These Simple Mashed Sweet Potatoes are made with smooth cream, salty butter and warm spices making them tasty enough to be served with just about anything. They are easy-to-make and begging for a place at your dinner table. If you love Sweet Potato side dishes, try my Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Baked Candied Yams, Garlic Butter Sweet Potato Fries, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Candied Sweet Potatoes and Sweet Potato Casserole!
Give me death or give me sweet potatoes! Seriously y’all, I LOVE sweet potatoes! They can be made savory or sweet, they can be fried or baked but, most importantly, they can be mashed. Sweet potatoes take well to just about any flavor you throw at them; they’re unique and versatile. But when mashed, sweet potatoes are incredibly decadent in a way that can’t be beat.
With a few simple ingredients, you can make a rave-worthy side dish that can also improve your health! So grab those lonely sweet potatoes sitting in the produce basket and get to work.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF SWEET POTATO
Okay, so I’m not the most health-centric eater, sue me. I can’t help but preferring my fish fried, my burgers cheesy and my cakes doused in powdered sugar. But of course, as I get older, there’s only so much damage I can do without consequence.
So, I look to nutrient-dense, delicious food that tastes just as good as the bread-ey, sugary stuff. Sweet potatoes are sweet, starchy root vegetables that are grown worldwide. They come in a variety of shapes and colors: purple, orange and white.
Sweet potatoes are incredibly rich in antioxidants, fiber and vitamins (A, C, B6). Incorporating sweet potatoes in your diet can improve gut health, support healthy vision, boost your immune system and maybe, even enhance brain function.
I mean, need I say more?
HOW TO MAKE MASHED SWEET POTATOES
The best part about Mashed Sweet Potatoes? It’s a pantry friendly dish. I can guarantee that you have most of, if not all, of the necessary ingredients in your kitchen right now.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Sweet Potatoes
When buying your potatoes, look for red/orange sweet potatoes such as garnet, jewel or beauregard. These varieties offer the right amount of sweetness with a beautiful color to match.
Heavy Whipping Cream
After having been boiled and mashed, sweet potatoes have a naturally smooth texture. Adding a bit of cream makes for an even creamier consistency.
Seasonings
Cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and of course, salt, are the true heroes of this recipe. Their addition adds warmth and layers flavor without being overwhelming.
Brown Sugar
A little sugar never killed anyone, right? Brown sugar has a molasses, caramel-like flavor that plays with the sweetness of sweet potato perfectly.
CAN I MAKE VEGAN MASHED SWEET POTATOES?
Absolutely! I would suggest swapping out the heavy cream for coconut milk and the butter for your preferred vegan butter alternative. The rest of the ingredients are vegan!
STORING AND REHEATING MASHED POTATOES
When frozen, mashed sweet potatoes lose their smooth consistency and develop an icky texture. It’s best to store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
To reheat, I would suggest simply using a microwave. A couple minutes on high-heat will keep your mash intact.
If you don’t have a microwave the stovetop will work just fine. Use a non-stick sauce pan and add a bit of milk or butter. Give it a stir often to be sure the potatoes won’t stick to the bottom and burn.
GRANDBABY CAKES’ BEST SIDES
Sometimes, sides are the best part of a meal. Make this recipe and then make a few more.
This recipe goes really well with my Best Meatloaf recipe.
Here are some Grandbaby Cakes’ BEST sides dishes:
DELICIOUS POTATO STACKS
GARLIC MASHED POTATOES
SUCCOTASH RECIPE
AUNTIE ROSE’S SOUTHERN CORNBREAD
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs sweet potatoes up to 2 lbs/ (about 4 sweet potatoes), peeled and cut into 1” pieces
- 3 tbsp salted butter
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- dash of nutmeg
- butter for serving
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with sweet potatoes and water about an inch higher than potatoes. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until fork tender, about 15-20 minutes. Completely drain potatoes and place back into the pot.
- Using a hand mixer (or a hand masher), blend potatoes until mostly smooth.
- Next add butter, sugar, cream, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg and mix until well combined and potatoes are completely smooth then serve with butter.
WOW!!! This was so easy to prepare and a super delicious dish! It had all the flavors of a traditional sweet potato casserole. I tried this recipe in preparation for Christmas Dinner to see if I liked it and it checked all the boxes for my pallet. I forgot to add the nutmeg and didn’t have heavy cream so I just used a bit of Almond milk. I simply smashed the potatoes with a hand masher and stirred in the other ingredients….perfect!! Thank you for this recipe!
Oops, forgot to rate previously. An exceptional (and easy) recipe.
This recipe is PHENOMENAL. Everyone that I make it for raves about it, and it’s so easy. Thank you!!
Absolutely wonderful!! This was one of the sides I made for dinner today and even my hubby devoured these. I will probably even make these for Thanksgiving
I have a version of my mashed sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving. Make same as mashed potatoes, adding a small amount of chipotle with Adobe sauce..whoo!! So good! Not so hot, though.
One of my favourite side dishes. So creamy and delicious.
The added spices work so well. Absolutely my new favourite dish.
These mashed sweet potatoes have amazing flavor. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg sound like the perfect addition to sweet potato puree! LOVE this
These sound so delicious! I’m always looking for new ways to use sweet potatoes. Thanks for this recipe!