Take your Thanksgiving celebration to new heights by exploring beyond traditional sweet potato pie. Discover a world of delightful sides and desserts that showcase this versatile root vegetable’s incredible versatility. From blending it into savory breads and biscuits to incorporating it into decadent cakes, casseroles, and pies, there’s no limit to the creative possibilities.
When paired with complementary flavors like tangy cranberry and warm spices, sweet potatoes become a game-changer for any holiday gathering. With 25 innovative Thanksgiving sweet potato recipes at your disposal, you’ll be well on your way to crafting an unforgettable seasonal celebration that will leave even the most discerning guests in awe.
Southern Sweet Potato Pie
This holiday season, draw inspiration from the heartwarming traditions of the deep South with a classic Southern sweet potato pie. While simplicity is key, this indulgent dessert delivers on its promise of satisfying sweetness. A harmonious blend of fresh sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, flour, and warm spices yields a moist cake that effortlessly pairs with any festive gathering.
Sweet Potato Muffins
Hosting Thanksgiving means more than just serving dinner. The evening can unfold with guests seeking snacks, family members inquiring about breakfast plans, and friends lingering for brunch. I’ve come to realize that it’s essential to have a stash of snackable treats readily available, as unexpected cravings often arise. To prepare for such moments, I’m whipping up a large batch of sweet potato muffins.
Not only do they provide a creative outlet for leftover sweet potatoes, but they’re also ridiculously tasty.
Sweet Potato Pound Cake
The addition of sweet potato to baked goods is a game-changer, imparting a silky smooth texture and tender crumb reminiscent of banana or apple sauce-infused treats. This moist and flavorful pound cake is no exception, featuring a generous amount of mashed sweet potato blended with the usual suspects: flour, butter, vanilla, and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
To add an extra layer of depth, the finished product is drizzled with a syrupy glaze crafted from sugar, freshly squeezed orange juice, and a hint of citrusy zest.
Sweet Potato Bites
Sweet potato bites delightfully capture the essence of being both visually appealing and tantalizingly tasty. Their humble nature belies their simplicity, requiring only a few effortless steps: slicing sweet potatoes into thick rounds and topping them with a drizzle of maple syrup and toasted marshmallows. The end result is a treat that’s as easy to prepare as it is to devour.
Sweet Potato Cheesecake
Indulge in the creamy delight of this light-tasting cheesecake that simply dissolves on your palate. The harmonious union of a velvety sweet potato filling and a rich buttery gingersnap crust makes it an undeniable crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re craving something to follow dinner or seeking a guilt-free treat after a sumptuous turkey feast, this decadent dessert is the perfect companion for any time of day.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Maple Butter
The allure of caramelized potatoes is undeniable. Imagine perfectly roasted tubers, transformed from starchy and pale to tender and golden, before being elevated by a rich maple cinnamon butter. The resulting fusion of sticky sweetness and velvety softness makes them the perfect accompaniment to a sumptuous Thanksgiving celebration.
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
As a result of baking sweet potatoes twice, you can unlock their full potential. The second round of baking transforms the filling into a silky smooth delight, while the skin becomes even crisper and more indulgently chewy. When infused with the sweet flavors of brown sugar, toasted pecans, and warm cinnamon, these sweet potatoes take on an irresistible charm, making them a compelling alternative to traditional casserole or roasted potato sides.
Sweet Potato Bread
Indulge in the irresistible charm of this chunky sweet bread, which strikes the perfect balance between sweet and savory notes. Its moist texture makes it an excellent way to incorporate more vegetables into meals for even the pickiest of eaters. With its natural sweetness derived from a blend of warming spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves, this sweet treat bears similarities to both carrot cake and pumpkin bread.
Sweet Potato Apple Butter Casserole
Indulge in the warm, comforting delight that is this casserole, a symphony of textures and flavors that’s sure to be a Thanksgiving showstopper. The combination of apple butter, sweet potato puree, cream, honey, and brown sugar creates a rich, indulgent side dish that’s almost too good to be true. And just when you think it can’t get any better, a sprinkle of crunchy pecans adds the perfect finishing touch, inviting you to take another bite.
Mini Sweet Potato Pies
Hosting Thanksgiving for a large crowd can be overwhelming. However, by making some thoughtful preparations, you can ease the burden. One such strategy is to prepare make-ahead pies that require minimal effort on the actual holiday. While there’s some initial prep work involved, you can complete most of it days in advance. If you’re really organized, you can even prepare the filling weeks ahead and freeze it until needed.
The real showstopper is the pie’s creamy filling, which combines sweet potato puree with a medley of aromatic spices – vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg – along with eggs and evaporated milk. This heavenly blend will surely impress your guests.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potato casserole gets a modern twist with the addition of a rich brown sugar and crunchy pecan topping, offering a delightful contrast of textures and flavors. The smooth, creamy potatoes provide a velvety base for the nutty, caramelized topping to shine. This comprehensive recipe walks you through every step, from preparing the sweet potatoes to achieving that golden-brown perfection.
Bonus tips reveal how to take things to the next level by swapping out the pecans for a decadent marshmallow layer, adding an extra layer of indulgence.
Candied Sweet Potatoes
As the holiday season approaches, there’s no shortage of reasons to crave sweet and satisfying sweet potatoes. These caramelized delights are a masterclass in balance, boasting a rich buttery flavor, a hint of creamy texture, and subtle notes of vanilla, warm spices, and maple syrup that will leave you wanting more.
