Recipes

sweet potato latkes

Did you know if you grate sweet potatoes and the mix them with an egg and some flour you can make pretty darn amazing pancakes?

It’s true.

No need to run to the store for baking powder! Why is that I never have baking powder when I need it? And why am I, after twenty-six years making these ridiculously easy and delicious pancakes for the very first time?

Who knew!

You’ve probably had regular potato pancakes at some point of your life or another, though, right? My mom used to make them alongside pork tenderloin with applesauce and it was one of the very first things I ever learned to cook. Who doesn’t love fried potato goodness?

Well, dear ones, fried potato goodness just got a whole lot better.

These sweet potato latkes couldn’t be easier to make. All you need is a box grater (the same thing you use to grate cheese or carrots), a bowl and a frying pan. Serve them with anything from grilled tofu to maple syrup and bacon. Like your favorite shoes, they pretty much go with everything.

As you can clearly see, I like a side of pancakes with my syrup.

Sweet Potato Latkes

makes about 8 pancakes

Print this recipe!

Ingredients:

2 sweet potatoes

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

oil for frying

Directions:

Peel and grate potatoes on a box grater like you would carrots if you were making carrot cake. Place grated sweet potato in a large bowl and add beaten eggs, flour, salt and cinnamon. Mix well to combine.

Heat about a tablespoon of canola oil up in a large skillet set over medium high heat. With wet hands, form pancakes with the potato mixture then flatten and fry in oil for about three minutes per side until golden.

Serve warm with maple syrup.

Time:

15 minutes

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  • Molly @ RDexposed
    July 28, 2011 at 4:39 am

    I’ve never made latkas before.

    Um…tagging this as: I’m not Jewish but I love matzah is AMAZING!!! hahaha

    • AshleyH
      July 28, 2011 at 7:28 am

      I saw that to Jenna. πŸ˜€ cute

  • Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance
    July 28, 2011 at 4:50 am

    My inner Jewish grandmother is coming out by just looking at these babies

  • Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles
    July 28, 2011 at 4:52 am

    OH. YES. >>>This is incredibly smart! I would have never thought to go here by myself…. but, WOW! This looks like a winner!

  • Heather (Heather's Dish)
    July 28, 2011 at 4:55 am

    i heart latkes…they’re so delicious!

  • Baking N Books
    July 28, 2011 at 4:59 am

    Ah yes, I’ve actually seen this in many cookbooks; you can also do it with zucchini!

  • Brooke @ BittersweetBrooke
    July 28, 2011 at 5:03 am

    When you put the words potato and frying pan together you know its got to be good! I love the idea that these can work as a breakfast food or go with dinner and they look like they’d be a pretty good snack!

  • Lauren @ What Lauren Likes
    July 28, 2011 at 5:10 am

    I work at a Jewish kids camp during the summer so I know all about these lil’ babies . *Drool* I have never tried sweet potato latkas before πŸ™‚

  • Tammy @ Palm Trees and Manatees
    July 28, 2011 at 5:12 am

    No, I certainly did not know you could do that. That looks awesome! My husband and I make pancakes and/or french toast every weekend — now I’ll have to surprise him with this. Cool, thanks!

  • Corey @ Learning Patience
    July 28, 2011 at 5:12 am

    Wow these look great! Will definitely be trying these out when I get home! Thanks for another amazing looking recipe! Xoxo

  • Natasha
    July 28, 2011 at 5:12 am

    These sound simple & delicious! Bonus: all the vitamins from the sweet potatoes. A winner for me as I hate spending hours in the kitchen. Can’t wait to try these this weekend.

    OveLoves

  • Kelly
    July 28, 2011 at 5:13 am

    Ah! Taking me back to my Jewish roots! Love. I have also made butternut squash latkes and they are pretty awesome too!

