Description
This Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan layers a silky, buttery sweet potato mash under a golden, crunchy brown sugar–pecan topping. It’s a make-ahead-friendly holiday side that bakes up fragrant, nostalgic, and crowd-pleasing every time.
Ingredients
For the Sweet Potato Filling
- 4 cups mashed sweet potatoes (about 4–5 medium)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
- 1/3 cup milk (whole or evaporated)
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp fine salt
For the Pecan Topping
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
Optional Add-Ins
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey (in filling or topping)
- Mini marshmallows (for post-bake broil topping)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly butter or spray a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Boil peeled, cubed sweet potatoes in salted water 12–15 minutes until fork-tender. Drain well and mash until smooth.
3. In a large bowl, whisk mashed sweet potatoes with melted butter, brown sugar, milk, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until creamy.
4. Spread the sweet potato mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish and smooth the top.
5. Make the topping: In a small bowl, combine pecans, brown sugar, melted butter, and flour until crumbly.
6. Sprinkle the pecan topping evenly over the sweet potato layer.
7. Bake uncovered 30–35 minutes, until the topping is golden and the edges are lightly bubbling.
8. Cool 5–10 minutes before serving warm. (Optional: scatter mini marshmallows over the top and broil 1–2 minutes until toasted.)
Notes
Make-ahead: Assemble (unbaked), cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours; bake straight from the fridge, adding 5–10 minutes.
Freezer: Bake, cool completely, wrap well, and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw overnight; reheat at 325°F until warmed through.
Crunchier topping: Lightly toast pecans before mixing.
Adjust sweetness: Reduce brown sugar if your sweet potatoes are very sweet, or add 1 tbsp maple syrup for deeper caramel flavor.
Gluten-free: Swap flour in the topping for almond or oat flour.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 70mg