Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Orange Maple Butter
Sweet potatoes: I’m a fan. Also: butter, and maple syrup, and orange – getting them all together on one plate makes me happy. The warm orange-infused maple butter, which takes all of two minutes to get going in a small saucepan, could be drizzled over split roasted sweet potatoes, but grilling them adds a slightly charred, smoky flavour that seems well suited to fall and winter, even though grills tend to be summer appliances.
Whether they’re labeled yams or sweet potatoes, go for the smaller, longer ones, so that they don’t take forever to cook through to the middle. All you need to do is toss them in a pot whole and cover them with water – you bring the lot to a boil and let it go for about half an hour, until the potatoes are tender. This part can be done ahead of time, if you want to get a head start on dinner, or have minimal prep work once the roast or turkey is out of the oven.
So the tender sweet potatoes are sliced into thick slabs, then grilled – I brushed these with a little oil first – send your husband outside (he may need a jacket) if you don’t have a super sleek indoor grill (I don’t) – and if you do happen to have one, they’ll grill on both sides, and you won’t even need to hover with tongs. They’re already cooked, so you just need some nice char marks. Four minutes.
At some point, lob a chunk of butter and a few glugs of maple syrup into a small saucepan and grate some orange zest in as it comes to a simmer; don’t add juice, or it will wind up too runny, and you want the maple butter to stay on your potatoes. Trust me.
London Drugs asked me to help get the word out about their selection of kitchen appliances for the holidays, and I’m happy to, having stopped in on many occasions for an emergency hot plate/deep fryer/coffee grinder. I love that you can do all your Christmas shopping at the drugstore, and pick up things like a KitchenAid Stand Mixer and Rose’s Lime Cordial (they have an awesome selection of British imports) along with your toothpaste and toilet paper.
This recipe is well suited to the Tfal Optigrill – a gadget I don’t have, but will be cooking with at an event next week – it’s like a panini press extreme, able to do things like burgers and chicken and even steaks – with a cooking sensor that gauges the thickness of whatever it is you’re cooking. Which isn’t quite as important when you’re doing slabs of sweet potato.
And London Drugs has offered up a $100 gift card so that one of you can go shopping – for yourself or someone you love a lot – and pick up a fun new kitchen toy. Something fun and gadgety, like an Actifry, or classic, like the aforementioned stand mixer, or festive, like a Breville Waffle Maker (want!), or fancy, like the brushed stainless steel Cuisinart Countertop Steam Oven, or newfangled, like a Breville Fast Slow Cooker (electric pressure cooker). So many fun kitchen toys, so little time.
To enter to win the $100 LD gift card, leave a comment here. I want to know what you’re making for the holidays!
Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Orange Maple Butter
AuthorJuliePut the potatoes whole into a large saucepan or small pot, cover with water and bring to a simmer. Cook for 20-30 minutes, until just tender when poked with a knife. Pull them out of the water and set aside until they're not steaming hot. Meanwhile, heat the butter, maple syrup and orange zest in a small saucepan until melted and smooth.
Cut them, with their skins on, into thick slices or lengthwise into quarters. Brush with oil and cook on a preheated grill, turning with tongs, for a few minutes, or until char-marked (and heated through if you cooked them ahead). Serve the grilled potatoes warm, drizzled with maple butter.
Ingredients
Directions
Put the potatoes whole into a large saucepan or small pot, cover with water and bring to a simmer. Cook for 20-30 minutes, until just tender when poked with a knife. Pull them out of the water and set aside until they're not steaming hot. Meanwhile, heat the butter, maple syrup and orange zest in a small saucepan until melted and smooth.
Cut them, with their skins on, into thick slices or lengthwise into quarters. Brush with oil and cook on a preheated grill, turning with tongs, for a few minutes, or until char-marked (and heated through if you cooked them ahead). Serve the grilled potatoes warm, drizzled with maple butter.
Mmmmm……maple butter. Super yum Julie.
Hubby makes smoked salmon that I gleefully gift to family, friends & teachers. LD sells vacuum sealer bags that we use a lot of!
I’m making tiny jars of cranberry mustard & gonna find some nice containers for the homemade vanilla I’ve got brewing. Thanks for that recipe too!
I am making Best of Bridge Nuts and Bolts, as I always do. It is my dad’s favorite present during the holidays.
I think I shall have to simulate the Bark Thins that I get as Costco. They seem simple (good dark chocolate and pumpkin seeds)and are not too sweet. Tonight we enjoyed them with some slices of pear. Very versatile for serving or gifting.
I’m planning on making some more candied orange peel, and using up the last of last year’s in copious baked goods.
I’m making fruitcakes – light and dark – tomorrow and then salt caramels!!!
Tried and trues: tourtiere, smoked turkey, spanakopita, mince tarts, yeast waffles, fudge and speculaas…
something brand new I want to make is cranberry orange cinnamon-type rolls… they look gorgeous and I suspect they’ll taste scrumptious too.
As we are traveling to our kids this year the baking will be some favorites like pecan bars,flatbread crackers and tourtiere. Kind of nice to let the younger generation do most of the cooking, although it may be difficult to stay out of their kitchens !
I haven’t even thought about Christmas yet. Is that bad?! But I am making a chopped italian salad for a potluck this week… Does that count?!
Just made a large fruitcake yesterday, and will be making chocolates and homemade turtles.
Maple fudge,chocolate fudge and cinnamon candy. It wouldn’t be Christmas without them.
Pork pies – a dessert I’ve only heard of in my native Cape Breton. It’s a shortbread base, pressed into mini muffin tins so that they have a little divot, which you then fill with a date mixture and top with maple frosting!
I usually roast the whole sweet potato in tin foil, but your recipe looks delicious! Brussels sprouts with olive oil, salt & pepper and Asian sticky rice.
My two little g’babies are a little older this Christmas (2 and nearly 2), so looking forward to making shortbread cookies with them!
I’d love to get a waffle iron to try making your mashed potato waffles for breakfast!
We will be making tourtiere, a staple for any who grew up in Quebec. And I’ll ask my 4 year old daughter which of her grandmother’s recipes she also wants to make, probably the chocoloate pizza and the iced sugar cookies.
Love this series of posts on holiday ideas – yams and butter are my fav! Maple syrup must make them to die for ????
Thinking about what to do about Xmas makes me feel slightly anxious and overwhelmed! I’m just back to work after mat leave and life with two kids is crazy busy. Luckily, my mom will be visiting for Xmas and can give me a hand with the baking. The one thing I do know about Xmas – we will do a gingerbread house with our four year old as she LOVES that part of Xmas. She even remembers doing it last year!
I’m really looking forward to making some new yeast breads for Christmas breakfasts. Also, the usual traditional foods which bring back happy memories of my grandparents.
I will make Christmas cake as always and generously dose it with brandy and sherry every now and then! I always cook brussel sprouts to go with the christmas meal, my family favourite is panfried with a spicy almond butter, garlic sauce.
Gingerbread houses! Every year my family has a gingerbread challenge and 12 teams vie to put together the most creative house.
Lots and lots of shortbread. My family would disown me if I didn’t make them.
I make gingerbread houses with my grandchildren. For my husband and the adults I make Swedish Janson’s temptation, many kinds of pickled herring, meatballs and a side dish made from apples, pickled beets, whipped cream and mayo.
shortbread!!!!!
We’re making ginger cookies!
We have lots of company coming this year for Christmas so I will try to get lots of baking done- shortbread cookies, fudge, sugar cookies to name just a few!
Ironically, I just started some Christmas cooking yesterday – I made some taquitos and french onion soup to have in the freeze for some easy meals when we have company and I’d rather visit than cook.
I always make my Mom’s icebox cookies, butter tarts and white chocolate bark with pistachios and dried cranberries. Very festive looking and east to make.
I am making mint brownies for a baking exchange that I’m in, a pan of lemon squares for my family and then lots and lots of cookies to nibble on over the holidays. The LD gift card would be awesome for a new kitchen tool. Thanks for the chance.
