SWEET POTATO AND CRANBERRY CORNMEAL BISCUITS

Sweet Potato and Cranberry Cornmeal Biscuits image

Yield makes 12 biscuits

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 sweet potato, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
2 teaspoons salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus 1 tablespoon melted butter for brushing
3 tablespoons maple syrup (see page 69)
1 cup fresh cranberries
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon baking powder

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Grease a baking sheet or muffin tin and set aside.
Put the sweet potato in a small saucepan with the orange juice, 1/2 cup water, and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Bring to a boil, then decrease the heat slightly and boil gently, covered, until very soft, about 10 minutes. Coarsely mash the potatoes and cooking liquid with the 5 tablespoons butter and maple syrup. Stir in the cranberries. Let cool and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Stir in the sweet potatoes. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
To form each biscuit, pack the dough to just below the top of a 1/3-cup measuring cup, then invert and tap out onto the baking sheet. Repeat to make 12 biscuits total. Brush the top of each biscuit with a little melted butter. Bake for 15 minutes, then rotate and continue baking until the tops are golden and firm, about 5 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Serve warm or cold.