Sweet Potato Casserole Holiday (Printable)

Creamy mashed sweet potatoes with a golden crisp topping of marshmallows or pecans.

# What You Need:

→ Sweet Potato Base

01 - 3.3 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
02 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
03 - 1/3 cup plus 1 tbsp whole milk
04 - 1/3 cup light brown sugar
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
07 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
09 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ Topping (choose one or combine)

10 - 1 cup mini marshmallows

→ Pecan Streusel

11 - 2/3 cup pecan halves or pieces
12 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar
13 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
14 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish.
02 - Place sweet potatoes in a large pot, cover with water, bring to a boil, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes until tender. Drain thoroughly.
03 - Mash sweet potatoes until smooth. Stir in butter, milk, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until creamy and fully combined.
04 - Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish and smooth the surface.
05 - Evenly sprinkle mini marshmallows over the sweet potato layer if using marshmallows.
06 - Combine pecans, brown sugar, flour, and melted butter in a bowl until crumbly. Sprinkle over sweet potato layer if using pecan topping.
07 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until topping is golden and mixture is heated through. If marshmallows are used, bake uncovered until puffed and golden, monitoring closely during final minutes.
08 - Allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It bridges the gap between comfort food and elegance without any fussy techniques.
  • The casserole sits happily in a warm oven while you finish everything else, then comes out looking like you spent hours on it.
  • Both topping options work beautifully, so you can follow your mood or what's already in your pantry.
02 -
  • Drain your cooked sweet potatoes thoroughly and let them rest briefly before mashing, or you'll end up with a watery base that won't set up properly in the oven.
  • If you're using marshmallows, add them after the casserole has already baked for about 15 minutes; this prevents them from burning while the center heats through.
  • Brown sugar is your friend here—it adds depth and keeps the dish from tasting one-note sweet.
03 -
  • Cube your sweet potatoes uniformly so they finish cooking at exactly the same time and mash into a consistent, creamy texture.
  • Don't be tempted to skip the resting period after baking—it lets the casserole set and makes serving both easier and more elegant.
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