Sweet potato casserole is one of those Thanksgiving dinner traditions that sometimes gets more attention than the turkey itself. This sinfully delicious sweet potato casserole recipe is filled with fluffy sweet potatoes on the inside and a crunchy pecan topping.
Sweet potato casserole is the perfect side dish for turkey, ham, or any other light meat. This recipe is very adaptable, you can add more vanilla or cinnamon for your own tastes, you can also substitute the light brown sugar for dark brown sugar. The taste will be richer without being sweeter. If you really want to up your sweet potato casserole game, try dark muscovado sugar. Once you go muscovado in your sweet potato casserole, you may never go back to regular brown sugar.
No matter how you make this recipe, either following it exactly or making adjustments for your own flavor preferences, it’s a definite side dish superstar that won’t leave you with leftovers.
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Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
Casserole Ingredients:
4 cups mashed sweet potatoes
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup melted butter
1/3 cup light cream
Topping Ingredients:
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup butter, melted
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Directions:
1. Mix casserole ingredients together, beating well until smooth.
2. Place into greased 2 quart casserole dish.
3. Combine brown sugar and flour for topping, being sure to smooth any lumps.
4. Add pecans and butter to topping mixture. Pour topping evenly over top of sweet potatoes in casserole dish.
5. Bake in preheated 350 degree F oven for 25 to 35 minutes. Serves 8.
Can My Kids Help Me With This Recipe?
Having your kids help you cook is a great thing. Cooking with your kids will give you many lasting memories together, and will help you teach them important life skills. If you're wondering whether you can make this recipe with your kids, the answer is yes! This is a relatively simple recipe to put together, making it perfect for kids.
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Of course, before inviting your kids to help you in the kitchen, you should ensure they understand kitchen safety. Your kids should know to never touch a hot surface. They should know to never point sharp objects at another person. While carrying a sharp object, the point should face the floor and they should not run. In fact, they should not be running in the kitchen at all. They could fall and seriously injure themselves. Keep young children away from hot surfaces and sharp objects.
With this recipe, you can have your kids help you mix together the ingredients. Take turns beating the ingredients until this step is finished. Then, have them help you make the topping! If any of your children are too young to handle a mixer, this is a step they can help you with instead. Don't let small children place anything in the oven. They can watch, but they're too young to safely handle this step.
Your children will appreciate the food they eat more if they have to help prepare it! The younger you start teaching your children how to cook, the better off they'll be. Of course, you should never rely on your children to cook for you. It is your responsibility as a parent to provide for them. Considering that, though, there's absolutely nothing wrong with having them lend you a helping hand.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©VeselovaElena/ via Getty Images.
FAQs
Eggs and cream help stabilize the dish and prevent it from becoming too runny (a common complaint with many sweet potato casserole recipes). Make it as smooth or chunky as you like!
Why put egg in sweet potato casserole? ›
The egg is the all-important binder in a sweet potato casserole: it enriches and stiffens the mixture without making it heavy. Make sure to cool the mash slightly before adding the egg so it doesn't scramble, and to stir well so there are no streaks of cooked egg white in the finished dish.
What's the difference between sweet potato pie and sweet potato casserole? ›
The difference is that sweet potato casserole can either have a toasted marshmallow top or a crunchy brown sugar/nut top and is made with brown sugar in the casserole. Sweet potato pie is made with white sugar, has nothing on top, but can be served with whipped topping.
Why is my sweet potato still hard after baking? ›
If it still feels firm, I'd put it back in the oven for another 15 minutes. Expert tip! Drop your baked sweet potato from about 10 inches above onto a cutting board or the baking pan.
Why is my sweet potato casserole so watery? ›
Why is my sweet potato casserole watery? If you overcook your sweet potatoes, they may begin to absorb too much liquid, making them watery. It's important to cut your potatoes into equal-sized pieces so that they all cook at the same rate. Make sure to remove them from the steamer as soon as they are fork-tender!
How do you make a casserole less runny? ›
Simply whisk equal parts butter and flour together. Then, roll the thick paste into little teaspoon-sized balls. Add one ball to your casserole at a time, waiting about a minute before adding another one, until you get the right thickness.
Can I leave eggs out of sweet potato casserole? ›
Eggs (or not!)
– I've made this sweet potato casserole with and without eggs, both ways are delicious. The eggs act as a binder and gives the casserole a light and fluffy texture. Without eggs, the casserole doesn't have as much structure but it still silky smooth and tastes delicious.
Why do you soak sweet potatoes before baking? ›
The cold water bath helps rinse the starch off the sweet potatoes so they're a bit more crispy. That said, if you do not have the time, you can still get crispy baked sweet potato fries by using high heat and a little drizzle of olive oil.
How do you thicken a sweet potato casserole? ›
Everything you'll need to make this recipe.
Choose orange sweet potatoes for the best flavor and sweetness. Brown sugar adds a depth of flavor with a hint of molasses and helps create a caramel-like sauce. All-purpose flour will help thicken the sauce and give some structure.
How do you know when sweet potato casserole is done? ›
Sprinkle the topping evenly over the sweet potato mixture, then pop it into the oven and let it bake for 40 to 45 minutes. You will know it's done when the topping is lightly browned and the center of your casserole is set and firm.
Jewel. With copper skin and deep-orange flesh that's moist and tender when cooked, the jewel is a go-to potato for traditional baking and casseroles.
When should you not eat sweet potatoes? ›
How to tell if sweet potatoes have gone bad. If your sweet potato is soft in spots, smells rotten, or oozes a mysterious liquid, that potato should be discarded. Another sign that sweet potatoes have taken a turn for the worse is if they start growing stalky purplish sprouts.
What are the black spots on the inside of sweet potatoes? ›
Internal necrosis is a physiological disorder, not caused by a pest or pathogen, where the sweetpotatoes develop black spots and patches on the inside of the root. These black patches are only found in the end of the root closest to where the vine was.
What are the black dots on my sweet potatoes? ›
Sweet potatoes in storage are commonly infected with the bread mold fungus, which causes a watery soft rot of part or all of the tuber. The fungus may be seen as a fluffy, white growth, with black dots supported on threads.
How do you thicken up sweet potato casserole? ›
Choose orange sweet potatoes for the best flavor and sweetness. Brown sugar adds a depth of flavor with a hint of molasses and helps create a caramel-like sauce. All-purpose flour will help thicken the sauce and give some structure.
What do I do if my potato bake is too runny? ›
Try letting the dish rest for 10 minutes or so to let the water get absorbed and let the sauce thicken. Try cooking your recipe longer.
Is sweet potato casserole supposed to be watery? ›
If your sweet potato casserole turned out “watery”, its usually because you forgot to add eggs; you didn't let your casserole have enough time to set up after baking or you used fresh sweet potatoes and didn't boil them long enough before mashing.
Should sweet potato casserole be firm? ›
you should see it firm, but still paste like. Once it bulges and you start to see cracks, it will be overcooked. You don't need anything of those fancy gadgets for casserole! You can grab a potato masher or whisk and mash them up.
