Sweet Sweet Potato Cookies for Little Ones
Easy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cookies: A Perfect Baby Snack
Created for babies who are too young for sugar and salt, these cookies offer a healthy and delicious alternative. Made with natural sweetness from sweet potatoes, they are sure to be a hit! Ingredients that can be omitted are noted in the ‘Optional Ingredients’ section. Enjoy making these simple, wholesome treats with your air fryer.
Essential Ingredients- 200g mashed cooked sweet potato (cooked until soft and mashed)
- 40g unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 200g cake flour (or all-purpose flour), sifted
Optional Ingredients for Enhanced Flavor- 4g milk powder (adds a subtle sweetness and creaminess)
- 3 drops vanilla extract (for a lovely aroma)
- 1 tsp baking powder (helps the cookies puff up slightly)
- 4g milk powder (adds a subtle sweetness and creaminess)
- 3 drops vanilla extract (for a lovely aroma)
- 1 tsp baking powder (helps the cookies puff up slightly)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
In a mixing bowl, combine the 200g of mashed cooked sweet potato and 40g of softened butter. Use a spatula or whisk to mix them together until well combined and smooth. Ensure the butter is evenly incorporated into the sweet potato.
Step 2
For a natural sweetness, add 4g of milk powder. Sift it over the sweet potato mixture and gently stir it in. This ingredient is optional and can be skipped if you prefer a simpler flavor profile.
Step 3
Separate the egg yolk from the egg white. You will only need the yolk for this recipe. Discard or save the egg white for another use. Ensure the yolk is cleanly separated.
Step 4
Add the egg yolk to the bowl with the sweet potato and butter mixture. Mix everything together until well combined. The yolk will help bind the ingredients.
Step 5
Add 3 drops of vanilla extract to the mixture. Vanilla extract adds a wonderful aroma that enhances the overall flavor of the cookies, making them even more appealing.
Step 6
Sift 200g of cake flour into the bowl. Instead of mixing immediately, create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients into it. Then, gradually incorporate the flour into the wet ingredients by folding and cutting motions, as if drawing lines in a well (‘井’ shape).
Step 7
Mix the dough until it comes together into a cohesive ball that is no longer sticky to your spatula or hands. If the dough feels too wet, you can add a tiny bit more flour, but be careful not to add too much. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap.
Step 8
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 5mm thickness using a rolling pin. Ensure an even thickness for consistent baking. Place the rolled-out dough back into the plastic wrap or cover it and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This chilling step is crucial for the cookies to hold their shape and achieve a good texture.
Step 9
Once the dough is chilled and firm, lightly dust your work surface with flour. Use cookie cutters to create shapes, or use small cups or the rim of a glass to cut out round cookies. You can also use a small knife to cut them into squares or rectangles.
Step 10
Be mindful not to use too much extra flour when cutting out the cookies, as this can leave white powdery marks on the baked cookies. Gently brush off any excess flour before baking.
Step 11
Gather the leftover dough scraps, re-wrap them, and re-roll to cut out more cookies. You can store any excess dough in the freezer for future use. (I re-rolled and froze some dough because it was nearing nap time for my baby.) Arrange the shaped cookies in your air fryer basket. Air fry at 160°C (320°F) for about 15-20 minutes. Cooking times may vary depending on your air fryer model, so keep an eye on them.
Step 12
If you pressed the cookie cutters lightly or used a bit more baking powder, the cookies might have puffed up more than expected. This is perfectly fine! Once baked to a golden brown, remove the cookies and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
Step 13
These homemade sweet potato cookies are a wonderful, healthy snack for your baby! They are also perfect to serve as teething rusks with warm milk or yogurt. Enjoy these delightful treats anytime your little one needs a little something.
