SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

Ingredients:

Sweet Potato Filling:

• 3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into cubes
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup packed light or dark brown sugar
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• ½ cup half and half or whole milk
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt

Streusel Topping:

• ⅔ cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• ⅔ cup packed light or dark brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 cups pecans (roughly chopped, about 8 ounces)
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Marshmallows:

• 1 to 2 cups miniature marshmallows (optional)

Instructions:

1. Add the sweet potatoes to a large pot filled with water. Bring it to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer the potatoes until they’re fork-tender, approximately 20 minutes. Drain well and return them to the hot pot (off the heat) to let any extra moisture cook away.
2. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 2-quart or 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside.

Prepare the Sweet Potato Filling:

3. In a large bowl or the pot where the sweet potatoes cooked, mash the potatoes and softened butter using a potato masher or hand mixer. You should have about 5 cups of mashed sweet potatoes at this point.
4. Add the remaining ingredients (brown sugar, eggs, half and half, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt) to the mashed sweet potatoes. Mash everything together until you achieve your desired consistency. You can leave some texture or make it completely smooth based on preference.

Prepare the Streusel Topping:

5. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, salt, and ground cinnamon. Add the chopped pecans and melted butter, stirring until the pecans are evenly coated.
6. Spread the streusel topping evenly over the sweet potato filling in the prepared baking dish.
7. Bake the casserole for 25 to 35 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Allow it to cool for a few minutes before serving. If using marshmallows, sprinkle them over the top with about 15 minutes left in baking and cook until they are just golden brown.