It isn’t Thanksgiving without casserole, and for me, the most important one of all is sweet potato.

The best versions of this dish you will often find at Southern barbecue restaurants, covered in a brown sugar topping, and sometimes with pecans. Some recipes add marshmallows on top instead.

This recipe is adapted from an old cookbook owned by my Nanny, one of those flip kinds attached to two large metal rings. It appears to be from Boyce Memorial A.R.P. Church in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, incidentally the town where we now live.

The original recipe has a brown sugar topping, to which I have added a marshmallow layer on top. I also added a bit of nutmeg, whereas the original recipe didn’t call for any spices.

The recipe is attributed to Mrs. Sonyia Lovelace, and I am very grateful for her work.

To me, desserts are the best part of a holiday meal. We hope you enjoy this one!

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Sweet Potato Casserole

What You Need:

Filling:

2 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes

1 cup sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 stick butter

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. nutmeg 

Topping:

1/2 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

1/2 stick butter, melted

What You Do:

1. Combine all filling ingredients with a stand mixer (I like to use the whisk attachment, because it makes the mixture smoother). 

2. Put into a greased or sprayed casserole dish. (We’ve found the recipe cooks best in an 8×8 glass dish.) 

3. In a small bowl, stir together the topping ingredients. The mixture will likely be a little crumbly.

4. Crumble the topping evenly over the filling.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, then take out and cover with tin foil. (This will help prevent the brown sugar topping from burning.) 

6. Bake an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the middle appears done and less wiggly. If you are using a square or rectangular dish instead of a deep round casserole dish, you may need less baking time. Use your best judgment. 

7. Remove from oven and cover with a layer of mini marshmallows, then bake a few minutes until toasted brown. Watch it closely during this time!

Enjoy!!