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    Home » Recipes » Casseroles » Sweet Potato Casseroles » Pretzel Topped Sweet Potato Casserole 

    Pretzel Topped Sweet Potato Casserole 

    Published: Oct 18, 2022 by Barbara Curry · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links.

    A serving of sweet potato casserole.
    A serving of sweet potato casserole.

    If you’re looking for a new spin on a classic, Pretzel Topped Sweet Potato Casserole is just the ticket. Buttery, rich potatoes topped with pecan-pretzel crumble are an irresistible creamy-crunchy combo. A sprinkle of cranberries makes this casserole even more festive.

    A copper serving dish of sweet potato casserole.

    Thanksgiving is all about comfort food, and easy Pretzel Topped Sweet Potato Casserole is about as comforting as you can get. Aside from being so good, it’s one of those sweet potato side casseroles you can prep a day or two ahead of time and bake right before you eat.

    For me, holiday meals need as many make ahead dishes as possible, like make ahead mashed potatoes, it’s one less thing to worry about on the big day.

    This simple sweet potato casserole only takes 30 minutes in the oven. It’s not finicky so if you need the oven at a different temperature for making your homemade yeast rolls, you can just adjust the cooking time.

    The best part about this casserole is the streusel topping. You’ll have as much streusel as you do sweet potatoes! It’s quick and easy to throw together while the potatoes are cooking.

    A spoon full of sweet potato casserole.

    The addition of pretzels and cranberries makes it completely different from my bourbon sweet potato casserole, which has bacon in the topping. It’s slightly salty, tart and sweet all in one bite.

    Want something less sweet, try a sweet potato souffle, or scalloped sweet potatoes, or layer in some apples with the sweet potatoes instead.

    If your family wants a more traditional sweet potato dish, than go with candied yams which cook on the stove, saving your oven space for corn pudding and sausage stuffing.

    What type of sweet potato should you use for a casserole

    While there are many different sweet potato varieties, I like to use the ones with dark orange or red skin, such as Red Garnet or Jewel. They are sweeter and less starchy than the ones with lighter skin.

    Of course, this make ahead sweet potato casserole goes great with turkey. And it also pairs well with steak marsala, pork tenderloin with apples, chicken with white wine and countless side dishes.

    You can store leftovers in an airtight container, but eat them within a day or two before the pretzels get soggy.

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      Why you’ll love pretzel topped sweet potato casserole

      • Assemble it ahead of time 
      • Needs only 30 minutes to bake
      • Always a popular Thanksgiving side dish
      • Pretzels add crunch to the crumbly topping
      • Tart cranberries are a unique addition

      Pro Tip: Save time when making sweet potato casseroles and cook the sweet potatoes in the microwave.

      What you’ll need 

      Ingredients for a sweet potato casserole.

      Sweet potatoes – choose smooth potatoes with firm skin and no cracks

      Pretzels – the shape doesn’t matter since they’ll be broken up for the topping

      Pecans – add crunch and a buttery, sweet flavor

      Cranberries – use either fresh or frozen cranberries, not cranberry sauce

      Pro tip: buy an extra bag or two around the holidays and freeze them to use for this recipe or when you are craving homemade cranberry sauce. 

      Evaporated milk – for a thick and creamy base

      Pantry items – brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla, butter

      How to make this simple sweet potato casserole

      Step 1 – heat the oven

      Preheat the oven to 350°. However, if you need the oven at a higher temperature for other dishes, just decrease the baking time.

      Step 2 – cook the potatoes

      Cook the sweet potatoes until tender in the microwave or you can bake them in the oven.

      Pro tip: You can cook the potatoes in one of several ways. Microwaving them is the fastest option and only takes 6-8 minutes. If you have more time you can bake them at 400° for about an hour. There’s no need to peel the potatoes beforehand, as the skins are easy to remove once they’re cooked.

      Step 3 – make the topping

      While the potatoes cook, make the pecan streusel by combining the pretzels, pecans, cranberries, brown sugar and melted butter. If using frozen cranberries, you don’t need to thaw them.

      The streusel ingredients in a glass bowl.
      A mixture of the streusel topping.

      Step 4 – mix the base

      When cooled, scoop out the flesh of the cooked potatoes with a spoon. Use a potato masher or fork to mash the potatoes until they’re smooth. If you want to get out all the lumps, use an immersion blender or ricer. Then stir in the milk, sugar, vanilla and some more butter.

      Mashed sweet potatoes in a glass bowl.

