Southern Style Sweet Potato Casserole

Southern Style Sweet Potato Casserole : A Thanksgiving Delight

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays because it's all about family, food, and being thankful. What else could I want besides spices, veggies, and lots of butter? The mix of tastes at Thanksgiving is what I love most about it, but I also love sweet potato casserole. This is a side dish you don't see very often during the year, but it has to be there on Thanksgiving. This is the recipe I use every time.

Ingredients

For the Sweet Potato Filling:

• 4 cups of cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 1/3 cup of half-and-half
• 1/3 cup of softened butter
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt

For the Topping:

• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 1/3 cup of flour
• 1 1/2 cups of chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup of melted butter

Instructions

1. Preheat and Prep:
   • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
   • Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
2. Make the Filling:
   • In a large bowl, combine the cooked and mashed sweet potatoes, brown sugar, half-and-half, softened butter, egg, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
3. Transfer to Baking Dish:
   • Spread the sweet potato mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
4. Prepare the Topping:
   • In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, flour, chopped pecans, and melted butter until the mixture becomes crumbly.
5. Assemble the Casserole:
   • Sprinkle the topping mixture evenly over the sweet potato filling.
6. Bake:
   • Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is heated through.
7. Cool and Serve:
   • Let the casserole cool for at least 20 minutes before serving.

Tips for a Perfect Casserole

• Sweet Potatoes: Make sure your sweet potatoes are thoroughly cooked and mashed to avoid any lumps in the casserole.
• Topping: If you prefer a crunchier topping, you can add more nuts or even some granola.
• Serving: This dish pairs wonderfully with turkey, ham, and other Thanksgiving staples.

Why This Recipe is a Family Favorite

This Southern Style Sweet Potato Casserole combines the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes with the rich flavors of brown sugar and vanilla, all topped with a crunchy pecan crust. It's a perfect blend of textures and flavors that will leave everyone at your Thanksgiving table asking for seconds.