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!}”
Happy Birthday! Your 30’s are supposed to be the best years! This casserole sounds splendid. Love the recipe!
happy birthday jessica!!
i’m definitely making this for my thankgiving party!!
Happy birthday, Miss How Sweet! I’m sure there will be others prepared with more birthday-ish things for you (although I’m awfully partial to sweet potatoes, so…loving this casserole)!
Happy birthday!
This post made me smile, you’re too funny. ;)
There is nothing boring about sweet potato casserole IMHO.
I def frieked out a little when I turned 30, idk why but it was like the end of my young, careless/reckless/excuses for everything life. 30 is not old, but errrrr who would have thought I’d ever be in my thirties? ;)
Happy Birthday!
My favorite cupcake flavor is dark chocolate with a hint of raspberry… Mmm…
This looks so fantastic, I am making it for sure!!
Amanda
igoYOUgoblog.com
Happy Birthday Jessica!!!
I hope you had a wonderful time in San Fransisco :-)
I was sad that I couldn’t go again this year, but I plan on being there next year.
Happy Birthday!!! Daily reader here – love it all. Have a fabulous drink on me!!
Happy Birthday! I can’t wait to try this!!!
Sweet Potatoes are fantastic. Happy Birthday!
Jessica Wakefield?!?!? Seriously?!?
I suppose next you’re going to tell me you also wanted to be as cool as Stacey McGill. ;)
I was more of a Claudia fan!
Ah, the junk food all makes sense now!
Happy Birthday! Your post made me smile. I’m turning 29 in a few weeks and not handling the idea of year 30 quite as calmly as you!
happy birthday!!!
this looks amazing… and we aren’t invisible, we’re completely real! :)
Happy Birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day! And this recipe looks delicious, I love sweet potato casserole!
Happy Birthday! Sweet potato casserole is not boring; it’s awesome! Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite things about autumn.
Happy B-Day! This looks so good. I cant wait to try this. My sister usually makes really good sweet potatoes, but I think this one will have hers beat. :)
Happy Birthday Jessica!
I love your site!
PS I was also a Claudia fan!
Happy birthday!!!
Happy Birthday! My Mother says 29 was the best year of her life so I’ve always believed it to be a great year! Enjoy!
Happy Birthday, beautiful!! I hope your day was wonderful and that you have many, many, many more, and that we get to enjoy them all right along with you!!
Hugs!
Happy Birthday! November birthdays are the best! I’m slowly creeping up on my 30th year too. Where did time go? I watched more MTV’s The Grind than should ever be deemed healthy by a human.
And you had me at mini marshmallows. It makes up for the lack of bacon.
Wow this looks SOO good !! I love sweet potato.. happy birthday !
Ooo, sounds delicious! And happy birthday to you! :-)
Happy Birthday! I got you a present: Ryan Gosling in swimming trunks. He’s in an olympic-sized pool. Of brown butter.
Celebrate!!!
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday….and I must be stuck in my 30’s cause I’m way older yet relate to all your posts! You really do need to have a chocolate birthday cake though!
Your posts always make me chuckle. Hope you had a great birthday.
Happy Birthday. Even if things don’t always turn out as exciting or glitzy as we once thought, we usually do what makes us happy – and you are! This recipe is great (thanks for lightening it up) and the coconut milk is genius. I might just make this and eat it as a dessert…sweet potato casserole is one of my all-time favorites.
Happy Birthday!!! 29 is a great year – and in all honesty, 30 really wasn’t too bad either! Enjoy it, and thank you for another brilliant recipe :-)
I always want to try new recipes for sweet potato casserole but am too addicted to the marshmallow topping to really go for it. I absolutely love that you got the best of both worlds by adding a crumb topping to the outside. So pretty and so delicious!
Now come visit NYC so we can meet and eat cookies all day:-)
I’m in!!!
Happy birthday (late)! 30 was the hard one for me. I sounded like you do now. It’s kind of freaky, actually. Now, I’m sliding into 40. Yikes!!! It really freaks me out because I swear to God I don’t feel a day over 25ish. I don’t know how I got this old. My husband was lovely enough to inform me that our 8 year old is closer to 21 than I am. I must have been having a crisis of maturity. ;-) It’s really not bad. The only time you have to worry about your age is on your birthday from here on out. Other than that when people ask how old I am I literally have to do the math to figure it out. So, you’re safe–you’ll always be 29!
