Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar Walnut Crust

As if the name isn’t a seller, this mashed sweet potato with brown sugar walnut crust has a mix of sweet and spicy. I add a little cayenne pepper to the sweet potatoes once they’re mashed and it gives a nice bite at the end. The key to the crunch is to roast the walnuts for a few minutes before crushing them and mixing them with the brown sugar mixture. Have I sold you on this dish yet?

This is a perfect Thanksgiving side dish, but you’ll notice I have it serving a smaller group below in the ingredients, but if you need more, just double the recipe.

recipes with rachel sweet potato with brown sugar walnut crust

Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar Walnut Crust

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes | Total time: 25 minutes

recipes with rachel sweet potato with brown sugar walnut crust

Ingredients

  • 4 potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tbs butter
  • 2 tbs maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch all spice
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper

For the crust:

  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup cup butter

Recipe

  • In a large pot of boiling water, add the sweet potato cubes. Boil until they’re soft and ready to be mashed.
  • While those are boiling, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  • Set the walnuts on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 5 minutes.
  • Once the 5 minutes are up, remove them from the oven and using a meat mallet or something hard, crush the walnuts into smaller pieces for a crush. Not too small though! You want to have a nice crunch with the sweet potatoes. Set the walnuts aside.
  • Back to the potatoes, drain all of the water and then put the potatoes back into the hot pot. Add in the 2 tbs of butter and using a mashing tool, mash the potatoes until all of the lumps are gone.
  • Add in the maple syrup, milk, vanilla extract, all spice and cayenne pepper. Stir until it’s all mixed up.
  • Spoon the sweet potatoes into your serving dish and then set aside.
  • For the crust: In a small bowl, melt the 1/4 cup butter.
  • Add in the flour and brown sugar into the melted butter and stir until it’s a smooth consistency.
  • Add in the walnuts and stir until all of the walnuts are coated.
  • Sprinkle the walnuts over the sweet potato dish.
  • Serve warm!

XO, Rachel

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