I have a love-love relationship with sweet taters.
As in I've never met a sweet potato I didn't like.
As in when people say they don't like sweet potatoes, I'm like...."WAIT. Come again?"
As in I thought we were friends but maybe we're not cuz that's cray. I totally get not liking tofu and mushrooms and mustard. (I happen to adore all three.) But sweet potatoes?? You must be kidding. If you haven't had a sweet potato baked in the oven until it's super moist and sweet and oozing with fabulosity, you haven't lived. HI I'M A SWEET POTATO AND I'M GONNA ROCK YOUR WORLD, YO.
So if you don't like sweet potatoes, I'm guessing it's because you've never had these sweet potatoes.
Side note: Today I got asked for the gazillionth time what ethnicity I am. I responded with the usual, "I'm nothing cool. I'm not Italian, Mexican or Persian." According to my parents, I'm American. And Jewish. Ummmm that doesn't help. We're all freaking American!! Yeah, I was born in the lovely US of A as were my grandparents, but their parents were from Hungary, Romania, Poland and Russia. Case in point--nothing cool. So I have no idea why I'm so tan (which leads people to ask me if I'm foreign), but I'm starting to think it may have to do with these sweet potatoes. Screw tanning beds--eat more sweet potatoes!! Legit. I mean I'm surprised my skin isn't orange.
Yet.
You probs wanna know a little something something about this recipe before you make it. Ummm it's freaking amazing. It's the perfect sweet potato dish for Thanksgiving because it's still totally sweet and creamy from the pure maple syrup and a little butter, but it's not loaded with brown sugar and marshmallows like the standard version, which will most definitely make an appearance at my family's table this year. Grandma's got it covered y'all.
And I won't even judge you if you wanna dump these babies in a pan and smother them with huge marshmallows.
As long as you make sure your serving has the crispy burnt ones...duh!
Print
Maple Orange Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 60 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 mins
- Yield: 4-5 1x
- Category: Side dish
Description
A healthier yet just as tasty version of the classic Thanksgiving side dish, sweetened with pure maple syrup and fresh orange juice.
Ingredients
- 4 large sweet potatoes
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- Juice of a medium orange
- Zest of half a medium orange
- 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F. Pierce sweet potatoes several times with a fork.
- Bake sweet potatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil for one hour.
- Set potatoes aside to cool. Once cool enough to handle, peel off the skin. Place sweet potato flesh in a large bowl.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and mash together using a fork or potato masher until smooth and creamy.
Maria says
Hello! i just finished preparing this recipe and it is awesome! I did make a small change, I use a third of the amount of maple syrup. I thought it would be too sweet for my taste, so I started adding the maple syrup one third at a time, and tasted it and it was perfect for me so I did not add the two thirds left. Thanks so much! Now I am ready with my contribution to Thanksgiving Dinner this weekend here in Canada.
★★★★★
Alexis Joseph says
Love that! Roasted sweet potatoes can be plenty sweet on their own. Thanks for the review!
Angela Vlachos Ruth says
Okay to make a couple days before thanksgiving? Thanks fir the great recipe.
Alexis Joseph says
Yes!
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us, keep it up.
Emily @SinfulNutrition says
Hi Alexis! Just found your blog and glad I did! I have an infatuation with sweets especially covered in peanut butter.
Embarassing story, I eat so many orange veggies (I'm talking a 5# bag of carrots in less than a week!) that one of my professors in college was actually concerned about my skin complexion. I literally glowed in night pictures! That being said I still can't put down the orange veggies, so this will be added to the list to keep my tan going ; )
Alexis says
5 pounds of carrots in less than a week? Damn girl!! No reason to put them down--I'm all about the orange glow!
Emily @SinfulNutrition says
Hi Alexis! Just found your blog and glad I did! I have an infatuation with sweets especially covered in peanut butter.
Embarassing story, I eat so many orange veggies (I'm talking a 5# bag of carrots in less than a week!) that one of my professors in college was actually concerned about my skin complexion. I literally glowed in night pictures! That being said I still can't put down the orange veggies, so this will be added to the list to keep my tan going ; )
Alexis says
5 pounds of carrots in less than a week? Damn girl!! No reason to put them down--I'm all about the orange glow!
Matt @ Runner Savvy says
Looks great!
Matt @ Runner Savvy says
Looks great!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says
SPs and I have a long history. We've had our breaks here and there but they will always be my first love. And I may be the person who adds marshmallows...don't judge! haha
Alexis says
No judgement here, my friend. Just make sure you get the toasty brown ones!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says
SPs and I have a long history. We've had our breaks here and there but they will always be my first love. And I may be the person who adds marshmallows...don't judge! haha
Alexis says
No judgement here, my friend. Just make sure you get the toasty brown ones!
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health says
funny you mentioned this because seriously my biochem professor had turned orange at one point and we all thought it was because of her obsessive carrot eating habits. she ate carrots all.the.time. Just an heads up, it happens :p
Alexis says
Bahaha good thing I'm not a huge carrot eater!
