Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe | My Baking Addiction (2024)

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Bake up some fresh sweet potatoes to make Sweet Potato Casserole with Streusel Topping. The easy brown sugar and pecan streusel is a delicious addition to the traditional marshmallow topping, and one that your friends and family will love!

This post is sponsored by Challenge Butter. Thank you for continuing to support the brands that make My Baking Addiction possible.

I don’t know about where you are, but here in the Midwest, it is finally – FINALLY – feeling like fall.

The weather is cooler and perfect for snuggling under blankets with a cup of coffee. The leaves are changing. Sweaters are being worn.

And my brain is already thinking ahead to Thanksgiving.

I know, I know. We still have to get through Halloween first. Butthen we get to one of the best holidays of the year!

So I am going to say it’s not too early to start planning my Thanksgiving dinner menu. Right? Starting with a classic: Sweet Potato Casserole.

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE WITH TWO TOPPINGS

Growing up, I wasn’t too fond of sweet potatoes, so every holiday dinner I would take a spoonful of my Nana’s sweet potato casserole and systematically remove and eat every single toasted mini marshmallow from my serving – leaving behind a pile of untouched canned sweet potatoes.

In fact, I am pretty certain that’s what 10 out of 12 family members did.

I decided to take the flavors of Nana’s casserole, which was brimming with brown sugar, vanilla and a little cinnamon – but kick it up a notch by using freshly baked sweet potatoes and not one, but two toppings.

First I topped the casserole with a layer of pecan-infused streusel topping for added texture and sweetness. This first topping is made with brown sugar, cinnamon, and my favorite Challenge Salted Butter.

I try to be conscious of the quality of the ingredients I use on a daily basis, but especially on special holidays. I trust Challenge Butter wholeheartedly and have been using their products in my kitchen for years, so of course I reach for them when making holiday side dishes such as Sweet Potato Casserole.

I suppose if you were not a fan of marshmallows on your sweet potatoes, you could stop there with just the streusel.

But me? Inside I’m still the little kid who loves those mini marshmallows.

So after some time in the oven for the streusel to get crisp, I sprinkled on a healthy handful of marshmallows for good measure.

The result was this gorgeous Sweet Potato Casserole with Streusel Topping – sweet potato perfection that will be a welcomed side dish to any holiday spread.

HOW TO COOK SWEET POTATOES FOR CASSEROLE

I loved the way my Nana made a lot of her recipes, but I just couldn’t bring myself to use canned sweet potatoes as the based of my Sweet Potato Casserole with Streusel Topping.

Instead, I decided to use fresh sweet potatoes and bake them off before making the casserole.

To cook the sweet potatoes for casserole, prick washed sweet potatoes all over with a fork and place them on a foiled-lined baking sheet. Bake the potatoes for 75-90 minutes or until they are nice and soft and cooked through.

Once they’re cooked, let the sweet potatoes cool slightly before using them to make the casserole.

Yes, 75-90 minutes is a while to wait while the potatoes bake, but I like to use that time to clean the house or prep other dishes such as scalloped potatoes, feta cheese ball or sweet and salty cheesecake.

You can also bake the potatoes a day or two before you plan to make your Sweet Potato Casserole.

CAN YOU MAKE SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE AHEAD OF TIME?

The biggest question I get for holiday recipes is whether they can be made ahead of time. No one really wants to do 100% of their holiday dinner prep the day-of.

Luckily, you can absolutely make this Sweet Potato Casserole with Streusel Topping ahead of time. Simply prepare the sweet potato portion of the casserole, spread it into the prepared casserole dish, cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.

In a separate bowl, mix together the streusel topping, cover and refrigerate.

When you’re ready to bake the casserole, sprinkle the topping onto the casserole and bake as directed, finishing with the mini marshmallows.

If you’re using a glass casserole dish, I recommend letting the casserole come to room temperature before placing it in the oven.

Enjoy this Sweet Potato Casserole with Streusel Topping this holiday season. I know you’ll love the sweet, pecan- and marshmallow-filled topping with the creamy sweet potatoes.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Streusel Topping

4.44 from 73 votes

Equipment

Staub Ceramic 13"x9" Rectangular Baking Dish

Ingredients

▢ 3 ½ pounds fresh sweet potatoes about 5 medium
▢ ½ cup granulated sugar
▢ 1 egg beaten
▢ ¼ teaspoon salt
▢ ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
▢ 4 tablespoons salted butter softened
▢ ½ cup milk
▢ ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

FOR THE TOPPING:

▢ ½ cup packed light brown sugar
▢ ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
▢ ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
▢ 3 tablespoons salted butter softened
▢ ½ cup chopped pecans
▢ 2 cups mini marshmallows optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Wash the sweet potatoes, prick them with a fork and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Bake potatoes in preheated oven for 75-90 minutes or until they are cooked through and soft. Allow potatoes to cool slightly until they are comfortable to touch.
Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F. Butter an 11x7 inch casserole dish and set it aside.
Once the sweet potatoes are cool enough to handle, scoop the insides into a large mixing bowl and discard skins. If you want the sweet potatoes to be ultra-smooth, you can push them through a potato ricer at this point.
Add sugar, egg, salt, cinnamon, butter, milk, and vanilla to the sweet potatoes. Use an electric mixer and combine until the mixture is thoroughly incorporated and smooth.
Scoop the mixture into the prepared casserole dish and smooth the top into an even layer.
In medium bowl, mix the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in the butter until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. Stir in the pecans. Sprinkle the mixture over the sweet potatoes.
Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until the topping is lightly browned.
Remove pan from oven, top with mini marshmallows and return to oven for an additional 10 minutes, or until the marshmallows are melty and golden brown.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 483kcal, Carbohydrates: 82g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 49mg, Sodium: 288mg, Potassium: 756mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 42g, Vitamin A: 28519IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 104mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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FAQs

Do sweet potatoes lose nutrients when baked? ›

When you bake sweet potatoes, the peel's nutrition value decreases. Also, approximately two-thirds of the antioxidants are lost but microwaving or boiling is gentler. The remainder of the sweet potato is the same way. Baking can also reduce vitamin A levels by 80%, twice as much as boiling.

Why add eggs to sweet potato casserole? ›

A really good sweet potato casserole filling should be light and moist, not dense. If it's dense, then you may not have added an often overlooked ingredient—an egg. An egg adds lift, structure and volume and makes the filling more custard-like.

Learn More ›

Is sweet potato healthier boiled or baked? ›

Boiling sweet potatoes retains more beta-carotene and makes the nutrient more absorbable than other cooking methods such as baking or frying. Up to 92% of the nutrient can be retained by limiting the cook time, such as boiling in a pot with a tightly covered lid for 20 minutes.

Discover More Details ›

Are sweet potatoes better baked or fried? ›

Boiling may theoretically be best, but sweet potatoes are so incredibly healthy that the actual best way to prepare them is whichever way will get you to eat the most of them! The exception is deep frying, which can lead to the formation of acrylamide, a potential human carcinogen.

Should you eat the skin of sweet potatoes? ›

The Bottom Line

You can eat sweet potato skin. It's a good source of fiber, a nutrient that may help lower the risk of heart disease and keep you feeling full for longer periods of time. The next time you make a sweet potato dish, whether it's a roasted side dish or a hearty, cozy casserole, leave the peel on.

Are yams and sweet potatoes the same? ›

No, yams and sweet potatoes are not the same. Yams have rough, dark brown skin that is often compared to tree bark, and their flesh is dry and starchy like a regular potato. Sweet potatoes have smooth reddish skin, softer flesh (when cooked), and a sweet flavor.

Know More ›

What is the most nutritious way to cook sweet potatoes? ›

Baking can cause an 80% drop in vitamin A levels—twice as much as boiling. So, “from a nutritional standpoint, boiling rather than baking can be recommended for sweet potato cooking.”

Find Out More ›

Why is boiling not good for sweet potatoes? ›

Bake, don't boil

Baking sweet potatoes caramelizes their natural sugars, especially when done whole. It intensifies their flavor and creates a richer taste compared to boiling, which can result in a watered-down, bland flavor.

Is it healthier to bake or microwave a sweet potato? ›

It's really the best way. Microwaving sweet potatoes cuts down cook time by 45 to 55 minutes, and, according to a 2018 study, helps maintain the potato's nutritional value. All cooking methods cause foods to lose some of their nutrients, but the quicker your potato cooks, the more nutrients it will retain.

Read The Full Story ›

Do baking potatoes remove nutrients? ›

MYTH #2. MOST COOKING METHODS DESTROY THE NUTRIENTS IN POTATOES. While boiling potatoes does cause a small loss of water-soluble nutrients like vitamin C and vitamin B6, the white potato retains most, if not all, of its potassium and dietary fiber regardless of cooking method, such as baking, boiling, or frying.

Are oven baked sweet potatoes good for you? ›

Baked sweet potatoes are packed with vitamins A, C, and B6. They also contain minerals including potassium, calcium, and magnesium while providing 142 calories, 32 grams of carbohydrate and 5 grams of heart-healthy fiber.

Is it better to steam or bake sweet potatoes? ›

Steaming sweet potatoes preserves more of their nutrients and is a faster alternative than baking.

Read On ›