Description
This Southern Maple Sweet Potato Casserole is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring creamy mashed sweet potatoes sweetened with maple syrup and warm spices, topped with a crunchy pecan and oat streusel. Perfect for holiday gatherings or a hearty side, it combines rich buttery notes with a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg, baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potato Mixture
- 4 cups sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup butter, melted (or vegan butter for dairy-free)
- 1/4 cup whole milk (or plant-based milk for dairy-free)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Streusel Topping
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped (or walnuts for substitution)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (or gluten-free oats)
- 1/4 cup butter, softened (or vegan butter for dairy-free)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook Sweet Potatoes: Boil the peeled and cubed sweet potatoes in a large pot of water for 12-15 minutes until they are tender when pierced with a fork. Drain well and return them to the pot.
- Mash and Mix: Mash the sweet potatoes in the pot until smooth. Stir in the maple syrup, melted butter, milk, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and salt until the mixture is creamy and well combined.
- Spread Sweet Potato Mixture: Transfer the mashed sweet potato mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula for an even layer.
- Prepare Streusel Topping: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, chopped pecans, flour, rolled oats, and softened butter. Mix thoroughly until you achieve a crumbly texture suitable for sprinkling.
- Top the Casserole: Evenly sprinkle the streusel topping over the sweet potato layer, ensuring full coverage.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is bubbling around the edges.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the casserole to cool slightly after baking to set before serving, enhancing the flavors and ease of slicing.
Notes
- For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with vegan butter and use plant-based milk.
- To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free flour and oats in the streusel topping.
- Walnuts can be used as a substitute for pecans depending on preference or availability.
- Sweet potatoes can be roasted instead of boiled for a deeper flavor, but adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated gently in the oven or microwave.
