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These aren’t your basic roasted sweet potatoes. Pumpkin Pie Spice Melting Sweet Potatoes are crispy and buttery on the outside, tender on the inside, and literally melt in your mouth! And the pumpkin spice butter and maple syrup-glazed pecans will make them the Thanksgiving side dish that disappears first.
The Ultimate Thanksgiving Side Dish
After years spent trying to find the perfect side dish to feed a crowd, I think I might have finally stumbled upon my ultimate Thanksgiving sweet potatoes recipe. Dreamy aromas of pumpkin spice and the rich and smooth flavor of a sweet potato casserole come together in these delicious Pumpkin Pie Spice Melting Sweet Potatoes.
This is the best sweet potato recipe featuring warm spices and a buttery flavor in this version make it not only smell and taste amazing, but it’s an easy recipe for feeding a family of four or a gathering of 14 or, dare I say, 40! Yes, my sister even makes it for her Friendsgiving every year using a 5-pound bag of sweet potatoes, and it always disappears.
What Are Melting Sweet Potatoes?
Crispy on the outside, tender and caramelized on the inside, melting sweet potatoes literally melt in your mouth. Melting potatoes, or melting sweet potatoes, are typically made by tossing thick slices of sweet potatoes in oil or butter and roasting them at a high temperature; the combination of butter with the natural sweetness of roasted sweet potatoes results in their “melting” texture and rich flavor.
This isn’t your average sweet potato side dish! Melting potatoes are somewhere between roasted sweet potatoes and sweet potato casserole, and overall delicious on any occasion.
Recipe Ingredients
These Melting Sweet Potatoes are simple on paper, but not so simple that they can’t hold their own amongst the rest of any menu! Everyone is drawn in by the golden brown color, the glistening glazed pecans, and the aroma of warm autumn spices. These are the key ingredients for this special roasted sweet potato recipe (the full amounts are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post):
- Sweet Potatoes. Peeled and cut into slices approx. 1 inch thick for tender melting potatoes that have a bit of crunch.
- Land O’Lakes® Pumpkin Pie Spice Butter Spread. Land O’Lakes® make this recipe even easier with their limited edition pumpkin spice butter spread. However, if needed, you can make your own at home: mix together 6 Tablespoons of room-temperature, softened butter with 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice and an optional 1 teaspoon of brown sugar.
- Kosher Salt. Salt offsets the sweetness of these potatoes for the best balance of flavors.
- Apple Juice. Adds a burst of acidity and fall flavor to the maple syrup pecan glaze. In a pinch, lemon juice is the next best alternative!
- Maple Syrup. Pure, natural maple syrup (from the trees!) is the absolute best in terms of flavor.
- Chopped Pecans. Glazed pecans sprinkled overtop the sweet potatoes take this side dish to a whole other level.
How to Pick a Good Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes make excellent holiday sides in part because they’re in season from October through January. How do you pick the best sweet potatoes for baking? To pick out the perfect sweet potatoes for your Thanksgiving recipes, select those with unwrinkled skins free from blemishes. Also note that the larger the potato, the starchier, so opt for ones that are medium-sized.
How to Make Pumpkin Pie Spice Melting Sweet Potatoes
Some recipes for melting potatoes call for an oven as hot as 500°F! For this recipe, I opted for a slightly lower temperature and a slightly longer roasting time.
Prep and Preheat: To begin, preheat the oven to 425°F. Meanwhile, lightly coat a baking sheet with oil or cooking spray and set aside. Gather your peeled and sliced sweet potatoes in a large bowl and also set them aside for now.
Melt the Butter: In a smaller, separate bowl, gently melt the pumpkin spice butter in the microwave in short bursts. Alternatively, use a small pan on the stove over low heat— either way, keep a close eye so that the butter doesn’t heat too quickly!
Toss the Sweet Potatoes: Pour the melted butter over the sweet potatoes, give them a sprinkle of salt, and toss them well to ensure the potato slices are evenly coated.
Bake: Place potatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes on one side, then flip and bake the other side for another 20 minutes. It’s after this initial roasting that recipes vary, but for this version, we’re going after extra caramelized sweet potatoes that come from a final bake with a coating of glaze.
Top With Glazed Pecans: While the sweet potatoes are finishing up, in another small bowl, combine the apple juice, maple syrup, and pecans and give everything a good stir. Pour the glaze and pecans over the potatoes and return them to the oven for a few minutes longer, until the potatoes are tender and caramelized.
