Sweet Potato Bread

1 3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cup sugar 
1 1/2 t cinnamon
1 t nutmeg
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
2 eggs
1 cup mashed sweet potato
1/2 cup cooking oil
1/3 cup water
1 t vanilla sugar


Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt until well mixed.  Separately combine eggs, sweet potato, oil and water.  Mix into dry until just moist.  Spoon into greased and floured 9x5 bread pan and sprinkle with vanilla sugar.  Bake 350 degrees 50-60 minutes, until inserted toothpick comes out clean.  Cool 10 minutes, then depan. 

This was sweet enough to be a dessert bread.  If you are baking sweet potatoes whole, throw an extra one (or two) and mash it up for this.  I used one that was pretty large.  Since I was only making this, I cubed and steamed it.


If you don't have vanilla sugar, you can buy some at spice stores such as penzeys.com or you can make your own.  I buy Penzey's vanilla extract and it comes with a vanilla bean in it.  When it's empty I dry the bean and place it in a pint of sugar.  If you let it sit quietly in your cupboard for a while it will become nice and vanilla-y.  It's good for sprinkling on strawberries too, and is excellent for making your own cinnamon sugar.  Of course you can always use regular sugar.