Lightened-Up Sweet Potato Casserole. {Video!}
Today I start working on my 30th year. At least I think that is how this works, right? I turn 29, but that means I’m working on my 30th year, correct? I sure as heck hope so since I’m structuring an entire blog post about it.
It seriously makes my brain explode when I think about the fact that I have been walking this earth for nearly 30 years. Maybe it’s because I’m so horrific at math (I froze in the back of a cab in San Francisco this past weekend when I had to tip the driver… disaster), or maybe it’s because I usually reserve the idea of “30 years” for long lasting marriages (which uh, by the way… how the HECK have those people not killed each other? they must not be snorers or cover-stealers).But
THIRTY years?! Is this even sweet potato casserole worthy?
As usual, I came to this party totally unprepared. If I was super creative or managed to think about something other than the next five minutes in front of my face, I would have made something completely chocolate-covered, bacon-infused, sugar-loaded and salty. Because salt is heaven.
But I didn’t. I made sweet potato casserole. Boring sweet potato casserole. Nothing worthy of birthday celebrations. Can I have an assistant? Not because I’m busy enough but because I need a second brain. It would help us all. Really.
So this whole turning 29 thing? I’ve never been one to freak about birthdays. I’ve never spazzed at the thought of turning 30 or 40 or even 50. I mean, yesterday I spent six hours on a plane listening to Kenny G on my iPod for the second time in 48 hours. I’m pretty sure I’m closer to age 50 than 29, right? Without all the wisdom and stuff.
As your typical product of the internet generation, I grew up assuring myself that by this age I’d have spent my college years being even cooler than Jessica Wakefield, the majority of my 20s gallivanting in and out of popular clubs in an even more popular city, and the rest of the time making millions of dollars, owning some kind of mansion on water somewhere, marrying someone who doesn’t come complete with a stuffed turkey, popping out four or ten Ralph Lauren polo-clad kids, and decorating my entire life a la Martha Stewart.
Raise your hand if you think I read too many fiction novels.
And thanks a lot to you too, MTV.
I definitely drank the koolaid.
Soooo. Here I am. I cook way too much food in my kitchen and then talk about something completely other than that food to my invisible internet friends. I pretend to know what I’m doing even though many days I honestly have zero idea… ever. I don’t wear ball gowns every weekend and I don’t sit at cool coffee shops and I don’t have a house in Malibu and I don’t have a wardrobe like Carrie Bradshaw. The money tree I planted must have began with faulty seeds because, uh… I see no bills laying in my backyard. Fail.
29 is so different at 29 than I thought it would be at 7 and 15 and even 21. But it’s just what I need and it certainly is… delicious? Yes. So I’m gonna eat up.
Lightened-Up Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients
sweet potato layer
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/3 cup canned lite coconut milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter
oatmeal coconut pecan crumble
- 1/2 cup whole, unsalted pecans, chopped
- 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup unsweetened, flaked coconut
- 1 tablespoon whole wheat pastry flour
- 1/4 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch of nutmeg
- pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Peel and chop sweet potatoes into 1 1/2 inch cubes. Add to a pot with cold water, then bring to a boil. Cook until potatoes are fork tender, about 20-30 minutes, then drain. While sweet potatoes are cooking, add butter to a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisking constantly, cook until little brown bits appear in the pan – about 4-5 minutes. Remove immediately from heat and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In the bowl of an electric mix (or a large bowl, using a hand mixer), add sweet potatoes. Add all remaining ingredients – sugar, syrup, spices, salt, vanilla extract, coconut milk and brown butter – and mix on low speed until combined about 30 seconds. Mix on medium speed for another 1-2 minutes, until potatoes are whipped. Spread in an oven-safe pan or dish. I used an 9 x 2 1/2 round tart pan.
- Combine oats, flour, pecans, coconut, spices and salt in a bowl and mix to thoroughly combine. Add in softened butter, and use your hands to completely moisten the mixture and clump it together. Sprinkle the crumble around the outside of the dish, leaving room in the center for marshmallows. Add marshmallows to the middle. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until crumble is golden and marshmallows are gooey.
- Notes: If you want to skip the marshmallows, I suggest doubling the crumble mixture and covering the entire top with it. If you can’t find unsweetened, flaked coconut (I use Bob’s Red Mill brand), using sweetened is fine, but I would decrease the sugar by a 1/2 tablespoon (or more/less, depending on tastes). You can also sub in milk, cream or half and half for the coconut milk if you wish. However, the coconut milk does NOT add a coconut flavor to the casserole.
