Description
Creamy and buttery mashed sweet potatoes enhanced with pure maple syrup and a hint of fresh thyme. This comforting side dish is perfect for holiday meals or any time you want a naturally sweet, velvety accompaniment to your main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potatoes
- 3 pounds medium-sized sweet potatoes (3 or 4)
Butter Mixture
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- ½ cup milk
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Garnish
- Fresh thyme leaves, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Prep the Oven and Potatoes: Preheat the oven to 350°F and position a rack in the middle. Line a baking sheet with foil to make cleaning easier. Prick each sweet potato 3 to 4 times with a fork to allow steam to escape during baking.
- Bake the Sweet Potatoes: Place the potatoes on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 60 to 75 minutes, turning them halfway through to ensure even cooking. They are done when tender throughout.
- Melt Butter and Mix Ingredients: While potatoes bake, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the maple syrup, milk, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare and Mash Potatoes: Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them in half. Holding the halves with an oven mitt, scoop out the warm flesh directly into the saucepan with the butter mixture. Using a potato masher or fork, mash the potatoes over low heat until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Serve: Transfer the mashed sweet potatoes to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves if desired and serve immediately while hot.
- Make-Ahead Tip: These mashed sweet potatoes can be made ahead of time. Before serving, stir in a splash of milk to loosen the texture and gently reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Notes
- Creamy, buttery, and lightly sweet, these mashed sweet potatoes are a comforting side everyone will love.
- Pricking the sweet potatoes before baking lets steam escape and ensures even cooking and tender flesh.
- Maple syrup adds a natural sweetness that complements the earthy flavor of the sweet potatoes perfectly.
- Fresh thyme is optional but adds a lovely herbal note if you want to elevate the dish.
- Reheating with a little milk helps maintain creaminess if prepared in advance.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe (about 185g)
- Calories: 362
- Sugar: 23g
- Sodium: 816mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 33mg
