Autumn Harvest Sweet Potato Casserole

🕒 Prep: 15 min
🔥 Cook: 30 min
🍽 Serves: 8
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This Autumn Harvest Sweet Potato Casserole is the perfect blend of creamy sweetness and crunchy goodness. It's the quintessential cozy dish for the fall season, bringing warmth and comfort to any table.

Ingredients for Autumn Harvest Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet potatoes are the star, offering a naturally sweet and creamy base. Unsalted butter adds richness and helps create a smooth texture. Brown sugar enhances the potatoes' sweetness with a molasses-like depth. Heavy cream makes the mash velvety and indulgent. A hint of vanilla extract brings out the sweet flavors. The cinnamon and nutmeg add warmth and spice typical of autumn dishes. A pinch of salt balances all the flavors.

For the topping, pecan halves provide a satisfying crunch. Rolled oats add texture and heartiness. All-purpose flour helps bind the topping, while maple syrup adds a caramel-like sweetness that complements the other ingredients.

Tips & Tricks

  • For extra flavor, toast the pecans lightly before mixing them into the topping.
  • If you prefer a smoother texture, use a food processor to mash the sweet potatoes.
  • To make ahead, prepare the casserole up to the baking step and refrigerate. Bake just before serving.

Serving Suggestions

This casserole pairs beautifully with roasted meats like turkey or ham, making it a perfect side for holiday feasts. For a vegetarian option, serve it alongside a hearty kale salad or roasted Brussels sprouts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use canned sweet potatoes?
Yes, just be sure to drain them well and adjust the sugar to taste, as canned versions can be sweeter.
Can I make this casserole vegan?
Absolutely! Swap the butter for vegan margarine, use coconut cream instead of heavy cream, and ensure the sugar and syrup are vegan-friendly.

Autumn Harvest Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe Walkthrough

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While the oven is warming up, peel and chop your sweet potatoes into 1-inch cubes. This size helps them cook evenly and quickly.

Place the sweet potato cubes in a large pot and cover them with water. Bring the water to a boil and let the potatoes cook for about 15-20 minutes, or until they're tender when pierced with a fork. Once done, drain them well to avoid a watery mash.

Transfer the cooked potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Add the butter, brown sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mash everything together until it's smooth and well combined. You can use a potato masher or a hand mixer for this step.

Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish and spread the mashed sweet potato mixture evenly into the dish. Now, let's make the topping. In a separate bowl, mix together the pecans, oats, flour, and maple syrup until you get a crumbly texture.

Sprinkle the pecan topping evenly over the sweet potato mixture, covering it completely. Place the dish in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and crunchy.

Once baked, let the casserole cool slightly before serving. This helps the flavors settle and makes it easier to serve.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • The combination of sweet potatoes and pecans offers a delightful texture contrast.
  • Maple syrup adds a rich, autumnal sweetness.
  • Easy to make ahead and perfect for holiday gatherings.
  • Contains wholesome, simple ingredients you likely have on hand.

Ingredients

3 lbs sweet potatoes
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup pecan halves
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup maple syrup

Step-by-step Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Peel and chop sweet potatoes into 1-inch cubes.
3. Boil sweet potatoes in a large pot of water for 15-20 minutes until tender.
4. Drain and mash the sweet potatoes in a large bowl.
5. Stir in butter, brown sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until smooth.
6. Spread sweet potato mixture into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
7. In a separate bowl, combine pecans, oats, flour, and maple syrup to make the topping.
8. Sprinkle the pecan topping evenly over the sweet potato mixture.
9. Bake for 30 minutes until the topping is golden brown and crunchy.
10. Let cool slightly before serving.

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