Easy Scalloped Sweet Potatoes: Your Ultimate Sweet & Savory Holiday Side Dish
These Easy Scalloped Sweet Potatoes offer a truly delicious and comforting twist on the traditional sweet potato casserole. Imagine thinly sliced sweet potatoes, gently layered in a baking dish with rich butter, then generously bathed in a luscious, sweet heavy cream base. But the magic doesn’t stop there! Before serving, this exquisite side dish is crowned with a delightful crunch of pecans and a heavenly blanket of melted, golden marshmallows, creating an irresistible combination of textures and flavors. It’s a guaranteed showstopper that will earn rave reviews from your family and friends, making it an essential addition to any festive table or cozy meal.
Similar to a rich sweet potato gratin, this scalloped potato recipe is incredibly flavorful and surprisingly straightforward to prepare. Despite its elegant appearance, crafting this dish is more about thoughtful assembly than intricate cooking techniques. Our method focuses on layering the vibrant sweet potatoes with all the other delightful ingredients, allowing them to meld together in the oven to create a harmonious symphony of taste.
Unlike many traditional gratins, our scalloped sweet potatoes are prepared without cheese. Instead, we embrace a beautifully balanced sweet and subtly spicy topping that truly elevates the dish. A comforting blend of warm cinnamon and a delicate pinch of ground cloves is stirred into a mixture of rich brown sugar, luxurious heavy cream, and melted butter. This creates an incredibly aromatic and deeply flavorful sauce that infuses every slice of sweet potato. The entire dish is then generously topped with crunchy pecans, adding a fantastic textural contrast. Once baked to tender perfection, a final touch of mini marshmallows is added and gently broiled, melting into a gloriously gooey, golden-brown topping that is simply divine.
This unique sweet and spicy variation transforms ordinary sweet potatoes into an extraordinary side dish, making it the perfect accompaniment for cherished holiday meals like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Its comforting warmth and festive flavors are sure to become a beloved tradition at your table, adding a touch of indulgence to your celebrations.
Why You’ll Love This Scalloped Sweet Potato Recipe
There are countless reasons why these scalloped sweet potatoes will quickly become a cherished recipe in your culinary repertoire:
- Effortlessly Delicious: Don’t let the fancy name fool you; this recipe is incredibly simple to assemble. Most of the magic happens in the oven, giving you time to focus on other aspects of your meal.
- Perfect Flavor Balance: The combination of sweet potatoes, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and heavy cream creates a rich, comforting, and perfectly spiced profile. It’s sweet without being cloying, with just the right amount of warmth.
- Irresistible Texture: Enjoy the tender, creamy sweet potato slices contrasted with the satisfying crunch of pecans and the delightful gooeyness of toasted marshmallows. Each bite is an experience!
- Holiday Staple: This dish is tailor-made for festive occasions. Its vibrant color and festive toppings make it a standout on any Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner table.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Whether you’re feeding a small family or a large gathering, this recipe is universally loved. It’s a guaranteed hit that will have everyone asking for seconds.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Prepare the dish in advance, refrigerate, and simply bake when ready. This convenience is invaluable, especially during busy holiday preparations.
If you’re a fan of sweet potatoes, you might also enjoy exploring other delightful recipes such as these Sweet Potato Cinnamon Pancakes, a comforting bowl of Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup, wholesome Sweet Potato Bowls, a hearty Lentil Sweet Potato Stew, or a flavorful Sweet Potato Chili.
Essential Recipe Ingredients
Crafting these perfectly Scalloped Sweet Potatoes requires a few simple yet impactful ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in creating the rich flavors and luxurious textures that define this dish. Below is a detailed look at what you’ll need; for precise measurements and printable instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
- Sweet Potatoes: The star of our show! We recommend using vibrant orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, such as Jewel or Garnet varieties, for their inherent sweetness and beautiful color. Ensure you peel them thoroughly before slicing. For perfectly even 1/2-inch thick slices, a mandoline slicer is your best friend. Uniform slices are crucial for even cooking, ensuring every piece becomes wonderfully tender.
