Ingredients:
For the Sweet Potato Base:
– 4 pounds sweet potatoes
– 2 tablespoons maple syrup
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1 tablespoon melted butter
– 1.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon
– 1/4 cup heavy cream
For the Crunch Topping:
– 1/2 cup (65g) all-purpose flour
– 1/4 cup (45g) brown sugar
– 1 cup (100g) pecans, chopped and divided
– 1/2 cup maple syrup
– 8 tablespoons cold butter, divided
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
2. Wash and clean the sweet potatoes, then place them on the baking sheet. Using a sharp knife, make a small slit in each sweet potato and arrange them on the baking sheet.
3. Bake in the oven for 1 to 1.5 hours or until the sweet potatoes are cooked and soft. Set them aside to cool so you can handle them.
4. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F.
5. Scoop out the sweet potato flesh and place it in a deep bowl. Mash the sweet potato to your desired texture using a fork or a potato masher.
6. Add the maple syrup, vanilla extract, melted butter, ground cinnamon, and heavy cream. Mix everything together thoroughly and taste to adjust the sweetness if needed, depending on the natural sweetness of your sweet potatoes.
7. Transfer the sweet potato mixture to a 2-3 quart baking dish and level it with the back of a spoon.
8. To make the crunch topping, cut 6 tablespoons of cold butter into small squares and place them on a plate. Add the flour, brown sugar, and half of the chopped pecans. Mix with your fingers until a crumbly texture forms.
9. Spread the topping evenly over the sweet potato base.
10. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the top is beautifully golden brown.
11. Prepare the maple syrup sauce by melting the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet. Add the remaining chopped pecans and toast them for a couple of minutes. Pour in the maple syrup and mix well. Allow it to boil for a couple of minutes, then turn off the heat.
12. Drizzle the maple syrup sauce over the baked casserole and serve immediately. Enjoy your Sweet Potato Crunch!