Sweet Potato Soup

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This sweet potato soup is silky-smooth and slightly sweet with a touch of fall spices. The addition of celery, onion and carrots make this sweet potato soup recipe flavorful and delicious. Plus, it’s easy to make in one pot with an immersion blender or with a standard blender.

a bowl of Sweet Potato Soup garnished with rosemary, cream and seeds.

Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite foods, so I cook with them all the time (see: sweet potato tacos, sweet potato casserole, roasted sweet potatoes, etc.). This sweet potato soup is one of my favorite cozy fall creations.

It’s made in one pot (no roasting required) which I means it’s quick and easy. Celery, onion and carrots give this sweet potato soup a beautiful depth of flavor, and it’s silky-smooth and perfectly sweet with a touch of fall spices. 

Watch our video and check out the step-by-step photos to learn how to make sweet potato soup either with an immersion blender or in a high-powered blender.

a spoon taking a scoop out of a bowl of Sweet Potato Soup garnished with rosemary, cream and pepitas.

Sweet Potato Soup Recipe: Ingredients and Substitutions

I cannot stress how absolutely perfect this recipe is. So I recommend keeping substitutions to a minimum (if you have to make any at all). However, as always, we will talk about possible substitutions 

overhead photo of the labeled  ingredients in this Sweet Potato Soup recipe
  • Salted butter. Unsalted butter works well too.
  • Onion. I prefer a sweet onion, but any variety of yellow or white onions work well. (I don’t suggest using red for the way it will change the color of the soup).
  • Carrot. I’d stay away from baby carrots here. I prefer large, organic, sweet carrots for the best flavor. 
  • Celery. This is a must, no substitutes here. 
  • Sweet potato. I suggest organic sweet potatoes or yams. You can also use purple sweet potatoes to make a purple soup!
  • Maple Syrup. Again, I don’t recommend subbing anything for the pure maple syrup – as the maple flavor is important.
  • Light brown sugar. Dark brown sugar can be used in place of light for a richer molasses taste. 
  • Heavy Cream. Half and half can be used in place of heavy cream, but I don’t recommend making any other substitutions. 
  • Apple Cider Vinegar. White vinegar can be used in place of apple cider vinegar if you don’t have any on hand. 
a bowl of Sweet Potato Soup garnished with rosemary, cream and seeds.

How to Make Sweet Potato Soup

In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, melt the butter. Then add onions, celery, and carrots and cook over medium-high heat until the onions become translucent (about 5 minutes).

Then, add the sweet potato, cinnamon, nutmeg, sea salt black pepper, and brown sugar and stir until spices are evenly distributed.

two photos showing How to Make Sweet Potato Soup - cooking the vegetables

Next, add the water and stir until combined. Then cover to pot and bring the mixture to a boil.

Once the mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat slightly and continue boiling for 15-20 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are soft.

two photos showing How to Make Sweet Potato Soup - boiling the ingredients in water

Once sweet potatoes are soft, transfer the contents of the pot to a high-powered blender, or use an immersion blender, and blend for 60 seconds or until completely smooth.

two photos showing How to Make Sweet Potato Soup - blending the sweet potato mixture

Pour the smooth mixture back into the large stockpot. Then, add the heavy cream and apple cider vinegar and whisk or stir until smooth.

Taste and adjust salt/pepper as desired.

two photos showing How to Make Sweet Potato Soup - stirring in the heavy cream

Serve

Serve warm with a drizzle of heavy cream and a sprinkle of fresh herbs.

We love dipping homemade bread into this sweet potato soup. Some of our favorites are homemade french bread, no knead bread, homemade biscuits (or cheese biscuits) and homemade dinner rolls.

Or, have a “soup night” and make some of these soup recipes as well: potato soup (seriously the best), chicken noodle soup, butternut squash soup, and homemade tomato soup!

two bowls of Sweet Potato Soup garnished with rosemary, cream and seeds.

Store

Store this sweet potato soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. 

Freeze

I recommend freezing this soup in individual portions for easy reheating. These silicon cubes are a great way to freeze soup in 1-cup portions. You can also use small glass storage containers.

Reheat

Remove the sweet potato soup from the freezer and let it thaw slightly. Then transfer to a pot on the stove or a microwave-safe container to reheat until warmed through.

a spoon taking a bite out of a bowl of Sweet Potato Soup garnished with rosemary, cream and seeds.

Sweet Potato Soup Recipe FAQs

Do you have to roast sweet potato for soup?

You can roast the sweet potato if you’d like, but in this recipe it’s sautéed with butter for a delicious flavor and a quicker process with less dishes.

What flavors go with sweet potatoes?

So many! Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, sage, thyme, and rosemary are all wonderful.

What is good with sweet potato soup?

I like serving this soup with the following recipes:
Homemade bread like this French bread and no knead bread.
Top it with homemade croutons, or these cornbread croutons! 
These cinnamon sugar pecans are a delicious garnish as well.

What is a good garnish for sweet potato soup?

Fresh herbs (sage, rosemary, thyme), croutons, nuts/candied nuts, a drizzle of heavy cream, freshly cracked pepper, a dash of nutmeg, etc.

How can I thicken my sweet potato soup?

This recipe is thick on its own, however you can cook it uncovered to cook off the water in the recipe. Or simply use less water if you find your soup too thin.

a bowl of Sweet Potato Soup garnished with rosemary, cream and seeds.

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Sweet Potato Soup Recipe

Laura
This sweet potato soup is silky-smooth and slightly sweet with a touch of fall spices. The addition of celery, onion and carrots make this sweet potato soup recipe flavorful and delicious. Plus, it’s easy to make in one pot with either an immersion blender or standard blender.
5 from 6 votes
Course Appetizer, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 2 Liters (8 Cups) Soup
Calories 137
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes

Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, melt butter. Then add onions, celery, and carrots and cook over medium-high heat until the onions become translucent (about 5 minutes).
  • Add the sweet potato, cinnamon, nutmeg, sea salt black pepper, and brown sugar and stir until spices are evenly distributed.
  • Add water and stir until combined. Cover and bring mixture to a boil.
  • Once the mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat slightly and continue boiling for 15-20 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are soft.
  • Once sweet potatoes are soft, transfer the contents of the pot to a high-powered blender, or use an immersion blender, and blend for 60 seconds or until completely smooth.
  • Pour the smooth mixture back into the large stockpot.
  • Add heavy cream and apple cider vinegar and whisk or stir until smooth.
  • Taste and adjust salt/pepper as desired.
  • Serve warm.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitutions
  • Salted butter. Unsalted butter works well too.
  • Onion. I prefer a sweet onion, but any variety of yellow or white onions work well. (I don’t suggest using red for the way it will change the color of the soup).
  • Carrot. I’d stay away from baby carrots here. I prefer large, organic, sweet carrots for the best flavor. 
  • Celery. This is a must, no substitutes here. 
  • Sweet potato. I suggest organic sweet potatoes or yams. You can also use purple sweet potatoes to make a purple soup!
  • Maple Syrup. Again, I don’t recommend subbing anything for the pure maple syrup – as the maple flavor is important.
  • Light brown sugar. Dark brown sugar can be used in place of light for a richer molasses taste. 
  • Heavy Cream. Half and half can be used in place of heavy cream, but I don’t recommend making any other substitutions. 
  • Apple Cider Vinegar. White vinegar can be used in place of apple cider vinegar if you don’t have any on hand. 
Store
Store this sweet potato soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. 
Freeze
I recommend freezing this soup in individual portions for easy reheating. These silicon cubes are a great way to freeze soup in 1-cup portions. You can also use small glass storage containers.
Reheat
Remove the sweet potato soup from the freezer and let it thaw slightly. Then transfer to a pot on the stove or a microwave-safe container to reheat until warmed through.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 280mg | Potassium: 181mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 5695IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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5 from 6 votes (1 rating without comment)

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8 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    When should we actually add the maple syrup???? I have added it at the same time as the seasonings and then with the cream many times before. I love the soup as mentioned before. I doubled it this time…if adding with seasonings would change the taste, please tell me how to fix it. Again I usually add with heavy cream…this time tried something different.

  2. 5 stars
    Absolutely wonderful soup!!!! My husband and I love the soup and will definitely put it in our rotation. It’s so very good. Words just can’t justify how good this soup really is!!!!!! I would give it 100 stars!!!!

    Thank you so much for sharing this recipe😀

  3. 5 stars
    Thank you for the recipe! This soup is very good and super sweet! Too sweet for my taste honestly. I am going to pour it into popsicle molds for my kids. I will make it again but maybe only use a teaspoon of brown sugar. The brown sugar definitely adds good flavor but it is just too sweet for dinner for me.

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed it – even if it was sweet. It is definitely a sweeter soup, and you absolutely can adjust the sweetness to your liking!

  4. 5 stars
    This soup will never make it to the freezer – it’ll be gone way before we get to thinking about freezing it! Followed recipe to the letter and will soooo make this again but will cut back on the maple syrup which I presume we add the same time we add the cream and apple cider vinegar. 1/4 cup is a little to sweet for us but it is one delicious soup! Thank you ☺️