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    Home » Holidays

    Published: Nov 19, 2024 · by Angela · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Candied Sweet Potato & Marshmallow Casserole

    Jump to Recipe

    A classic Thanksgiving side dish is this Candied Sweet Potato with Marshmallows Casserole. They old school topping of mini marshmallows makes for a toasty, gooey, crunchy, and sweet treat. 

    Sweet Potato Marshmallow Casserole PN2 ready to eat with toasted marshmallows on top

    Why this Sweet Potato Marshmallow Casserole Recipe is Amazing: These sweet & savory yams also have apples & crunchy pecans for the ultimate holiday side dish.

    As a child (and still today) this is my favorite part of the meal at Thanksgiving. As someone that does not like pumpkin, I eat it as dessert too.  It's like a crustless apple sweet potato pie that you just cannot get enough of.  

    Sweet Potato Marshmallow Casserole featured overhead square casserole dish with toasted marshmallows on top

    This recipe like my Whipped Sweet Potatoes is a great way to get a ton of Vitamin A & C in your diet, and both pair well with Air Fryer Pork Chops. Ok, now we cook!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole
    • Temperature & Time to Cook
    • Substitutions & Variations
    • What to Serve with Candied Sweet Potatoes
    • Storing & Reheating
    • FAQ
    • Candied Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows
    • More Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas

    Ingredients

    For this classic Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole, you will need mostly pantry items and only a few fresh ones. You can shop for these items before the Thanksgiving grocery store madness begins, which is a life-saver for many who hate the crowds and lines.

    Make sure you get the canned sweet potatoes in syrup. The most common brands will be Bruce's or Princella. You can also cube & cook from fresh by using my Instant Pot Cubed Sweet Potato recipe.

    This recipe has no eggs. It does not have orange juice, cream, or milk. There is also no mashing needed to make this recipe.

    Sweet Potato Marshmallow Casserole ingredients

    Here are the ingredients needed to make this recipe:

    • Canned Sweet Potatoes/Yams - drain them and cut into smaller bite-sized pieces.
    • Apples - tart baking apples to balance the sugar & sweet marshmallows is best; granny smith, fuji, golden delicious, or honeycrisp work best.
    • Pecans - for crunchy texture.
    • Brown Sugar - for that candied sweet flavor.
    • Cinnamon - perfect spice for holiday pie-like flavor.
    • Butter - works with the brown sugar to caramelize.
    • Mini Marshmallows - the small ones are best for topping.

    See the recipe card for quantities & substitutions/variations.

      How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole

      In kindergarten, a cookbook was created by the teacher asking us all to tell her how to make our favorite recipe. Mine was this but back then at age 5 I called it "Goodie Casserole" and I said to cook it at 17°.  Well, rest assured I know how to cook this now and it's not frozen at 17°.

      There is not much to prepping this quick & easy candied yam casserole recipe.  To make this, start by preheating the oven to 350°.  Also, spray an 8x8" casserole dish with nonstick spray.

      While the oven warms up, core and chop up the apples. You want chunks about ½" in size. You can peel them or leave the peel on; however, baked apples will work in this recipe.  Now, chop the pecans if they are not already in pieces. You want big chunks and some are ok if they are in whole halves.
      Sweet Potato Marshmallow Casserole peel and dice apples
      Drain the yams and add them to the casserole dish. There will be large & small chunks in the can. Use a knife to cut the bigger ones, you want the chunks to be about 1-2" in size. They do not need to be all the same exact size just keep them in that range.
      Once the yams are ready and in bite-sized chunks, sprinkle the apple chunks & pecan pieces over the yams in an even layer.  Next, sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon evenly over all the ingredients. Lastly, dice the butter into smaller chunks to get about 12 small pieces. Evenly distribute the small butter pats over the top of the entire casserole dish.

      Sweet Potato Marshmallow Casserole ingredients in the pan ready to bake

      Temperature & Time to Cook

      NOTE - **  You can also just bake the marshmallows instead of a toasted layer as seen here. To do that, simply add the marshmallows now for the baking process, instead of broiling them at the end.**

      Bake on the center rack in the oven at 350° for 20-25 minutes. The apples should be soft and the brown sugar juices should be bubbling. Remove the casserole dish using an oven mitt from the oven. Now is the time for that magical marshmallow layer.  Carefully sprinkle the mini marshmallows over the top of the casserole.  Put as many as you want but at least half the bag of the 10oz size.
       
