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Bake up some fresh sweet potatoes to make Sweet Potato Casserole with Streusel Topping. The easy brown sugar and pecan streusel is a delicious addition to the traditional marshmallow topping, and one that your friends and family will love!

Sweet potato casserole with streusel topping in a white casserole dish

This post is sponsored by Challenge Butter. Thank you for continuing to support the brands that make My Baking Addiction possible.

I don’t know about where you are, but here in the Midwest, it is finally – FINALLY – feeling like fall.

The weather is cooler and perfect for snuggling under blankets with a cup of coffee. The leaves are changing. Sweaters are being worn.

And my brain is already thinking ahead to Thanksgiving.

I know, I know. We still have to get through Halloween first. But then we get to one of the best holidays of the year! 

So I am going to say it’s not too early to start planning my Thanksgiving dinner menu. Right? Starting with a classic: Sweet Potato Casserole.

Close-up view of marshmallows and streusel topping on sweet potato casserole

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE WITH TWO TOPPINGS

Growing up, I wasn’t too fond of sweet potatoes, so every holiday dinner I would take a spoonful of my Nana’s sweet potato casserole and systematically remove and eat every single toasted mini marshmallow from my serving – leaving behind a pile of untouched canned sweet potatoes.

In fact, I am pretty certain that’s what 10 out of 12 family members did.

Baked sweet potatoes on a foil-lined sheet tray, with one of the sweet potatoes split open

I decided to take the flavors of Nana’s casserole, which was brimming with brown sugar, vanilla and a little cinnamon – but kick it up a notch by using freshly baked sweet potatoes and not one, but two toppings.

First I topped the casserole with a layer of pecan-infused streusel topping for added texture and sweetness. This first topping is made with brown sugar, cinnamon, and my favorite Challenge Salted Butter.

I try to be conscious of the quality of the ingredients I use on a daily basis, but especially on special holidays. I trust Challenge Butter wholeheartedly and have been using their products in my kitchen for years, so of course I reach for them when making holiday side dishes such as Sweet Potato Casserole.

Ingredients for sweet potato casserole on a marble countertop

I suppose if you were not a fan of marshmallows on your sweet potatoes, you could stop there with just the streusel.

But me? Inside I’m still the little kid who loves those mini marshmallows.

So after some time in the oven for the streusel to get crisp, I sprinkled on a healthy handful of marshmallows for good measure.

The result was this gorgeous Sweet Potato Casserole with Streusel Topping – sweet potato perfection that will be a welcomed side dish to any holiday spread.

Dish of sweet potato casserole with streusel topping and marshmallows

HOW TO COOK SWEET POTATOES FOR CASSEROLE

I loved the way my Nana made a lot of her recipes, but I just couldn’t bring myself to use canned sweet potatoes as the based of my Sweet Potato Casserole with Streusel Topping.

Instead, I decided to use fresh sweet potatoes and bake them off before making the casserole.

To cook the sweet potatoes for casserole, prick washed sweet potatoes all over with a fork and place them on a foiled-lined baking sheet. Bake the potatoes for 75-90 minutes or until they are nice and soft and cooked through.

Once they’re cooked, let the sweet potatoes cool slightly before using them to make the casserole.

Spoon dishing out sweet potato casserole with streusel topping and sweet potatoes

Yes, 75-90 minutes is a while to wait while the potatoes bake, but I like to use that time to clean the house or prep other dishes such as scalloped potatoes, feta cheese ball or sweet and salty cheesecake.

You can also bake the potatoes a day or two before you plan to make your Sweet Potato Casserole.

Plated sweet potato casserole next to roasted brussels sprouts

CAN YOU MAKE SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE AHEAD OF TIME?

The biggest question I get for holiday recipes is whether they can be made ahead of time. No one really wants to do 100% of their holiday dinner prep the day-of.

Luckily, you can absolutely make this Sweet Potato Casserole with Streusel Topping ahead of time. Simply prepare the sweet potato portion of the casserole, spread it into the prepared casserole dish, cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.

In a separate bowl, mix together the streusel topping, cover and refrigerate.

Serving of sweet potato casserole with streusel and marshmallow toppings on a plate

When you’re ready to bake the casserole, sprinkle the topping onto the casserole and bake as directed, finishing with the mini marshmallows.

If you’re using a glass casserole dish, I recommend letting the casserole come to room temperature before placing it in the oven.

Enjoy this Sweet Potato Casserole with Streusel Topping this holiday season. I know you’ll love the sweet, pecan- and marshmallow-filled topping with the creamy sweet potatoes.

