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Sweet potatoes with melted marshmallows in a baking dish

Classic Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows

This classic dish features tender, mashed sweet potatoes generously topped with sweet, gooey marshmallows, baked until golden and bubbly. It's a perfect side dish for holidays or any comfort food occasion.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • large pot
  • large bowl
  • potato masher
  • electric mixer
  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • oven

Ingredients
  

Sweet Potato Mixture

  • 3-4 pounds sweet potatoes Garnet or Jewel varieties
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1/4 cup milk or cream (or orange juice)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Topping

  • 4-5 cups mini or regular-sized marshmallows

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Peel and cut sweet potatoes into 1-2 inch chunks, then boil them in cold water for 15-20 minutes until tender; drain well.
  • Transfer drained sweet potatoes to a large bowl, add melted butter, brown sugar, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt; mash until smooth and creamy, then adjust seasoning as needed.

Baking

  • Spread the sweet potato mixture evenly into a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  • Evenly arrange marshmallows over the sweet potato mixture, cutting regular-sized marshmallows in half for better coverage.
  • Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake for 20-25 minutes until the sweet potatoes are heated through and marshmallows are golden brown and gooey; monitor closely to prevent burning.

Serving

  • Allow the dish to cool slightly before serving to let the marshmallows set, making it easier to serve.

Notes

For an extra touch of flavor and texture, consider adding a sprinkle of chopped pecans or walnuts over the marshmallows before baking. Ensure the sweet potatoes are very tender before mashing to achieve a smooth and creamy consistency. Keep a close eye on the marshmallows during the last few minutes of baking, as they can go from perfectly golden to burnt very quickly.