So this year we are having a party, which we normally don’t do. And just as we sent the invitations out, you started your 12 Days posts. Yay! The Grilled Asparagus is definitely on the list, probably these too! Looking forward to the next posts!
Those look super yummy and dead easy! A great combination in my opinion.
This year I’m making a gingerbread house and a little gingerbread outhouse to go with. It’s in the design stages now.
I bet I could find much of what I need to complete this project at London Drugs.
Apple cranberry galettes!
Yum – these sound good – I think I will try them!
I like to try out new recipes all the time even at the holidays. One recipe I always make, and get requests for is Chocolate almond sandwich cookies from a Canadian living magazine years ago. Makes a big batch, my kids help (well, teenagers – they don’t take too kindly to being called ‘kids’!) and they are delicious with afternoon tea!
Holiday menu not quite confirmed yet…but some kind of benny and mimosas will definitely be a go for the first part of the day!
English toffee
I’m making Three Ginger Cookies. And I’m really excited that I now know a place to get Rose’s Lime. I got hooked on it living in Kenya a few years ago!
Some form of sweet potatoes, we love them and there are so many ways to cook them. Maybe loose meat tacos, a Christmas Eve tradition that may move to Boxing Day this year. Veggie chili/soup since we will be in the woods this year. Who knows what other inspiration will strike….
Oh gosh, kitchen supply stores are like glorious shopping black holes for me!
Holiday cooking: flavored salts, chocolate-dipped dried fruits, and smoked sausages (for gifting), and pate w/ shallot jam (for bringing, and scarfing down while in the kitchen w/ my mom)
Christmas tradition in our house…The daughter (19 years old) DEMANDS Greek style baby back ribs and lemon roast potatoes.
My new favourite – browned butter butternut squash with sage
Maybe this will convince my children that sweet potatoes are the bomb! I always make my make ahead Christmas morning Sausage Casserole…. tradition! 2 of my 3 children are getting the cooking/ baking bug. My 13 year old son made the Thanksgiving pies, pastry and all without Mum’s help. My 10 year old daughter has taken to perusing my cookbooks. Your potato skins are next on her trial list!
Cookies, cookies, cookies!! and the traditional tourtiere! So many types of cookies to make – shortbread and sugar cookies and gingerbread and pecan balls egg nog cookies. yum!
I’m making a cheesy, butternut squash casserole, and this thing called corn casserole, which is not a casserole at all. It’s just corn swimming in cream cheese and it is delicious.
These look amazing. consider them added to the list for dinner this weekend! As for Christmas, I’m starting my baking 🙂 I leave the turkey to my more experienced family members, but the sweets and baking are all mine!
I’ll be making bacon wrapped sausages as a yummy side. A family fave (even with the Italian in-laws) and takes me back to my childhood Christmases in England. Also, Yorkshire pudding. They’re not just for roast beef. Only 40 more days. YUM!
I always make chocolate peanut better balls. Everyone loves them and they are my go to hostess gift. Let it snow!
I’m going to make tourtiere for Christmas Eve – our tradition! Haven’t decided about baking or treats. Depends if I want to eat them all myself. 😉
I can’t wait to try this recipe tonight (perfect for a snowy Saturday evening dinner). As for what I’ll be making over Christmas? I created my own Almond Butter Cookie recipe years ago that has become a staple over the holidays for family and friends. They are so buttery and soft with just a hint of almond. Yum.
I’ll be making pulla (sweetish bread from Finland). On this blustery soup-weather day I’m making carrot soup with coriander and hummous.
Ginger cookies and sugar cookies made already! Next up is some truffles, nothing says Christmas like chocolate. Christmas supper will be homemade perogies yumm!
Yams for sure will be on the Christmas menu this year. I just discovered that you can eat the skins and they are almost as good as a great baked potato skin.
I want to try “Stained Glass Sugar Cookies” this year. Also Saltine Toffee. Then try making some gluten-free crackers that don’t taste like cardboard!
I haven’t thought yet about Christmas (yikes). But yesterday made orange and cumin glazed almonds to take to a party, and they are something I have gifted for Christmases past.
My holiday must-bake are my mom’s shortbread cookies. Butter, flour, cornstarch and icing sugar, rolled and cut into very basic shapes, because the dough is too tender to do fancy ones. Mmmmmm….
Those look AMAZING. Every year for the past couple of years, my sister and I make a double-batch of gingerbread cookies (Dorie Greenspan’s Spice Roll-out Cookies with double the spices, to be exact) and we spend the afternoon decorating them. We’ve been known to make gingerbread girls wearing bikinis being creeped on by old gingerbread men wearing speedos! 😛
I will be making your sweet potatoes on the grill in Texas!
Christmas cake has been mellowing for two months now with liberal doses of spirits to keep it moist. The countdown will soon be on for the many batches of Poppycock that are requested by co-workers, friends and family every year.
Hi Julie,
My sister is coming to visit this Christmas and we are making gingerbread, several batches to create the ultimate spongy but sharply ginger tasting cake. We have already planned all the variations: butter vs oil, lemon rind vs vanilla,molasses vs none are a few we have been texting back and forth about. I can’t wait!
Planning to make Lamb Cassoulet for Friendsgiving in a couple of weeks – and I know where to find a great recipe!
I’m doing prime rib for dinner with my fam. Other than that baking gifts for the neighbours!
I’m picking up the ingredients for your rosemary pecan crisps. Always a favourite around here.
Totally not food related, but I’m making swants today…. I’ll be giving out granola for the holidays.
I recently tried my first lattice-topped apple pie and I’m looking forward to improving on it over the holidays!
I will make first a variety of different extracts to gift. I’ve made vanilla a few years now. It wouldn’t be Christmas without pfefferneusse a small German spice cookie!
I would love to win $100 to spend at London Drugs for a larger waffle iron (holiday brunchs) or a bigger, programmable crockpot to make a come n’ go type meal. I have most of my baking done, just need to make some meals now for impromptu drop ins…
I’d like to try to make cheesecake for the first time, something pumpkin. Now that I have a new kitchen, I also plan to make a ton of cookies, bars, and possibly try making perogies to celebrate my roommate’s polish heritage. A gift card from LD would make all of that so much easier.
Lots of cookies, of course! I make them and give them as teacher gifts and bring them to the neighbours. That way, I can make a big assortment of cookies without having huge amounts staying in my house!
I can’t wait to make a batch of chewy chocolate ginger cookies!
We will make a few tourtieres. I also buy all kinds of things at the drug store!
Am going to make your homemade vanilla – now on the hunt for the perfect little gift jars.
Sugar cookies!!!!!!!!!!!
I get treated to Christmas dinner this year since my recently married daughter has invited us over for the holidays. I will take some special Apple, Orange and Cranberry Sauce.
Love sweet potatoes grilled in the summer. Never thought of doing them for Christmas. I will be making my fabulous deviled eggs this season – sprinkle of paprika on top to finish it.
This year I just have baking to do, aside from appy’s at our annual party that we host. But with baking there will be a shortbread caramel tart, ginger molasses cookies, and shortbread cookies. Also thinking about making dried soup fixings in mason jars as gifts!
Lots and lots of shortbread and gingerbread cookies!
Always make my carrot nut bread/loaf as my Xmas pudding, healthier option with a bit of flax and fruit chopped into it as well as applesauce to cut down on fat and sugar. Only healthy thing we eat all Christmas. Love your blog.
Salted caramels 🙂
My holiday fav = roasted Brussels sprouts (with a touch of parmesan)
Pressure cooker roast! A tender bison roast with mushroom gravy in 35 minutes. I can’t live without my pressure cooker 🙂
I will be making the whole she-bang. My parents will be coming for the Holidaze and I can hardly wait! Will be putting the gift certificate for London Drugs to good use for sure.
Well now I definitely want to try this! Otherwise hoping to make some donuts this year for Hanukkah!
cookies! are you doing a cookie exchange again this year?
Hubs’ favorite nuts no bolts recipe, pumpkin caramel loaf, and shortbread.
Caramel popcorn, making some early to mail to my kids who are away at university living in residence. A treat for studying, exams will be soon.
Shortbread, shortbread, shortbread!