- Heavy Cream: This is the secret to the dish’s incredibly creamy and rich consistency. Heavy cream provides a decadent base that infuses the sweet potatoes with moisture and flavor as they bake. While light cream could be used, it won’t yield the same luxurious texture. For alternatives, whole milk can work, though it will result in a lighter dish. Full-fat coconut milk is an excellent dairy-free substitute, imparting a subtle tropical note.
- Brown Sugar: Light brown sugar adds a deep, molasses-rich sweetness that complements the sweet potatoes beautifully. Its moist texture helps create a delightful glaze as it bakes. If you’re looking for substitutes, a drizzle of pure maple syrup or honey can offer similar natural sweetness and complex flavors. Adjust the amount to your preference for sweetness.
- Butter: Unsalted butter, sliced and distributed among the layers, melts into the cream and sugar mixture, enriching the sauce and adding another layer of comforting flavor. It helps to create that signature creamy, tender texture.
- Spices: A blend of ground cinnamon and ground cloves provides the warm, aromatic heart of this dish. Cinnamon offers sweet and woody notes, while cloves add a pungent, slightly peppery depth that pairs exquisitely with sweet potatoes. For an extra layer of warmth, a pinch of ground nutmeg would also be a fantastic addition, enhancing the overall festive flavor profile.
- Pecans: Chopped pecans are sprinkled generously over the top, delivering a crucial textural contrast. Their buttery, nutty flavor and satisfying crunch prevent the dish from being overly soft. You could also use chopped walnuts or almonds if pecans aren’t available or if you prefer a different nut. To enhance their flavor, consider toasting them lightly before adding them to the dish.
- Mini Marshmallows: The grand finale! Just before the final few minutes of cooking, mini marshmallows are scattered over the top and briefly broiled. They melt into a gloriously sticky, sweet, and slightly caramelized topping, adding a playful and utterly delicious finish that makes this dish truly special.
Crafting Your Scalloped Sweet Potato Masterpiece
Follow these simple steps to create a truly unforgettable scalloped sweet potato dish. The process is designed to be straightforward, ensuring delicious results every time.
Begin by preparing your oven and baking dish. Preheat your oven to a steady 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C). Then, take a 9×13-inch baking dish and lightly spray it with a non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking and ensure easy serving.
Step 1: Prepare and Layer the Sweet Potatoes: Start by peeling your sweet potatoes thoroughly. Once peeled, use a sharp knife or, ideally, a mandoline slicer to cut the sweet potatoes into uniform 1/2-inch thick slices. This consistency is key for even cooking. Arrange the sliced sweet potatoes in your prepared casserole dish, creating slightly overlapping layers. Once the sweet potatoes are in place, evenly drizzle the heavy cream over the entire surface. This cream will be the foundation of your creamy, rich sauce.
Step 2: Infuse with Sweet and Spicy Flavors: Now it’s time to add the signature sweet and spicy elements. Generously sprinkle the light brown sugar evenly over the sweet potato layers. Next, tuck the slices of butter strategically between the sweet potato slices. As the dish bakes, these butter pieces will melt, enriching the cream and sugar mixture. Finish this step by sprinkling the ground cinnamon and ground cloves across the top, ensuring every part of the dish will be infused with these warming spices.
Step 3: Add the Crunchy Pecans: For a delightful textural contrast, sprinkle the chopped pecans evenly over the sweet potato and spice mixture. These nuts will toast slightly as the dish bakes, adding a rich, nutty flavor and a satisfying crunch to the creamy potatoes.
Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection: Carefully place the casserole dish into your preheated oven. Bake for approximately 55-65 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender and thoroughly cooked through. Around the halfway point of the baking time, gently pull the dish out and drizzle some of the delicious accumulated sauce from the bottom of the dish over the top of the potatoes. This ensures the top layers remain moist and cook evenly. Once the sweet potatoes are tender, remove the casserole dish from the oven.
