Sweet potato casserole with brown sugar and pecan topping is a traditional side dish for Thanksgiving dinner. Jam packed with nutrient rich sweet potatoes, and topped with a crumbled pecan streusel crust, this casserole is sure to be a hit this holiday season.
Popular at family gatherings, this sweet potato dish is always a hit with the crowd. This recipe is a family favorite, and gets eaten up pretty quickly.
Follow along to learn how to make sweet potato casserole with brown sugar and pecan topping.
Ingredients
This easy sweet potato recipe can be made with just a few simple ingredients.
Sweet Potato Mixture
- Sweet Potato: 3 cups of mashed sweet potatoes
- Brown Sugar: 1 cup of brown sugar
- Whole Eggs: 2 whole eggs lightly beaten
- Vanilla: 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- Milk: ½ cup of milk
- Butter: ½ cup of melted butter
Topping
- Brown Sugar: ½ cup of brown sugar
- Flour: ⅓ cup of flour
- Butter: ⅓ cup of melted butter
- Pecans: 1 cup of chopped pecans
How To Make Sweet Potato Casserole With Brown Sugar And Pecan Topping
Here is a step by step description of this classic Thanksgiving side dish, and you will find detailed instructions below in the recipe card as well.
1. Boil the fresh sweet potatoes in a large pot until tender, and allow to cool. Remove the skins and mash with a potato masher.
2. Preheat the oven temperature to 350°F.
3. Combine the first 6 ingredients of the casserole in a large bowl, and mix well.
4. Pour the sweet potato mixture into a well greased casserole dish.
5. Next mix the topping ingredients.
6. Sprinkle the topping over the sweet potato mixture, and then spread evenly over the casserole.
7. Bake at 350°F for approximately 30 to 40 minutes, until the crust has turned a golden brown.
8. Remove from the oven and wait until the casserole has cooled slightly before serving.
Recipe Tips And Tricks
- Make sure that the ingredients are well mixed before placing in the baking dish.
- Mix together with a hand mixer, an electric mixer, or a food processor for best results.
- Rather than peeling your sweet potatoes before boiling, consider boiling them with the skins in place.
- Once cooked and cooled, the skins will slip right off, and the sweet potatoes will be ready to mash.
Recipe Variations
Sweet potato casserole is a versatile dish with many recipe variations.
This recipe is a classic version with a pecan streusel. Another traditional version has marshmallow topping, with melted mini marshmallows.
This recipe is wholesome and buttery, with just the right amount of sweetness. There is no white sugar or additional spices added to this recipe.
For a spicier version you can add warm spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, or pumpkin pie spice.
Chopped pecans, cranberries, and even pineapple can also be added to the sweet potato mixture.
Topping variations include addition of oatmeal for extra texture, or skipping the nuts in the pecan crumble for a brown sugar crumble.
You can even substitute the freshly cooked sweet potatoes with canned sweet potatoes, for an even easier dish.
This casserole is adaptable and easy to tailor to many different tastes.
How To Store, Freeze, and Reheat
Store in the fridge, and eat within several days.
The pie can also be frozen after cooking. It should be noted however that sometimes the texture can change slightly after freezing,
To freeze, wrap well in several layers of plastic wrap, and then again in a aluminum foil wrap, and freeze for up to one month. You can also freeze in an airtight container.
Defrost in the refrigerator, and reheat in the oven for about 10-15 minutes at 350°F before serving.
What Goes With Sweet Potato Casserole?
Sweet potato casserole pairs well with a variety of different dishes, and is a versatile choice as a side dish for holiday meals.
This dish goes perfectly with a traditional holiday dinner.
Classic pairings include roasted and grilled meats and poultry, vegetables, stuffing, cranberry sauce, breads, as well as desserts like pumpkin pie.
This casserole also goes well with cassava pie, another traditional holiday dish.
The key to the pairing is to combine the sweet flavor of the casserole with other elements and flavors of the meal which are savoury, fresh, or tangy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Sweet Potato Casserole Be Made Ahead?
