Description
This Old-Fashioned Candied Sweet Potato Casserole features tender sweet potatoes simmered in a rich brown sugar glaze, topped with a sweet and spiced marshmallow mixture, and baked to golden perfection. It’s a classic holiday side dish that delivers a perfect balance of creamy, sweet, and lightly spiced flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potato Mixture
- 8 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into chunks
- 5 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Topping
- 4 cups mini marshmallows
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg white, lightly beaten
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 pinch cumin
Instructions
- Preheat and melt butter: Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). In a large Dutch oven, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat to prepare for cooking the sweet potatoes.
- Add sweet potatoes and simmer: Add the peeled and diced sweet potatoes, brown sugar, water, salt, and pepper to the Dutch oven. Stir to combine, then bring to a simmer.
- Cook sweet potatoes until tender: Cover the pot, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook while stirring often until the sweet potatoes are tender. This should take about 45-60 minutes.
- Reduce glaze: Once the sweet potatoes are tender, remove the lid and increase the heat to medium-high. Bring the sauce to a rapid simmer and keep cooking until the brown sugar mixture reduces to a thick glaze, about 5 minutes.
- Prepare marshmallow topping: While the glaze is reducing, mix the mini marshmallows, brown sugar, lightly beaten egg white, salt, and cumin in a medium bowl until well combined. Set aside.
- Transfer to baking dish: Pour the glazed sweet potato mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading it evenly.
- Add marshmallow topping: Evenly spread the marshmallow topping over the sweet potato mixture in the baking dish.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the marshmallows are golden brown and slightly toasted.
Notes
- Cooking time for sweet potatoes can vary slightly based on their size and freshness; test for tenderness by piercing with a fork.
- If you prefer a less sweet topping, reduce the amount of brown sugar in the marshmallow mix.
- For a nuttier flavor, consider adding chopped pecans to the marshmallow topping before baking.
- Keep an eye on the marshmallows while baking to prevent burning.
- Use a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot to ensure even cooking and prevent scorching.
