Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecan Topping Recipe

Maria is a master of public health and a master gardener. She and her husband, known as The Gardener & The Cook, live in coastal Alabama.

Sweet potatoes are a Southern staple. They’re popular year-round but are especially popular and plentiful in autumn when they are in season locally. We enjoy sweet potato fries and baked sweet potatoes, but sweet potato casserole is a real treat. In fact, it is almost like dessert.

Old Family Recipe

This is a recipe that has been in my family for decades. I have tweaked it a bit to reduce the fat and sugar content. My mom included shredded pineapple, but I don’t.

We have it every Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is one of the first things to disappear, while there are plenty of other leftovers for days afterward.

This Recipe Makes Enough for a Crowd, But It Can Be Halved

This recipe is for a crowd, but it can be halved for fewer people, or even quartered for two to six people.

Whenever I make it for just the two of us, I halve or quarter the ingredients, then bake it in two or three small casserole dishes. We can have one for dinner, and freeze the others for another time.

"This recipe can be made a day or two ahead and refrigerated. It will take longer to cook if it’s still cold when it goes into the oven."

— Maria

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Step 1: Make the Potato Mixture

Ingredients

• 6 large boiled sweet potatoes
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened (we use vegan butter)
• 1/4 cup skim milk (we use almond milk)
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• nutmeg to taste
• 3 eggs, beaten (or egg substitute)

Instructions

1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into small pieces, then boil until soft.
2. Combine the cooked potatoes, butter, and sugar using an electric mixer, and mix until well blended.
3. Add the milk, orange juice, and salt. Mix on medium-high until well blended.
4. Adjust seasonings to taste (we like lots of nutmeg).
5. Add beaten eggs. Mix well, and pour into the baking dish.
6. Add topping (see recipe below).
7. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes, or until set.

Step 2: Make the Topping, Assemble, and Bake

This topping can also be used on pecan encrusted fish, particularly grouper, tilapia, or halibut. We tried it on grouper — it was heavenly.

Ingredients

• 3/4 stick unsalted softened butter (vegan butter works very well)
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1/8 cup all-purpose flour or arrowroot (optional, for thickening)
• water, if mixture is too thick
• 2 cups finely chopped pecans

Instructions

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan.
2. Add the brown sugar and flour. Stir until the mixture is well blended.
3. If the mixture is too thick, add water 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
4. Add pecans and mix well.
5. Pour topping over the sweet potato mixture, and spread to cover the entire casserole.
6. Bake according to casserole directions above.

© 2021 MariaMontgomery