Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole

This take on a classic Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole recipe has the right amount of sweetness and irresistible buttery flavor, not to mention a good balance of creamy and crunchy. Crushed cornflakes make the topping extra crisp, but you can skip them if you want. The two cups of mini marshmallows called for may not cover your entire casserole, allowing a little of that sweet potato filling to peek out, but feel free to use more marshmallows to cover it all the way (and look for gelatin-free ones to keep this dish strictly vegetarian). With all its flavors and textures combined, this quintessential holiday dish will have everyone coming back for more.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter

    at room temperature, plus more for greasing the pan, 1 stick

  • 6 large sweet potatoes

    scrubbed, about 4 pounds

  • 2 large eggs

    at room temperature

  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk

    14-ounce

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup finely chopped pecans
  • 1 cup lightly crushed cornflakes

    optional

  • 1/2 packed cup light or dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter

    melted, 1/2 stick

  • 2 cups mini marshmallows
    plus more to taste

Directions

  1. 1

    Prepare the filling: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with butter and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

  2. 2

    Poke the sweet potatoes all over with a fork and place on the baking sheet. Bake until soft, about 1 hour; let cool.

  3. 3

    When sweet potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel them using a knife, then add the flesh to a large bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment) and mash with a potato masher or fork.

  4. 4

    Add the 1/2 cup butter, eggs, condensed milk, granulated sugar, vanilla and salt to the bowl. Combine well with a hand mixer or a stand mixer on medium speed. Add the mixture to the prepared baking dish and, using a spatula, smooth out the top.

  5. 5

    Prepare the topping: In a medium bowl, stir together the pecans, cornflakes (if using), brown sugar, flour and butter until thoroughly combined. Spoon the topping evenly over the sweet potatoes.

  6. 6

    Bake the casserole until slightly browned, about 35 minutes. Remove the casserole from the oven and add the marshmallows in an even layer. Return to the oven and bake until marshmallows are toasty and melted, about 5 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole

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About this Recipe

Craving that quintessential holiday dish that brings everyone to the table? This sweet potato casserole delivers on all fronts, combining rich, creamy sweetness with an irresistible crunchy topping that will have guests asking for seconds.

What sets this classic recipe apart is its perfect balance of textures and flavors. You get a delightful creaminess from the sweet potato filling, enhanced by sweetened condensed milk, granulated sugar, and a generous amount of unsalted butter. This luscious base is beautifully complemented by a unique topping featuring finely chopped pecans and optional crushed cornflakes, providing a satisfying crispness that elevates every bite.

Prepare for a truly indulgent experience that hits all the right notes. Each spoonful of this sweet potato casserole offers a velvety, buttery sweet potato base, enriched with sweetened condensed milk, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract, creating a rich and creamy texture that melts in your mouth. This luscious filling is contrasted beautifully by the toasted pecans and crisp, optional cornflakes in the streusel-like topping. As it bakes, the mini marshmallows transform into a wonderfully gooey, golden layer, adding another dimension of sugary sweetness and soft, toasted texture. It's a dish designed to be a centerpiece, bursting with comforting flavors and a delightful interplay of textures that elevate any holiday meal. If you opt for gelatin-free marshmallows, this indulgent classic can also be enjoyed as a vegetarian delight.

This recipe is wonderfully adaptable to your preferences. The lightly crushed cornflakes in the topping are entirely optional, so feel free to omit them if you prefer a simpler pecan-based topping. While two cups of mini marshmallows are called for, you can certainly add more to create a completely blanketed, golden-brown marshmallow crust over the entire casserole. For a strictly vegetarian version, simply ensure you choose gelatin-free mini marshmallows.

This sweet potato casserole is the epitome of a holiday classic. It's the perfect sweet side dish or dessert-like offering for your Thanksgiving feast or any festive gathering, guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser that everyone will request year after year.

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