How to Substitute Potato Starch for Mashed Potatoes in Baking

Question

I have a delightful cinnamon roll recipe that uses 1/2 cup mashed potato.  I understand that I can substitute potato starch for the mashed potato, but is it a 1:1 substitution or another ratio and would I need to add any additional liquid(s)?  Thank you.

April Dodd · Accepted Answer

Melissa - Yes, for a quicker option, you can start with potato starch instead of prepared mashed potatoes, though you will want to add liquid so that you end up with a moisture content similar to that of mashed potatoes. Part of what makes prepared mashed potatoes such a great addition to something like a cinnamon roll recipe is that there is a good amount of fat in mashed potatoes, and that fat impedes gluten development, resulting in a tender, supple dough. There is also water in mashed potatoes, though, so I'd add water and full-fat milk in equal parts to your potato starch until it is pasty and thick; a little melted butter in the mix will also help to give comparable fat content as "real" mashed potatoes. -April D.

How to Substitute Potato Starch for Mashed Potatoes in Baking

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