But what sets them apart from your average candied sweet potatoes is the unexpected yet harmonious addition of orange zest, fresh rosemary, and sea salt, which lends an extra layer of depth and complexity to these sweet spuds.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
While simplicity can often be a hallmark of the best casseroles, this recipe takes it to the next level. By leveraging the natural flavors of fall, it’s a dish that’s both effortless and packed with taste. And, if you’re short on time, using canned yams instead of sweet potatoes is a game-changer. Simply spread mashed sweet potatoes in a casserole dish, then top with toasted marshmallows and a crunchy brown sugar streusel.
The harmonious combination of creamy potatoes, gooey marshmallows, and satisfying crunch will leave your Thanksgiving guests clamoring for seconds.
Cranberry Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes and tart cranberries form an harmonious union, where the natural sweetness of the former is beautifully balanced by the tanginess of the latter. This side dish boasts a trifecta of cranberry forms: juice, dried fruit, and sauce. The berries are artfully scattered over sliced sweet potatoes, while the liquid and sauce components combine to create a rich cranberry glaze.
A medley of spices – cinnamon, cloves, and orange – adds depth and warmth to the syrup, which is then poured over the casserole before baking, elevating the flavors to new heights.
Garlic Butter Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
If you’re a sweet potato enthusiast who prefers savory flavors, then this herby recipe is a must-try for your Thanksgiving gathering. The aromatic garlic butter infuses the potatoes with an abundance of fragrant goodness as they bake to perfection. When combined with cream and parmesan cheese, the dish transforms into a rich, creamy casserole that’s sure to become a staple on your family’s Sunday dinner table long after the holidays have passed.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
This Thanksgiving, take a trip back to basics with a timeless baked potato recipe that’s sure to please even the most discerning sweet potato enthusiasts. While it’s true that modern twists can elevate this classic dish, sometimes all it takes is a simple yet thoughtful approach to bring out its natural sweetness. A light drizzle of oil, a sprinkle of fresh herbs or bold spices, and some quality time in the oven are all it needs to become a truly unforgettable side dish.
Sweet Potato Souffle
When you’re hosting dinner for your in-laws or trying to impress work colleagues, a show-stopping dessert can be the key to making a lasting impression. One such dish that’s sure to wow is an airy soufflé. Not only are they incredibly light and indulgent, but when served in individual ramekins, they also exude elegance and sophistication, making them perfect for any special occasion or holiday gathering.
The subtle hint of pumpkin pie spice adds a delightful twist to these pillow-like, cloud-soft treats.
Southern Sweet Potato Cake
When it comes to impressing a large group of friends or family, this stunning layered cake is the perfect choice. Its tender sponge is infused with the warmth of sweet potato and cinnamon, creating a delightful contrast in flavors. The moist cake layers are elegantly sandwiched together by a rich honey cinnamon buttercream, which also gets applied generously on top to create a luscious and creamy frosting.
What’s more, this cake lends itself beautifully to advanced preparation – simply bake the two layers ahead of time, freeze them until needed, and let the finished dessert benefit from an added depth of flavor and a sumptuous texture.
Sweet Potato Marshmallow Bars
Imagine sinking your teeth into a delightful fusion of flavors and textures – the tender sweetness of sweet potatoes, the crunch of biscuit crumbs, and the fluffy softness of marshmallows. These bite-sized treats are essentially single-serve versions of classic sweet potato casserole, with each layer carefully crafted to create a harmonious blend. Serve them chilled and top with a dollop of whipped cream for an extra-special treat that’s reminiscent of cheesecake bars.
Texas Roadhouse Loaded Sweet Potato
Indulge in loaded sweet potatoes this holiday season, and ditch the ordinary ones! These sweet treats are piled high with honey-cinnamon butter, caramel, and an abundance of gooey marshmallows. While they’re more like a dessert than a traditional side dish, there’s no better time to treat yourself than during the holidays. If you can’t justify eating dessert for dinner on Thanksgiving, when exactly do you plan on indulging?
Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole
As the whirlwind of holiday preparations descends upon us, it’s easy to get caught up in the chaos and lose sight of the bigger picture: enjoying quality time with loved ones. One way to simplify your Thanksgiving celebration is by leveraging the convenience of a slow cooker. Simply load up the device with sweet potatoes, butter, brown sugar, spices, and marshmallows, then let it do its magic. A few hours later, you’ll be rewarded with a delectable casserole that’s ready to devour.
With minimal fuss and no mess in sight, you can focus on what truly matters – sharing warmth and laughter with those around you.
Whipped Sweet Potatoes
Savoring the warmth and comfort of a classic Thanksgiving dish, whipped sweet potatoes are a true delight. With just seven ingredients, this recipe is a breeze to prepare, using items you likely already have on hand. The magic happens when you combine cooked sweet potatoes with butter, cream, and seasonings, blending or mashing to your heart’s content. But here’s the best part – this recipe is incredibly versatile.
Feel free to tailor the flavor profile by adjusting seasonings for a sweeter or more savory taste. And don’t be afraid to experiment with different textures too, whether you prefer chunky or smooth sweet potatoes. The beauty of cooking lies in its flexibility, and this recipe is no exception.
