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Just In Time For the Holidays – Sweet Potato Casserole, and Not A Marshmallow In Sight

November 23, 2010 · 85 comments

in Home & Garden, Recipes

Thanksgiving is almost upon us, and I cannot believe how quickly fall is passing by.

For the holidays, I quite often like to try a new dish to mix things up a bit.  A few years ago, I decided to try a Sweet Potato Casserole, even though I am not a fan of sweet potatoes.

I tried the casserole with hesitation.  Almost every sweet potato casserole recipe I had seen in the past called for marshmallows, which I am not a fan of on my vegetables.  So after scouring the internet, I came across a recipe I thought sounded tasty, and made some modifications to my taste.

So, if you want to try a new casserole this holiday season, give this Sweet Potato Casserole a chance.  You will be shocked at how much it tastes like pumpkin pie.

Sweet Potato Casserole:

4  cups cooked/mashed sweet potatoes.  (About 6 average sized sweet potatoes or 5 med-large potatoes.  Measurement is AFTER mashing. Can substitute canned if you like.)

1/2 cup white sugar (some may prefer brown sugar)

1/2 cup butter (one stick)

1/3 cup evaporated milk

2 eggs beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

For the topping:

1/3 cup butter

1 cup chopped pecans

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar  (Can increase to one cup if you want an extra-sweet topping)

1/2 cup all purpose flour

Mix together sweet potatoes, sugar, butter, milk, eggs, vanilla and spices/salt.   Spread into a greased 9×13 greased pan/pyrex.

Mix together the topping ingredients and spoon on top of sweet potato mixture.  (You can melt the butter for the topping if you like, but if you cut it into the other ingredients instead, it will spread much easier.)  The topping will NOT cover every square inch of the sweet potatoes)

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.   Also can be prepared the night before and baked before dinner is served.

If you do bake this, let me know how it turns out.  (Unless you hate it.  🙂 )

Also, if anyone has a great butternut squash recipe, let me know.  My daughter loves squash and she used to order it at Bill Knapp’s (restaurant) all the time.  Then Bill Knapp’s went out of business and I have not been able to replicate their squash recipe.

Have a great Thanksgiving.

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{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }

beth November 23, 2010 at 6:34 am

I bought the cubed butternut squash from Costco and it had a recipe inside. You roasted the butternut squash with one Apple cubed and pour melted butter (3 tbsp I think) mixed with brown sugar and pecans. Sorry I don’t have the exact details, but if I find the recipe I will post the details.

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Kris November 23, 2010 at 2:12 pm

Beth – so the squash you bought was raw and cubed? You dumped the little cubes in a dish with a cubed apple and some butter and such?

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Money Reasons November 23, 2010 at 6:40 am

Sounds delicious!

Now if I could just convince my wife to try and make it 🙂

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Kris November 23, 2010 at 2:11 pm

MR – do your hands not work? Are you unable to mash a potato? I do think you could do this my friend!!! 🙂

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Crystal @ BFS November 23, 2010 at 2:31 pm

Amen sister! MR, if I hear you make one more remark about talking your wife into cooking one of our very easy recipes, I will mail you a stink bomb. 🙂 Try it out, you may like it!

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Kris November 23, 2010 at 2:58 pm

Thanks you BFS! Take that MR! 🙂

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Kay Lynn @ Bucksome Boomer November 24, 2010 at 10:31 pm

Money Reasons isn’t going to come back with the “girls” ganging up on him! 🙂

Kris, I don’t like to mix up the holiday menu; I just want the same old, same old dishes or it doesn’t seem right. However, your recipe sounds delish!

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Kris November 24, 2010 at 11:47 pm

I have to mix it up every once in awhile. But then I don’t usually eliminate anything and I just end up with more food!

Happy Thanksgiving Kay Lynn!

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101 Centavos November 23, 2010 at 8:10 am

My turn to get hungry. I have the same issues as MoneyReasons. My wife is not a big fan of sweet potato pie, so if I want some on the table, it’ll be me at kitchen duties.

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Kris November 23, 2010 at 2:10 pm

Andrew – then I think you better get cooking! 🙂

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Nicole November 23, 2010 at 8:22 am

That’s the kind we make. Cooking Light, I believe. I always add more pecans. 🙂

We’ve also made a similar full-fat version from my “the Old Fashioned Cookbook” (sadly out of print).

They are both delish.

With butternut squash, we score it and cover the top part in butter and put butter in the cavity. Then we sprinkle with cinnamon and done. The restaurant probably also added brown sugar like beth is suggesting. For a nice variation you can add a tiny bit of cayenne.

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Kris November 23, 2010 at 2:10 pm

Nicole – do you cut the squash in half first? I am having trouble visualizing. Probably cause of my cold…

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Nicole November 25, 2010 at 6:47 pm

Yes! Cut squash in half! Only score the inside part. Bake on its back with the cut part face up.

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The Biz of Life November 23, 2010 at 8:41 am

I’m not much of a fan of sweet potatoes, but looking forward to the Thanksgiving feast.

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Kris November 23, 2010 at 2:09 pm

Biz – I am not a fan of sweet potatoes either. I don’t even know why I ever started making this recipe since I dislike them so much. I do love the casserole though.

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Invest It Wisely November 23, 2010 at 1:11 pm

I hope that you have a great Thanksgiving, Kris!

I personally enjoy sweet potatoes best when wrapped in foil and cooked in a campfire, especially if the night is a little chilly. Good stuff…

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Kris November 23, 2010 at 2:09 pm

Kevin – You already had your Thanksgiving, didn’t you?

I hate sweet potatoes, but I love sweet potato casserole. My healthy brother eats a sweet potato everyday. I am sure he will live longer than me!

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Saving Money Today November 23, 2010 at 2:18 pm

Sounds delicious! My sister makes sweet potato casserole but she’s lazy and uses the canned sweet potatoes.

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Kris November 23, 2010 at 2:57 pm

Mike- using canned sweet potatoes is heresy!!! I think you need to make your own casserole and show her up!

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Aloysa November 23, 2010 at 11:00 pm

I am off tomorrow and I am going to try it. Two years ago a friend of mine brought a sweet potatoe casserole for Xmas. I loved it then and couldn’t forget it since. I will let you know how it turns out!

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Kris November 24, 2010 at 8:01 pm

Aloysa – I hope it works out for you. I have made this casserole many times and you don’t have to be exact on the ingredients. Mess around with it until it hits the spot for your palate!

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First Gen American November 24, 2010 at 5:28 am

I’m going to try this with butternut squash. We candy our sweet potatoes. Marshmallows don’t belong on the thanksgiving table unless they are disguised in fudge.

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Kris November 24, 2010 at 7:59 pm

Sandy – I have read some people do try it with butternut squash too. Let me know how it goes.

Marshmallows creep me out except on a stick over a fire. But I know some people love those marshmallow covered casseroles. Just not me.

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Christy July 7, 2012 at 10:25 am

I lost my sweet potato recipe but was looking for something I could use canned sweet potatoes. I know fresh sweet potatoes are the best but needed something for convenience. I made this recipe to take to a dear friend’s family after she passed away. Everyone loved it and can’t believe I used canned sweet potatoes. Thanks for the recipe.

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Kris July 9, 2012 at 9:04 pm

Christy, I am so glad this recipe worked for you and that you shared this with me. Thank you!

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