Savory Sweet Potato Latkes are a great change from regular potato latkes. In fact, it's hard for me to choose which I like better!
It's a really fast Friday but I wanted to give you a treat before I left. Zoe is running her first marathon in Philly this weekend so we are off to see her run in her neon pink pants. I hope this way we will spot her. I just dropped George and Freddie off at the vets and already miss them-but I'll be seeing my daughter and soon my son, too!
I love latkes and this year is a big year for Hanukkah! The first day of Hanukkah falls on Thanksgiving, which is very unusual. It will take another 70,000 some years for this to happen again. It also happens to be my 32nd wedding anniversary. Agh! Many occasions, and all on a Thursday! We plan to have a fun turkey day and this year we may even get some presents on Thanksgiving Day, too!
I'll tell you more about Hanukkah in a different post but I've got to give you this great recipe for sweet potato latkes. I've never made them before because I tend to be a traditionalist. I like regular potato pancakes but this year we decided to make a change because of Thanksgivingkuh! Yeah, that's what we Jews are calling it. Pretty funny, huh?
In any case, these latkes would be great appetizers for the big day, too. I loved them with my tequila cranberry sauce and you could also top them with sour cream and bacon. Or some fried sage leaves. Use your imagination, but this year no sweet potato casserole for us! We are having sweet potato latkes and I can't wait.
So, I'm just curious, what is your favorite way to prepare sweet potatoes?
Please Pin and Share the Latkes!
Recipe

Savory Sweet Potato Latkes and Off To The Race
- Prep Time: 20 Minutes
- Cook Time: 20 Minutes
- Total Time: 40 Minutes
- Yield: Serves 4-6 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
1 ½ lbs sweet potatoes (I used 2 big ones)
1 medium onion
2 garlic cloves
2 large eggs
1 t salt or to taste
¼ t ground pepper
2-4 T flour (I used the lower amount but it depends on how wet your potatoes are)
1 t smoked paprika
About ½ c canola oil for frying
Instructions
Grate sweet potatoes and onion and garlic in food processor fitted with grating disk. Transfer to a large bowl. Drain liquid if there is to much, though sweet potatoes don't make much. Beat eggs with salt, pepper and smoked paprika and add to potato mixture. Stir well. Add flour and mix well.
Heat ¼ c oil in a heavy nonstick skillet. I used a large rounded tablespoon per pancake. I pressed them to compact and get rid of excess moisture and formed them into a mound before placing in the hot oil. You could use a ¼ c measure if you'd like them bigger. Form about 4-5 more mounds and place in skillet, too. Flatten each with back of spoon, but don't press to hard. My latkes were about 3 inches in diameter.
Fry over medium heat about 3 minutes. Sweet potatoes will burn easier than regular potatoes due to the higher sugar content. Turn carefully by using two spatulas. Using one spatula, slide it onto the back of the other spatula while turning it upside down. Fry another 2-3 minutes until both sides are golden brown and crisp. Add more oil to the pan as necessary. Drain well on paper towels and also pat the tops dry. Stir potato mixture before making the next batch.
Notes
I made these appetizer size but Manservant says he prefers them bigger. And these taste great with the tequila cranberries. Don't worry about the smoked paprika making these too smoky. It is subtle, but oh so good!
These may be reheated on a cookie sheet in a 400 degree oven about 7 minutes. Watch them carefully so they don't burn. After they are heated through, they may be kept warm in a 200 degree oven. They should stay nice and crisp. Mine did!
More great dishes for Thanksgivingkuh:
Pumpkin Brown Sugar Muffins
Simple Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
Cranberry Chipotle Wonton Cups
Mushroom Lover's Pastry
3 Ingredient Artichoke Dip
Smoky Pumpkin Hummus
Dried fruit Salami
Smoked Trout Pate
Waldorf Salad
Hot Brown Sandwich
Traditional Latkes
Parsnip Latkes
My Mother's Brisket
Shortbread Nut Bars
Frozen Cranberry Salad
Brown Sugar Spice Cake with Caramel Glaze
Green Onion Garlic Chive Corn Bread
Onion Lover's Twist
Gingerbread Pear Upside Down Skillet Cake
Chickpea Latkes
Anna and Liz Recipes says
These looks so delicious and a great way to use some sweet potatoes!
Purabi Naha | Cosmopolitan Currymania says
These sweet potato latkes need to get into my life ASAP. These look so good!
