Description
Ina Garten’s sweet potato casserole delights with creamy mashed potatoes topped by a crunchy pecan streusel. Comforting Southern flavors blend perfectly, creating a memorable side dish you’ll want to serve at holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 large sweet potatoes (1.75 lbs / 794 g), peeled and cubed
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup (120 ml) milk
- 4 tbsps (56 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 4 tbsps (56 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ½ cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (84 g) chopped pecans
Instructions
- Potato Preparation: Wash, peel, and dice sweet potatoes into uniform 1-inch cubes for consistent cooking.
- Boiling Process: Submerge potato cubes in salted water, boil until tender and easily mashed, approximately 15-20 minutes.
- Mashing Technique: Drain potatoes and pulverize into a smooth, creamy consistency using a potato masher or electric mixer.
- Oven Preparation: Heat oven to 350°F and butter a 2-quart baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Mixture Creation: Combine mashed sweet potatoes with melted butter, whole milk, dark brown sugar, vanilla extract, kosher salt, and eggs in a large mixing bowl, whisking until glossy and well-integrated.
- Topping Assembly: Mix all-purpose flour, brown sugar, melted butter, and salt until crumbly, then incorporate chopped pecans for added texture and flavor.
- Casserole Construction: Pour sweet potato mixture into prepared baking dish, spreading evenly, then generously distribute pecan topping across the surface.
- Baking Finalization: Bake for 25-30 minutes until topping turns golden brown and center sets completely.
- Serving Preparation: Allow casserole to rest 5-10 minutes after removing from oven, facilitating easier serving and helping the dish maintain its structure.
Notes
- Potato Prep Matters: Cut sweet potatoes uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Mash Masterfully: Eliminate lumps completely when mashing to create a silky-smooth base that guarantees a luxurious, creamy consistency.
- Topping Technique: Distribute pecan mixture evenly to provide a perfect crunch in every single bite, creating a delightful contrast with the creamy sweet potato base.
- Temperature Control: Allow casserole to rest briefly after baking, which helps ingredients settle and makes serving much easier without losing the dish’s delicious warmth.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg