​Sweet Potato Casserole with Tart Peaches

Full of flavor and perfect for making ahead, this homemade sweet potato casserole gets a tart summer twist with the addition of ripe peaches. Enjoy smooth, creamy sweet potatoes topped with a crunchy, toasty, praline-esque pecan topping. After cooking the sweet potatoes and layering with peaches, you throw it in the oven for 30 minutes or until the topping gets all brown and bubbly. 

 

A Fresh Take On Traditional Sweet Potato Casserole

I know what you might be thinking: sweet potato casserole in the summer? It sounds a little unusual, but the peaches make this holiday dinner staple a fun summer side dish.

When combined with the sweet topping, the peaches add a great, almost tart flavor and even more texture to a fairly smooth dish. If you can get your hands on fresh peaches, I recommend making this with them for the best results. However, you can surprise everyone at your holiday meal with the upgraded casserole by using frozen peaches! If you go that route, just make sure to thaw them first and drain any excess juices before adding them to the brown sugar mixture.

You know how much I love peaches and sweet potatoes, so it should be no surprise how much I love them combined in this casserole. Try to use peaches that are ripe but not mushy so that you have a little texture when combined with the mashed sweet potatoes.

Instead of maple syrup, this has a faint hint of bourbon running through for a fun addition to the fresh sweet potatoes. You can use whatever type of bourbon or whiskey you like or skip that part all together and use vanilla instead.

This casserole dish is warm, comforting, and just sweet and tart enough to balance out all the other savory flavors on the table. I like to serve this alongside juicy pork chops or a roast chicken​! Since this leans on the heartier side of things, I also like to pair it with a fresh side salad so go ahead and clean out your veggie drawer! 

When Are Peaches In Season? 

Peaches and other stone fruit are in season during the summer with August being National Peach Month! But around here they start to ripen at the end of May. To choose the best peach, look for a vibrant color and it should have just the teensiest bit of give when you squeeze the fruit. Mostly I use the smell test, if it doesn’t smell like a peach then it may have been picked too green and won’t ripen.

Pro Tip: If you’re peaches aren’t quite ripe, here are a few tips for how to ripen peaches quickly.

Why Make a Sweet Potato Casserole with Peaches

• Sweet and Savory Flavor – The combination of sweet potato flavor with tart peaches and a sugary topping makes for a complex flavor profile that combines the best of both worlds and textures. 
• Hearty Side Dish – Like any other carbohydrate, sweet potatoes are filling but have the extra benefit of being super tasty and great in dinner and dessert recipes. 
• Classic Comfort Food – Sweet potato casserole was first published in a 1796 cookbook! Now that’s what I call a traditional recipe. 

Ingredients For Sweet Potato Peach Casserole

Produce – You’ll need three large sweet potatoes and two cups of chopped peaches, fresh or frozen. If frozen, let them thaw and drain any extra juice.

Bourbon – A dash of your favorite bourbon enhances the entire dish’s flavors! Bourbon can be strong, so if you’re not sure about it, add ½ the amount and see how it tastes. You can use vanilla instead.

Pecans – this gives the topping a great flavor and texture

Pantry staples – butter, cream, vanilla, nutmeg, brown sugar and flour.

Super Simple Steps

Step One: Cook Sweet Potatoes

Microwave sweet potatoes until tender and let cool. Cover with a damp paper towel and microwave on high for 8-10 minutes until cooked through, turning halfway through. This can be done a day or two in advance.

Step Two: Mash Sweet Potatoes

Remove the potato skins and add them to a stand mixer bowl. Beat until smooth with melted butter, brown sugar, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and cream. Add bourbon and mix to combine. If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can also use a large bowl and an electric hand mixer, or use a potato masher.

Step Three: Assemble Casserole

Add half of the sweet potatoes to your casserole dish and place an even layer of diced peaches on top of the sweet potatoes. Place the remaining potatoes on top and smooth the surface with a rubber spatula.

Step Four: Mix Topping Ingredients

In a medium bowl, combine the brown sugar and flour. Add the butter and mix with a pastry cutter or your fingers. Once combined and crumbly, add nuts and sprinkle on top of the casserole.

Step Five: Bake Casserole

Bake for 30 minutes or until the top is brown and bubbly at the edges. Let cool slightly before serving, or let cool completely before freezing. 

More Sweet Potato Casserole Recipes To Try

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