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
Since, like always, I spent so much time talking about myself, I forgot to tell you about that orange stuff up there. It’s good. It has less than half the sugar and butter than regular sweet potato casserole has. I threw a bunch of stuff in the dish and said a prayer that it would turn out. It has lovely coconut milk. Mmmmm. But! IT HAS BROWN BUTTER. That should be enough. Make. Now.
343 Comments on “Lightened-Up Sweet Potato Casserole. {Video!}”
So this may be ridiculous but I’ve been freaking out about turning 25 this month. You only gave me more anxiety! hahah Maybe some lightened up sweet potato casserole will make me feel better?
Happy, Happy Birthday Jessica!!
This celebration recipe looks great and I can’t wait to try it.
By the way, I made the pumpkin butter version of your chocolate chip cookie recipe this weekend. I have been searching for a non-cakey pumpkin cookie recipe for ever but now my search has ended. The cookies were perfect…delicious, chewy…perfect in every way.. I shared them with my pumpkin loving neighbors and they had rave reviews as well.
As you head into your 30th year, please, please, please keep sharing your enormous talents and your wonderful sense of humor.
Happy Birthday, Jessica! Hope you have a great day! :)
LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of using coconut milk. I will be trying this one out on my family at Thanksgiving…
PS.
20 years ago when I thought about my life at 28ish… This is not where I thought I’d be but you know what? I’ve loved every minute of the past 20ish years and wouldn’t trade a second for anything!
Happy Bday <3
Happy Birthday! Hope you have a good one :)
Happy Birthday Jessica!!! May you be 29 forever…or at least as long as people are still asking your age!
Shouldn’t you be posting something about a new drink concoction that put you under the table this weekend from celebrating too hard? Or maybe that’s tonight’s post…yeah, it’s probably tonight’s post. ;)
I hope you have a fabulous day!
Happy Birthday! I am turning 29 on Saturday… I know exactly what you’re talking about!!
I’ll have to pass this along to mama since she’s in charge of the sweet taters this year!
I just made a lightened up sweet potato casserole last week on my blog and even have a similar picture!! The ingredients couldn’t be more different, though! I love how versatile the idea is!!
Oh, baby! You are going to LURVE thirty! It’s where your truest self shines through. Plus, you get prettier. I swear.
Happy birthday! I’m pushing 29, as well. Scary!
Happy birthday! Thanks for the motivation to turn on my computer M-F morning. :)
Happy Birthday!!
Happy Birthday!!!! You are totes way cooler than Jessica Wakefield. She didn’t make stuff with brown butter which you totally got me addicted to.
I was ok when I turned 29 but when I turned 30 I was 9 months pregnant about the size of a large sea lion and I couldn’t drink. It was NOT pretty. I did not like 30. So when you turn 30 just make sure you can drink! lol
I love this recipe- sweet potato casserole is my very favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner. I definitely appreciate this post, though, including it’s simplicity.. In having recently turned 25, I have had the SAME thoughts. And yeah.. why aren’t we club-hopping or in a ballgown right now? Whoops.
I’ll be 29 this December and it definitely feels weird. What’s really funny is thinking about people on the TV shows we watched growing up, like Friends, who were supposedly like late 20’s when it started. Let’s be real here. They were all at least 35, or else I am in major denial about what I actually look like.
omg… I think that ALL THE TIME. I’ve been watching reruns of Friends every night and watched and episode where Chandler says he is 29… um, seriously?
I don’t care what anyone (especially society) says- The thirties are the best!! You come to terms with yourself, ackonwledge that yes, maybe you do have some flaws, but heck, you also have some pretty amazing qualities as well. I used to care so much about what others thought- not anymore. My thirties have been all about confidence. In myself, and my abilities. I’ve never felt or looked better. Don’t just accept that you are going to be in the thirties- ROCK IT!!!!
Love this – thank you!
Have a wonderful birthday! And try not to spaz out too much…after all, age is just a number. At least that’s the Koolaid I’m drinking.
Love this sweet potato casserole recipe – it’s going to make an appearance soon in my kitchen and that’s a fact.
I loved this post. I’m working on my 30th year, too! Yowza. It feels so different than what I pictured…but it’s so awesome and surprising all at the same time. GRATEFUL. Happy Birthday, Jess! xo
HAPPY BDAY!