      Sweet Potato Marshmallow Casserole partially baked and marshmallows added on the top

      Toast the Marshmallows on Sweet Potato Casserole

      To get that roasted marshmallow goodness, you will be broiling them.  So at this time, change the oven to broil, on low. On a top rack of the oven place the casserole to broil the marshmallows slowly. You want it to be at least 4-6" from the top broiler element in your oven.

       

      DO NOT STEP AWAY, leave the oven door ajar and watch the marshmallows as they toast. You may need to rotate the pan to get an even toast. Once they are to your desired doneness, remove them using an oven mitt.

      We love them well done and the marshmallows roasted to a dark brown almost burnt texture.  We are that family that loves when we are roasting marshmallows over a campfire and they catch on fire.  Oh sooo crispy on the outside and gooey marshmallow heaven on the inside.

       
      Sweet Potato Marshmallow Casserole ready to serve hot from the oven

      Substitutions & Variations

      • Canned Yam - if you want to use fresh instead of canned or try diced up leftover Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes.
      • Pecans - you can use chopped walnuts instead. If you have a nut allergy and want a nut-free version but still want crunch, add roasted shelled pumpkin seeds. 
      • Spicy - if you want a bit of kick to this sweet and savory combination, add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper sprinkled and stirred in well. 
      • Vegan - use margarine instead of butter & a vegan brown sugar brand like Wholesome Sweeteners. Use a gelatin-free marshmallow like Yummallo.

      This recipe is already vegetarian and gluten-free as written.

      What to Serve with Candied Sweet Potatoes

      Make sure you have this on holidays with turkey that you dry brine for the juiciest bird ever. Or try my recipe for turkey breast, chicken, pork/ham, and beef. And don't forget some Slow Cooker Apple Cobbler for dessert.

      • 20-Pound Oven Roasted Turkey
      • Grilled Tri-Tip Steak
      • Cast Iron Chicken Breasts
      • Spiral Ham

      Storing & Reheating

      This casserole can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer easily. Place it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freezer for 30 days.

      To reheat sweet potato casserole, microwave individual servings for 1 minute. 

      Sweet Potato Marshmallow Casserole PIN ready to eat with toasted marshmallow topping

      FAQ

      Can I use mini or large marshmallows?

      This casserole calls for mini marshmallows as a topping. They melt quickly and create a thin gooey layer on top. If you want a thick marshmallow layer you can use big marshmallows.

      Keep in mind they may toast on the top but not be warm & gooey at the bottom. I suggest broiling with the rack 2 rows down so the marshmallows do not burn when close to the broiler cooking element.

      Is this recipe healthy?

      Sweet potatoes are a healthy food. However, with the added brown sugar and marshmallows, this casserole recipe is not considered healthy. To be honest, this is like a crustless sweet potato pie - it is that sweet & yummy.

      Can I use fresh vs canned sweet potatoes?

      Yes, you can use freshly baked, steamed, or cooked sweet potatoes as a substitute for yam in syrup. Dice them into medium-sized chunks and add them to the rest of the ingredients.

      Can this be frozen?

      You can freeze both leftover and made-ahead marshmallow sweet potato casserole. To freeze leftovers that have already been cooked, place them in an air-tight container and freeze them for up to a month.

      Can this be made ahead of time?

      Making this sweet potato casserole for meal planning is easy.  It is also a great way to get ahead of all the holiday cooking.

      Combine all the ingredients in the casserole dish except the mini marshmallows.  Place a lid on the casserole dish or wrap it in plastic wrap and then foil to make it air-tight. You can freeze this for up to 3 months.

      When you want to cook frozen sweet potato casserole, defrost it in the refrigerator for 2 days.  Once thawed, bake per the recipe and top with the marshmallows.

      Why Do We Add Marshmallows to Sweet Potatoes?

      I am not exactly sure but it sure is great.  I think Thanksgiving often has a reputation for being decadent and the ultimate feast of the year. 
      So to up the sweetness in the potato dish and have a pretty topping with a yum factor. A more historical fact-checking reason origin of marshmallows in a savory dish goes back to the creation of a recipe booklet to promote more ideas for using them back in 1917.

      Are Sweet Potatoes & Yams the Same?

      Sweet potatoes and yams are actually different vegetables. Learn all about the difference between a sweet potato and a yam. However, the canned yams we find in America are often actually sweet potatoes.  So I will use the terms interchangeably here.

