Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Mashed potatoes made with russets or Yukon golds usually steal the show on the Thanksgiving menu, but this year, mix it up with these sweet, buttery mashed sweet potatoes! Cooked on the stove and blended with plenty of butter, half-and-half, and a few other additions, they're lightly sweetened and velvety smooth, much like the filling of classic sweet potato casserole. It's one of the best sweet potato recipes for any fall or winter dinner!

What brings out the flavor of sweet potatoes?

Think warm, cozy flavors like cinnamon, brown sugar, and maple syrup—all of which you'll find in this recipe! Sweet potato is delicious on its own, but it's simple additions like these that enhances it's natural flavor so well. 

Is it better to boil or bake sweet potatoes?

Boiling sweet potatoes is much quicker than baking them. It can take whole sweet potatoes more than an hour to get tender baked in the oven, but the potatoes for this recipe are peeled, cut into large hunks, and boiled for about 20 minutes until tender.

Sweet potato vs. yam: What's the difference?

People may use the names interchangeably, but there's a big difference between sweet potatoes and yams. Sweet potatoes have orange flesh that's creamy and sweet. Yams, on the other hand, have starchy, white, and less sweet flesh. In fact, yams are more similar to white potatoes (such as russets) than sweet potatoes! 

Do you peel sweet potatoes before boiling?

Yes, it is important to peel the sweet potatoes before dicing and boiling. Because the peel no longer remains on the potatoes, it’s good to cut them into larger pieces so that the potatoes do not get water-logged when boiled. An alternative to this method of dicing and boiling, is to steam whole potatoes in a steamer basket, then peel them once cooked. This process takes a bit more time, and peeling the cooked potatoes can be tedious. 

Can mashed sweet potatoes be made ahead?

Yes! If not serving these sweet potatoes the day that they are made, let them cool slightly, then transfer to a buttered, 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Cover tightly and refrigerate for up to three days. To reheat: Remove the casserole from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Dot the top of the casserole with five to six pats of butter. Cover tightly with foil. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until the edges are bubbling and the center is very hot.

What can you do with leftover mashed sweet potatoes?

What can't you do is the real question! You can bake leftover mashed sweet potatoes into cinnamon-spiced muffins or a cozy loaf of breakfast quick bread, whip some into pancake batter, make a sweet potato casserole out of it, stir it into a bowl of oatmeal, and the list goes on.