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Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans

A Southern holiday classic featuring silky mashed sweet potatoes topped with a buttery brown sugar pecan streusel. Rich and sweet with a satisfying crunchy topping.

70 minEasyServes 8360 cal/serving

AmericanSideOvenVegetarianLow-SodiumPork-Free

Ingredients

  • 4 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled, cubed
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar (for filling)
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup pecan halves, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar (for topping), packed
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter (for topping), cold, cubed
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

  2. 2

    Place 4 lbs peeled, cubed sweet potatoes in a large pot, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil. Cook until fork-tender, about 15 minutes. Drain well.

  3. 3

    Mash the drained sweet potatoes until smooth. Beat in 6 tbsp softened unsalted butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar (for filling), 2 beaten large eggs, 1/2 cup whole milk, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp salt until fully combined. Spread evenly into the prepared baking dish.

  4. 4

    In a medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (for topping), and 1 cup roughly chopped pecan halves. Work in 6 tbsp cold, cubed unsalted butter (for topping) with your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Scatter evenly over the sweet potato layer.

  5. 5

    Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the filling is set and bubbling at the edges. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Questions

Can I make Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in this entry is 6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened, 1/2 cup whole milk, 6 tbsp unsalted butter (for topping), cold, cubed. Swap the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed; the milk for unsweetened oat or soy milk. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 1/2 cup all-purpose flour. Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

Can I make Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans ahead?

Yes, it takes well to being made ahead. Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within three days. Reheat covered in a 300 F oven until warmed through.

Can I halve or double Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans?

Yes. As written it serves 8. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. Doubled, split it across two pans and rotate them halfway; one crowded pan bakes unevenly.

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