Sweet Potato Casserole - A New Twist on a Classic

Contributed by Abby Miller, Maine SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator

Jingle all the way!

Just as we say goodbye to the Thanksgiving Turkey, we say hello to the December festivities, with a whole new round of parties, office get-togethers, and family gatherings. It’s time to take out our best recipes and make merry in the kitchen to have memorable meals with family and friends.

I would be hard-pressed to find an individual who isn’t searching for a holiday side dish home run of a recipe. So this month, I offer a new twist on a holiday favorite. It’s time to turn up your taste buds with this take on the classic sweet potato casserole!

Ingredients

• 4 large sweet potatoes

• 2 tablespoons butter (or margarine)

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1 cup quick oats

• 1 cup chopped pecans

• 1.5 cups whole cranberries

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon cardamom

• 1 teaspoon allspice

• ½ teaspoon salt

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grab 4 large whole sweet potatoes. Peel them, cut them into large cubes, and set them to boil in plain water for about 12 minutes (until tender). Drain and set them in a bowl for mashing. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 cup of brown sugar to the cooked sweet potatoes and mash together. When you reach your preferred smoothness, add in all your spices, and the 1 cup of quick oats and 1 cup of chopped pecans. Mash or stir until well combined. Then fold in the whole cranberries. Spray a 9x9 square baking dish with nonstick spray and add your sweet potato casserole mix.

Optional= You may garnish the top of the dish with decorative pecans and cranberries sprinkled with a little brown sugar or maple syrup with a few pats of butter to keep the top from burning.

Put the dish in the preheated oven for 35 min. And serve!

This re-energized take on a classic dish will get people asking for your cooking secrets. I hope the holiday season finds you happy and content, until we meet again!

Healthy Acadia’s Maine SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educators offer year-round cooking and nutrition classes in partnership with schools and organizations throughout Hancock and Washington counties. To learn more or schedule a class, contact Shannon (shannon.cherry@healthyacadia.org) or Andrea (andrea.coffin@healthyacadia.org) in Washington County, or Abby (abby.miller@healthyacadia.org) or Amy (amy.russell@healthyacadia.org) in Hancock County.