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These are the perfect Maple Cinnamon Mashed Sweet Potatoes for Thanksgiving or any holiday celebration. They are buttery and creamy with the best flavor from roasting the potatoes, then adding rich maple syrup and a hint of warm spices.
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Oven
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free, Dairy-free option
- Skill Level: Easy
Why You’ll Love These Mashed Sweet Potatoes
These maple cinnamon mashed sweet potatoes are a family favorite Thanksgiving and holiday side dish at my house. If you love the flavors of a nut-crusted sweet potato casserole, but want something a little lighter and less like dessert, this is a perfect middle ground.
These sweet potatoes have a touch of added sweetness and delicious maple flavor that’s not overwhelming. Ultimately, these are the perfect sweet-savory pairing with turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. And the prep is so easy! Here’s why they’ll be a favorite of yours too…
- Simple prep. Simply roast your whole sweet potatoes, peel them, and mash for a quick holiday side dish that’s mostly hands-off.
- Great flavors. They’re light, fluffy, and creamy, but not too sweet. Cinnamon adds a touch of warming spice to balance out the sweetness of maple syrup.
- Versatile. Plus, if you’re looking for some new ways to flavor or dress up your mashed sweet potato side dish, I’ve got you covered! Read on for easy ways to make this recipe vegan, to add some crunch or a bit of heat. This recipe has something for everyone at your holiday table.
Recipe Ingredients
Here’s an overview of what you need to make these mashed sweet potatoes, including substitutions. You can find the full amounts and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Large sweet potatoes. Choose orange sweet potatoes or yams.
- Butter. Use unsalted, and let it come to room temperature before adding it to the potatoes. Vegan butter or coconut oil can be substituted for a dairy free option.
- Milk. You can use any kind of milk you like, including nondairy milk. I like whole milk for the richness.
- Maple syrup. Make sure it’s the pure stuff, not imitation! Honey is another option for a slightly different flavor.
- Cinnamon. If you want a blend of spices, try adding pumpkin pie spice for a festive flavor.
- Salt and pepper.
- Thyme. I like to add fresh thyme leaves on top, but it’s optional. Or give them a sprinkle of parsley or sage.
How to Make Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Making whipped sweet potatoes is an easy and mostly hands-off process. After baking the whole potatoes, you’ll whip them with butter and maple syrup to a light and fluffy texture. Follow these simple recipe steps:
- Prepare for baking: Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- Prep the sweet potatoes: Using a fork or a sharp parking knife, pierce the skin of the potatoes all over.
- Bake the potatoes: Place the potatoes on a baking sheet on the center rack of the oven. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until you can easily pierce the potatoes with a fork. Slice the potatoes open and scoop the flesh into a large mixing bowl.
- Make the mash: Add the butter, milk, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Beat the potatoes with an electric hand mixer or mash with a potato masher until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve: If you like, top the potatoes with a pat of butter, and/or a sprinkle of pepper or fresh thyme leaves. Enjoy!
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips to make the best maple sweet potato casserole:
- Keeping the peels on the potatoes during roasting helps keep them moist so your mash is fluffy and smooth, not dry.
- Using real maple syrup will make a big difference in the flavor of the dish. Anything labeled “pancake syrup” or “breakfast syrup” is an imitation of the real stuff.
- If you use an electric mixer to whip the potatoes, they get nice and light and fluffy. However, a potato masher will do the trick!
- Try other methods. I like the oven-roasting method of cooking sweet potatoes for this mash, but if you’re cooking these for Thanksgiving or another holiday, you may not have space in your oven. If that’s the case, use one of these five easy methods to make soft, tender sweet potatoes.
- Make them vegan. It’s easy to make this recipe dairy-free if you like. Simply use vegan butter or coconut oil instead of butter. And swap the milk with coconut milk or another unsweetened non-dairy milk.
Flavor Variations
Here are a few flavoring options to switch things up:
- Browned butter maple cinnamon whipped sweet potatoes: Start by browning the butter in a skillet on the stove. When it’s nice and caramel colored, remove the butter from the heat and use it as described in the recipe.
- Nutty mashed sweet potatoes: Sprinkle the top of the dish with toasted pecans or hazelnuts.
- Honey cinnamon sweet potato mash: Substitute maple syrup for honey.
- Sweet and spicy sweet potatoes: Add a dash of cayenne pepper with the cinnamon.
Storing and Reheating Extras
- Fridge – Store leftover mashed sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
- Freeze – Let the cooked sweet potatoes cool fully. Then place them in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to three months. Defrost the sweet potatoes overnight in the fridge and reheat as described above.
- Reheat – To serve, reheat them in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval. You can also reheat them in a pot on the stove over medium-low heat. Just make sure to stir regularly to prevent burning.
Make it a Meal
I like to serve creamy sweet potato mash with a pat of butter on top (try Cranberry Orange Butter!). It melts for added flavor in every bite. This dish has a place at any Sunday dinner or holiday table alongside classic main dishes. Here are some serving suggestions…
- Chicken dinner. A weekend family meal doesn’t get better than Lemon Herb Crockpot Roast Chicken with Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes and Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts.
- Thanksgiving feast. Start with your classic Herb Roast Turkey, then add Gluten Free Stuffing and Air Fryer Green Beans.
- Holiday ham. It’s a simple and tasty meal when you make Air Fryer Ham with Cheddar Bacon Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes and Maple Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Butternut Squash.
- Traditional roast. You’ll impress with a Cranberry Garlic Crusted Prime Rib alongside Wild Rice Stuffing and Cranberry Balsamic Glazed Green Beans.
Maple Cinnamon Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 large sweet potatoes (about 3 pounds)
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter , softened to room temperature
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 Tablespoons real maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Salt and pepper , to taste
- Additional butter for topping , if desired
- Fresh thyme leaves , optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Using a fork or the tip of a sharp knife, pierce the skin of the potatoes in several different places. Place the potatoes on a baking sheet on the center rack of the oven and bake for 45-55 minutes, or until tender. Or use one of these other methods to make baked sweet potatoes.
- Slice open the potato and scoop the flesh into a large mixing bowl. Add the butter, milk, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Beat with an electric hand mixer until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve garnished with additional butter, if desired, and sprinkle of pepper or fresh thyme leaves.
Did you make this?
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