It may be an unpopular opinion, but I DON’T like marshmallows on sweet potato casserole. I mean, is this dinner or dessert? You have a gorgeous roast turkey, creamy homemade mashed potatoes, gravy, and then… marshmallows? Really? It just doesn’t make sense to me. Instead of marshmallows, this recipe tops the sweet potato filling with a toasty almond streusel topping. (Of course, no judgement. Do what makes you happy.) Along the same lines, I prefer a sweet potato casserole that isn’t overly sweet. Sweet potatoes, as their name would indicate, are already pretty sweet. Why is why they’re great in sweet potato pie – an ACTUAL dessert. This sweet potato casserole recipe uses just a little pure maple syrup in the filling, with some brown sugar in the crunchy streusel topping. It has just the right amount of added sweetness, without being too dessert-like. And the flavors are well-balanced by using salted butter, a little cream, pure vanilla extract, and cinnamon, so you don’t NEED a ton of sugar. In addition to using less sugar, steaming the sweet potatoes rather than boiling them results in more nutrients overall, for a healthier result than other recipes.
How to make sweet potato casserole with a streusel topping
Just make the sweet potato filling, spread it in a baking dish, top with the streusel, and bake! Here are the details.
Can I use another nut, or make it nut-free?
YES! You can use any kind of nut you want really- chopped pecans or walnuts, or another kind of almond like slivered or chopped whole almonds. If you want to make a nut-free streusel topping, simply sub out the nuts for sunflower seeds and/or pumpkin seeds. Or (sigh) use marshmallows.
Do I have to steam the sweet potatoes?
Nope! You can bake them and scoop out the flesh, you can boil them, microwave them… however you want to cook them, go for it! The reason why I steam them is because it’s really easy and a little healthier than boiling. Why? Because when you boil sweet potatoes (or any vegetable), some of their nutrients are lost in the water. When you steam them, more nutrients stay intact.
Can I make sweet potato casserole ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can prepare this up to three days in advance. Just make the filling and spread in a prepared baking dish, and mix up the streusel topping separately and store in your fridge. Just before baking, sprinkle the streusel on top. You may need to bake for a few more minutes, since you’re starting out cold. Alternatively, you can make this sweet potato casserole the morning of Thanksgiving and let it sit out on your counter for a few hours before serving. It’s delicious warm or at room temperature, so no need to warm it back up or anything!
Can you freeze sweet potato casserole?
If you want to prep sweet potato casserole a month or so in advance, you definitely can! Here’s the one rule for freezing sweet potato casserole: leave the toppings off. Make the filling and spread it in a prepared baking dish. Then, cover it tightly. You may want to use an airtight lid that fits the baking dish, or line it with foil or plastic wrap spread across the surface. I recommend writing a note with the topping amounts and instructions and the baking time, so you can just get right to it when you want to bake instead of hunting for a recipe. Thaw the casserole overnight in the fridge, remove any wrapping or covering, top with the topping, and bake as directed!
Other sweet potato recipes
Maple and Rosemary Glazed Sweet Potatoes Chicken Stew with Sweet Potatoes and Black Beans Green Chicken Curry with Sweet Potatoes and Spinach Smoky Sweet Potato Soup with Bacon and Blue Cheese Roasted Sweet Potato Hummus
If you’re serving this for Thanksgiving, make sure you’ve got your menu set with some easy Thanksgiving recipes, such as slow cooker boneless turkey breast, Greek green beans (fasolakia), and creamy mashed potatoes or low-carb mashed cauliflower! Did you make this Sweet Potato Casserole recipe? Please click the stars below to comment and Rate this Recipe!