Yes sweet potato casserole is a great dish to prepare in advance, and therefore can be made ahead of time.
This makes it convenient to prepare for large family gatherings or holiday meals.
The dish can be made several days in advance without baking, and stored in the fridge until ready to bake.
Leave the topping separate from the main mixture while storing, and add to the top of the casserole just prior to baking.
Why Are There Eggs In Sweet Potato Casserole?
The eggs in sweet potato casserole help to bind it all together.
Make sure that your sweet potatoes are cooled down before you add the eggs, because this can contribute to a change in the casserole texture if the eggs are added when hot.
Is It Better To Boil Or Bake Sweet Potatoes For Pie?
Boiling sweet potatoes in their jackets helps to preserve the nutrients.
Although baked sweet potato is popular, baking sweet potatoes has a higher chance of reducing the nutritional value, as some vitamins are lost with the baking process.
Is Sweet Potato Casserole A Dessert?
Sweet potato casserole can be a side dish, or a dessert, depending on how it is prepared and served.
Traditionally this casserole is often served as a side dish with a special holiday meal like Thanksgiving, as well as Christmas dinner.
However due to it's sweet nature, and similarity to a dessert, especially with the sweetened pecan streusel topping, some people also enjoy this dish as a dessert.
It really comes down to personal preference, and even family tradition.
Can You Leave Sweet Potato Casserole Out Overnight?
Leaving sweet potato casserole out overnight is not recommended for food safety reasons.
It is best to store this casserole in the fridge, due to the egg contents.
According to food safety guidelines, perishable foods, such as sweet potato casserole, should not be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Therefore if you have accidentally left your casserole out overnight, it is best to discard it to avoid any risk.
Conclusion
This is the best sweet potato pie recipe for a quick and easy side dish for the Thanksgiving table, and also for other holiday meals.
The sweet potato flavor is enhanced by the buttery sweet topping, which is filled with crunchy pecans.
This old fashioned sweet potato casserole is easy to make, and tastes so delicious.
The next time you are looking to add a touch of sweetness to your holiday meal, consider this sweet potato casserole with brown sugar and pecan topping.
It is likely to become a favorite recipe for your family for years to come.
Sweet Potato Casserole (With Pecan Topping) Recipe
Jam packed with nutrient rich sweet potatoes, and topped with a crumbled pecan streusel crust, this casserole is sure to be a hit this holiday season.
Ingredients
Sweet Potato Mixture
- 3 cups of mashed sweet potatoes
- 1 cup of brown sugar
- 2 whole eggs lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- ½ cup of milk
- ½ cup of melted butter
Topping
- ½ cup of brown sugar
- ⅓ cup of flour
- ⅓ cup of melted butter
- 1 cup of chopped pecans
Instructions
- Boil the fresh sweet potatoes in a large pot until tender, and allow to cool. Remove the skins and mash with a potato masher.
- Preheat the oven temperature to 350°F.
- Combine the first 6 ingredients of the casserole in a large bowl, and mix well.
- Pour the sweet potato mixture into a well greased casserole dish.
- Next mix the topping ingredients.
- Sprinkle the topping over the sweet potato mixture, and then spread evenly over the casserole.
- Bake at 350°F for approximately 30 to 40 minutes, until the crust has turned a golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and wait until the casserole has cooled slightly before serving.
Notes
Store in the fridge, and eat within several days.
The pie can also be frozen after cooking. It should be noted however that sometimes the texture can change slightly after freezing.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 577Total Fat: 37gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 115mgSodium: 255mgCarbohydrates: 61gFiber: 3gSugar: 47gProtein: 5g
Please note: This nutritional information is an estimation only. Please calculate your exact brands and ingredients for better accuracy
Have you ever made a sweet potato pie with brown sugar and pecan topping? Or perhaps you have made another version of this classic holiday recipe.
Be sure to leave a comment below to share your experience, and please leave a review of this recipe if you have made it and enjoyed it!
Leave a Reply