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health says
funny you mentioned this because seriously my biochem professor had turned orange at one point and we all thought it was because of her obsessive carrot eating habits. she ate carrots all.the.time. Just an heads up, it happens :p
Alexis says
Bahaha good thing I'm not a huge carrot eater!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
I have a love-love relationship with sweet potatoes too!! They are the BEST! I need to try this recipe out because I have been wanting to make mashed sweet potatoes for awhile now. I think I'll just sub in Earth Balance for the butter.
Alexis says
You MUST try it...it's the best combo! Earth Balance would be perfect in place of the butter.
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
I have a love-love relationship with sweet potatoes too!! They are the BEST! I need to try this recipe out because I have been wanting to make mashed sweet potatoes for awhile now. I think I'll just sub in Earth Balance for the butter.
Alexis says
You MUST try it...it's the best combo! Earth Balance would be perfect in place of the butter.
Shashi @ https://runninsrilankan.com says
Nothing like a sweet potato tan to get people talking ... what do you think a beet root tan would result in 😉
I once had a sweet potato souffle-type-pudding that had orange juice and jest in it and it was divine - so I can imagine what these smashed potatoes taste like!
Alexis says
OM sweet potato souffle sounds like such a dream!! Totally making that.
Shashi @ https://runninsrilankan.com says
Nothing like a sweet potato tan to get people talking ... what do you think a beet root tan would result in 😉
I once had a sweet potato souffle-type-pudding that had orange juice and jest in it and it was divine - so I can imagine what these smashed potatoes taste like!
Alexis says
OM sweet potato souffle sounds like such a dream!! Totally making that.
Julia says
I 200% am making this for Thanksgiving! My family always makes some gnarly unhealthy side dishes, but this year, I want to bring healthy options that are also delicious to the table. I'm IN! Let me live in the bowl, let me live in iiiiiit!
★★★★★
Alexis says
YOWZA! My family's spread is always full of unhealthy goodies...I'm making my maple coconut brussels sprouts so hopefully no one hates me!! Your comment always make me laugh. Keep 'em coming, lady!
Julia says
I 200% am making this for Thanksgiving! My family always makes some gnarly unhealthy side dishes, but this year, I want to bring healthy options that are also delicious to the table. I'm IN! Let me live in the bowl, let me live in iiiiiit!
★★★★★
Alexis says
YOWZA! My family's spread is always full of unhealthy goodies...I'm making my maple coconut brussels sprouts so hopefully no one hates me!! Your comment always make me laugh. Keep 'em coming, lady!
Elise @ 9toFit.com says
Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite foods, I'm so with you I don't understand how people don't LOVE them! Great recipe!
Alexis says
Wahooo!!! Now go make these!
Elise @ 9toFit.com says
Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite foods, I'm so with you I don't understand how people don't LOVE them! Great recipe!
Alexis says
Wahooo!!! Now go make these!
Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat says
Sweet mashed sweet potatoes are the best thing ever! My mom makes something similar to your recipe for Thanksgiving, but I think she uses agave instead of maple syrup. So, so tasty!
Alexis says
Agave would be a perfect sub! I just love how creamy there are. Mm mmmm mmmmmm!
Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat says
Sweet mashed sweet potatoes are the best thing ever! My mom makes something similar to your recipe for Thanksgiving, but I think she uses agave instead of maple syrup. So, so tasty!
Alexis says
Agave would be a perfect sub! I just love how creamy there are. Mm mmmm mmmmmm!
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
That is awesome that beta carotene can give you a different nationality. Pity I'm already latte I can't do a michael jackson and go white.
I'm not the biggest fan of orange flavouring to things (orange + chocolate = vom com) but on a sweet potato- you have me intrigued my...American friend.
Alexis says
Maybe if you ate a shiz ton of turnips you could pull off the MJ look? Or maybe not. The orange is pretty subtle in here, so I think it would still pass your test 🙂
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
That is awesome that beta carotene can give you a different nationality. Pity I'm already latte I can't do a michael jackson and go white.
I'm not the biggest fan of orange flavouring to things (orange + chocolate = vom com) but on a sweet potato- you have me intrigued my...American friend.
Alexis says
Maybe if you ate a shiz ton of turnips you could pull off the MJ look? Or maybe not. The orange is pretty subtle in here, so I think it would still pass your test 🙂
Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
I've had sweet potatoes and maple syrup before (looooove), but adding in orange juice and zest sounds all sorts of amazing. And speaking of orange, I thought I managed to avoid developing a seasonal glow, and then I compared my palms to a friend's... Definitely got a slight tan going 😉
Alexis says
The orange zest just killed it, I'm tellin ya!! I'm totally going to compare my palms with a friend--thanks for the reminder 🙂
Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
I've had sweet potatoes and maple syrup before (looooove), but adding in orange juice and zest sounds all sorts of amazing. And speaking of orange, I thought I managed to avoid developing a seasonal glow, and then I compared my palms to a friend's... Definitely got a slight tan going 😉
Alexis says
The orange zest just killed it, I'm tellin ya!! I'm totally going to compare my palms with a friend--thanks for the reminder 🙂