At our home, no Thanksgiving dinner is full with out this irresistible candy potato casserole topped with crunchy pecan praline sauce.
By Christie Vanover | Revealed November 21, 2022 | Final Up to date November 21, 2022
I’ve been making this recipe for practically 30 years, and it’s nonetheless the very best candy potato casserole recipe I’ve and a household favourite.
What Is Candy Potato Casserole
There are a number of varieties and colours of candy potatoes.
Round Thanksgiving, People are most accustomed to the orange selection. However in lots of different elements of the world, you will discover sweeter potatoes which are white and even purple.
I’ve a recipe for Savory Rainbow Sweet Potatoes Au Gratin that makes use of these lovely varieties.
And whereas many different nations eat their candy potatoes as a savory dish, rising up in Kentucky, I realized to take pleasure in my candy potatoes blended with butter and sugar and typically topped with mini marshmallows.
However this Southern candy potato casserole is a bit of completely different in one of the best ways potential. It’s not overly candy.
I’ve grown to understand the pure sweetness of candy potatoes, so it solely requires 1/2 cup of sugar. In actual fact, you possibly can scale back that quantity if you wish to.
What makes it irresistible although is the crunchy pecan praline topping made with eggnog and brown sugar.
Elements
Substitutions: You may as well use canned candy potatoes, however they’ve a softer consistency and typically include added sweeteners. Eggnog could be onerous to seek out within the spring and summer season, so you possibly can substitute heavy cream.
Methods to cook dinner the candy potato casserole
This dish is ready in a couple of phases. First, you’ll cook dinner the potatoes and mash them. Then, you’ll make the praline topping. Lastly, the casserole will bake on a grill or within the oven.
- STEP ONE: Peel the candy potatoes and reduce them into one-inch cubes. Then, boil them in a big pot of water till they’re fork tender. It will take about quarter-hour.
- STEP TWO: Drain the potatoes, discarding the liquid, and place the cooked candy potatoes in a big mixing bowl. Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes. It’s okay when you’ve got a couple of chunks.
PRO TIP: For those who favor your candy potatoes to be additional easy, you possibly can mash them with a potato ricer. I don’t suggest utilizing a meals processor or hand mixer, as a result of potatoes can get gummy in the event that they’re labored an excessive amount of.
- STEP THREE: To the bowl of mashed candy potatoes, add eggnog, eggs, butter, white sugar and vanilla. Stir to mix.
- STEP FOUR: Spoon the whole lot right into a 13×9 casserole dish. Use a spatula to unfold the candy potato combination out evenly.
- STEP FIVE: To make the pecan topping, in a sauce pot, convey some eggnog to a simmer over medium warmth. Simply earlier than it begins to boil, stir within the brown sugar. Cook dinner it till it reaches comfortable ball stage or 235F levels. It will take about 10 minutes.
PRO TIP: For those who don’t have an instant read thermometer, you possibly can decide if the combination is on the comfortable ball stage by putting a couple of drops in a bowl of chilly water. As soon as the combination begins to harden right into a comfortable ball. It’s prepared.
- STEP SIX: Take away the pot from the warmth and stir in some melted butter and pecans. The pecan praline sauce ought to coat the spoon.
- STEP SEVEN: Pour the sauce over the pan of candy potatoes and unfold it evenly.
This praline sauce with eggnog is the magic that makes these candy potatoes so excellent as a aspect dish to vacation meals.
Subsequent, you’ll bake it in a 350F-degree oven or on a grill over oblique warmth for about 45 minutes. You need the praline combination to be bubbly.
Methods to serve candy potato casserole
As soon as the candy potato casserole is baked, serve it by the spoonful along with your favourite vacation meal or principal dish. Be sure you get that crunchy topping with every serving to.
You’ll be amazed with how good that is. Persons are stunned that it’s not overly candy, so that they at all times return for seconds.
I made this for a vacation potluck and I caught somebody scraping up each bit from the pan. That’s how good these candy potatoes are.
Storage
Candy potato casserole could be coated with plastic wrap or saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days. You may as well retailer it within the freezer for as much as six months, nevertheless it loses its richness after some time.
You may reheat candy potato casserole within the microwave, or in the event you saved the candy potato casserole within the 13×9 pan, you possibly can place it again in a 350F-degree oven and reheat it.
GCG Professional Pitmaster Ideas
Steadily Requested Questions
Sure. If you wish to get a head begin on the vacation menu, when you get the whole lot within the baking dish, you possibly can refrigerate it after which bake it the following day at 350F levels if you’re prepared. If the substances are chilly, it’s possible you’ll must bake it a bit of longer than 45 minutes.
Sure. Technically, it may be frozen for six months, however the taste will begin to lose its richness and depth over time. So if you wish to freeze it, it’s greatest to eat it inside one month.
More often than not, canned yams aren’t truly yams in any respect. The entrance of the label could say yams, however the ingredient record will say candy potatoes. Yams aren’t orange. They’re the identical shade as an Idaho baking potato. However for the sake of this recipe, you possibly can use canned “yams.” Cut back the sugar within the recipe although, as a result of the canned selection is often preserved in a candy syrup.
Different Vacation Facet Dishes
Irresistible Candy Potato Casserole
At our home, no Thanksgiving dinner is full with out this irresistible candy potato casserole topped with crunchy pecan praline sauce.
Elements
- 2 lbs contemporary candy potatoes
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup eggnog
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
Pecan Praline Topping
- 1/2 cup eggnog
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup butter melted
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Directions
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Warmth Oven or Grill: Preheat your oven to 350F levels. For those who’re baking these on a grill, warmth the grill to 350F levels with an oblique warmth zone.
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Cook dinner Potatoes: Peel the potatoes. Discard the peels and reduce the potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Boil in a big pot of water on the range and cook dinner the potatoes till they’re fork tender, about quarter-hour.
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Mix: Drain the potatoes and discard the water. Place the potatoes in a big mixing bowl and mash. Stir within the eggs, 1/3 cup eggnog, 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla. Unfold the combination right into a 13×9 baking dish.
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Make Topping: In a small sauce pot, convey 1/2 cup eggnog to a simmer over medium warmth. Simply earlier than it begins to boil, stir in 1 cup brown sugar. Cook dinner till it reaches comfortable ball stage or 235F levels, about 10 minutes. (See put up above for particulars). Take away from the warmth. Stir within the melted butter and pecans.
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Bake: Bake uncovered in a 350F-degree oven or grill for 45 minutes, or till the topping begins to bubble.
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Serve: Take away from the warmth and serve by the spoonful along with your favourite vacation meal.
Notes
You should use canned candy potatoes instead of the contemporary ones, however scale back the sugar within the recipe to 1/4 cup, as a result of the canned candy potatoes are preserved in sugar.
For those who can’t discover eggnog, you should use heavy cream.
Diet
Energy: 370kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 4gFats: 21gSaturated Fats: 9gPolyunsaturated Fats: 3gMonounsaturated Fats: 8gTrans Fats: 1gLdl cholesterol: 72mgSodium: 168mgPotassium: 360mgFiber: 3gSugar: 31gVitamin A: 11200IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 75mgIron: 1mg