CQUEK says
Looks like it was a surprisingly wonderful and deliciou
Abbe Odenwalder says
I wish I were fit enough to do one, too! I'd love to try the peanut stews! Bucket list, please! These were really good latkes or whatever you want to call them!
Nazneen Hamilton says
Nice twist in the traditional pancakes! I was craving some on Sunday but feeling a bit under the weather, I had to forget about them. This is a great way to use sweet potatoes. Our Thanksgiving sweet potato dish is always my husbands family's southern casserole. I can never try anything else because that has to be on the table. Oh well, at least it's tasty! Lots of things going on for you on Thursday! It also happens to be my daughters 19th birthday on Thanksgiving 🙂 best of luck to your daughter on her race. I hope she did well.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Happy Birthday to your daughter! My husband loves those Southern sweet potatoes and he can have them if he makes them! Zoe did great. Thanks, Nazneen!
Juliana Levine says
So many things going on Abbe…have fun!
As for the sweet potato latke, I think they look great…love the natural sweetness of it…yum!
Have a fun week 😀
Abbe Odenwalder says
We had lots of fun, Juliana! Now it is like a race to Thanksgiving!
Guru Uru says
Have a brilliant time at the marathon and good luck to your daughter 😀
This recipe looks delicious, sweet potato is one of my favourite recipes to work with!
Cheers
CCU
Daniela Grimburg says
Wow, so many celebrations in just a few days, have fun and enjoy them ,Abbe!
I imagine your emotion watching your daughter running her first marathon, good luck for her 🙂
That's a great way to prepare sweet potatoes, looks so yummy.
Abbe Odenwalder says
There were a lot of emotions, Daniela! She was so happy we were there and we were happy we went! It is a BIG deal! Too many celebrations, but it's all good! Thanks, Daniela!
Amy says
These Savory Sweet Potato Latkes are beautiful. I love food with a sweet and savory combination. Can't wait to try these out.
Abbe Odenwalder says
So good, Amy. So good...
Liz Berg says
I love sweet potato fries 🙂 But your latkes look pretty tempting, too! Enjoy your time with family. Go, Zoe, Go!!!
Abbe Odenwalder says
We had fun, Liz. I love fries any way I can get them! But these were definitely good!
Angie Schneider says
All the best to Zoe's first marathon!
These latkes look very delicious.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Angie. they were!
Sharon says
I like my sweet potatoes mashed! Happy weekend, Abbe xx
Abbe Odenwalder says
Simple and good, Sharon!
Libby B. says
Great recipe ! I'm going to make these as appetizers for Thanksgiving and Chanukah with cranberry sauce.My favorite sweet potato recipe is easy: bake potatoes, scoop out flesh, mash with a lot of butter and a little salt. delish.
Abbe Odenwalder says
You will love them, Mom! You never made sweet potatoes much when we were younger. I love them baked, too!
yummychunklet says
Tasty looking latkes!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Yummy! Total delish!
Kitchen Riffs says
Just tell the manservant that he gets to eat more of them when they are appetizer-sized. 😉 I've already made regular latkes a few times, and never sweet potato ones. Love the idea of them - so delish. And I do like the idea of serving these as munchies with drinks. Have fun this weekend, and good luck to Zoe!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks John! These were really good and so was Zoe. She finished in the top 15% for women her age. We were very proud of her!
Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
Wow, Abbe! So much exciting stuff here! First of all - total yum on the latkes! Secondly, super, super good luck to Zoe on her race! That's really awesome, and I hope she does great and is HIGHLY visible in those pink pants!!! And, thanks for the tip about Shannon's project - looking forward to checking that out! Have a fabulous time this weekend - will be so excited to hear how it went! 😀
Abbe Odenwalder says
I have to say we couldn't find the pink pants. There were 34,000 runners and we didn't see her until she crossed the finish line. Thanks Shelley. I really liked these!
shannon weber says
aw, abbe, thank you so much for the shout-out! And thank you for participating: your unique voice adds so much to the mix, and i love it. 🙂
and i really love what you did with the sweet potato latkes, SO much. especially the color: they're so beautiful and vibrant! Have a great time at the marathon. 🙂
Abbe Odenwalder says
No problem, Shannon. It is a lot of work to do what you are doing! These were great latkes!
Tricia Buice says
Have a wonderful day at the race - best wishes for your daughter. My nephew just ran his very first whole marathon and did great. Such an accomplishment. Hanukkah, an anniversary and Thanksgiving all together now! Wow - good luck with that!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Crazy, huh? Zoe did great and I was surprised that it was so much fun! It was very inspiring especially seeing the hand cyclists and others!