I am addicted to sweet potatoes. This is going directly onto the Thanksigving menu. Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday! Don’t think I’ve commented before, but I just wanted you to know how much I enjoy your posts. I ALWAYS look forward to reading them for your insight and humor – both right on the money. And I can particularly relate to this post – I’ve always been closer to 50 than 24, myself. Hooray for old souls! Without the wisdom and stuff… :)
Happy Happy Birthday tooo youuu, Jessica! I’m definately excited about the lightned up version, sounds and looks like it will take place of my usual swt pot casserole during this holiday season. Yayy for SCORPIOS! I, too turn 29 on Nov. 16! Cheers to many blessed years, peace, and good health!
Hope you had a great day. Wishing you many more, and keep the party going!
This looks so great! I think I will add it to the Thanksgiving line-up! Thanks for posting and Happy Birthday! :)
Why does everyone boil sweet potatoes? It makes them so mushy and lose half their flavor…
Baking them or even microwaving them is so much easier, faster (microwaving) and keeps them in their natural state. Then scoop out the insides (they separate magically from the skin, much better than the 2-colored layers when peeling beforehand) and proceed with any dish you’re making.
The VERY best use of any leftover potatoes: refrigerate and then peel after they’re cold, slicing them the long way (with-the-grain as one would say in sewing terms) and slowly brown them in a heavy pan on the stovetop (butter & oil combo or all oil. The natural sugars in them caramelize into heavenly crispy sides and you need nothing added for extra spice or flavor!!!
Watch carefully for too high a flame or too long on each side as they will also burn, (not that they aren’t still good that way)!
Yum! Am I crazy for wanting to skip the marshmallows? I’m definitely making this for Skinny Fat Kid.
ONLY 30??? If only I could go back to 30 knowing now what I didn’t know then! Happy birthday! Keep in mind that you’re only as old as you feel. I’m nearly 50, but I swear I’m only in my late 20’s. Most days. haha
I love your blogs … you’ve got an insane sense of humor. :)
Love the recipe for the sweet potato casserole. I will be making this in a couple of weeks for my Thanksgiving guests. I’ve always made a sweet potato dish, but I usually just plop handfuls of marshmallows on top (yum!!) However, the oatmeal, coconut and nut mixture is what caught my attention! Can’t wait to make this. Thanks for the recipe.
First of all this looks amazing, I am totally adding it (along with cloverleaf rolls) to my Thanksgiving dinner menu. I’ll be doing all this cooking while sipping Smoretini’s. YUM! As for turning 30… I am not quite there, very close though and I have to say I know EXACTLY how you feel. Good to know we’re not alone? The only thing that makes me sad is that my MTV/Internet fantasy life will be nothing compared to my 6-year old son’s MTV/Internet fantasy life… Why aren’t there disclaimers? Guess what kids this isn’t the REAL Real World, maybe that’s where parenting comes in? :)
Happy birthday! I’m 30 & still don’t like saying it. It’s super weird. This dish looks so elegant. I usually just mix the yams w/ sugar & put some marshmallows on the top. I’ll have to keep this setup in mind this year & beyond.
I am so making this! I’ve never been able to get the crumbly topping I like because my hub and kids like the marshmallows best. This is such a gorgeous solution, I don’t know why I didn’t think of it ,lol. Now I’ll have to go buy the tart pan though and God knows how much I’ll end up spending once I get in THAT store. Happy B’day!
happy happy birthday jessica!!! i hope that you had a great day~~the sweet pot. cass. looks delish!!! thanks for the recipe~~also…41 doesnt feel like i thought it would at 30 or 35 or even 40 but its here and i am pretty darn gald it is here and i am able to type this comment to you!!! soooo—your only as old as you think your are!!!! love your blog and love your writing and love your recipes so keep it up sistuuur!!!!
Hi Jessica!
Happy, Happy Birthday! This looks not only delicious, but super pretty! Thanks for sharing! Love your blog!
You sweet sweet Girl!
Oh to be 29 again!
I have to say…I LOVE my age…and it’s far from 29!
Life gets better and better Jessica…you will see!
You my dear fill my world with so many smiles and lots of SWEETness!
Thank you!
You ROCK this world!
You are shining BRIGHT my friend!
I need a cookbook please….by YOU!
xoxoxo
happy birthday to you and happy me because you’ve just shown me an amazing idea for thanksgiving! :)
Oooo… I’ve been looking for a sweet potato something for Thanksgiving and I think I just found it!! And just so you know, we pretty much eat at least 1 or 2 of your recipes each week (if not 3 or 4).. you rock. Thank you!!
Happy birthday to one of the few people I know who actually understands that you’re beginning your (years alive + 1)th year when you turn (years alive). Congrats!
I’m loving your recipes — so grateful to have found you. And my boyfriend is, too…he’s enjoying all my new-found talents. Too bad I can’t tell him you exist. It’s our little secret…
:)