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips to ensure you have the best results with this glorious sweet potato recipe:
- Use the Right Baking Dish. When baking at such a high temperature, it’s important to use a proper dish that won’t shatter in high heat. For this reason, avoid glass baking dishes for this recipe.
- Save Your Leftovers. If you have leftover melted sweet potatoes, use these to make Maple Walnut Sweet Potato Hummus.
- Adapt for Different Diets. If you’re avoiding dairy, replace the butter with a vegan butter, or olive or avocado oil. You can also leave the nuts out in case of food allergies.
- Repurpose the Pumpkin Spice Butter. With your favorite warm autumn spices blended into a creamy, butter spread, you’ll be slathering Land O’Lakes Pumpkin Spice Butter on everything from bagels and toast to gluten free pancakes and even everyday baked sweet potatoes!
Serving Suggestions
This is such an effortless recipe for everyday dinners, pairing nicely with Slow Cooker Cranberry Balsamic Beef or even Gluten Free Popcorn Chicken. But naturally they are wonderful with that Thanksgiving roast turkey or even a nice Bottom Round Roast. So let’s round out that holiday meal…
More Thanksgiving Side Dish Ideas
- Potatoes. You can decide whether to stick with traditional mashed potatoes or try cheesy scalloped potatoes.
- Stuffing. A classic Gluten Free Stuffing is always a favorite, but Gluten Free Cornbread Stuffing has amazing fall flavor.
- Veggies. You’ll need an array on the table, so try irresistible combos like Brown Butter Peas and Carrots or Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash.
- Breads. Whether you have Gluten Free Crescent Rolls or Gluten Free Cornbread Muffins, try them both with Cranberry Orange Butter.
- Condiments. And it isn’t Thanksgiving without Turkey Gravy and tangy homemade Cranberry Sauce.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Store leftover sweet potatoes in an airtight container for 2-3 days (any longer and you’ll risk a mushy situation on your hands!). To reheat, place the melting sweet potatoes in a pan on low heat until they’re heated through and the edges have a chance to crisp up again.
Can I Freeze These?
You can roast the melting potatoes ahead of time and freeze them in a freezer-safe container. Thaw them overnight, then reheat them gently on the stove with a little bit of butter before topping them with the warm glaze. Just be careful that they don’t overcook when reheating!
More sweet potato recipes
- Chili Lime Roasted Sweet Potato Slices
- Gluten Free Scalloped Sweet Potatoes and Apples
- Potato and Sweet Potato Gratin with Goat Cheese
Pumpkin Pie Spice Melting Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch thick slices
- 6 Tablespoons Land O’Lakes® Pumpkin Spice Butter (or 6 Tablespoond butter and 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice plus an optional 1 teaspoon brown sugar)
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 cup apple juice
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F and coat a baking sheet with oil or cooking spray.
- Place the sweet potatoes in a large bowl.
- Gently melt the butter in a small bowl in the microwave or in a small pan on the stove over low heat. It melts fast, so watch closely.
- Pour the butter over the sweet potatoes, sprinkle with salt, and toss till they are evenly coated. Place potatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Bake at 425°F for 20 minutes. Flip and bake for another 20 minutes.
- In a small bowl, stir together the apple juice, maple syrup, and pecans. Pour over the potatoes and return to the over for another 5-10 minutes, until the potatoes are tender and caramelized.
Notes
Did you make this?
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Can you prep these the day before and simply reheat? Orrrr… maybe do the first 20 minutes the day before and the final steps just before dinner? Thank you so much!
Hi Karen,
Although I’ve never tried to make this dish ahead, I think the latter method of preparing everything except for ladling the sauce over them could be done ahead. Please let me know how it turns out!
… so I’ve looked everywhere and cannot find the Land O’Lakes pumpkin spice butter. Is there a way I can replicate the flavors?
Hi Stef,
I’m sorry that you can’t find the pumpkin spice butter. You could try to make your own by adding some pumpkin pie spice to softened butter!
Wow, thank you so much for this incredibly delicious recipe! It look scrumptious and I can’t wait to try it.
Oh my! This looks so good! Perfect for this time of year!
Love this way of preparing sweet potatoes!
These look absolutely heavenly!!
Oh my goodness! This is the perfect Thanksgiving dish. Thanks for sharing!
Oh my gosh, I am a HUGE fan of sweet potatoes. Pinned for Thanksgiving!!