Description
Terry’s Traditional Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping is a classic, comforting dish perfect for holiday meals or cozy family dinners. It features sweet potatoes blended with warm spices, butter, and eggs, topped with a crunchy pecan and brown sugar mixture that bakes to a golden, caramelized finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potato Mixture
- 2 cans cut sweet potatoes in syrup (40 oz each, sometimes called yams, rinsed and drained)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 eggs (beaten)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter (melted)
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Pecan Topping
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup pecans (chopped)
- 5 tbsp unsalted butter (melted)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it’s at the perfect temperature by the time your casserole is ready to bake.
- Prepare Sweet Potato Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the rinsed and drained sweet potatoes with sugar, salt, beaten eggs, melted butter, milk, ground cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Mash and mix thoroughly until smooth and well incorporated.
- Make Pecan Topping: In a separate bowl, mix the light brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and chopped pecans. Stir in the melted butter until the mixture is crumbly but cohesive enough to spread over the casserole.
- Assemble the Casserole: Pour the sweet potato mixture into a greased baking dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle the pecan topping evenly over the sweet potato layer.
- Bake: Place the assembled casserole in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes, or until the pecan topping is golden brown and the casserole is set around the edges.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the casserole to cool slightly before serving so it firms up and slices more cleanly. Enjoy as a side dish for holiday meals or special occasions.
Notes
- Make sure to rinse and drain the canned sweet potatoes well to reduce excess syrup and avoid an overly sweet casserole.
- For a smoother texture, you can mash the sweet potatoes with a potato masher or use a hand mixer.
- Use fresh pecans for the best crunch and flavor; toasted pecans can add an extra depth if desired.
- This casserole can be prepared a day in advance; assemble and refrigerate, then bake before serving.
- Adjust the sugar quantity according to your taste preference for sweetness.