I love this recipe, very nice to have a lighter option, I like this coconut use here too. :)
Happppy Birthday!!!
I only wish I could be even half as cool as Jessica Wakefield. I’m pretty sure you got her beat though…have you checked out your blog lately?? It’s pretty cool.
I hope you enjoy lots of sweet eats today plus lots of sweet treats in the form of family and friends and good lovely times. :)
Happy Birthday! Keep on rocking. PS. This looks delicious. And totally un-boring.
Happy Birthday Jess!!! The toppings on this casserole are screaming my name!!!
Happy Birthday!
This looks SO delicious!
Happy Birthday, Jessica!!!
Happy birthday, Jess. I have a feeling this year is going to be amazing for you!
Happy Birthday!!! This looks great and would go over super well on Thanksgiving!
I love the idea of the crumble but my daughter has a tree nut allergy…would the crumble be okay without it?
I think so! Maybe add a little more coconut and oatmeal to make up for the missing nuts?
Happy Birthday! You even gave us a present on your birthday, that is generous indeed, and very much appreciated as this looks delicious. I hope you have a wonderful day and year, your postings make my days better, almost every single day. If you want I would seriously love to mail you a sweet and sugary Paris care package as a little thank you for all you do.
Happy Birthday, pretty girl! 29? Ain’t no thang! As soon as my birthdays pass, I quickly forget how old I am. Honestly, the older I get, the less my age seems relevant. As long as there’s brown butter and Ryan Reynolds in the world, I’m too distracted to think about much else.
OMG I LOVE SWEET POTATOES. I’m usually not a huge fan of sweet potato casserole though… who needs to mess up a perfectly good sweet potato with marshmallows? Hahahaha… but this look amazing! You might have just converted me. :)
And happy birthday, girl! I’m sure you’re the hottest 29 year-old out there. :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! xoxoxoxoxo!
SO sad we didn’t get to connect on Saturday. Like seriously sad. Like I just enrolled myself in therapy sad.
I KNOW. Sad face.
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday, lady! Maybe Mr. How Sweet will make you something adequately bacon-loaded, chocolate-dipped, peanut-butter-filled, cheese-covered, and brown-buttered to celebrate? But I think this looks good, too. :-)
Happy Birthday! Welcome to the ‘almost 30’s’. It’s not too bad in here! Anyway- just had to give you props for mentioning Jessica Wakefield. It took me back. Thanks!! :)
happy birthday jessica! i hope you have a fantastic day!
and don’t worry about turning almost-30… you’re a rock star now & i know you’ll just keep getting better with age :)
happy birthday!
Happy Birthday Jessica!!
Happy Birthday Jessica!!!
Don’t make me feel bad – I am almost 33 next April. I have a love-hate 30s relationship :)
Looks delicious! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I hope it’s a great one!! :)
I started out with SO much sympathy for you, identifying with you all the way… until it became clear that you are turning 29 and not 30! :) In all seriousness, though, it sounds like you are handling this philosophical mini-crisis with grace and a sense of humor… which is exactly how it should be done. Enjoy every last bite of that delicious-looking casserole!
~ a recently-turned 30 year old
Happy, happy birthday beautiful!
yum yum AND YUM. And also: Happy birthday! You are correct that turning 29 means you’re beginning your 30th year. Everyone gets that wrong :) !
Happy Birthday to you! And for what it’s worth, I feel that sweet potato casserole it totally birthday-worthy :)
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Don’t forget – you’re only as old as you act!
And – just to put your life a little in perspective – I turned 31 this year. If one more person gives me that “oh – you’re not married and you don’t have any kids?” look I’ll probably snap…. On a scale of, say, 1 to JAIL – it’s probably going to be pretty scary.
Happy birthday Jessica! This casserole looks wonderful :)
happy birthday jessica !!
i hope this year is full of good times and good eats ^___^ <3
p.s. i've never had sweet potato casserole before. the marshmallows always kind of freaked me out.. but if anyone could convince me, it'd be you. and brown butter.
Happy birthday. I myself, am nearing the end of my 30th year. So I’m almost 30 right? (Wow, that first paragraph you wrote really confused me)
Anyway, I hope you have a great day! Do something fun. You know, something a 50 yr old would do. :)
Happy birthday! I hope you have a FABULOUS 30th year :) That casserole looks INSANE. I just may have to push Grandma’s off the table to make way for this one at Thanksgiving this year …