‘Winter staple’: Just 4 ingredients. This never lasts long in our house

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Use a fork to poke several holes all over each sweet potato. This helps the steam escape and keeps them from bursting in the oven.

Place the sweet potatoes on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 45–60 minutes, depending on their size, until they are very tender when you squeeze them gently with an oven mitt or pierce them with a fork.

Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven and let them cool just enough to handle safely, about 5–10 minutes.

Using a sharp knife, carefully slice each sweet potato open lengthwise, but don’t cut all the way through the bottom. Gently press the ends toward each other to open up the centers and fluff the insides with a fork.

Add 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar to the center of each sweet potato. Sprinkle each one with about 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon (or more if your family loves it).

Use a fork to lightly stir the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon into the warm flesh of each sweet potato so it melts and creates a sweet, buttery sauce inside. Serve warm, straight from the baking sheet or transferred to a serving dish.

For little ones or picky eaters, you can cut the baked sweet potatoes into chunks after cooking and toss them gently with the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. This makes them easier to eat with a fork and a bit less messy. If you’re watching sugar, try cutting the brown sugar in half or swapping it for a drizzle of pure maple syrup or a sprinkle of coconut sugar. For a slightly more savory twist, add a tiny pinch of salt to each potato to bring out the sweetness, or skip the brown sugar and cinnamon and top with butter and a dusting of smoked paprika. If your family enjoys a bit of fun at the table, set up a “sweet potato bar” with small bowls of toppings—mini marshmallows, chopped pecans, raisins, or a spoonful of Greek yogurt—so everyone can dress their potato just the way they like it. You can also bake extra sweet potatoes and reheat them for quick breakfasts; just warm them up, mash a bit, and top with a spoonful of peanut butter or almond butter for a cozy, filling start to the day.