Sweet Potato Biscuits (quick and easy)

by Haley // October 26, 2023

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Try these flaky and fluffy sweet potato biscuits for Thanksgiving! They are ready in 30 minutes and require only 7 ingredients. You’ll love how quick and easy this recipe is for holiday prep.

stack of two fluffy sweet potato biscuits on a small gray plate.

I love a good old-fashioned recipe. Classic buttermilk biscuits are typically my go-to, but with Thanksgiving around the corner I wanted to make something a little more seasonal. I added some sweet potato purée to put a Southern twist on the recipe! It results in a perfectly tender texture and gorgeous orange hue (just like these waffles).

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Only 7 ingredients. All you need are a few simple ingredients paired with sweet potato purée.
Ready in less than 30 minutes. These biscuits are ready to eat hot out of the oven in under half an hour!
Sweet or savory. They taste delicious with maple syrup and fruit at breakfast or alongside comfort food for dinner.
Perfect seasonal side. Serve these biscuits at Thanksgiving or with a cozy weeknight meal.
Good use of leftover sweet potatoes. You probably have an abundance of them during the holiday season so use them in this recipe! You may also like my bourbon sweet potato pie.

Ingredient Notes

bowls of ingredients to make sweet potato biscuits.

Sweet potato purée: Peel and cut a medium sweet potato into chunks and boil until tender. Drain, mash and cool.
Buttermilk: Make sure the buttermilk is cold for an extra tender biscuit.
Butter: Use cold, unsalted butter that is cut into pieces. I suggest keeping it in the fridge until ready to use.
Brown sugar: Light brown sugar pairs well with sweet potatoes. Dark brown sugar can be used too!
Baking powder: This leavening agent helps the biscuits rise. Check that it is not expired for best results.

Refer to the recipe card for ingredient details and measurements.

Recipe Variations

Add some spices. For a more flavorful biscuit, add 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg or ginger to the dry ingredients.

Make it savory. Add 1 teaspoon dried thyme or tarragon to the dry ingredients with 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder. This is a good option if you’re making a turkey and egg sandwich!

Pair it with brown butter and sage. One of my favorite sauces, brown 4 Tablespoons butter. As soon as the butter starts to foam up, add 7 fresh sage leaves. The foam will subside and brown. Remove from the heat and brush on top of the biscuits or serve with your meal.

Double the recipe. If you’re entertaining for the holidays or want to freeze leftovers, make a large batch by simply doubling the ingredients.

How to Make Sweet Potato Biscuits

Whisk together the dry ingredients—flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the cold butter pieces and cut them into the flour mixture until crumbles form.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the sweet potato purée and buttermilk. Add to flour mixture and stir just until moistened.
Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface. Form into a disc that is 1-inch thick. Use a 3-inch biscuit cutter to cut the dough. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake biscuits at 425°F for 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with melted butter and serve.

Expert Tips

Use cold ingredients. In order to get a flaky texture, make sure all the ingredients are cold, particularly the butter and buttermilk.

Get the right dough consistency. You want a dough that is drier than cookie dough, but is moist enough to come together and form a disc. It shouldn’t stick to your hands. If necessary, add more flour or buttermilk to get the right consistency.

Don’t overwork the dough. Fold the dough a couple times so it comes together, then form into a disc. If it’s kneaded too much, the biscuits will turn out dense and tough.

Make sure the oven is hot! Biscuits need a high temperature to rise properly. I always wait 10 minutes after the oven has beeped before putting the biscuits in. It also helps to put the biscuits relative close to each other on the baking sheet, no more than an inch apart, so they get some height.

sweet potato biscuit leaning on another biscuit on a plate with small bowl of butter behind it.

Make Ahead and Storage Tips

Make ahead the dough and cut into circles. Wrap them in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours or the freezer for up to 3 months. If baking from frozen, add 2 to 3 minutes onto the baking time.

Store biscuits in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Keep in mind they taste best the day they are baked.

Freeze baked biscuits for up to 3 months. After they have cooled, place in a freezer bag or airtight container. For best results, wrap biscuits in plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn.

Recipe FAQ

Can I use buttermilk substitute?

Yes, add 1 1/2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar to a measuring cup. Pour in whole milk to the 1/2 cup measure. Stir and let the mixture sit for 10 minutes before using.

How to make sweet potato purée

Peel and cut a sweet potato into similar size chunks. Boil some water and add the chunks. Cook until tender, then drain. Use a masher or two forks to mash potatoes. Alternatively, use a food processor.

Can I use canned sweet potato purée?

Yes, but make sure it’s not sweet potato pie mix. There is more liquid in canned purée so I suggest patting it dry with a clean towel. You may also need to add more flour to your dough.

What to serve with these biscuits

They taste great with any type of butter (herb, maple or honey butter), but also they also complements stews, soups, chili or fried chicken. I personally love to use sweet potato biscuits to make breakfast sandwiches!