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Sweet potato casserole with pecans and brown sugar streusel in a baking dish.
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Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans

This sweet potato casserole with pecans is lightly sweetened mashed sweet potatoes topped with a crunchy brown sugar pecan streusel. A classic make-ahead recipe that's perfect for the holidays.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 501kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

For the sweet potato layer

  • 2 lbs sweet potatoes
  • 3 tablespoons butter melted
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • cooking spray

For the streusel

  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 5 tablespoons melted butter
  • 3/4 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet pan with foil and coat with cooking spray. Prick the sweet potatoes with a fork and place them on the pan in a single layer.
  • Bake the potatoes until tender, 45 minutes to an hour.
  • When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them open, scoop out the insides and place the sweet potatoes in a large bowl.
  • Add the 3 tablespoons of melted butter, milk, brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, egg and vanilla to the bowl.
  • Use a potato masher or hand mixer to mash or beat the sweet potatoes until mostly smooth.
  • Coat a 9 inch square pan or 2 quart baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Spread the sweet potato mixture in an even layer in the pan.
  • In another bowl, mix together the brown sugar, flour, melted butter and pecans until large crumbs form. Sprinkle the crumb topping over the sweet potatoes.
  • Bake for 30 minutes or until topping is lightly browned.
  • Let sit for 10 minutes, then serve.

Video

Notes

  1. This casserole can be assembled up to one day before you plan to serve it. You may need to add more bake time to compensate for starting with a cold casserole. Store the streusel separate from the potatoes, then add the streusel right before baking.
  2. If you want silky smooth sweet potatoes, try pureeing them in a food processor rather than mashing them by hand.
  3. You can bake your sweet potato casserole in a 9″ square pan or any other baking dish that has a capacity of about 2 quarts.

Nutrition

Calories: 501kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 242mg | Potassium: 663mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 21975IU | Vitamin C: 3.8mg | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 2.1mg