Name: Southern Maple Sweet Potato Casserole
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: 4 large sweet potatoes (about 3 pounds), peeled and cubed; 1/3 cup pure maple syrup; 1/2 cup whole milk (or evaporated milk); 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted; 2 large eggs, beaten; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (optional); 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt; 1 cup pecans, chopped; 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed; 1/3 cup all-purpose flour; 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces; 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt (optional); Zest of one orange (optional)

Description

A velvety, lightly sweet dish topped with a crunchy pecan streusel, perfect for Thanksgiving.

Ingredients

Scale

4 large sweet potatoes (about 3 pounds), peeled and cubed
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup whole milk (or evaporated milk)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (optional)
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 cup pecans, chopped
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 teaspoon coarse sea salt (optional)
Zest of one orange (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss the cubed sweet potatoes with oil and salt. Roast in a single layer on a baking sheet for 25-30 minutes until fork-tender.
Mash the roasted sweet potatoes while warm. Add maple syrup, melted butter, milk, beaten eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix until smooth.
Taste and adjust sweetness and seasoning. Add more maple syrup or milk as desired.
In a bowl, combine chopped pecans, brown sugar, flour, and cold butter. Work the mixture until it resembles pea-sized crumbs.
Spread the sweet potato mixture into a baking dish and scatter the pecan streusel on top, pressing gently.
Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes until set and golden. Optional: broil for 1-2 minutes for a deeper toast.
Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Finish with a sprinkle of salt if desired.

Notes

For a lighter topping, reduce pecans by half and replace some flour with rolled oats. This dish benefits from a short resting period to meld flavors.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Side Dish
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Southern

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 320
Sugar: 12g
Sodium: 300mg
Fat: 14g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 44g
Fiber: 5g
Protein: 3g
Cholesterol: 60mg

Keywords: sweet potato casserole, Thanksgiving, southern recipe, dessert, side dish