My daughter-in-law, my 3 granddaughters and I get together … on what we refer to as “Cookie Day” and make cookies, cookies, and more cookies as well as many other Christmas fare… We keep on going til we run out of time and there is always more then enough to last until the end of January 🙂
Apple butter caramels!
Just bought some great large jars taht I’ll be filling with cookies and tying ribbon around for home-made gifts. Haven’t picked the recipes yet.
Gingerbread men.
Nanaimo bars!
Lots of goodies and make ahead breakfast foods for Christmas morning!
I’m making butter tarts!
My book club is getting marinated pork tenderloin bites, Asian slaw, strawberries piped with cheesecake filling and drizzled in chocolate, chopped shrimp in sour cream and chive sauce served in endive boats and home made cream puffs with warm custard. We are reviewing the Giller short list 😉
On the list this year: cinnamon rolls, the gramercy tavern gingerbread, cranberry curd tarts, ginger tarts sour cream sugar cookies, and pecan pie cookies.
^butter tarts, not ginger sorry…must have gingerbread on the brain 😉
who’s the silver fox? tell mike I’m liking the new dew!
Oh right I was supposed to tell what I’m making for the holidaze.
HASTE!
as in get outta dodge
I want to make lots of food gifts these holidays! Truffles, almond roca, lemon curd and your homemade vanilla extract!
I’m going to be making a lot of candied walnuts as gifts. They were a huge hit last year,
Being of German heritage, I will be baking a few Christmas stollen to give away to family and friends.
Fruitcakes are made, I’ll take a request or two from significant other and that’s it for sweet stuff. May get a fresh turkey this year.
The fruitcake is made, just the almond roca left to do and some other treat for family members who don’t like fruitcake – maybe my new favourite ciabatta bread recipe.
My husband is Dutch, so now we make boterkoek (“butter cake”) every year, except it’s not really cakey, more rich and dense. It’s got a whole whack of almond extract in it, as so many good Dutch desserts do. Very European.
On a much less sophisticated front, we’ll also be making Oreo balls again. One package of Oreos plus one package of softened cream cheese ground up in the food processor, then dipped in chocolate. We call them “truffles” when we want to feel more classy. Perfect straight from the freezer.
Starting the cookies in a couple weeks. Doing your vanilla extract next week.
Gonna make some coffee liqueur and Irish cream liqueur as well!
Thanks for the Christmas ideas. I’ll be making krumkake this Christmas- a Norwegian cookie that’s easy but looks super fancy.
I’m making almond paste, blue cheese and figs in puff pastry. Nothing to put in a jar or box up as a gift as so many of your talented readers are doing – they go too fast!
I’m making lasagne , candied pecans, coconut pumpkin squares and roasted acorn squash.
Butter tarts.
Actually planning to downgrade my Christmas cooking/baking this year. While I love to cook, I love my kids more and want to spend less time cooking and more time loving, (although we will spend lots of time in the kitchen together). Squares! Veggies! School lunches! Oh my!
I’m caught in that place of wanting to do something new and different, but knowing that people (including me!) will miss our traditions if I stray too far. So when my son returns from uni, he and I are going to find a couple of new things to try. (But we might have the traditional items that fall off the list prepared in the freezer for Boxing Day – our board game day tradition.)
Made the sweet potatoes for dinner tonight with baked halibut – YUMMY!!! Rave reviews! Will most definitely be making these again…..and AGAIN! Thanks, Julie.
We still love that quinoa salad you showed us how to make. Its a favorite around here.
Hi Julie
I’ll be making my Mclarens/cream cheese ball rolled in walnuts, shortbread and overnight egg and sausage brunch for Christmas morning. Thanks for all you do, Julie!
Nuts and bolts are at the top of the list for sure followed by several varieties of fudge to divvy up as gifts and coconut candy…a family Christmas staple.
Whipped shortbread at least. For some reason, one of my husband’s colleagues really likes my shortbread so every Christmas I make a batch for her.
Turkey dinner with all the trimmings, and for gifting and nibbling I’ll be making antipasto, whipped shortbread, chewy ginger cookies, and a few bars, perhaps Nanaimo and lemon meltaways. I’ll also be making some treats for the dogs in our family out of your cookbook!