  • amy walters, aDESIGNdock
    July 28, 2011 at 5:19 am

    I grew up eating potato pancakes at my Gram’s house. I haven’t had them in years!!
    Any tips on buying a sweet potato. I heard that some are loaded with extra sugars – not sure if that’s true. So I don’t know what to look for! Any help would be greatly appreciated πŸ˜‰

  • Luv What You Do
    July 28, 2011 at 5:20 am

    I love sweet potoatoes and use them in everything (even my oats). I will definitely save this recipe for hanukkah this year.

  • Hilliary@HappilyEverHealthy
    July 28, 2011 at 5:20 am

    I have never made latkes before, but these look super good! I love sweet potatoes!

  • Taylor (greens & chocolate)
    July 28, 2011 at 5:27 am

    These sound amazing…I love anything with sweet potatoes!!

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey
    July 28, 2011 at 5:32 am

    I loooove sweet potato pancakes – they are amazing. Thanks for helping me decide what I want to use up my last sweet potato for!

  • Bethany @ More Fruit Please
    July 28, 2011 at 5:33 am

    I’m officially giving up on trying to make a good sweet potato hash and am just going to go with sweet potato latkes!

  • Kristen @ Change of Pace
    July 28, 2011 at 5:37 am

    YUM. I really love sweet potato anything!

  • Kristen - Anywhere There's An Airport
    July 28, 2011 at 5:40 am

    I literally made my own version of this last night!

    It was my first sweet potato purchase in Spain. They are NOT common here!

    Mine were delicious, but yours are prettier. πŸ™‚

  • Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
    July 28, 2011 at 5:41 am

    Oh Jenna these look sooo good (and easy!)

    I grew up with latkes. Potato pancakes were always around but I never really liked them b/c they weren’t….sweet enough! I love that you used sweet potatoes AND syrup. Perfect in my book.

    Because this is me too “I like a side of pancakes with my syrup.”

    I also like a little coffee with my cream πŸ™‚

  • Mich
    July 28, 2011 at 5:42 am

    YUM! These look delicious! Wish I had seen this recipe last night! We just had boring sweet potatoes for dinner.

  • Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
    July 28, 2011 at 5:54 am

    I love that tag on this post! haha I wouldn’t have thought to go the sweet, breakfast route with these but your picture with maple syrup has convinced me!

  • Laura
    July 28, 2011 at 5:54 am

    These look great! Any flour substitutes to make them gluten free…?

    • Dianna @ The Kitchen prep
      July 28, 2011 at 6:37 am

      I plan on making these for my GF hubby with Pamela’s Products baking & pancake mix that I’ve been using {and loving!} as a regular flour substitute. I’m pretty sure it would work perfectly! In case your not sure what that brand looks like, here’s a link: http://bit.ly/nlA11X .

  • Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove
    July 28, 2011 at 5:55 am

    Yes, please! I love sweet potatoes (well, just potatoes in general). Is there a way to get around using the eggs??

  • Holly @ The Runny Egg
    July 28, 2011 at 6:02 am

    These look so good — I love sweet potatoes and I love pancakes — good idea to combine the two!

  • Dee
    July 28, 2011 at 6:02 am

    Ooh. Yummy. I, too, like pancakes with my syrup. πŸ˜‰

  • d.liff @ yelleBELLYboo
    July 28, 2011 at 6:07 am

    These look unbelievable!

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
    July 28, 2011 at 6:09 am

    I made myself a kabocha squash pancake once but have never actually had a latke! I love how simple these are, and I actually happen to have some baking powder at home!

  • Erin
    July 28, 2011 at 6:13 am

    I really like potato pancakes with applesauce on top. But I also love sweet potato fries so I believe I will also love these!

  • Cait's Plate
    July 28, 2011 at 6:16 am

    Oooh I love that you ate these like pancakes! That’s such a good idea.

    And I’m so with you on liking a side of pancakes with my syrup. It’s the only way to go πŸ™‚

  • Laura @ Starting OutFit
    July 28, 2011 at 6:17 am

    Holy yum!!! I’m definitely going to have to try making these over the long weeken! πŸ™‚

  • Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray
    July 28, 2011 at 6:20 am

    This is so perfect for the one lonely sweet potato I have waiting for me in the crisper when I get home from my vacation. Victory! A quick and easy “re-entry into real life” meal!

  • Dianna @ The Kitchen prep
    July 28, 2011 at 6:41 am

    Ooooh! Totally making these! You don’t know how many times a week I stand in my kitchen trying to come up with a new plan for sweet potatoes which we eat at least once a week. {Baked sweet potato fries never get old, but still, variety is the spice of life. πŸ˜› } And anytime I get to use the grating disk on my food processor – which I didn’t even know I had until recently, and now can’t get enough of! – I’m a happy girl! Thanks!

  • Jenna
    July 28, 2011 at 6:58 am

    I looove latkes and sweet potatoes, but have never had the two combined! Just printed the recipe and will be making this very soon! YUM!

  • Casey @ Pocket Full of Sunshine
    July 28, 2011 at 7:03 am

    Oh yum. What a great idea. I would never have thought of making these with sweet potatoes!

  • Kelli H (Made in Sonoma)
    July 28, 2011 at 7:04 am

    I’ve never thought to do this and I have no idea why! I know I would like these better than plain latkes.

  • Mai
    July 28, 2011 at 7:14 am

    I just bought sweet potatoes yesterday! I think I’m going to have to try this tonight. πŸ™‚

  • Cat @Breakfast to Bed
    July 28, 2011 at 7:42 am

    Oh dear G-d. These are my fave Hanukkah food and now i want some in JULY.

  • Jen
    July 28, 2011 at 7:43 am

    Sweet potatoes make everything better. These would be awesome eaten like regular latkes, with sour cream and applesauce!

  • Natalya
    July 28, 2011 at 8:25 am

    Yum! I’m on a sweet potato craze right now, so thanks for something new to try!

  • Jackie @ That Deep Breath
    July 28, 2011 at 8:35 am

    I’ve been totally intimidated by potato pancakes, I have no idea why. Next time I have one laying around I’ll put on my big girl pants and make these!

  • Rebekah @ PDX Food Love
    July 28, 2011 at 8:37 am

    Ahhh I was just thinking of making zucchini latkes… may need to switch gears. Thanks for the great idea!

  • Running Betty
    July 28, 2011 at 8:38 am

    so you don’t have to let them sit and drain like white potatoes before cooking? That means FASTER latkes. And better for you. Yum! Todah Rabah! (That’s thank you, in Hebrew)

  • Joelle (On A Pink Typewriter)
    July 28, 2011 at 8:42 am

    Mmmm, I love sweet potatoes! This sounds like a perfect recipe to me.. I’ve tried frozen potato latkes before, but this is WAY better. πŸ™‚

  • Amber K
    July 28, 2011 at 8:46 am

    I have actually never had potato pancakes, but they sound delicious!

  • Amy @ What Jew Wanna Eat
    July 28, 2011 at 8:49 am

    Sweet potato latkes were the first recipe I made on my blog! http://whatjewwannaeat.com/2010/12/05/sweet-potato-latkes-and-applesauce/ Mazel!

  • Sarah @ Sarah's Modern Bites
    July 28, 2011 at 8:51 am

    Those look incredible Jenna! Seriously mouth-watering. What a fabulous idea and with such little flour I would imagine the recipe could easily be turned gluten free if needed. Other than the memories of your Mom’s traditional pancakes, what inspired you to make these!?
    I gotta say, the syrup is doing a lot of the work here and looks just as mouth-watering as the pancakes! I think I need more syrup in my life… and things to put it on… like these pancakes. Maybe this weekend!

  • Andrea @ The Skinny Chronicles
    July 28, 2011 at 8:51 am

    You just stole my heart with this recipe. Now I’m going to be craving sweet potatoes all weekend!. Oh how I suffer.

