You’ll love how easily this side dish comes together with simple ingredients, and the only equipment you need is a vegetable peeler, a large pot, and a potato masher! For more delicious holiday side dishes, try my easy corn casserole recipe, creamy green bean casserole, and baked mac and cheese recipe.
What You Need to Make This Recipe
Sweet Potatoes – peel 4-6 medium potatoes, use a sharp knife to remove any dark spots if needed, and cut the potatoes into 1-inch cubes. I recommend using a kitchen scale to easily weigh this ingredient. Butter – unsalted butter is preferred for this recipe, but you can use salted butter if you have it. Serve with additional butter to add even more richness to the potatoes. Half-and-Half – half-and-half, whole milk, or heavy cream add moisture to make the mashed potatoes smooth and creamy. Maple Syrup – pure maple syrup compliments and enhances the natural sweetness of the potatoes for a side dish that’s both savory and slightly sweet. Substitute brown sugar if you prefer.
How to Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into cubes or roughly 1-inch pieces. Place in a large pot.
- Fill the pot with enough water until the potatoes are submerged by an inch and add 2 teaspoons of salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until fork tender, about 20 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes well and return them to the same pot. Cook on low heat while gently moving the sweet potatoes around for about a minute to dry off any excess water. Add the half-and-half, maple syrup, and butter.
- Mash with a potato masher to the desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm with extra butter and pepper, if desired.
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
Sharpen your knife. A sharp knife will help you cube the potatoes quickly and easily! After peeling, use the knife to cut off any dark spots or potato eyes before cutting potatoes into 1-inch pieces. Roasted potato option. If you prefer, you can make this recipe with roasted sweet potatoes instead of boiled. This method will add texture and a toasty flavor. Use heavy cream for a richer dish. If you prefer a richer, creamer texture, substitute an equal amount of heavy cream for the half-and-half. Add herbs or spices for a savory flavor. You can add herbs such as fresh thyme, basil, chives, or oregano, or their dried counterparts, for a more savory flavor. Finely chop any fresh herbs and stir them into the mashed sweet potatoes. Or try adding ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon for a fall flavor. Mash by hand. While some regular mashed potatoes are made utilizing a hand mixer or food processor to combine the ingredients, this recipe is best when mashed by hand. Mashing by hand gives you complete control over the texture and prevents overmixing which can make the potatoes gummy.
If you’ve tried this Mashed Sweet Potato recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
