In my humble opinion, some dishes just belong at Thanksgiving, and sweet potato casserole is one of them. It's creamy, buttery, and topped with golden, slightly toasted marshmallows we all lowkey love. Plus, this recipe has one little secret ingredient, which makes this classic side the star of the table. No notes.
I love making holiday dishes, like my oven roasted squash, my classic garlic herb red bliss mashed potatoes, or the traditional baked mac and cheese. So, let me make it easy for you to whip up your holiday menu right here on this site.
TL; DR Recipe Summary
- 👩🏼🍳 Cook Level: Easy/Beginner
- ⏱️ Cook Time: 30-40 minutes
- 😋 Taste: Buttery, warm, cinnamon, creamy, chocolatey
- 🍽️ Best Served With: This sweet potato dish goes well with virtually all dishes not just for the holiday! I love making this with pan fried chicken cutlets, Italian baked turkey meatballs, or even as a side for homemade air fried chicken nuggets.
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Trusted Tips and Key Reminders
- Add a touch of salt to the sweet potatoes, it'll balance the sweetness!
- When making the mashed potatoes, use a hand whisk instead of a masher, it'll make the entire process a lot faster and easier.
- When boiling the potatoes, cut them into smaller chunks. They will boil faster, approximately 25-30 minutes versus close to 45 minutes if left in larger pieces.
The Main Ingredients
- Sweet Potatoes - I make this recipe with a Beauregard sweet potato. They are the classic sweet potato you find in the store. Reddish skin with a bright orange flesh.
- Butter - butter just makes everything better!
- Milk or Heavy Cream - the milk or heavy cream adds to the creaminess of the sweet potatoes as they are whipped together with the blender.
- Cinnamon - the spice we add to the potatoes to give it a warm, cozy vibe.
- Maple Syrup - a little added sweetness goes a long way.
- Marshmallows - of course, no sweet potato casserole is complete without adding a generous layer of marshmallows on top and letting the broil to golden perfection.
- Chocolate Chip Cookies - No, you did not read this wrong. We will be adding chocolate chip cookies as our secret ingredient at the bottom of the casserole. I am telling you, you will NOT make another sweet potato casserole like this one.
Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of this post for more information about quantities, measurements, and specific cooking instructions.
Swaps and Substitutions
- Cookie Swap - instead of using regular cookies, swap with gluten free or vegan cookies. You can also fully omit the idea of using cookies if you're opposed to them, I will not be offended (ok slightly...)
- Marshmallows - if you can find vegan marshmallows, feel free to use them here!
- Butter - swap in the vegan butter and almond milk if you don't or can't consume dairy.
How to make a sweet potato casserole
Step 1: Start by preheating the oven to 350º. In a medium-sized casserole dish, layer the cookies at the bottom, then set aside.
Step 2: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Peel the sweet potatoes and chop into quarters, throw into the pot of water and boil until fork tender, approximately 30-40 minutes. Take out of the boiling water and let it drain.
Step 3: Place the sweet potatoes into either a stand mixer, mixing bowl with an immersion blender, or in a food processor. Blend until the sweet potatoes are fully mashed. Add in the butter, maple syrup, and cinnamon, then blend until full incorporated and smooth. Taste the mixture and adjust any flavorings needed. Pour the sweet potato into the dish with the chocolate chip cookies.
Step 4: Add a generous layer of marshmallows on top of the sweet potatoes, then place in the oven to bake at 350º for 25 minutes, with the option to broil for 30 seconds to brown the marshmallows.
Sweet Potato Casserole FAQs
YES! This is a perfect prep-ahead Thanksgiving or holiday dinner side dish, and can be done in a few simple and easy steps:
1. When boiling the potatoes, cut them into smaller chunks. They will boil faster, approximately 25-30 minutes versus close to 45 minutes if left in larger pieces.
2. When it comes time to bake the casserole, do not cover it immediately. Sweet potato can sit out after being cooked for up to 4 hours, so let it at least come to room temperature before wrapping and placing in the fridge, or serve immediately if you are making the day of.
3. If you are planning to bake with marshmallows the day of Thanksgiving, prep the filling ahead of time and place in the fridge.
Put any leftovers in a tight container and consume up to 2-3 after initially making it. It will begin to get wet and soggy after that.
You can crumble candied pecans to add on top instead of marshmallows, or simply keep it plain with no topping.
Looking for other potato recipes? Try these:
Did you love this recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you're just as in love with this recipe as I am, please share a comment below and rate it! Better yet, share this recipe with family and friends!! Thank you!
Sweet Potato Casserole
Equipment
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 hand mixer
- 1 spatula
- 1 medium sized casserole dish
Ingredients
- 4 large sweet potatoes peeled, diced, and boiled
- 2 tablespoon butter
- ½ pkg chocolate chip cookies about 12 cookies
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 2 cups mini marshmallows 1 cup large marshmallows
Instructions
- Start by preheating the oven to 350º
- In a medium-sized casserole dish, layer the cookies at the bottom, then set aside.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Peel the sweet potatoes and chop into quarters, throw into the pot of water and boil until fork tender, approximately 30-40 minutes. Take out of the boiling water and let it drain.
- Place the sweet potatoes into either a stand mixer, mixing bowl with an immersion blender, or in a food processor, then blend until the sweet potatoes are fully mashed.
- Add in the butter, maple syrup, and cinnamon, then blend until full incorporated and smooth. Taste the mixture and adjust any flavorings needed.
- Pour the sweet potato into the dish with the chocolate chip cookies.
- Bake at 350º for 25 minutes, with the option to broil for 30 seconds to brown the marshmallows.
Maggie says
Unique and magical like every recipe from Morgan!! The best.
Morgan Peaceman says
Aww thanks Maggie! I appreciate the love!