounds even better. Especially with the added sweet potato. 🙂
ourlittleeverything says
Yay! It worked out really well 🙂
Erica @Everyday Erica says
These would make a great breakfast hash too – that sweet and salty combo – YUM! Thanks for sharing.
ourlittleeverything says
Great idea! THanks for stopping by Erica!
Denay DeGuzman says
Oh my goodness, this recipe looks so delicious! I love that it’s quick and easy to prepare, and that it’s so unique. Thank you for sharing this sweet dessert. 🙂
ourlittleeverything says
Thanks Denay 🙂
Krista Williams says
I seriously have been craving a recipe like this. Easy, with sweet potatos and apples that has cinnamon in it! Love it- thank you so much for sharing!
xoxo
Krista
ourlittleeverything says
Yay! Perfect! 🙂
Christie says
Oh wow. I never would have thought to sweeten sweet potatoes aha but this sounds great!
Such a Autumn-y recipe – I’ll have to try it out (we’re in the middle of a disgusting Winter here in Australia and I just can’t ugh).
Christie’s Take on Life. xx
ourlittleeverything says
Haha! It is more autumn-y for sure….or even holiday dinner-ish. Hope your winter passes fast! 🙂
Gunjan says
Wow! this is super tempting.
ourlittleeverything says
Thanks! 🙂
candy says
Love good ole basic sweet potato recipe with maple syrup and apples. Reminds me of grandmas
house.
Amber says
Yum! I’d love this.
Shanna Rogers says
These sound absolutely delicious!
Evelyn says
Ah, yum! That looks delicious. I too have a child with dwarfism…he has Thanatophoric Dysplasia. He didn’t eat the first year but now he loves it. You have a homemade recipe for Cheerios? My son is quite addicted.
ourlittleeverything says
Ahh yes! I think we commented briefly in one of the blogging Facebook pages! Glad to hear he’s able to eat now. We aren’t doing too well with solids yet, but it may just be a texture thing. No homemade recipe for Cheerios lol…if I see one, I’ll let you know!
Kaitlynn Marie says
This looks so good! I need to try this for sure. So glad you posted this on the facebook group 🙂