Breads (Sourdough) - Soft Loaves
Purple Sweet Potato Soft Sourdough Bread Recipe – Healthy, Vibrant & Easy to Make
August 06, 2019
| Recipe by Bake with Paws
Last Updated on May 3, 2025
By Bake with Paws
Are you ready to take your baking skills to the next level? This Purple Sweet Potato Soft Sourdough Bread is a delightful twist on the classic sourdough. Not only does it boast an incredibly soft texture, but it also brings in the vibrant color and natural sweetness of purple sweet potatoes. Plus, the recipe is a great way to introduce more nutritious, whole-food ingredients into your diet. Let’s dive into how to make this easy yet impressive sourdough bread with a beautiful purple hue.
What Makes Purple Sweet Potato Soft Sourdough Bread So Special?
The addition of purple sweet potato puree not only adds natural sweetness and a rich purple color, but it also provides a healthy dose of antioxidants, making this bread incredibly nutritious. I used a sweet stiff starter for this recipe, which helps to create a softer, less tangy sourdough. The sweet stiff starter ensures that the bread retains its subtle sweetness while reducing the typical sourness found in traditional sourdough, making it perfect for those who prefer a milder flavor. By incorporating this starter, you also introduce beneficial probiotics that improve digestion and enhance the overall quality of the bread. This soft, slightly sweet sourdough is perfect for breakfast, sandwiches, or as a snack on its own.
Benefits of Using Purple Sweet Potatoes in Bread
Purple sweet potatoes aren’t just a pretty color; they come with impressive health benefits too. They are loaded with anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant that supports immune health and helps combat inflammation. This makes your bread not only delicious but also a better option for those looking to add more plant-based nutrients into their meals.
Some key benefits of purple sweet potatoes include:
- High in fiber: Helps regulate digestion and supports gut health.
- Rich in vitamins and minerals: A great source of vitamin C, potassium, and iron.
- Antioxidant-rich: Anthocyanins help fight oxidative stress and support a healthy immune system.
If you have any questions regarding this recipe or any other post, please leave me a comment in the “LEAVE A COMMENT” link and I will reply you as soon as possible. Do tag me on Instagram @Bakewithpaws if you attempt on this recipe.
How To Make Purple Sweet Potato Soft Sourdough Bread
INGREDIENTS (Yields: 1 Loaf)
Sweet Stiff Starter:
60g sourdough starter (100% Hydration), use at its peak
180g bread flour (I used Japan High Gluten Flour)
75g water or 90g milk
30g sugar (I used organic brown sugar)
Main Dough:
140g bread flour (I used Japan High Gluten Flour)
100g mashed purple sweet potato
100g mashed purple sweet potato
All the sweet stiff starter
10g brown sugar
10g brown sugar
1 tsp salt
20g milk powder (omit if SST is fed with milk)
60g - 80g milk, cold (I used 65)
50g cold whisked egg (from 1 large egg)
35g butter, room temperature
Egg Wash:
1 egg + 1 Tbsp water
Utensil:
450g loaf pan (21.3 X 12.2 X 11.5 cm / 8.4" X 4.8" X 4.5")
The amount of liquid/milk very much depend on the hydration of mashed sweet potatoes and also your flour, because each flour absorbs liquid and hydrates differently. You may also add 1 tsp of milk at a time during kneading if the dough is too dry, when you see that the dough doesn't stick to the bottom at all. We want the dough to clear from the sides of the bowl with only a small part of the bottom sticking to the base of the mixer bowl. You should hear a slapping sound of the dough hitting the sides of the mixer bowl.
METHOD:
- Sweet Stiff Starter
- In a bowl of stand mixer, dilute starter with water, stir in sugar and add in bread flour. Mix with paddle attachment until well mixed and all come together. It can be done by hand mixing too.
- Cover and let it ferment until tripled. I prepared a night before and leave it in aircond room (approximately 24 - 25C room temperature) overnight until tripled. It took about 8 - 9 hours depending on your starter. It should take around 4 - 6 hours to get triple at room temperature at 28C - 30C.
- However, if you feed your starter with milk, the starter will take longer time to proof and very much depend on your stater. Mine took about 9 - 10 hours to proof overnight. And the starter did not rise until triple in size compared feeding with water. It rose almost 2.5 to 3 in size. It is because natural yeast takes longer time to digest the milk than it does in water.
- Main Dough:
- Put all ingredients (except butter) into a bowl of stand mixer. I usually torn the stiff starter dough into pieces first.
