Sweet Potato Casserole (Printable Version)

Creamy mashed sweet potatoes with your choice of golden marshmallow or buttery pecan topping for holidays.

# What You Need:

→ Sweet Potato Base

01 - 3.3 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
02 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
03 - 1/3 cup plus 1 tbsp whole milk
04 - 1/3 cup light brown sugar
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
07 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
09 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ Marshmallow Topping

10 - 1 cup mini marshmallows

→ Pecan Streusel Topping

11 - 2/3 cup pecan halves or pieces
12 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar
13 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
14 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Place sweet potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium and cook for 15-20 minutes until fork-tender. Drain thoroughly.
03 - Mash cooked sweet potatoes until completely smooth. Add softened butter, milk, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix until fully combined and creamy.
04 - Spoon the sweet potato mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spread evenly with a spatula and smooth the top surface.
05 - For marshmallow topping, evenly sprinkle mini marshmallows over the sweet potato layer, covering completely.
06 - For pecan streusel, combine pecans, brown sugar, flour, and melted butter in a bowl. Mix with fingers until crumbly and evenly distributed. Sprinkle over sweet potato layer.
07 - Bake for 25-30 minutes until topping is golden brown and casserole is heated through. If using marshmallows, watch closely during final minutes to prevent burning.
08 - Remove from oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes. This allows the casserole to set slightly for easier serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The balance of earthy sweet potatoes and warm spices feels like a hug on a plate
  • That golden bubbly topping makes everyone gravitate toward the serving dish
  • It comes together faster than you would expect for something so impressive
02 -
  • Over mixing the eggs into hot potatoes can scramble them so let the mixture cool slightly first
  • The streusel needs to look like wet sand when you mix it or it will not clump properly
  • Marshmallows can go from perfect to burned in under two minutes so stay nearby
03 -
  • Rinse the drained potatoes with hot water to remove excess starch before mashing
  • A splash of heavy cream instead of some milk makes the base extra luxurious
  • Toast the pecans in a dry pan for 3 minutes before making the streusel
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