Sweet Potato Fluff

This post may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure.

This baked sweet potato fluff is a delicious, elegant, sweet potato casserole. Topped with homemade marshmallow fluff, it features gently-toasted, glossy peaks and swirls. This photogenic side is a joy to serve on Thanksgiving Day.

📌 PIN SWEET POTATO FLUFF

There’s so much to love about this easy recipe. This beautiful fall classic has the perfect balance of sweet and savory. It’s tender and buttery, aromatic and comforting. Easy to transport, it’s ideal for bringing to potlucks.

Make sweet potato fluff a Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving tradition!

Craving a nutty crunch on your sweet potato casserole? Before adding the marshmallow topping, sprinkle a thin even layer of toasted pecans over the potatoes. [NOTE: If taking this dish to a potluck, it’s wise to skip the nuts. There are a lot of people with nut allergies.]

🛒 INGREDIENTS

This holiday favorite comes together with just a few common ingredients. For large gatherings, purchase twice the ingredients to double the recipe.

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

• Sweet potatoes
• Light brown sugar
• Butter
• Pumpkin pie spice
• Vanilla extract
• Sea salt
• Heavy cream

MARSHMALLOW FLUFF TOPPING

• Water
• Granulated sugar
• Corn syrup
• Pasteurized egg whites, like Bob Evan’s brand*
• Cream of tartar
• Sea salt
• Vanilla extract

* PASTEURIZED EGG WHITES: Pasteurization kills bacteria in fresh eggs that can cause food-borne illness. Find a pourable carton of this product at the market in the refrigerated section next to the eggs.

🥣 easy ingredient swaps

Missing an ingredient for baked sweet potato casserole with marshmallow fluff? Don’t put on your shoes and head to the market. Instead head to your fridge and pantry. Check for these easy ingredient substitutions.

It’s convenient (and money-saving) to use ingredients you already have on hand.

• Brown Sugar: Use dark brown sugar or granulated sugar.
• Butter: The best swap is margarine.
• Pumpkin Pie Spice: Use ground cinnamon. Or for a homemade version of pumpkin pie spice: ground cinnamon plus a pinch of each: ground nutmeg, ground ginger, ground all spice, and ground cloves.
• Heavy Cream: If you don’t have this ingredient on hand, you can skip it!
• Cream of Tartar: This ingredient stabilizes egg whites and prevents sugar from crystalizing (1/8 teaspoon per egg white). It’s what gives meringue its tall characteristic peaks. Best swap: 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar for every 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar.
• Granulated Sugar: Use light-brown sugar.
• Corn Syrup: Use honey instead.
• Vanilla Extract: Replace with maple syrup, brandy, bourbon or rum.

📖 recipe steps

For best results, read recipe instructions all the way through. Get familiar with the steps before starting the recipe.

BAKED SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

RECIPE PREP: Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking tray with foil. Pull out a 9×9 casserole dish. Butter the bottom and halfway up the sides.

• STEP 1: Rinse sweet potatoes. Pat them dry between paper towels. Put them on lined baking sheet. Pierce each potato 4 times with a fork. Depending on size and thickness, bake 45 to 60 minutes, or until fork tender and super soft. [See helpful multi-tasking hint below.*] Remove pan from oven.
• STEP 2: Use a lint-free cloth to grip hot potatoes. Slice them in half lengthwise. With a metal spoon, scoop out the soft tender flesh and transfer it to a medium bowl or a food processor. Discard the skins.
• STEP 3: Put butter in a ramekin. Melt it in the microwave. Mash (or process) the hot potatoes until smooth. Add butter, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, sea salt, vanilla, and heavy cream. Mix and mash until all ingredients are fully incorporated.
• STEP 4: Transfer mashed potatoes to prepared casserole dish. With a spoon or spatula, spread the mixture into an even layer.

*HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE FASTER: After sweet potatoes have been baking for 30 minutes, start assembling marshmallow fluff.

MARSHMALLOW FLUFF TOPPING

RECIPE PREP: Make triple sure mixing bowl and whip are free of grease. They must be meticulously clean. If there’s even a tiny speck of grease, it will prevent the egg whites from whipping.

• STEP 1: In a stand mixer with whisk attachment, whisk together egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form, about 3 to 4 minutes. While the mixer is whisking, start prepping sugar syrup on stovetop.
• STEP 2: Combine water, granulated sugar, corn syrup and salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring constantly. The boiling is important for thick marshmallow fluff. Don’t leave mixture unattended. It can boil over and/or burn.
• STEP 3: With the stand mixer on medium-low setting, carefully (in a slow, thin steady stream) pour the hot sugar syrup into the egg whites. Once hot liquid is all in the bowl, add vanilla extract.
• STEP 4: Turn speed to high. Mix 7 to 8 minutes. You’ll notice ripple indentions on the surface. Keep going. We’re looking for deep grooves and creases extending from the surface down to the bottom of the bowl.

👩🏻‍🍳 HOW TO KNOW WHEN MARSHMALLOW FLUFF IS DONE: Mixture should be billowy, thick and glossy. Turn off mixer. Lift metal whip. If marshmallow fluff grips the whip and forms a pointed peak at the end, the mixture is done.

ASSEMBLE SWEET POTATO FLUFF

Spoon dollops of marshmallow fluff over the sweet potatoes. Gently spread it into a rough layer but not all the way to the edges. Leave 1/2 inch of the orange layer visible. With the back of a spoon, form decorative peaks. Use a combination of gentle swirling and lifting motions to achieve desired look.

With a kitchen torch lightly toast the marshmallow fluff. It toasts up super quick. Be careful not to scorch it. No culinary torch? See instructions for toasting without a butane torch in the “Recipe FAQ” section on this page.

🧑🏼‍🍳 RECIPE FAQ

These are the most commonly asked questions when making sweet potato fluff, and the most helpful answers for recipe success!

🦃 more thanksgiving recipes

If you loved sweet potato fluff, you’ll enjoy these fall recipes too! Add this group of tried-and-true favorites to your Thanksgiving recipe arsenal.

• Green Beans Almondine
• Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
• Homemade Gravy
• Best Jiffy Cornbread
• Baking Powder Biscuits
• Parker House Rolls
• Pumpkin Hummus
• Tiramisu

RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Friends and family who’ve enjoyed this baked sweet potato casserole for Thanksgiving have raved over and over about how delicious it is.

If you too enjoyed my yummy sweet potato fluff and thought it was awesome, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share this holiday favorite with a friend or two!

Print

SWEET POTATO FLUFF > JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Does your Thanksgiving menu include sweet potato casserole? What do you think of this photogenic version with homemade marshmallow fluff? Share your thoughts on baked sweet potato fluff in the comments below!