This Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe makes a wonderfully delicious alternative to regular mashed potatoes. We blend perfectly cooked sweet potatoes with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and half and half, creating the most flavorful sweet potato side dish to go along with just about anything.
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Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Sweet Potato Mash
If you love sweet potatoes but have never tried a sweet potato mash recipe then you are in for a real treat. These simple sweet Mashed Sweet Potatoes easily earn their spot next to regular mashed potatoes at the Thanksgiving dinner table. They are buttery, creamy, and have just a hint of cinnamon to compliment the brown sugar.
We have gone beyond simple instructions to provide you with tips on different ways to mash sweet potatoes, flavor variations, and substitutions as well as the best freezing and reheating methods. Give this recipe a try and let us know what you think!
If you're wondering what to make with these mashed sweet Potatoes, be sure to try our Oven Baked BBQ Chicken, Oven Baked Chicken Breast, Honey Mustard Chicken, or some of our favorites such as Turkey, Crockpot Rump Roast, or Kalua Pork.
How to Mash Sweet Potatoes
First, you’ll need to cook your sweet potatoes. This can be done by either boiling (as demonstrated in this recipe) or baking your sweet potatoes at about 400 degrees for 45 minutes - 1 hour.
Once they are cooked, you have a few ways to mash your sweet potatoes:
We highly recommend using a potato ricer if you want the lightest and fluffiest Mashed Sweet Potatoes. They are inexpensive and easy to use and perfect if you like your smooth mashed potatoes.
You can also use a hand potato masher, which is probably the simplest method and great for lumpy mashed potato lovers. This way, you can mash your potatoes directly in the pot or bowl and you have a lot of control over how chunky or creamy you want them.
A third method uses a standing electric mixer with a paddle attachment. This is the fastest way, but be careful not to overmix, or you'll end up with a gummy mess. Gummy mashed potatoes are often the result of overmixing, so keep a close eye on them if you go this route.
Ingredients in Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet Potatoes - you want to look for small to medium-sized sweet potatoes with copper, red or orange skin. For this recipe, we recommend removing the skin.
- Butter - you can use salted or unsalted butter for this recipe or olive or avocado oil if you want to be a little healthier. You’ll need some for mashing into the veggies and some for a garnish.
- Half and Half - you can also use milk or heavy cream.
- Brown Sugar - we like to use light brown sugar, but you can use dark brown sugar if you’d like a stronger molasses flavor.
- Salt - we like to use sea salt.
- Cinnamon - This is an optional but delicious flavor to add.
- Parsley - if you add parsley as a garnish, you’ll want to be sure and use fresh parsley.
How to Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Wash and peel sweet potatoes and cut into 1" cubes.
- Place the sweet potatoes in a large pot, add 2 teaspoons of salt and cover with hot water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat slightly and simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until the vegetables are very tender and no longer stick to a fork when poked.
- Once cooked, drain the water then return vegetables to the pot. Add in the butter, half and half, brown sugar and about 1 teaspoon of salt (more or less, to taste).
- Mash sweet potatoes with a potato masher or potato ricer, getting out all of the largest chunks and mashing as chunky or smooth as you like. (Note: you may also use a standing mixer with the whisk attachment. Just be sure not to overmix or it will get gummy.)
- Season with additional salt and pepper if desired, then scoop the Mashed Sweet Potatoes into a serving dish. Finish with a pat of butter and chopped parsley if desired. Enjoy!
Cook the sweet potatoes in salted, gently boiling water until tender or about 20-30 minutes.
You can use a fork to test to see if they are tender enough. You should be able to slide a fork in and out of the potato without it sticking.
Boil 1-2” potatoes. in water, over high heat and cook at a rapid simmer. Potatoes are cooked when they are easily pierced with a fork, or about 20 minutes. Whole Potatoes will need more time to cook depending on the size. Drain cooked potatoes in a colander.
Add a layer of butter and cream on the top of the mashed potatoes to make them freezer friendly. The butter and cream add a protective layer that will keep the potatoes soft and creamy when re-heated.
Creamy Sweet Potato Mash Variations
- Garlic and Herbs - for a more savory version, try heating about 1 tablespoon of olive oil or butter in a saute pan and adding 1-2 teaspoons of fresh minced garlic along with 2 tablespoons of your favorite herbs (we recommend sage, rosemary, and thyme). Saute for about 2 minutes until fragrant, then mix into your Mashed Sweet Potatoes.
- Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes - instead of brown sugar, you can add pure maple syrup for a different flavor profile.
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Bacon - cook homemade bacon bits (or better yet, make a batch of Candied Bacon to chop up!) and sprinkle a generous amount over the top of your Mashed Sweet Potatoes.
Can You Freeze Mashed Sweet Potatoes?
Mashed Sweet Potatoes freeze really well, as long as the fat content is high enough. So make sure to add plenty of butter!
In order to freeze them, be sure to cool them to room temperature before transferring to freezer bags. Press them so that they lay flat and freeze for up to 3 months. That’s all there is to it!
Reheating Mashed Sweet Potatoes
You have a couple of options to reheat your Mashed Sweet Potatoes.
- Stovetop: Transfer to a small saucepan and reheat over low-medium, stirring occasionally and adding extra butter or a touch of milk if needed.
- Microwave: transfer to a microwave-safe dish and reheat based on your microwave’s settings (either half-power, defrost… whatever works best). Make sure to stop and stir occasionally and add butter as needed.
- Oven: Reheating any type of mashed potatoes in the oven is simple if you already have it set at 350 degrees for something else. Just put the frozen potatoes into a covered baking dish, place them into your preheated oven, and heat for about 30 minutes, or until warm. Once warm, you can mix in any additional butter or milk that you would like.
- Slow Cooker: if you need the oven or stovetop space, you can also keep your Mashed Sweet Potatoes warm in a slow cooker on its “warm” setting.
More Mashed Potato Recipes
- Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
- Gruyere Mashed Potatoes
- Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
- Holiday Mashed Potatoes
- Root Vegetable Mashed Potatoes
- Twice Baked Potatoes
- Twice Baked Potatoes Casserole
- Cheesy Holiday Potatoes
- Mashed Red Potatoes
Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lbs Sweet Potatoes washed, peeled and cut into 1" cubes
- ¼ cup Butter plus a couple tablespoons for garnish on top
- ½ cup Half and Half can substitute heavy cream or milk
- ½ cup Brown Sugar or Maple Syrup
- 1 teaspoon Salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon
- 2 Tablespoons Parsley chopped, for optional garnish
Instructions
- Wash and peel sweet potatoes and cut into 1" cubes.
- Place the sweet potatoes in a large pot, add 2 teaspoons of salt and cover with hot water.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until the vegetables are very tender and no longer stick to a fork when poked.
- Once cooked, drain the water then return vegetables to the pot. Add in the butter, half and half, brown sugar and about 1 teaspoon of salt (more or less, to taste).
- Mash sweet potatoes with a potato masher or potato ricer, getting out all of the largest chunks and mashing as chunky or smooth as you like. (Note: you may also use a standing mixer with the whisk attachment, but just be sure not to overmix or it will get gummy.)
- Scoop the mashed sweet potatoes into a serving dish and finish with a pat of butter and chopped parsley. Enjoy!
Notes
Tips:
- You can mash the sweet potatoes as smooth or keep as chunky as you'd like.
- Once cooked, the mashed sweet potatoes can be kept warm in a bowl covered with aluminum foil and in a warm oven.
Nutrition
Here are some more of our favorite sweet potato recipes!
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
- Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
- Best Sweet Potato Fries
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Streusel Topping
- Chili Spiced Sweet Potato Chunks
- Sweet Potato Breakfast Casserole
More Potato Recipes!
- Best Baked Potato
- Cheesy Hash Browns
- Crockpot Cheesy Hashbrown Potatoes
- Best Potato Recipes
- All of our Potato Recipes
- More Side Dish Ideas
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These Mashed Sweet Potatoes are buttery and creamy with just a hint of cinnamon to compliment the brown sugar. They make a simple and delicious alternative side dish to regular mashed potatoes.
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