By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 2, 2026
Serves 10
189 cal · 55 min
Sweet Potato Pone
Recipe GLPR7b9c772063983f
A traditional Southern-style sweet potato pone made with fresh grated sweet potatoes, molasses, and warm spices. This dense, moist dessert side dish is slowly simmered on the stovetop then baked until golden brown, developing a rich caramelized top. Naturally wholesome and deeply flavored, it's perfect served warm with a touch of butter or enjoyed at room temperature.
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Ingredients
3 cups Sweet potatoes, washed and finely grated
1 cup Molasses or dark cane syrup
2 teaspoons Ground ginger
2 teaspoons Baking powder
1 teaspoon Salt
⅓ cup Vegetable oil
Directions
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).
Wash and peel the sweet potatoes, then grate them finely using a box grater or food processor.
In a 3-quart saucepan, combine the grated sweet potatoes, molasses, ground ginger, baking powder, salt, and vegetable oil. Stir until well blended.
Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly for 10 minutes. The mixture will become thicker as the sweet potato releases moisture and cooks slightly.
Lightly grease a 9-inch round or square baking pan with oil or cooking spray. Pour the sweet potato mixture into the prepared pan.
Bake for 30 minutes total. During the first 20 minutes, stir the mixture every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking. This helps develop a creamy texture throughout.
For the final 10 minutes of baking, stop stirring and allow the top to smooth out and brown slightly, creating a lightly caramelized surface.
Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Cut into squares and serve warm, or allow to cool completely and serve at room temperature. Enjoy plain or with a dollop of whipped cream or butter if desired.
Comments
Sweet potato pone is a legitimate Southern staple and North Carolina grows excellent sweet potatoes year-round at every major chain, making ingredients entirely available without a second trip. The cost per serving is very low—sweet potatoes, molasses, basic baking staples, and oil total maybe $8–10 for the whole batch, or roughly 80 cents to $1 per slice. The 55-minute time is honest if you count peeling and grating the raw sweet potato; don't trust a faster claim. This is a dense, fudgy dessert that reheats beautifully and improves slightly over a day or two, making it ideal for meal prep or a crowd, though it demands an oven and no shortcuts once mixed.
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