Brown Sugar Shortbread and Gougeres…Yum!
Medjool dates stuffed with manchego cheese and mango chutney then wrapped in bacon!! YUM!!!!! Thanks for the chance to win!
I will be making myself sleep for the holidays…no seriously, I will be. Besides that, I plan to make my secret Chai and pack it in little jars as gifts this holiday season. Love the other ideas people have posted too 🙂
A root vegetable slaw with a warm mushroom vinaigrette that I saw at a demonstration at the Penticton market on the Thanksgiving long weekend (had it then too)
Perfect grill marks on these! I am making so much I am not sure where to begin! Lots of sweets and desserts, that’s for sure!
Lots of baking and decorating sugar cookies!
Hey Julie,
My mom’s crisp shortbread cookies (with red and green sugar sprinkles) using the same star, tree and bell cookies cutters she did. From the Purity Flour cookbook. If that’s ALL I had/did for the holidays that would be enough. My parents aren’t around anymore, so a nice bit of nostalgia. Christmas for the last 40+ years. Maybe Chinese (?) Chews too – totally old skool – dates, walnuts, a drift of powdered sugar.
and lots of seasonal cocktails.
I need to pick up some sweet potatoes…
cheers,
jake
Just finishing up the last of the jars of chutneys, jellies and preserves I’ve been canning so they have time to “mature” before they get given away.
Cookies! Am hosting a Christmas Cookie exchange this year and can’t wait to see what folks will bring!
Yay for any reason to bake! I live for christmas baking:) this year it will be french macarons, bourbon pecan tarts, and chewy ginger cookies..
Angi ?
Christmas cookies (as soon as my mom flies out to help me!)
This year a new gift from the kitchen – zesty Limoncello. Bringing sunshine in to what has already been a cold and snowy fall!
I want to make candied orange peel. I was thinking your vanilla would make a great gift, but I need to get on it soon. I am also hoping to make apple butter for hostess gifts.
I’ve already started some holiday baking with a gingerbread blondie and may try a caramel stuffed chocolate cookie next!
It would be so hard to choose which new kitchen appliance to buy 🙂
On my Christmas list – my great-grandmas’s Ginger Snaps, Upside Down Pear Gingerbread (thanks to you – it’s my fave!), and Tacofino’s Diablo cookies.
I’m making rum balls – its a family tradition. But this year we are also making them gluten free with gf ginger snaps for the cookie crumbs. I hope they work out well, but with rum and chocolate holding the works together, how can I go wrong!
I’m thinking of making caramel popcorn for the kids this year because the stuff in the store always has ‘nut’ warnings.
I have to switch my Christmas baking recipes to gluten-free this year (one of my girls is off gluten now) so that will be my holiday adventure!
I made lamb for the first time today. My very carnivourous daughter with a well developed sense of smell wrinkled her nose and said “It smells like deer 🙁 . ” My son with the very underdeveloped sense of smell ate it with gusto! She can tell grass fed. Fortunately tourtiere ( her favorite) has so many spices she can’t tell that I make it with a mix of ground venison and pork.
I am LOVING reading all these ideas – everything sounds delish!
Gumdrop cake!
My Nonna’s Ameretti Christmas Cake. Buonissimo!
I love making sugar cookies and icing them in a rainbow of colors….with sprinkles,candy glitter, smarties, etc….
Right now I’m gearing up to make 12 dozen “soft and chewy ginger cookies” for an upcoming cookie exchange!
I also want to try and make a butternut squash dish to go along woh Christmas dinner.
I’m looking forward to making Lemon Angel Wings
I think I’ll try biscotti this year, rugelach, mini linzer tarts, cardamom shortbread,caramel or hazelnut macarons and maybe sacher bars (like the torte married a brownie).
Very shortly this web site will be famous among all blog viewers, due to
it’s pleasant content
Hi, i feel that i noticed you visited my web site so
i got here to go back the favor?.I’m attempting to in finding things to enhance
my website!I guess its adequate to make use of some of your concepts!!