- Slightly combine the mixture by hand with the paddle attachment before turning on the machine so that the flour will not splash out. Using the paddle attachment, mix for 2 minutes or until all incorporated. This step is critical to prevent an uneven mixed dough as the stiff starter is rather hard and a dough hook may not be able to mix it well enough.
- Change to hook attachment and knead for another 3 minutes or until the dough comes together. Add in butter and continue knead for 10 - 12 minutes or until reach window pane stage. During the whole kneading process, I stopped few times to scrape down the dough from the hook to be sure it is evenly kneaded and also to prevent the motor from overheating.
- First Proofing/Resting The Dough:
- In the same bowl, let the dough rest for 45 - 60 minutes. Keep it covered with clingfilm or use a lid. This dough I rested for 45 minutes at 30C room temperature and the dough did not rise a lot.
- To shape:
- Transfer the dough to a clean floured surface then divide into 3 equal portions.
- Form each portion into a ball.
- Flatten with rolling pin.
- Roll the dough like a swiss roll into a log.
- Flatten the log with rolling pin as shown.
- Roll up the dough again like a swiss roll until a small log is formed.
- Place all dough in the prepared loaf pan.
- Final Proofing:
- Let it proof at warm place until the dough reaches the height of the pan. This one took approximately 2 1/2 hours at room temperature of 28C - 29C. The duration of proofing depends on your ambient temperature and starter.
- To bake:
- Preheat the oven at 190C (top and bottom heat) or 170 (fan-forced mode) 10 - 15 minutes before baking.
- Brush with egg wash.
- Bake at preheated oven for 25 - 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove bread from oven and let it cool completely on rack before slicing.
Preparing Sweet Stiff Starter
Main Dough
Tips for Perfect Purple Sweet Potato Sourdough
- Sourdough Starter:
- A healthy starter is essential for successful bread baking. To ensure your bread rises well, it's important to feed your starter regularly and use it (the levain) at its peak. A consistently fed starter will be more active and reliable. If the mother starter isn’t strong, the dough may still struggle to rise properly, even if the levain is used at its peak. For more information, click the links: "How To Make Sourdough Starter" and "Sourdough Maintenance".
- Gluten Development:
- Essential for soft, airy bread, gluten is created when flour hydrates. To develop it, use techniques like autolyse or kneading. The windowpane test checks readiness—dough should stretch thin without tearing. From my experience, high hydration dough with high percentage of fat will be easy to stretch and achieve a paper thin windowpane stage.
- Kneading:
- Please regard the timing provided as an indication only. It is only meant as a guide. Times vary by flour and mixer type. For higher fat dough, knead longer (18–20 minutes).
- Flour & Hydration:
- Use high-gluten flour for optimal texture. Always reserve some liquid to adjust dough consistency for best results. If dough is too dry, add the reserve liquid one tablespoon at a time until the right consistency.
- Depending on how wet your purple sweet potato puree is, you may need to adjust the water amount to get the right dough consistency. The dough should be slightly tacky but not too sticky.
- Dough Temperature:
- Maintaining the right dough temperature during kneading is crucial for a fine crumb. If the dough becomes too warm, the crumb will become too big and uneven. To prevent this, use cold water, milk, or eggs, and chill your mixing bowl or hook attachment in the freezer. Knead at low speeds, and if your kitchen is warm, rest the dough in a cooler spot. Proper dough temperature ensures a soft, fluffy bread with a fine, even crumb.
- Proofing:
- Proofing time depends on your environment. Use the finger poke test to gauge readiness. To check dough readiness, lightly press the side with your finger:
- If it bounces back instantly, it’s under-proofed and needs more time.
- If the indentation stays, it’s over-proofed.
- If the indentation slowly bounces back, it’s ready to bake.
- There’s also a final rise called oven spring when the dough bakes, which adds to the bread’s height.
- Wrinkle Top or Shrinking:
- If your bread collapses or develops wrinkles on top after baking, it might be over-proofed during the second rise. Aim for the dough to rise to 80-90% of its final size or just below the rim of the pan to prevent this. Over-proofing leads to weaker structure, causing the bread to lose shape.
- Baking & Oven Temperarate:
- Do also note that the baking temperature and timing provided are what works for my oven and should also be regarded as a guide only. Every oven behaves a little differently, so please adjust accordingly for your oven.
FAQs:
1. Can I make this bread without a sourdough starter?
Yes, you can use instant yeast instead of sourdough starter. Please refer to the yeast version recipe "here".
2. How long will this bread last?
If stored properly in an airtight container, this purple sweet potato sourdough bread will stay fresh for 2-3 days. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Just slice and freeze individual pieces for easy access!
