Are you ready for more cinnamon?
When I think of flavor flavors, all I think of is cinnamon. And lots of it.
Cinnamon in Fruit Crisp, Granola, and Breakfast Bread:
Most of all, though, I think of cinnamon with warm and tender apples and sweet potatoes.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Apples
~This recipe requires minimal effort. The measurements do not have to be exact. Simply throw in the amount of potatoes and apples you have. Dairy-Free, grain-free, gluten-free, vegan, soy-free, and, of course, sugar-free!
Ingredients
- 5 medium-sized sweet potatoes, chopped with skin on
- 3 medium-sized apples, chopped with skin on (any variety works. I prefer a sweeter apple like gala, but tart apples like granny smith work well, too)
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 Tablespoon coconut oil, or oil of choice
Preheat oven to 400*. Toss the apples, sweet potatoes, and nuts with the oil and cinnamon until evenly coated. Spread evenly on a baking sheet. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until soft and golden brown.
You may serve this hot or cold. It tastes great hot on cold days, but I also love snacking on it when cold. It would be a great side dish for a Thanksgiving dinner, or even a main course for a light dinner or lunch.
Health Benefits:
- Cinnamon: Studies have shown that it can help lower LDL cholesterol, help regulate blood sugar levels, has anti-clotting effect on blood, and it can boost cognitive function and memory.
- Pecans: They help boost your immune system, reduce LDL cholesterol, and protect against Breast Cancer because of the high levels of oleic acid. It contains vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc and fiber, as well as antioxidants.
- Walnuts: Rich in fiber, protein, vitamin B, Omega-3s, magnesium, and antioxidants. Walnuts have also been shown to aid in the lowering LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) and the C-Reactive Protein (CRP). CRP was recently recognized as an independent marker and predictor of heart disease. Walnuts have often been thought of as a “brain food,” not only because of the wrinkled brain-like appearance of their shells, but because of their high concentration of omega-3 fats. Your brain is more than 60% structural fat. For your brain cells to function properly, this structural fat needs to be primarily the omega-3 fats found in walnuts.
- Sweet Potatoes: Click HERE for a post I wrote about the benefits of Sweet Potatoes.
- Apples: “An Apple a day keeps the doctor away!” a flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples may protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. Boron, another ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones. The pectin in apples lowers LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. The pectin in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body which lowers the body’s need for insulin and may help in the management of diabetes.
When baking this, the smell of cinnamon drifted throughout the house. All I wanted to do was curl up in a soft sweater, drink hot cocoa, read a nice book, and devour this dish!
THOUGHT-PROVOKING, MIND-PRODDING QUESTION OF THE DAY:
When you think of Fall, what flavors do you think of?
mmm cinnamon is such a warm flavor, I agree this makes me want to curl up and avoid doing all my homework and class! Bakes apples are such a delicious treat.
Thanks for the awesome recipe! It is all of my favorite flavors combined – and I never thought of it. Thank you!
I have soooo many sweet potatoes from my garden, I’ve been trying to find new things to do with them!! This is super helpful!
Looks awesome, love apples in the fall! I definitely think of apples, nutmeg, cinnamon and pumpkin. I think I love all fall flavors. 🙂
You can never get enough cinnamon in your life! Known fact 🙂
I love how informative your posts are about the health benefits behind foods. Thank you for this!
What a great combo, naturally sweet and oh so satisfying. Comfort food ahoy! I would drizzle the whole thing in tahini… heaven 🙂
Perfect recipe since I’ve been on a sweet potato kick lately…like everyday for dinner. This will be great to mix things up a little!
Fall Flavors for me: pumpkin, cinnamon & apple crisps 🙂
Love the recipe! Thanks for sharing.
Perfect combo! I love apples with sweet taters and cinnamon!
I roast apples with my squash (usually butternut) all the time!!! And add tons of cinnamon! Although last time I added a little pumpkin spice to mix things up! it was gooooood!!!
Yum! Such a great recipe for the Fall! 🙂
those look amazing! never thought of apples and squash together!
Mmm I’ve never thought to combine the two, but I can totally see why this would be delicious! You could even add a couple walnuts in there! Must try this 🙂
Oh wow Alex, I bet your house smelled amazing while this dish was in the oven. I would love this. Like one of my friends said recently, cinnamon is like a food group to me, and mixed with roasted sweet potatoes, apples, nuts, and coconut oil? Yes…PLEASE!
P.S. Photos are so pretty. 🙂
Oh. my. goodness. my kitchen did smell amazing! I’m going to make it again just for the smell (the taste is a wonderful added bonus, too).
Thanks for the compliment! I’ve been working on my pictures lately, and I am so glad you like them!
yum what a great combo of flavors! love fall flavors like cinnamon, ginger, cloves, pumpkin apples…oh so many great things
we have got a little off course with sugar lately, trying to get back on track
That looks SO GOOD! 😀 Alex, you are the BEST!