Southern Maple Sweet Potato Casserole – A Cozy, Classic Holiday Favorite

When the holidays roll around, there’s one dish that captures the heart of every Southern table: Southern Maple Sweet Potato Casserole. This comforting classic combines creamy mashed sweet potatoes, real maple syrup, warm spices, and a buttery pecan topping that crisps to golden perfection in the oven. It’s sweet, nutty, and nostalgic — a perfect balance between side dish and dessert.

Whether you grew up enjoying this casserole on Thanksgiving or you’re adding it to your Christmas spread for the first time, this recipe promises that signature Southern warmth in every bite.

Let’s dig into the ultimate version — made from scratch with rich maple flavor and that irresistible crunchy pecan crust.

🧈 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Authentic Southern Flavor: Sweet potatoes, maple syrup, brown sugar, and pecans — a tried-and-true combination straight from the heart of Southern kitchens.
• Creamy & Crunchy Contrast: The velvety smooth filling meets a buttery, crisp topping — pure holiday harmony.
• Easy to Prepare: Just mix, bake, and serve! It’s elegant enough for a holiday table yet simple enough for a weeknight comfort meal.
• Make-Ahead Friendly: You can assemble it the night before and bake fresh the next day — a host’s best friend during the holidays.
• Customizable Sweetness: Keep it light and wholesome or make it indulgent with extra sugar or a layer of gooey marshmallows.

🥄 Ingredients

For the Sweet Potato Base:

• 4 large sweet potatoes (about 3 pounds)
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup pure maple syrup
• ⅓ cup brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup whole milk or cream
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg

For the Pecan Topping:

• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ⅓ cup brown sugar, packed
• ¼ cup pure maple syrup
• ¼ cup melted butter
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• Pinch of salt

Optional Topping Variation:

• 1 cup mini marshmallows (for a sweet, gooey twist)

🕒 Instructions

1. Prep the Sweet Potatoes:
   Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Peel and cube sweet potatoes. Place them in a large pot of salted water and bring to a boil. Cook for 15–20 minutes until tender. Drain well.
2. Mash and Mix:
   In a large bowl, mash sweet potatoes until smooth. Add softened butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, milk, eggs, vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix until fully combined and creamy.
3. Transfer to Baking Dish:
   Grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish with butter or nonstick spray. Spread the sweet potato mixture evenly in the dish.
4. Prepare the Pecan Topping:
   In a separate bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, maple syrup, melted butter, and chopped pecans. Stir until crumbly and well-coated.
5. Add the Topping:
   Sprinkle the pecan mixture evenly over the sweet potato layer. For extra sweetness, scatter mini marshmallows on top during the final 10 minutes of baking.
6. Bake to Perfection:
   Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and slightly bubbling around the edges.
7. Cool Slightly & Serve:
   Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving. The aroma of maple and toasted pecans will fill your kitchen — and your heart.

Southern Maple Sweet Potato Casserole

Creamy, buttery, and topped with a golden maple pecan crumble — this Southern Maple Sweet Potato Casserole is a true holiday classic that brings warmth to every table.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Servings: 8 people

Course: Dessert, Side Dish

Cuisine: Holiday, Southern

Calories: 320

Ingredients

  

Sweet Potato Base

• 4 large sweet potatoes peeled and cubed
• 0.5 cup unsalted butter softened
• 0.5 cup pure maple syrup
• 0.33 cup brown sugar packed
• 0.5 cup milk or cream
• 2 eggs large
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
• 0.25 tsp ground nutmeg

Pecan Topping

• 0.5 cup all-purpose flour
• 0.33 cup brown sugar packed
• 0.25 cup pure maple syrup
• 0.25 cup melted butter
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 pinch salt

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• 9×13-inch baking dish
• Potato masher
• Electric mixer

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Boil peeled and cubed sweet potatoes until tender, then drain.
3. Mash sweet potatoes and mix with butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, milk, eggs, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
4. Spread mixture evenly into the baking dish.
5. Mix topping ingredients: flour, brown sugar, maple syrup, melted butter, pecans, and salt.
6. Sprinkle topping evenly over sweet potatoes.
7. Bake 30–35 minutes until golden brown and bubbling. Add marshmallows during last 10 minutes if desired.

Notes

Add orange zest or marshmallows for a twist on this Southern classic.

🍁 Tips for the Best Southern Maple Sweet Potato Casserole

1. Use Fresh Sweet Potatoes:
   Skip the canned kind for the best texture and flavor. Roasting your potatoes before mashing adds even more caramelized depth.
2. Don’t Overmix:
   Blend just until smooth — overmixing can make the filling dense instead of fluffy.
3. Taste the Filling:
   Sweet potatoes vary in natural sweetness, so adjust maple syrup and sugar to taste before baking.
4. Make Ahead:
   Prepare up to the baking step, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Bake fresh the next day for a stress-free holiday morning.
5. Add a Hint of Citrus:
   A teaspoon of orange zest or a splash of orange juice brightens the flavors beautifully.

🌰 Topping Variations

1. Maple Pecan Crumble (Classic)

Sweet, buttery, and nutty — the signature Southern topping. The maple syrup caramelizes while baking, creating an irresistible crunch.

2. Marshmallow Dream

If your family loves the marshmallow-topped version, add mini marshmallows during the final 10 minutes of baking. They’ll puff and brown to gooey perfection.

3. Oat Pecan Crunch

For a heartier twist, mix rolled oats into the topping for extra texture and rustic appeal.

4. No-Nut Version

Allergic to nuts? Skip the pecans and top with brown sugar and butter crumble only.

🎉 Serving Suggestions

This casserole shines as both a side dish and a dessert:

• Serve alongside roasted turkey or glazed ham.
• Pair with cranberry sauce, green beans, or stuffing for the ultimate Thanksgiving spread.
• Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a cozy post-dinner dessert.

Pro Tip: If you’re serving buffet-style, portion the casserole into individual ramekins — elegant and easy for guests to enjoy.

🧡 Southern Tradition in Every Bite

Sweet potato casserole has deep roots in the South — where sweet potatoes have long been a staple of both savory and sweet dishes. The maple and pecan combination embodies the essence of Southern hospitality: rich, comforting, and full of flavor.

While the earliest versions used molasses or sorghum, the modern twist with maple syrup gives this dish a luxurious depth. Each bite tastes like a warm hug — a reminder of family gatherings, laughter, and passing the serving spoon around the holiday table.

🍽️ Storing and Reheating

• Refrigerate: Cover tightly and refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days.
• Freeze: Wrap in layers of foil and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Reheat: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15–20 minutes or microwave individual servings until warm.

⭐ Conclusion

This Southern Maple Sweet Potato Casserole isn’t just a recipe — it’s a tradition passed from one holiday to the next. The silky smooth sweet potatoes, aromatic maple syrup, and crisp pecan topping make it the kind of dish people remember — and request — year after year.

Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving, Christmas, or a cozy winter dinner, this casserole will bring comfort and joy to your table. So grab those sweet potatoes, fire up your oven, and let this Southern favorite warm your holiday season. 🍁✨