3. Can I use regular sweet potatoes?
While purple sweet potatoes add a vibrant color and unique flavor, regular sweet potatoes will work fine if you can’t find purple ones. However, the color will be different, and you may need to adjust the sweetness depending on the type of sweet potato used.
Leave a Comment or Tag Me!
I hope this recipe brings a little bakery-quality magic to your home cooking. If you try it, tag me on Instagram @Bakewithpaws or leave a comment below if you have any questions regarding this recipe or any other post. I’d love to see your beautiful bakes!
Labels:
Breads (Sourdough) - Soft Loaves,
Hi, tried this purple potatoes recipe, outcome was great, thanks for sharing the recipe. One question is, should this bread still taste a little sour, it.is because use of levain I suppose?
ReplyDeleteHi, sorry for late response. Thank you for trying this recipe and feedback. Yes, the sourness is from the levain (sourdough starter). Mine was very mild and couldn't really taste it.
DeleteCheers :)
hello, your recipe looks so good and i would really like to try it! if i use a 1:1:1 ratio for the levain, does that mean i can use 60g of each to make a total of 180g of levain, then use only 165g for the actual dough? also, is it possible to bake this as a whole loaf (like a normal sourdough shaped in a banneton)? thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi there,
DeleteThank you for asking. Yes, you are right use 60g each to yield 180g of levain and use only 165g. I never tried to shape soft bread dough in a banneton. You can try. I am curious too :)
Cheers :)
Your recipes looks beautiful. Do you have any sourdough doughnut recipe to try? Thank in advance :)
ReplyDeleteHi there,
DeleteSorry for late response. I have not tried sourdough doughnut yet. I will try and share the recipe if successful.
Thank you for your comment and compliment.
Cheers :)
Hi I'm new to sourdough bread, may I know how to make the sourdough starter?
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeletePlease follow the below Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6pGkOuZnrk&t=20s
Cheers :)
Hi I am planning to make this Purple sweet potato Loaf soon and I just have a question after kneading the dough as you wrote to let it rest for 15 mins but in the picture for your 600g. loaf it says there 1 hour bulk fermentation, which do you suggest yield better result? thank you for your input am looking forward in making this loaf.
ReplyDeleteHi, thank you for asking. To be frank, it doesn't make any difference. The 600g loaf pan recipe was shared last year when I was still new in sourdough baking. For the past one year, I have experimented with 15 mins resting and make no difference.
DeleteCheers :)
Hi Yeanley, thank you so much for this wonderful recipe. Tried it yesterday, love it.
ReplyDeleteDo you think it is possible to replace the sweet potato with potatoes?
Hi, thank you for trying this recipe and your kind feedback. Yes, of course you can replace with potato. But, please adjust your liquid according to the hydration of your steamed mashed potatoes. If the potato come out of the steamer very wet, then use less liquid.
DeleteCheers :)
Thank you very much.
DeleteHi, your bread looks amazingly soft and delicious. I am planning to try this recipe, However, I only have a 20x10x10cm loaf pan. Do you think it will work with the 450g recipe?
ReplyDeleteHi, thank you for visiting my blog. In fact, 20X10X10 cm is 450g loaf pan. I am using Chefmade Loaf pan and the measurements are slightly different. However, the capacity is 450g.
DeleteThis recipe is for your pan size.
Cheers :)
Hi, I'm new of Sourdough, do you have a recipe to make the soft bread ? Thanks
ReplyDeleteHi, thank you for visiting my blog. Yes, I have many soft sourdough bread recipes shared in my blog. Please search under CATEGORIES at the side bar or RECIPES at the top bar.
DeleteCheers :)
Cheers:)
Hi! I see that the levain baker's percentage is quite different? would you say the one with higher % of levain will have a lesser chance to have a tangy taste?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Hi,
DeleteThank you for asking. Yes, more levain to get less sourness taste.
But, still have very mild tangy taste.
This sounds weird right? More starter will make the dough rise faster and less time needed for the dough to digest and produce acids. The acids give the sourness taste. In resulting less acids produce and bread become less sour.
Cheers :)
Hi Yeanley,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your recipe...it was very good. I hand kneaded it cos no machine and it still turned out fine. Took 7 hours to rise but the end product was excellent! Thanks again.
Lara
Hi, thanks for trying this recipe and your kind feedback. Please refresh your starter few times before feeding for levain. It takes shorter time to proof if the levain is stronge.
