Everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving side dish just got healthier! This healthy sweet potato casserole without marshmallowsis just as delicious as the classic recipe, but is much lower in sugar and made with a crunchy pecan topping. Sweetened with maple syrup and perfectly spiced, this easy recipe is sure to be a crowd-pleaser this holiday season! {Vegetarian, Dairy-free & Gluten-free}
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and pierce each one 2 or 3 times with a fork. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork. Set aside to cool.
Lower the heat of the oven to 350 degrees F. Mist a small rectangular or 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
Scoop the sweet potato flesh out of the skins and place into a medium bowl. Discard the skins. Mash the potatoes until smooth.
Add the maple syrup, egg, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, the nutmeg, ginger, salt and vanilla. Whisk the mixture until smooth.
Spread the sweet potato mixture into the prepare baking dish until evenly distributed.
Mix the coconut sugar, pecans and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon in a bowl; sprinkle evenly over the potato mixture.
Bake until hot and beginning to brown around the edges, about 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm.
Notes
Purchase sweet potatoes that are around the same size so that they finish baking in the oven at the same time.
I recommend baking the sweet potatoes in the oven before combining the ingredients for the casserole since roasting them helps to caramelize them and bring out their natural sweetness. For a faster method, you can dice and boil the sweet potato as well, but baking tends to produce a better flavour.
If you want the sweet potato mixture for the casserole to have a smoother consistency, you can whip it with an electric mixer, hand mixer or place it in a food processor until it’s smooth and creamy.
If you like even more spice, you can increase the amount of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger according to personal taste.
If the topping starts to brown too quickly in the oven, you can cover the dish with aluminum foil.