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Make Ahead Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar

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Hosting a holiday dinner?  Save time by making Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar a day or two ahead of time.

These Make Ahead Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar are a delicious addition to any weeknight meal, but special enough for the holidays, too!

 

Simple Make Ahead Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar

My youngest sister is back in New England visiting for Thanksgiving.  She’s sweet, fashionable, and super chill about what we do while she’s in town – even when that means taking an hour drive (in circles) to get Olivia to nap! Saturday, we made these brown sugar sweet potatoes together. We did it in between catching up, and coloring with the kids. this recipes is so simple and easy.
 
It occurred to me afterward that these are the perfect make-ahead side dish for Thanksgiving (or once a week cooking).  You don’t need anything special from the grocery store to whip them up either.  The hint of brown sugar brings out the sweetness of the potato for a dish everyone will love.

Are Sweet Potatoes Better For You Than White Potatoes?

In general,when it comes sweet potatoes and white potatoes, one isn’t healthier than another.   They have different nutritional qualities.  Sweet potatoes are higher in fiber and Vitamin A.  White potatoes, on the other hand, have more iron, potassium and magnesium.  Of course, it also depends on how they are prepared.  Recipes with lots of cream and butter are not as good for you as those without, of course.

Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar Shopping List

Chances are you have everything you need to make this Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar recipe right in your refrigerator and pantry:

  • 6 large sweet potatoes (or about 3lbs)
  • Butter
  • Brown Sugar
  • Milk
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
     

Items You May Need

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  • Stock Pot
  • Mesh Strainer
  • Serving Bowl – (I love this CorningWare Bakeware Set because the pieces are so versatile and they go from the oven to the table and still look nice.
  • Serving Spoon
  • Potato Masher

A pat of melting butter sits on top of Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar in a white bowl.

How Many Potatoes Do You Need?

This question is one that has long stumped me when I’m making a big meal for family or friends.  How many potatoes do I really need?  I did some research, and here’s the answer: a large sweet potato is about a 1/2 pound.  You’ll want to figure on 1/3 to 1/2 pound per person.  This Sweet Potato recipe feeds about 6, with maybe a little leftover.

What is the Difference Between a Sweet Potato and a Yam?

The short answer is not much. The red-skinned long “yams” are just a variety of sweet potato.  Sweet Potatoes have more fiber than yams and also have lots of Vitamins A and C.  They are so similar that in most recipes you can swap out sweet potatoes for yams and no one will notice.

How to Make Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar:

  1. First, preheat your oven to 400-degrees and place a pie of tinfoil on the top rack. Scrub and pat dry the potatoes, prick each several times with a fork. Place the potatoes on top of the tinfoil and bake under fork tender, about 1 hour.
  2. After that, remove them from the oven to a cutting board. Use an oven mitt to hold the potato while you slice each in half lengthwise. Let the potatoes sit for 10 minutes.
  3. Into a large mixing bowl, add the butter (cut into pieces). Scoop out the potato with a spoon and add it to the bowl. Discard the skins. Using a potato masher, break up the potatoes and incorporate the butter. Stir in the brown sugar and add a little of the milk at a time until you have the desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Next, transfer the mashed sweet potatoes into a baking dish with a lid. Add an additional pat or two of butter to the top (optional) and cover.
  5. When you want to serve the potatoes, place the dish an oven pre-heated to 350-degrees and bake until heated through.

Sweet Potato Tips and Variations

  • For a different flavor, replace the milk with orange or apple juice.
  • If you’re short on sweet potatoes, use Yukon Gold potatoes to help make up the difference.
  • Add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the potatoes while mashing – perfect for Thanksgiving especially.
  • Make them extra special by toasting 2 cups of chopped pecans in a skillet for a couple of minutes and then sprinkle them over the top.

More Amazing Side Dishes

If you like this delicious Make Ahead Brown Sugar Sweet Potatoes recipe, try one of these other great side dishes:

From left to right:

This recipe is one of our top Thanksgiving recipes! You can find more Make Ahead Thanksgiving Side Dishes here.

Try one of these other recipes from some of my favorite blogs…

Make Ahead Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar

The key to having light fluffy mashed sweet potatoes is not to mess with them too much.  Just like white potatoes, sweet potatoes are a starchy vegetable.  The more you mix and mash, the more your potatoes are going to become the consistency of glue.  To avoid this, never ever use an electric mixer or food processor to mash your potatoes.  A potato masher is all you need to get the right texture.  Then use a spatula to fold in the butter, milk and seasonings until just combined.

Make Ahead Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar

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Servings: 6
Author: Angela Paris - Juggling Act Mama

Ingredients

  • 6 large sweet potatoes or about 3lbs
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 400-degrees and place a pie of tinfoil on the top rack. Scrub and pat dry the potatoes, prick each several times with a fork. Place the potatoes on top of the tinfoil and bake under fork tender, about 1 hour.
  • Remove from the oven to a cutting board. Use an oven mitt to hold the potato while you slice each in half lengthwise. Let the potatoes sit for 10 minutes.
  • Into a large mixing bowl, add the butter (cut into pieces). Scoop out the potato with a spoon and add it to the bowl. Discard the skins. Using a potato masher, break up the potatoes and incorporate the butter. Stir in the brown sugar and add a little of the milk at a time until you have the desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Transfer the mashed sweet potatoes into a baking dish with a lid. Add an additional pat or two of butter to the top (optional) and cover.
  • When you want to serve the potatoes, place the dish an oven pre-heated to 350-degrees and bake until heated through.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Ang Paris says

      April 3, 2018 at 11:55 am

      Excellent question! This recipe serves 6, depending on if you’re feeding kids or adults. You want to plan on 1/3 to 1/2 pound of potatoes per person. I’ve updated the recipe with this information also.

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