Sweet Potato Cookies

1 Cup Sweet Potato (approx. 5"), Mashed

1 1/2 Cup Flour, All-Purpose

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1 1/2 Teaspoons Cinnamon, Ground

1 Cup Light Brown Sugar, Packed

1/2 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract

2 Egg Whites

6 Tablespoons Butter, Unsalted, Softened

1/2 Cup Greek Yogurt, Nonfat, Plain

Honey Glaze

3 Tablespoon Confectioners Sugar

2 Tablespoons Honey, Amber

1 Tablespoon Water

When I bake I tend to lay out the ingredients to be sure everything...and I mean everything...is in front of my eyes. Baking is a science. Though I enjoy going off course and experimenting with how things work, it's a good idea to get in the habit when using more than a handful of ingredients.

Cube one 5" sweet potato and boil on medium-high heat for 15 minutes. Drain water and set aside to cool. Once a comfortable temperature (chef's discretion), peel off the outer skin from the cubes. Mash potatoes until a smooth consistency and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine wet ingredients (vanilla, egg whites, butter, yogurt). In a separate bowl combine all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, brown sugar). Using a whisk, mix the dry ingredients into the larger mixing bowl until smooth in texture. Fold mashed sweet potatoes into mixture with a spatula until evenly mixed.

Drop cookie batter by small spoonfuls (approx. 1") onto a parchment paper lined (or greased) cookie sheet, providing ample space for the cookies to expand as they bake. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes until cookies are golden and inserted toothpick comes out clean.

On their own, the cookies are a soft cake-like semi-sweet concoction that would pair easily with a coffee or tea. When I did just that, I thought: what would some honey do? And thus the glaze came about - a very simple addition to sweeten up the cookies for a standalone eat. In a small bowl, whisk the confectioners sugar, honey, and water together. Quickly drizzle over the cookies and allow to set. Enjoy...but be warned, it is hard to have just one!