DeleteCheers :)
Hi,
ReplyDeleteIf if i use a 1:1:1 ratio for the levain, do I need to change the amount of flour or water of the main dough?
Thanks
Hi, thanks for asking. 1:3:3: or 1:1:1 is ratio of feeding sourdough starter (levain). It is still end up 100% hydration sourdough starter. No need to change anything for the main dough.
DeleteThank you so much=}
DeleteMy pleasure :)
DeleteHi thanks for the recipe, may i know if i can retard the dough? If yes can you please advice the timing? Thank you ����
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for asking. I usually don't retard in the fridge for my soft sourdough bread because the bread will be sour. You can if you want. 8 - 12 hours should be fine.
DeleteCheers :)
Hello Dear, I tried this recipe recently with good result and the dough was very fun to play with 😀 It was my first trial of using purple sweet potato and wasn’t sure which variety to choose. They have Vietnamese, Japanese and local ones. I finally picked the local organic. After steaming the colour was deep purple. However the end result after baking to my surprise was pale pink and totally different from your picture. Could you please tell me what variety do you use for your bread? Thanks
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for trying this recipe and your feedback. Please use Japanese Purple Sweet Potato. I tried local purple potatoes. The colour turn out not as nice as this one.
DeleteCheers :)
After reading so many good comments of approval here, I am ashamed that mine failed in the sense that after 1.5 hours of first bulk proofing, dough did not rise at all. It is now put in a pan for second proofing, but still look the same after another 1 hour. This is all using natural yeast starter right? No commercial yeast at all? BTW, my yeast starter was strong and has risen 3x and passed the float test too. Thks in advance for any input.
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for trying this recipe. Yours sound right. The first resting of 60 minutes usually no rising. That's why I did not mention to wait until it rise. My second proofing will take 3 hours to 7 hours. Sourdough baking is very unpredictable unlike commercial yeast. Sometimes it takes forever to rise. It is like testing our patience...
DeleteWhen I refresh my yeast everyday, my dough rise very fast. Sometimes take 2.5 to 3 hours.
By the way, I am staying in hot climate. My room temperature at kitchen usually 29C - 30C.
I did not use instant yeast in all my sourdough baking.
Cheers and good luck in your next baking :)
Hi, I try your recipe but the dough was sticky, difficult to handle. How to make it less sticky? Is it the older the starter, the end result of the bread won't be so sour taste?
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for trying this recipe and your feedback. Please cut down the milk if you find your dough is too wet. It could be the flour you used absorb less water or your mashed sweet potato was wet. My dough was soft and sticky at the beginning. But, eventually less sticky once knead till achieve window pane stage.
ReplyDeleteIf I am not wrong, older starter the flavour will increase. I am not sure about yield less sour taste bread.
To yield less sour taste you need to feed your sourdough starter reqularly, throw away the hooch and shorten the rising time by using more levain.
Cheers :)
I have tried your recipe. This is the first time that I learn that one can bake soft sour dough bread. Thank you very much for your recipes.
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for trying this recipe and hope that you like it. I have other soft sourdough bread recipes in my blog. Just search under Categories at the sidebar.
DeleteHappy baking and thanks again.
May I know which bread flour you are using?
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for reading this post. I use Nippon Eagle and also Pan Syokunin.
DeleteCheers :)
Hello. Thank you for your wonderful recipe. I made it and produced a very soft and light brioche. I have 2 questions for you, and I really hope to receive feedback from you.
ReplyDelete1. I noticed that the amount of butter and eggs in this Purple Sweet Potato Soft Sourdough Bread recipe is much lower than in Sourdough Brioche https://www.bakewithpaws.com/2020/09/sourdough-brioche-soft-and-fluffy-crumb.html. Could you please tell me why and how I can increase the amount of butter and eggs in the Purple Sweet Potato Soft Sourdough Bread recipe to match the Sourdough Brioche?
2. In the Sourdough Brioche recipe, if I want to add various types of flour such as pandan flour, cocoa powder, matcha powder, or tea powder, how much should I add for each powder, and do I need to reduce any other ingredients?
Hi there, Thank you very much for trying this recipe and your kind feedback.
DeletePlease see my answer as below:
1. This Purple Sweet Potato Soft Sourdough Bread is not a Brioche Bread hence it uses less percentage of butter and egg. Briohce is a French Bread uses very high egg and butter content gives it a rich and tender crumb.
2. I have not tried adding other flavour in my Brioche Bread. However, you can try about 15g of Cocoa Powder. Sorry, I am not sure about Pandan and Matcha powder.
Cheers and Happy Baking!