  • Julie
    July 28, 2011 at 8:54 am

    Yum. Definitely going to have to make these this fall. I don’t know why but during the fall sweet potatoes are my favorite food!

  • MMiller
    July 28, 2011 at 8:54 am

    I can’t wait to try these!! I love sweet potatoes! I may just use butter and a sprinkle of brown sugar on mine!

  • Mary (What's Cookin' with Mary)
    July 28, 2011 at 8:55 am

    I’ve def made these with regular potato, but will have to try them out with the sweet variety. Loving the color!

  • Monica
    July 28, 2011 at 8:58 am

    Hi Jenna! I love your blog and these pancakes look so good!

    Do you think you could substitute almond flour for white flour and still get the same result? Thanks!

  • Jamie@everydaydolce
    July 28, 2011 at 8:58 am

    Hey Jenna! LOVE this recipe, how coincidental that you posted a sweet potato recipe, I just write a post for dailyspark.com about my love for sweet potatoes! http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=how_sweet_potatoes_led_to_my_90pound_weight_loss

    Your recipe here is like nothing I’ve ever tried…I’m excited to give it a taste, thanks for sharing πŸ™‚

  • Rachel
    July 28, 2011 at 9:12 am

    TOTALLY making these now…and in a few months during Hanukkah!!! A couple of years ago I tried to make whole wheat latkes and once you cut into them, they were green inside. Not sure what happened there…

  • Shari @ Chicago Cuisine Critique
    July 28, 2011 at 9:33 am

    Yum! Looks great. πŸ™‚

  • Kelsey @ aslolife
    July 28, 2011 at 9:35 am

    Delish! I know what I’m making sunday morning… Those would be the perfect after Thanksgiving breakfast too!

  • pinklemonade
    July 28, 2011 at 9:37 am

    Does that say yuNNy on the blackboard?

  • Maria@healthydiaries
    July 28, 2011 at 9:52 am

    Those look amazing! Just printed out the recipe!

    • Sarah
      July 28, 2011 at 4:58 pm

      +1

  • Michelle Collins
    July 28, 2011 at 10:08 am

    These look absolutely divine!

  • Maria
    July 28, 2011 at 10:25 am

    I want these now!!!

  • Emma (Namaste Everyday)
    July 28, 2011 at 10:38 am

    I made sweet potato CURRY latkes for a Hanukkah party last year! They were a hit but were hard to cook in the pan. I ended up using very little batter per pancake to make them very thin. They were great with pearsauce!

  • Urban Wife
    July 28, 2011 at 11:06 am

    Love the simplicity of ingredients and prep time! These would be wonderful for a lazy, weekend breakfast. πŸ˜‰

  • emily (a nutritionist eats)
    July 28, 2011 at 11:29 am

    I made something similar this winter and fell in LOVE with them!

  • Lisa @ Sunny Seed Stories
    July 28, 2011 at 11:29 am

    These look amazing! Wonder how they would taste with applesauce instead of syrup…

  • Emily @ Savory and Savage
    July 28, 2011 at 11:55 am

    You can never have too many latkes. Yours look delicious! You could call them Beta-carotene latkes πŸ™‚

  • Mauimandy@The Grains of Paradise
    July 28, 2011 at 12:09 pm

    Delicious idea! Love the maple syrup with them!

  • Emilie
    July 28, 2011 at 1:00 pm

    Pretty pictures! I love making potato latkes with sour cream around the holidays! My older family loves them.

  • Paj
    July 28, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    I know what I’m making when I get home from work! I have all the ingredients in my kitchen already. Love when that happens.

  • Mellie
    July 28, 2011 at 1:52 pm

    I’ve never had latkes before. I must try these!

  • Kristen @ Chocolate Covered Kristen
    July 28, 2011 at 2:54 pm

    Nothing I love more than reading a delicious looking recipe and knowing that I have all of the ingredients at home. #win

  • Emily the Lady Pastor
    July 28, 2011 at 3:53 pm

    YES! Anything that involves sweet potatoes and/or maple syrup! πŸ™‚

  • Errign
    July 28, 2011 at 4:20 pm

    can we be friends in real life? I want latkes, haha.

