Easy Brûléed Japanese Sweet Potato Dessert Recipe

Aug 15, 2022 • Updated Sep 25, 2024

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Make the best Bruleed Sweet Potato dessert for a sweet but healthy treat. This is a two-ingredient recipe that just needs a scoop of vanilla ice cream to complete!

bruleed sweet potato in a small bowl with ice cream

Why You’ll Love This Sweet Potato Dessert

This Japanese sweet potato dessert was inspired by a video I saw on TikTok and I thought it was genius. All it is is a roasted Japanese sweet potato with a burnt sugar topping, served with vanilla ice cream. It’s a vegan recipe that could not be easier!

You get a naturally sweet and cake-like potato with a crunchy and sweet crust and rich, creamy vanilla ice cream to complete the dish. Perfect texture, perfect amount of sweetness, simple ingredients, simple steps, and and delightful, (mostly) nutritious treat. Who knew this root vegetable could be DESSERT?

While these are easy enough for a simple dessert, they turn out beautifully and could make a great addition to a holiday meal in lieu of or alongside traditional pumpkin dessert recipes.

Looking for more sweet potato recipes? Try these Candied Korean Sweet Potatoes for a sweet tooth, and these amazing savory dishes: Shepherd’s Pie with Sweet Potato, Creamy Vegan Sweet Potato Soup, or these Sweet Potato Tortillas!

Ingredient Notes

whole sweet potatoes: If you can find them, grab Japanese sweet potatoes for this recipe. Japanese sweet potatoes have a natural sweetness to them. And when roasted whole, they almost develop a caramel-like flavor. Plus, they have a soft, fluffy cake-like texture.
organic cane sugar
dairy-free vanilla ice cream

Step-by-Step Instructions

adding sugar to a cut roasted sweet potato

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375F and prepare your sweet potato by scrubbing the skin, rinsing off any dirt, and patting it completely dry with a kitchen towel or paper towel.

Step 2

Using a fork, poke holes all over the skin and then place the potato on a lined baking tray. If you’d like, you can wrap the potato in foil but I typically skip this and bake it as is.

Step 3

Bake in the oven for about 1 hour, or until you can feel the inside of the potato is soft to the touch (fork tender). Let cool for 15 minutes before handling then slice in half, lengthwise.

Step 4

Next, pour a few tablespoons of organic cane sugar onto a plate. Place each half of the potato into the sugar, open face down, and make sure the surface is coated in the sugar. Transfer the sugared potato halves onto a heat-safe surface, like a baking tray, and then using a blowtorch, torch until the sugars start to brown and caramelize.

Step 5

Let the potatoes cool completely so the caramel hardens. To serve, enjoy as is, or with a scoop of dairy-free vanilla ice cream.

two slices of sweet potato on a pink plate

Secrets to Success

To roast your sweet potatoes, simply throw them in the oven until they’re soft to the touch and the flesh is easy to scoop. The bigger the potato, the longer cooking time you’ll need.
Alternative to the oven, you can cook your sweet potatoes in the air fryer.
When they’re nice and soft all the way through, let the potatoes cool. Then slice them in half lengthwise and dip the exposed interior into granulated sugar. Finally, to get the bruleed finish, use a blowtorch until the sugar is caramelized.
Feel free to add additional toppings if desired. You could throw a few dark chocolate chips on top of your ice cream, or topped the potato with whipped cream– whatever you like! It’s seriously like eating sweet potato cake.

Serving & Make Ahead Tips

To serve your bruleed sweet potato dessert, add a scoop of vanilla dairy-free ice cream for a match made in heaven. Be sure to crack into the potato and get some ice cream in each bite!

To save time, you can roast the potatoes in advance and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.. But be sure to brulee the sweet potatoes right before you’re ready to enjoy. And if you refrigerate the sweet potatoes, let them come to room temperature before bruleeing.

root vegetable sliced in half on a pink plate

Recipe FAQs

Can I Make Bruleed Sweet Potato without a Blowtorch?

Yes! Instead of blowtorching, you can broil the sugar-coated sweet potato cut side up in the oven until the sugar caramelizes. Or sear the potatoes in a pan with sugar and coconut oil.

Place them cut side down until a crust forms on the potato. The third way to make bruleed sweet potatoes is to make your own caramel sauce. Then drizzle it on top and let that harden.
But one note: Torches are affordable and easy to use so I would recommend investing in one for best results!

You can find affordable blowtorches (priced at roughly $15) on Amazon and they’re a great tool to have in the kitchen! Here is a smaller option and one that attaches directly to butane gas cartridges.

Can I Use a Sugar Substitute?

To get the perfect caramel crust, you can’t use maple syrup, honey, or another liquid sweetener as a substitute for granulated sugar on the sweet potatoes. Please be sure to use plain, granulated sugar. I have tried it with coconut sugar and brown sugar and it burns quickly before really caramelizing. You can experiment but you may end up wasting your potato if you do!

More Vegan Dessert Recipes

If you make this recipe, be sure to let me know what you think with a star rating and comment below! Follow me on Instagram for more delicious recipes!