Description
This Hot Honey Sweet Potato Casserole is a delightful twist on a classic comfort dish, combining the natural sweetness of tender mashed sweet potatoes with a spicy-sweet hot honey glaze and a crunchy pecan-cornflake topping. Perfect for holiday dinners or cozy family meals, this casserole offers a balance of creamy texture and a spicy crunch that elevates the traditional sweet potato casserole into a flavorful treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potato Mixture
- 3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- ½ cup hot honey
- ½ cup butter
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Topping
- ¼ cup hot honey
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 cups corn flakes
- ½ cup pecans
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9 inch by 13 inch baking dish and set it aside to prepare for the casserole assembly.
- Cook Sweet Potatoes: Bring a large pot of water to a boil on the stovetop. Add the peeled and cubed sweet potatoes and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until they are fork-tender. Drain the potatoes thoroughly using a colander.
- Mash Sweet Potatoes: In a large bowl or the pot used for boiling, combine the cooked sweet potatoes with ½ cup hot honey, ½ cup butter, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Mash the mixture using an electric hand mixer or a potato masher until smooth and well combined.
- Assemble Base Layer: Spread the mashed sweet potato mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, forming the base layer of the casserole.
- Prepare Topping Mixture: Melt the remaining ¼ cup butter in a medium bowl. Stir in the remaining ¼ cup hot honey and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon until fully combined.
- Crush Topping Ingredients: Crush the corn flakes and pecans together by either pulsing in a food processor or placing them in a large zipper bag and using a heavy rolling pin to break into coarse crumbs. Mix the crushed corn flakes and pecans into the melted butter and hot honey mixture, creating the crunchy topping.
- Add Topping: Sprinkle the crunchy pecan and corn flake topping evenly over the sweet potato layer in the baking dish.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, until the topping is golden and crispy.
- Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven. Optionally, drizzle extra hot honey over the top before serving to enhance the spicy sweetness.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of hot honey to control the level of sweetness and heat according to your preference.
- To make this dish nut-free, substitute pecans with additional corn flakes or toasted oats.
- For a vegan version, use plant-based butter and ensure the hot honey is replaced with a vegan-friendly spicy syrup.
- Corn flakes can be substituted with crushed gluten-free cereal if gluten sensitivity is a concern.
- Be sure to taste the mashed sweet potatoes before assembling; you can add more cinnamon or salt if needed.
