Spicy Citrus-Infused Sweet Potatoes

1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Sweet Potatoes

Preheat your oven to a toasty 400°F. While the oven is warming up, take a sharp knife and pierce each of the sweet potatoes several times. Place the pierced sweet potatoes on a sheet pan lined with aluminum foil and roast them for about an hour, or until they are tender when pierced with a fork.

2. Prepare Chipotle Orange Butter

In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, maple syrup, minced chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, and grated orange zest. Add a teaspoon of kosher salt and a half teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Using an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, blend the mixture on medium speed until it is well combined and smooth.

3. Shape and Chill the Butter

Once the butter is mixed, transfer it onto a piece of parchment paper measuring about 12 by 8 inches. Use a rubber spatula to shape it into a log, then roll it up tightly in the parchment paper. Place the log in the refrigerator to chill for at least 15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the butter to firm up.

4. Prepare Roasted Sweet Potatoes

When the sweet potatoes are done roasting, remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly. Carefully cut a slit down the center of each sweet potato and gently squeeze the ends to open them up a bit. Sprinkle each potato with a pinch of salt and a grind of black pepper to enhance their natural sweetness.

5. Add Chipotle Butter and Serve

Finally, take the chilled chipotle butter out of the refrigerator and slice it into 12 pieces. Place two pieces of the butter into the opening of each sweet potato. As the butter melts, it will infuse the sweet potatoes with a delightful blend of spicy, citrusy flavors. Serve the sweet potatoes warm.