For the grand finale, change your oven setting to broil. Sprinkle the mini marshmallows evenly over the baked sweet potatoes. Return the dish to the oven under the broiler for just 1-2 minutes, or until the marshmallows puff up and turn a beautiful light golden brown. It is crucial to watch the marshmallows very closely during this process, as they can burn quickly. Once perfectly toasted, remove the dish and serve immediately for the ultimate gooey, sweet, and comforting experience!
Serving Suggestions for Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
These Easy Scalloped Sweet Potatoes are incredibly versatile and make a delightful side dish for almost any occasion. While they shine brightest during the holidays, their comforting flavors are perfect for weeknight dinners and special weekend roasts alike. Imagine pairing them with a perfectly cooked protein for a complete and satisfying meal.
- For a hearty weeknight dinner, serve them alongside my Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken. The tender chicken and sweet potatoes create a balanced and flavorful meal.
- Elevate your Sunday lunch or special occasion with these potatoes accompanying The Best Roast Beef Recipe. The sweet and savory notes complement the rich beef beautifully.
- They also pair wonderfully with poultry, such as my Slow Cooker Mediterranean Whole Chicken, adding a touch of sweetness to the savory herbs.
- During the holidays, these scalloped sweet potatoes are an absolute must. They are the perfect counterpart to a festive Apple Cider Glazed Ham or a show-stopping Herb Butter Roasted Turkey. The creamy texture and sweet topping perfectly balance the savory main courses, making your holiday feast truly memorable.
Make-Ahead Tip: To simplify your meal preparation, especially during busy holidays, you can easily assemble this entire dish in advance. Prepare all the layers of sweet potatoes, cream, sugar, butter, spices, and pecans, up to the point of placing it in the oven. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to bake, remove the dish from the refrigerator about 30 minutes beforehand to allow it to come closer to room temperature. Then, proceed with baking in the hot oven and finishing with the marshmallows as directed in the recipe card. This trick saves valuable time and ensures a stress-free cooking experience!
Recipe Tips & Modifications for Perfection
Achieving the perfect scalloped sweet potatoes is easy with a few helpful tips and potential modifications to suit your taste and dietary needs:
- Achieving Even Slices is Key: For beautifully cooked sweet potatoes that are uniformly tender, consistently sized slices are essential. While a sharp chef’s knife can work wonders with practice, a handheld mandoline slicer is the ultimate tool for this task. It ensures every slice is precisely 1/2-inch thick, guaranteeing even cooking and a lovely presentation.
- Mind the Spices: While cinnamon and cloves add wonderful warmth, ground cloves possess a potent flavor that can quickly overpower the delicate sweetness of the potatoes if used too liberally. Stick to the recommended quantities in the recipe to achieve a balanced and aromatic profile without any harshness. You can always add a tiny extra pinch of cinnamon if you prefer.
- Never Abandon the Broiler: The marshmallow topping transitions from perfectly golden and gooey to burnt and bitter in mere seconds under the broiler. Stay by your oven, actively watching the marshmallows. As soon as they reach your desired level of golden-brown perfection, remove the dish immediately.
- Customize Sweetness: If you prefer a less sweet dish, you can slightly reduce the amount of brown sugar. Alternatively, for those with a serious sweet tooth, a little extra brown sugar or a drizzle of maple syrup can be added.
- Toasted Pecans for Extra Flavor: For an even deeper, nuttier flavor, lightly toast your chopped pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes before adding them to the dish. Watch them carefully to prevent burning.
- Dairy-Free Option: To make this dish dairy-free, substitute the heavy cream with full-fat canned coconut milk (the kind used for curries, not the beverage). Use a plant-based butter alternative and ensure your marshmallows are gelatin-free (some brands are, like Dandies).
Storage Tips for Leftovers
Proper storage ensures you can enjoy any leftover scalloped sweet potatoes without sacrificing flavor or texture:
- Once cooked and fully cooled to room temperature, transfer any leftover scalloped sweet potatoes to an airtight container. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheating gently in the oven or microwave will help restore some of their warmth and flavor.