      Sweet Potato Marshmallow Casserole PINREDO overhead of yams casserole with browned marshmallows as a topping
      Sweet Potato Marshmallow Casserole featured overhead square casserole dish with toasted marshmallows on top

      Candied Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows

      Angela
      The classic candied yams recipe is this easy sweet potato casserole with mini marshmallows. A sweet side dish perfect for holidays, especially Thanksgiving or Christmas. It has been a tradition since I was a kid to enjoy this every year with our Thanksgiving turkey. The apples, pecans, and dash of cinnamon make this the best sweet potato marshmallow casserole.
      Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share on Facebook
      Prep Time 15 minutes mins
      Cook Time 30 minutes mins
      Course Side Dish
      Cuisine American
      Servings 8
      Calories 282 kcal

      Equipment

      • 8x8 casserole dish

      Ingredients
        

      • 29oz canned sweet potatoes/yams in syrup drained
      • 4 tablespoons salted butter
      • 4 small apples, cored, peeled, & cut into chunks about 1 ½ cups
      • ¼ cup packed brown sugar
      • ½ cup salted roasted pecans pieces or chopped in big chunks
      • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
      • ½ 10oz - package mini marshmallows about 3 cups
      Prevent your screen from going dark

      Instructions
       

      • Preheat oven to 350°
        Spray an 8x8" casserole dish with nonstick spray.
      • Core and chop up the apples. You want chunks about ½" in size. You can peel them or leave the peel on; however, you like baked apples will work in this recipe.
        Chop the pecans if they are not already in pieces. You want big chunks and some are ok if they are in whole halves.
      • Drain the yams and add them to the casserole dish. There will be large & small chunks in the can. Use a knife to cut the bigger ones, you want the chunks to be about 1-2" in size. They do not need to be all the same exact size just keep them in that range.
      • Sprinkle the apple chunks & pecan pieces over the yams in an even layer.
      • Dice the butter into smaller chunks to get about 12 small pieces. Evenly distribute the small butter pats over the top of the apples and yams.
        Sprinkle on the brown sugar and cinnamon evenly over all the ingredients.
      • Bake on the center rack in the oven at 350° for 20-25 minutes. The apples should be soft and the brown sugar juices should be bubbling. Remove the casserole dish using an oven mitt from the oven.
      • Carefully sprinkle the mini marshmallows over the top of the casserole.
      • Change the oven to broil, on low. On a top rack of the oven place the casserole to broil the marshmallows slowly. You want it to be at least 4-6" from the top broiler element in your oven.
        DO NOT STEP AWAY, leave the oven door ajar and watch the marshmallows as they toast. YOu may need to rotate the pan to get an even toast. Once they are to your desired doneness, remove using an oven mitt.
      • Let it rest for about 5 minutes as it will be piping hot. This also helps the brown sugar juices set up a bit to more of a syrup vs a thin liquid. Serve and enjoy.

      Notes

      STORING:
      • Store for up to 5 days in the refrigerator or 30 days in the freezer. 
      • Reheat in the microwave, 1 minute per serving. 

      Nutrition

      Calories: 282kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 2gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 57mgPotassium: 973mgFiber: 7gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 364IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 1mg
      Keyword Autumn, baked, broil, christmas, fall, fruit, holiday, marshmallow, nuts, orange, oven, sweet, sweet potato, thanksgiving, toasted, vegetable, yam
      Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

      More Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas

      Here are some yummy recipes that will go well with this sweet potato casserole. For a wonderful Thanksgiving meal, serve these along with this recipe for a memorial holiday.

      • GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST SWEET POTATO PIE
      • CRANBERRY SAUCE WITH DRIED CRANBERRIES
      • Graham Cracker Crust Sweet Potato Pie Featured Slice plated with whole pie in background sideview.
        Graham Cracker Crust Sweet Potato Pie
      • Caramelized Brussel Sprouts with Brown Sugar, Bacon, & Blue Cheese featured
        Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Brown Sugar, Bacon, & Blue Cheese
      • Cranberry Sauce from Dried Cranberries featured overhead in white bowl topped with orange zest.
        Cranberry Sauce from Dried Cranberries
      • 6 different Oreo cookies decorated like 3 different style Thanksgiving turkeys.
        Oreo Turkeys (3 ways) 

       

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      Hi, I'm Angela I’m Angela, a petite mom that loves to cook, eat, drink, & explore all things food. As a former personal chef & caterer, I specialize in family recipes that taste great & are easy to make. I rely on my trusty stool every day to create & test recipes I know you will love.

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