Meet Rachel
Rachel tritsch
Make Yourself at Home

I'm a self taught home cook, published recipe developer, wife and mom of 3 who enjoys helping other women find balance and joy in their life. I create simple recipes and enjoy showing fun and helpful ideas for families. More about Rachel…

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sweet potatoes and brown sugar walnut crust

Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Brown Sugar Walnut Crust

If you're looking for a fall side dish to bring and impress your people, this is it! It's sweet and has a little spice.

Cook Time

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Meal Type

Dinner, Sides

Protein

Vegetarian

Serves

3-5 servings

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 (not too much)
For the crust: 1 cup chopped walnuts, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 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! 
sweet potatoes and 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.

sweet potatoes and 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 (not too much)
For the crust: 1 cup chopped walnuts, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter