Go Back
+ servings
sweet potato casserole is white casserole dish on the table with sauteed greens
Print

Sweet Potato Casserole with Butter Pecan Topping

Sweet Potato Casserole with Butter Pecan Topping is sweet, salty, and has just the right amount of spice. It is the perfect addition to the holiday table.
Course Side Dishes
Cuisine American Classic
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Servings 8 People
Calories 378kcal
Author Diana Reis

Ingredients

  • 3 Sweet Potatoes
  • ¾ Cup Butter
  • ¼ Cup Heavy Cream
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
  • ½ Tsp Nutmeg
  • ½ Tsp Cayenne Pepper optional
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • ½ Cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 Cup Chopped Pecans

Instructions

  • Wash and peel sweet potatoes. Remove all skin and use a paring knife to remove any eyes or bruised flesh. Cube into 1 ½ inch pieces and place in a pot. Make sure the pot is big enough to hold the potato with some extra room. Add cool water to the pot and cover the potatoes completely.
  • Put the pot on the stove and bring to a boil. Boil sweet potatoes for about 20 minutes or until they are fork tender. Fork tender means you can push a fork easily through the center of the potato chunks and break them apart easily.
  • Drain potatoes into a colander and return to the pot. Add ¼ cup of butter to the pot and let the hot sweet potatoes soften it. Save the remaining butter for the pecan topping.
  • In a small bowl beat 1 egg. Add ¼ cup of heavy cream and 1 teaspoon vanilla to the egg and mix together. Add the mixture to the pot. Add salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper to the pot to season.
  • Using a hand mixer or potato masher mash the cooked sweet potatoes. Make sure to smash away all the lumps and stir all the ingredients in evenly. If you are using a hand mixer, be careful not to over mix.
  • Transfer the mashed sweet potatoes to an oven safe casserole dish. Preheat oven to 375°
  • In a microwave safe bowl, melt the remaining ½ Cup of butter. Add ½ cup of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 Cup chopped pecans to the butter and mix together with a fork. Spread the Butter Pecan Topping over the top of the mashed sweet potatoes evenly.
  • Place in a preheated 375° oven for approximately 20 minutes. Serve and enjoy.

Notes

This recipe can be made ahead, and cooked later. Once you have spread the pecan topping over the sweet potatoes simply cover and refrigerate for up to three days. To serve the dish, bring it out of the fridge 1 hour before cooking. Place in a preheated 375° oven for 45 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°. 
Slightly larger pieces of potatoes are ideal for boiling. Really small cubes cook up too quickly and absorb too much water leaving you with a wall paper paste type consistency. 

Nutrition

Calories: 378kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 484mg | Potassium: 257mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 7641IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1mg