Hands placing a dish of sweet potato casserole on the countertop

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Sweet Potato Casserole with Streusel Topping

By: Jamie
4.44 from 73 votes
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 2 hours
Total: 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 8
Bake up some fresh sweet potatoes to make Sweet Potato Casserole with Streusel Topping. The easy brown sugar and pecan streusel is a delicious addition to the traditional marshmallow topping, and one that your friends and family will love! 

Ingredients 
 

  • 3 ½ pounds fresh sweet potatoes about 5 medium
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg beaten
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 4 tablespoons salted butter softened
  • ½ cup milk
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

FOR THE TOPPING:

  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter softened
  • ½ cup chopped pecans
  • 2 cups mini marshmallows optional

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Wash the sweet potatoes, prick them with a fork and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Bake potatoes in preheated oven for 75-90 minutes or until they are cooked through and soft. Allow potatoes to cool slightly until they are comfortable to touch.
  • Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F. Butter an 11x7 inch casserole dish and set it aside.
  • Once the sweet potatoes are cool enough to handle, scoop the insides into a large mixing bowl and discard skins. If you want the sweet potatoes to be ultra-smooth, you can push them through a potato ricer at this point.
  • Add sugar, egg, salt, cinnamon, butter, milk, and vanilla to the sweet potatoes. Use an electric mixer and combine until the mixture is thoroughly incorporated and smooth.
  • Scoop the mixture into the prepared casserole dish and smooth the top into an even layer. 
  • In medium bowl, mix the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in the butter until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. Stir in the pecans. Sprinkle the mixture over the sweet potatoes.
  • Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until the topping is lightly browned.
  • Remove pan from oven, top with mini marshmallows and return to oven for an additional 10 minutes, or until the marshmallows are melty and golden brown.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 483kcal, Carbohydrates: 82g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 49mg, Sodium: 288mg, Potassium: 756mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 42g, Vitamin A: 28519IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 104mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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95 Comments

  1. Abby T says:

    The person bringing sweet tater casserole cancelled so I dove in to make it myself at the last minute. I did have to boil the potatoes for time savings, but this was perfect! I did also add a lil nutmeg and ginger per my Southern Living cookbook, but otherwise kept the same. Everyone loved it! I might skip the marshmallows or do half of each topping next time, together it was a little too sweet and the streusel is stunning in its own! But I’m soo excited to have a go-to recipe, thank you!! I’d be lost without your site!

    1. Jamie says:

      I am so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Abby! Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback!
      -Jamie

  2. Sara D says:

    I’ve made this for the last three or four years and just realized it calls for marshmallows! I’ve never use them, and it’s fabulous with just the streusel topping. I usually split to topping it in half for nuts/no nuts. This is amazing and I highly recommend skipping the marshmallows!

    1. Jamie says:

      So happy to hear you enjoyed the casserole, Sara! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback!
      -Jamie

  3. Jack says:

    Not a big fan of mashed sweet potatoes, so I peeled and cubed potatoes and baked on baking sheet with brown sugar and butter. Then placed in casserole and used streusel topping and marshmallows.

    1. Jamie says:

      Thanks so much for stopping by, Jack! I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Happy Baking!
      -Jamie

  4. mary anderson says:

    i love most of your post it really helps me alot and i’ve improved in my cooking skills thanks too you my family loves what i make every day and i alway took recipes from here to make thanks :)

    1. Jamie says:

      Thanks so much for stopping by, Mary! I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Happy Baking!
      -Jamie

  5. Scarlet Paolicchi says:

    I love sweet potato casserole! It is a fall staple for me. Yours is a little different from my recipe so I think I will give it a whirl for variety:)

    1. Jamie says:

      Thanks so much for stopping by, Scarlet! I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Happy Baking!
      -Jamie

  6. Cindy says:

    I have a recipe very similar to this and I have made it ahead, froze it, then thawed before baking.

    1. Jamie says:

      Thanks so much for stopping by, Cindy! I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Happy Baking!
      -Jamie

  7. Heather says:

    My mouth was watering while reading this! Sweet Potato with Streusel! OMG! I can’t wait to make it for my Thanksgiving table.

    1. Jamie says:

      Thanks so much for stopping by, Heather! I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Happy Baking!
      -Jamie

  8. Elizabeth N. says:

    Can I make the day before and bake?Then reheat the next day.

    1. Jamie says:

      Hi Elizabeth – I would prepare the casserole and the topping separately, then add the topping just before baking the next day. Hope this helps!
      Jamie

  9. Ruth Haney says:

    Can this be prepared the day before baking?

    1. Jamie says:

      Hello! I haven’t attempted making this recipe the day before baking, so I am not 100% sure of the result. You should be able to prepare it the day before, though – I would just wait to put on the topping until right before baking so it doesn’t absorb too much moisture. If you happen to give it a try, I’d love to know how it turns out. Thanks so much for stopping by.
      -Jamie