Brown Sugar Sweet Potato Casserole: Easy and Creamy

For me, the holidays aren’t complete without a truly spectacular sweet potato casserole. This dish is the quintessential festive side, it walks the perfect line between a comforting vegetable dish and an indulgent dessert. A great sweet potato casserole should be velvety smooth beneath a crunchy, perfectly caramelized topping. This recipe focuses on maximizing the natural sweetness and flavor of the sweet potatoes before smothering them in butter, brown sugar, and spices. It is, without a doubt, the must-have side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special occasion that calls for a touch of sweet warmth.

Get Ahead of the Game

This sweet potato casserole is one of the most freezer- and refrigerator-friendly dishes on the holiday table. You can save yourself significant stress by prepping ahead.

• Roast the Potatoes: Roast and mash the sweet potatoes. This is the longest step and can be done up to two days in advance.
• Assemble the Filling: Mix the mashed potatoes with the butter, sugars, spices, and eggs. Spread this filling into your prepared baking dish.
• Make the Streusel: Combine all the streusel ingredients (flour, butter, pecans, brown sugar) and store this crumble mixture separately in the refrigerator.

Do not add the topping until the day of baking. The assembled filling can be covered and refrigerated for up to 48 hours.

Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe Card

Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

Recipe by Soukayna

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: SidesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

25

minutes

Cooking time

45

minutes

Calories

410

kcal

This decadent sweet potato casserole features a velvety, spiced filling topped with a crunchy pecan streusel and toasted marshmallows, a holiday must-have.

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Ingredients

• For the Filling:

• 3 pounds sweet potatoes (about 4 large)

• 0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 0.5 cup granulated sugar

• 0.25 cup heavy cream

• 2 large eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 0.25 teaspoon salt

• For the Streusel Topping:

• 0.5 cup all-purpose flour

• 0.5 cup packed brown sugar

• 0.5 cup chopped pecans

• 0.25 cup (0.5 stick) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into cubes

• For Finishing:

• 1.5 cups miniature marshmallows

Directions

• Prep the Potatoes Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Pierce the sweet potatoes several times with a fork. Roast for 45-60 minutes until very tender. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C).
• Make the Filling Let the potatoes cool slightly. Scoop the flesh into a large bowl. Mash until smooth (or use an electric mixer). Add the butter, granulated sugar, heavy cream, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix until creamy. Spread the filling into a prepared 9×13-inch baking dish.
• Make the Streusel In a separate small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and pecans. Cut in the cold butter using your fingers or a pastry blender until coarse crumbs form. Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the sweet potato filling.
• Bake and Finish Bake for 30 minutes at 350°F. Remove the casserole and top with the miniature marshmallows. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes, until the marshmallows are golden and gooey. Serve warm.

Notes

• Testing Doneness: The sweet potato casserole is done when the edges are bubbling and a knife inserted into the center of the filling comes out clean.
• The Sugar Level: If your sweet potatoes are exceptionally sweet, reduce the granulated sugar in the filling to 1/4 cup.
• Serving Temperature: While delicious warm, the casserole’s structure and creamy texture are best experienced when it has cooled for about 15 minutes after baking.

Nutrition Facts

• Fat: 22g
• Sodium: 120mg
• Carbohydrates: 50g
• Protein: 5g

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Why This Sweet Potato Casserole is a Holiday Hero

This sweet potato casserole recipe is superior to others because it uses an overlooked preparation method and features a perfectly balanced topping.

1. Roasting, Not Boiling: The biggest mistake people make is boiling the sweet potatoes. Boiling results in a watery mash. We roast the sweet potatoes whole. Roasting caramelizes the natural sugars, intensifying the sweet flavor and giving the mash a far denser, richer texture.
2. The Double Topping Strategy: We skip the simple marshmallow layer. This recipe features a crunchy pecan streusel topping under a final layer of marshmallows. The streusel adds a crucial salty, brown-sugar crunch that prevents the casserole from becoming overly soft or one-dimensional.
3. Dairy and Spice Balance: We use heavy cream instead of milk for ultimate richness, paired with the warmth of nutmeg, cinnamon, and a tiny pinch of cloves. This spice blend elevates the flavor far beyond simple sugar.

This recipe is inherently vegetarian. To make a gluten-free sweet potato casserole, substitute the all-purpose flour in the streusel with almond flour or a gluten-free flour blend. For a dairy-free version, use unsweetened full-fat coconut milk and vegan butter substitutes. Sweet potatoes are also packed with fiber and Vitamin A, making them a great choice for your holiday table; learn more about the nutritional benefits of sweet potatoes.

Baking Secrets

To make this the best sweet potato casserole your guests have ever tasted, pay attention to these actionable details.

• The Sifting Secret: Sift your powdered sugar before adding it to the mashed potato mixture. This simple step ensures a lump-free, perfectly velvety smooth texture.
• The Marshmallow Timing: Marshmallows burn quickly. For a golden, gooey topping, the marshmallows should only be added for the last 5-7 minutes of baking time. Watch them closely. If they brown too fast, you can cover the dish loosely with foil.
• Cool Before Cutting: For the best, cleanest presentation, let the sweet potato casserole cool for 15-20 minutes after it comes out of the oven. This allows the creamy filling to set slightly before serving.
• Use the Right Potatoes: Always use sweet potatoes (the orange-fleshed variety, often mislabeled as yams in the US) for this recipe. Yams are starchier and less sweet, resulting in a drier dish.

Picking the Best Potatoes

When selecting sweet potatoes for your sweet potato casserole, look for firm, smooth-skinned potatoes that feel heavy for their size. Avoid any potatoes with soft spots or sprouts. Consistency is key, so try to choose potatoes of similar size so they roast evenly.

New Flavor Combos

Bourbon-Maple Glaze Casserole Give your sweet potato casserole a deep, sophisticated warmth by adding 2 tablespoons of high-quality bourbon and substituting all the white sugar with pure maple syrup in the filling. Omit the marshmallows entirely, and top the streusel with a simple glaze made from powdered sugar, milk, and a tiny splash of bourbon after the casserole comes out of the oven. This creates a more adult, complex flavor profile.

Cracker Crumb Savory Casserole If you prefer a side dish that leans more savory, skip all the sugar in the filling (except for the natural sweetness of the potatoes). Blend the sweet potatoes with heavy cream, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Top it with a savory streusel made of crushed Ritz crackers, melted butter, and dried herbs like thyme and rosemary. This earthy version pairs perfectly with roast turkey.

Tropical Coconut Casserole Add a Caribbean twist by swapping the heavy cream for canned full-fat coconut milk and adding a 1/2 teaspoon of cardamom to the filling. Replace the pecans in the streusel with a mix of toasted shredded coconut and chopped macadamia nuts. This vibrant version is fantastic for any spring or summer gathering.

Suggested Internal Link: You must serve this sweet side alongside my recipe for Herb Butter Roasted Deer.

Casserole Troubleshooting

Ready to Feast

This ultimate sweet potato casserole with its velvety filling and crunchy pecan-marshmallow crust is the only recipe you’ll need for your holiday table. It beautifully combines sweetness and spice, creating a dish that is nostalgic and utterly delicious. By taking the time to roast the potatoes, you elevate the entire experience.