  • Lori Lieberman, RD, CDE, MPH, LDN
    July 28, 2011 at 4:28 pm

    Parsnip potato ones are amazing too. But the time to make this is in December (during Hanukah!)

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin
    July 28, 2011 at 5:06 pm

    My dad used to make latkes all the time when I was a kid! I’ve never tried making them myself though. This recipe looks perfect for the fall! Is it bad that I’m already excited for fall when it’s still the middle of summer? πŸ˜›

  • Kristen @ notsodomesticated
    July 28, 2011 at 5:47 pm

    Love it! And I love that the recipe calls for ingredients that I pretty much always have in my house!

  • Emily @ Comfortable Home Life
    July 28, 2011 at 6:48 pm

    “I’m-not-Jewish-but-I-love-matzah”

    Bahahaaha you are too funny! These looks delicious.. and simple!

  • kaila@ healthy helper blog!
    July 28, 2011 at 6:57 pm

    I love latkes already. And I love sweet taters. Match made in heaven.

  • kristen @ kristen's sweet stop
    July 28, 2011 at 7:14 pm

    Yum!

  • Laura @ Cookies vs. Carrots
    July 28, 2011 at 7:53 pm

    Oooooohhhhh, I want these. Like now. Right now.

  • Emily
    July 28, 2011 at 9:18 pm

    Those look AMAZING!

  • Katrina
    July 28, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    Mmm these look dreamy.

  • Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes
    July 29, 2011 at 12:33 am

    These look amazing!!!! πŸ™‚

  • Misty
    July 29, 2011 at 10:48 am

    Jenna – thanks for the awesome recipe! I made these for myself and my boyfriend last night and they turned out great πŸ™‚

  • Rebecca @ How the Cookies Crumble
    July 29, 2011 at 3:34 pm

    These sound awesome. Except I think I’d eat mine with something savory rather than syrup. πŸ™‚

  • The Undercover Cook
    July 29, 2011 at 6:46 pm

    I have never thought of putting sweet potatoes into pancakes, but these look fantastic. Can’t wait to give them a try. I am thinking of a brown sugar, butter and pecan topping. Yum!

  • Lindsey
    July 30, 2011 at 4:59 am

    I made these for dinner last night. So tasty! Wishing I had more sweet potatoes in the house so we could have them for breakfast this morning!

  • theoncominghope
    August 7, 2011 at 12:38 pm

    Mmm that looks lovely.

    I made a grilled sweet potato dish the other day, love sweet potato:
    http://theoncominghope.blogspot.com/2011/07/recession-busting-recipes-grilled-sweet.html

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    August 27, 2011 at 8:20 am

    I made these and they sucked, big fail. Outside was burnt and inside was raw and soupy. Pretty nasty.

    • Jill
      March 15, 2012 at 10:42 pm

      Sounds like your oil was too hot and cooking the outside too fast.

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  • Caitlin
    December 22, 2011 at 5:45 am

    Made these this morning for me and my dad. So easy & so yummy! Served with some maple syrup & turkey bacon =) Thanks for the awesome recipe!

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    February 29, 2012 at 6:25 pm

    Hi, I found these on Pinterest when I was looking for another use for sweet potatoes besides oven baked fries. I made breakfast for dinner tonight and these were so delish! We didn’t even need syrup they were so sweet!

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    August 12, 2012 at 8:08 am

    I made these (or attempted to) this morning. Maybe it was that my sweet potatoes were too thick (maybe I should have used the fine grater?), but these came out more like hash browns. It was like there was too much sweet potato and not enough “batter” portion. I had to throw out my first 3 because I made them too thick and they were still very soft in the middle. The other 5 tasted okay, but the texture was way off. I must admit I’ve never had much luck with either hashbrowns, or pancakes, Any suggestions?

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