      Step 5 – prep for baking

      Pour the sweet potato mixture into a greased casserole dish. If making this in advance, cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Sprinkle with the streusel topping right before baking.

      A sweet potato mixture in a baking dish next to a bowl of streusel topping.

      Step 6 – bake the casserole

      Bake for about 30 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the potatoes are heated through.

      A baked sweet potato casserole on a linen napkin.

      FAQs and tips

      What other types of nuts can you use to top sweet potato casserole?

      Chopped walnuts, hazelnuts or sliced almonds would all work in place of pecans.

      Can I substitute canned sweet potatoes for fresh sweet potatoes?

      You can make sweet potato casserole with canned yams if you don’t have time to cook potatoes, just make sure you get ones in their natural juices and not syrup.

      Can you reheat a sweet potato casserole?

      For the best results, reheat leftovers in a 350° oven until warmed through. Or you can heat them in the microwave, but the pecan topping won’t stay as crunchy.

      More holiday sweet potato recipes

      • Sweet potato pudding in a casserole dish next to serving spoons.
        Sweet Potato Pudding
      • A serving bowl of roasted sweet potatoes with balsamic vinegar being poured over the top.
        Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pears
      • Candied yams in a black serving dish with a serving spoon.
        Southern Candied Yams with Canned Sweet Potatoes
      • Three hasselback sweet potatoes on a platter on top of. napkin.
        Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Honey

      Looking for more Thanksgiving classics?

      Add the best Sausage Stuffing to this year’s menu

      Homemade Cranberry Sauce tops anything you’ll buy in a can

      You’ll love the fresh taste of Green Bean Casserole from scratch

      Sweet and savory Fresh Corn Pudding is worth the splurge

      You can’t go wrong with walnut-topped Apple Crumb Pie for dessert

      If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.

      A large spoon full of sweet potato casserole.

      Pretzel Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

      Author: Barbara Curry
      If you’re looking for a new spin on a classic, Pretzel Topped Sweet Potato Casserole is just the ticket. Buttery, rich potatoes topped with pecan-pretzel crumble are an irresistible creamy-crunchy combo. A sprinkle of cranberries makes this casserole even more festive.
      5 from 2 votes
      Print Pin
      PREP: 15 minutes minutes
      COOK: 30 minutes minutes
      Servings: 8

      Ingredients
       

      • 2 cups pretzels broken into pieces
      • 1 cup pecans chopped
      • 1 cup fresh/frozen cranberries
      • 1 cup brown sugar
      • 1 cup butter melted, divided
      • 2½ lbs sweet potatoes cooked
      • 5 oz. evaporated milk
      • ¼ cup sugar
      • 1 teaspoon vanilla
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      Instructions
       

      • Preheat oven to 350º.
      • In a medium bowl, combine the pretzels, pecans, cranberries, brown sugar and ½ cup of the melted butter and stir to combine. Set aside.
      • In a large bowl, mash cooked sweet potatoes until smooth. (I used about 3-4 sweet potatoes) Add milk, sugar, vanilla and remaining butter. Mix until blended. (If you want your sweet potatoes to be completely smooth, then use a mixer or immersion blender or ricer.
      • Spoon potato mixture into a greased 2 quart baking dish. Sprinkle with pretzel mixture. Your pretzel mixture will take up about as much room as the sweet potatoes, so make sure you start with a deep enough pan. Bake, uncovered for 25-30 minutes or until the edges are bubbly.
      • To cook the potatoes, microwave for 3 minutes, turn and microwave for 2 more minutes depending on the size.

      Video

      Barbara’s Tips + Notes
      • You can microwave the sweet potatoes for about 6 minutes or bake them at 400º for an hour. You can do this 3 days in advance.
      • If making the day before, wait to add the pretzel topping until prior to baking so the pretzels don’t get soggy.
      • If you need to bake this at a higher temperature, just decrease the cooking time .

      Nutrition

      Calories: 647kcal | Carbohydrates: 83g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 535mg | Potassium: 681mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 42g | Vitamin A: 20876IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 2mg
      Follow Me On SocialDid you make this recipe? Mention @ButterandBaggage or tag #ButterandBaggage on Instagram!

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      Barbara Curry is the culinary adventurer of Butter & Baggage. With a dedicated enthusiasm for real butter made from happy cows she is in constant pursuit of delicious recipes and tasty dishes. She shares her experiences, ventures, and occasional misadventures because let’s face it things can get messy in any kitchen.

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