- We generally do not recommend freezing this dish. Sweet potatoes tend to become watery and mushy after freezing and thawing, and heavy cream-based sauces can sometimes separate or become grainy when frozen, impacting the overall texture and appeal of the dish. It’s best enjoyed fresh or from the refrigerator.
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
No, there is no need to parboil the sweet potatoes before baking them in this scalloped dish. They will become perfectly tender and cooked through during the baking process in the hot oven, absorbing all the delicious flavors of the cream and spices.
For the most evenly cut sweet potato slices, which are crucial for consistent cooking, we highly recommend using a mandoline slicer. If you don’t have one, a very sharp chef’s knife and a steady hand will also work. Aim for uniform slices, about 1/2-inch thick.
Absolutely! This recipe is excellent for make-ahead convenience. You can assemble the entire dish (without the marshmallows) up to 2 days in advance. Cover it tightly with foil and store it in the refrigerator. Remember to let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking, then proceed with the recipe as usual, adding the marshmallows for the final broiling step.
If marshmallows aren’t your preference, you can simply omit them! The dish will still be incredibly delicious with its creamy, spiced sweet potatoes and crunchy pecan topping. Alternatively, you could create a streusel topping with oats, brown sugar, butter, and a bit more cinnamon for a different kind of sweet crunch.
Yes, absolutely! Chopped walnuts or almonds would be excellent substitutes for pecans. They will add a similar texture and complementary nutty flavor. For an extra touch, you can lightly toast any nuts before adding them to enhance their aroma and taste.
Explore More Sweet Potato Delights
If you’ve fallen in love with the versatility and deliciousness of sweet potatoes, don’t stop here! Discover more exciting ways to incorporate this nutritious and flavorful root vegetable into your meals with these fantastic recipes:
Vegetarian
Sweet Potato Bowl
Air Fryer
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Vegetarian
Sweet Potato Lentil Curry
Mediterranean
Sweet Potato Soup with Lentils
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Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
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Ingredients
- 2 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into ½-inch thick slices
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 stick butter, sliced
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C) and spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with non-stick spray.
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Peel and slice the sweet potatoes into 1/2-inch thick slices. Place the sliced sweet potatoes into the prepared pan then drizzle the heavy cream evenly over the top.
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Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly on top, then arrange the slices of butter between the sweet potato slices.
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Generously sprinkle the ground cinnamon and cloves around on top, and follow with the chopped pecans.
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Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and cooked through. (Halfway through baking, drizzle some of the accumulated sauce from the bottom over the top of the potatoes to ensure even cooking.)
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Remove from the oven, then set the oven to broil. Sprinkle the mini marshmallows on top and broil for 1-2 minutes, or until the marshmallows are puffed and light golden. (Keep a very close eye on the potatoes during this process to prevent the marshmallows from burning.)
Notes
- You don’t need to parboil the sweet potatoes before roasting them in this dish. They are cooked to perfect tenderness in the hot oven within the creamy sauce.
- Always stay near your oven when broiling the marshmallows; they can burn very quickly and become bitter if left unattended.
- Make-Ahead: You can assemble the entire dish, up to the point of placing it into the oven to cook (before adding marshmallows). Cover it tightly with aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When ready to bake, remove the dish from the refrigerator 30 minutes beforehand to allow it to come to room temperature, then bake in the hot oven and finish the recipe as directed.
- Storage: Once cooked and cooled, these scalloped sweet potatoes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freezing is not recommended as sweet potatoes and cream-based sauces do not hold up well to freezing.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
We hope this detailed guide encourages you to try making these Easy Scalloped Sweet Potatoes. It’s a dish that embodies comfort, warmth, and festive cheer, making it a perfect addition to your culinary repertoire. Enjoy the process of creating this delightful side, and savor every sweet, creamy, and crunchy bite!