Are you looking for an alternative to traditional sweet potato casserole? Our easy Sweet Mashed Potatoes may be the answer. They are steamed to tender perfection and blended with butter, cream, maple syrup, sugar and spices. They offer the perfect balance of sweetness.
With Thanksgiving on the horizon, sweet potatoes are definitely on the brain. But if you’re ready to switch things up from the marshmallow-topped tradition, let me introduce you to your new favorite. These mashed sweet potatoes are creamy, perfectly sweet, and just different enough to shake things up at your holiday table.
Baking vs. Steaming
When it comes to mashed sweet potatoes, I’m all about keeping them as tender and flavorful as possible, which is why I always go for steaming. It keeps them super moist—unlike baking, which can sometimes dry them out. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll be hooked! It really does make a difference.
- Texture: Steamed sweet potatoes have that perfect, delicate texture, without any dryness or crustiness. They’re just right for mashing.
- Cooking Time: Steaming is a time-saver too! You’ll have perfectly tender sweet potatoes in about 20-30 minutes, while baking can keep you waiting for up to an hour.
- Nutritional Value: Plus, steaming helps retain more of the sweet potatoes’ nutrients.
How to Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Steam Sweet Potatoes: Begin by peeling, chopping and steaming the sweet potatoes until they’re tender and easily pierced with a fork.
- Warm Milk and Butter: While the sweet potatoes are steaming, warm the half-and-half, butter, maple syrup, brown sugar and spices in a microwave or on the stove.
- Mash & Mix: Once the sweet potatoes are done, mash them with a potato masher until they’re smooth and creamy. Incorporate the warmed cream continuing to mash until smooth.
- Serve: Transfer the creamy sweet potato mixture to a serving dish and top with a dollop of butter.
How Can I Make These Ahead of Time?
- Prepare: Prepare the mashed potatoes as stated above.
- Cool: Allow them to cool to room temperature. This can take a couple of hours.
- Refrigerate: Transfer the mashed sweet potatoes to an airtight container or a covered dish for up to 2-3 days.
- Reheat: When you’re ready to serve them, take the container out of the fridge and reheat the mashed sweet potatoes. You can use the microwave, stovetop, or oven to reheat them. If using the microwave, heat in short intervals, stirring in between, until they’re heated through.
- Texture: Add more cream or butter if necessary.
MORE THANKSGIVING SIDES:
- How to Make Turkey Gravy: Making turkey gravy from scratch is easier than you think! It’s all about whisking the turkey drippings with some flour and broth until you’ve got a rich, velvety sauce that ties the whole meal together.
- Turkey Breast in the Crockpot: For a stress-free Thanksgiving, pop that turkey breast in the crockpot! Trust me on this, I’ve done it several years in a row now and it comes out amazing.
- Slow Cooker Stuffing: The crock pot to the rescue again! Even if I make the turkey in the oven, I make the stuffing in the crockpot. It comes out perfectly moist with all and it frees up oven space for the turkey. Win-win!
THANKSGIVING MASHED SWEET POTATOES
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Thanksgiving Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Total Time: 30-45 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 4 Large Sweet Potatoes
- ÂĽ Cup Unsalted Butter
- ÂĽ Cup Maple Syrup
- 2 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
- ½ Cup Whole Milk (or heavy cream for a richer version)
- ½ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- ÂĽ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
- ÂĽ teaspoon Salt
- ÂĽ Cup Chopped Pecans (optional, for garnish)
EQUIPMENT I USED:
Instructions
- Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into even chunks.
- Place a steamer basket in a large pot filled with about 1-2 inches of water. Make sure the water doesn’t touch the steamer basket. Bring the water to a boil.
- Add the sweet potato chunks to the steamer basket, cover the pot, and steam for about 15-20 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Remove the sweet potatoes from the steamer and place them in a large mixing bowl.
- Mash the steamed sweet potatoes until they are smooth and free from lumps.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Stir in the maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Keep the sauce warm on low heat, stirring occasionally.
- Pour the prepared buttery maple sauce and the whole milk (or heavy cream) over the mashed sweet potatoes. Mix until everything is well combined and the sweet potatoes have a silky consistency.
- Transfer the mashed sweet potatoes to a serving bowl.
- Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 300-375 (without pecans)
- Sugar: 25-30 gr
- Sodium: 240-330 mg
- Fat: 11-7 gr
- Carbohydrates: 48-60 gr
- Fiber: 5-7 gr
- Protein: 3-5 gr
- Cholesterol: 25-40 mgg
These sweet mashed potatoes are so good—creamy with just the right amount of sweetness. Definitely a hit at the table! We try to avoid those overly sweet casseroles and our family liked this.
do you know how many pounds 4 large sweet potatoes is?
Hi Bridget! The weight of 4 sweet potatoes can vary depending on their size. Here’s a general estimate:
Small potatoes: 4 potatoes = 1 lb
Medium potatoes:4 potatoes = 1.75- 2 lbs
Large potatoes: 4 potatoes = 2-3 lbs