Description
Southern comfort meets holiday perfection in this sweet potato casserole that blends creamy mashed potatoes with a crunchy pecan topping. Delightful layers of brown sugar and warm spices create a memorable side dish you’ll crave at family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 large sweet potatoes (about 3 lbs or 1.36 kg)
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup (120 ml) whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ tsps vanilla extract
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup (30 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ cup (57 g) unsalted butter, melted
- ¾ cup (85 g) chopped pecans
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Potato Preparation: Boil whole sweet potatoes in salted water until fork-tender, approximately 15-20 minutes, then drain completely and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Potato Processing: Mash sweet potatoes until achieving a smooth, creamy texture using a potato masher or electric mixer, eliminating any significant lumps.
- Oven Preparation: Calibrate oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish by lightly greasing with butter or non-stick spray.
- Mixture Creation: Blend all remaining ingredients into the mashed sweet potatoes, ensuring a uniform, well-integrated mixture with balanced flavors and consistent texture.
- Topping Assembly: Combine streusel ingredients, creating a crumbly mixture that will provide a delectable crisp layer when baked.
- Casserole Construction: Spread the sweet potato mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish, then generously distribute the streusel topping across the entire surface.
- Baking Process: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, allowing the topping to transform into a golden-brown, crisp landscape and the interior to heat thoroughly.
- Resting Stage: Remove from oven and let the casserole rest for 10 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and ensuring a stable serving consistency.
Notes
- Boil Potatoes Perfectly: Salt water generously and maintain a rolling boil to infuse flavor and ensure even, tender cooking of sweet potatoes.
- Mash Strategically: Use an electric mixer for ultra-smooth texture, avoiding lumps while maintaining the potatoes’ natural creaminess and preventing over-mixing.
- Topping Technique: Sprinkle streusel evenly, creating a uniform layer that guarantees consistent crunch and golden-brown coverage across the entire casserole surface.
- Dietary Adaptation: Substitute butter with coconut oil for dairy-free version, use alternative sweeteners like maple syrup for lower sugar content, and consider gluten-free flour options for those with wheat sensitivities.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 335
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg