Chipotle-Orange Glazed Sweet Potatoes

1. Preheat the Oven

Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F. This ensures it's hot enough to roast the sweet potatoes properly.

2. Prepare the Sheet Pan

Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil. This makes for an easier cleanup and prevents the sweet potatoes from sticking.

3. Pierce the Sweet Potatoes

Using a sharp knife, pierce each sweet potato a few times. This step is essential to prevent the potatoes from bursting in the oven as they roast.

4. Roast the Sweet Potatoes

Place the pierced sweet potatoes on the prepared sheet pan. Roast them in the oven for about 1 hour, or until they are very tender when pierced with a knife.

5. Make the Chipotle-Orange Butter

While the sweet potatoes are roasting, combine the room temperature butter, maple syrup, minced chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, and grated orange zest in a mixing bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and 0.5 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Use an electric mixer with a paddle attachment to beat these ingredients together on medium speed until well combined.

6. Form and Chill the Butter Log

Transfer the chipotle butter mixture onto a piece of parchment paper measuring about 12 × 8 inches. Use a rubber spatula to help form the butter into a log shape. Roll the parchment paper up and away from you, encasing the butter in a tight log. Place the log in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes to firm up.

7. Finish the Sweet Potatoes

Once the sweet potatoes are fully roasted and tender, remove them from the oven. Cut a slit down the center of each one and gently squeeze them to open up. Sprinkle each sweet potato with a bit of salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance the flavor.

8. Add the Chipotle Butter

Retrieve the chilled chipotle butter log from the refrigerator and slice it into 12 pieces. Place two pieces of this flavorful butter into the slit of each sweet potato, allowing it to melt over the hot flesh. Serve the sweet potatoes while they are still hot, ensuring the butter melts thoroughly and infuses them with its rich, spicy-sweet flavor.