Sweet Potato Crunch

This scrumptious sweet potato crunch casserole recipe is everything great about the Fall season in one dish. Chocked full of the season's best flavors, creamy sweet potatoes, naturally sweetened, and a crunchy pecan topping. Did we mention no marshmallows?

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If you follow us on Instagram, you know that we had been struggling to turn an old family sweet potato crunch recipe into a less sweet version.  Well after FIVE failed attempts to make the perfect crunch topping, we finally present it to you… healthy sweet potato crunch!

This easy sweet potato dish can be best described as a cross between sweet potato casserole and crustless sweet potato pie. It is one of those dishes that can please everyone. It can be a side dish or a healthy dessert depending on your menu.

If you enjoyed our sweet potato and kale salad or our colorful sweet potato salad then you are going to love this recipe.

Jump to:

• 📖Why This Recipe Works
• 🧾Ingredient Notes
• ⏲️ How to Make Sweet Potato Crunch
• 💭 Variations
• 👩🏻‍🍳Expert Tips
• 🔪Equipment
• 🌡️Storage
• More Holiday Side Dish Recipes
• 💬Frequently Asked Questions
• 📖 Recipe
• ⭐Reviews

📖Why This Recipe Works

This is not just a Thanksgiving splurge kind of recipe. It is gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free making it healthy enough for everyday kind of recipes.

Did we mention it also tastes amazing? Less sweet than a traditional sweet potato casserole, this sweet potato crunch can be served as a side dish or a dessert.

I know people are very passionate about their sweet potato casserole, no worries if that isn’t your thing.  To serve as a dessert (aka a crustless sweet potato pie), I would top with coconut whipped cream or even non-dairy ice cream.

Finally, texture-texture-texture!  The bottom layer is essentially a custard without dairy. It is almost like a sweet potato souffle (without the risk of it falling).

While the top is a cinnamon-pecan crunch that provides great contrast. Unlike most gluten-free desserts this sweet potato dish holds up well over a couple of days. It can be served piping hot or at room temp, the texture really does hold up that well.

There may have been some eating it cold for breakfast too.  May have been.  You can’t prove anything…

But really this sweet potato recipe feels light and healthy plus decadent all at the same time. And you can't beat that!

🧾Ingredient Notes

This recipe is fairly basic, with no fancy ingredients which is perfect around the holidays. Nice to know you won't be out of something!

Sweet Potato Filling

Sweet Potatoes- This recipe uses one 15-ounce can of sweet potato puree. You can also substitute canned pumpkin puree or mash up canned yams. Fresh sweet potatoes are also an option, see our tips section for details.

Eggs- While we used eggs in it, an egg replacer, like a flax egg, would absolutely work if you wanted to make a vegan version.

Sugar- I prefer to bake with coconut sugar so that is what I used in this recipe. You can use granulated sugar, brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup. The recipe is very flexible.

Coconut Oil- We need to add some fat to get the proper texture. Coconut oil is the perfect addition. If not worried about this recipe being dairy-free you can substitute melted butter or use a dairy-free vegan butter, like Earth Balance.

Seasonings- We kept it simple with vanilla extract and salt. Don't skip the salt, all baked goods and sweets need salt.

Pecan Crunch

Pecans- Pecans are the base of the topping. Simple and Autumn perfect. But you can also use walnuts, hazelnuts, or almonds.

Flour- I use a basic gluten-free flour blend. However, if not GF then any all-purpose flour will work in this recipe.

Maple Syrup- We used maple syrup for three reasons; gooey texture, natural sweetness, and flavor. Honey is also an option here.

More Coconut Oil- Our choice of fat (again!).

Seasonings- We kept it simple with vanilla and a bit of cinnamon.

⏲️ How to Make Sweet Potato Crunch

This recipe can be made up to two days ahead of time and reheated in the oven. You can serve it hot or even serve it just slightly warm. Perfect for Thanksgiving dinner. And it is just so easy to make!

Step 1: Prep Sweet Potato Mixture

In your larger mixing bowl, whisk your eggs until combined. Add the sweet potato puree, oil, sugar of choice, vanilla, and salt.

Mix all the filling ingredients together until well combined. There should be no lumps, you want the filling to look creamy. Pour into a casserole dish.

There is no need to grease the dish.

Step 2: Prep the Nut Topping

Mix all the pecan crumble ingredients together in a small bowl. Next, dot over the filling. The filling will not be fully covered. It will spread a bit and the orange of the sweet potato custard will show through.

Step 3: Bake

This sweet potato recipe only needs to be baked for about 30 minutes at 350 F degrees. I find that with this sweet potato recipe, along with any type of custard, bake times vary based on humidity.

I really noticed it because we made it so many times over the course of a few weeks. Don't be alarmed if the bake time is off by a few minutes. Just keep an eye on it and when the center barely jiggles, it is done.

The top will be crunchy (almost like the crispy sugar on top of creme brulee).

🥗What to Serve with Sweet Potato Crunch

Whether you are serving it for Thanksgiving, Christmas dinner, or any other special occasion, this recipe pairs well with just about any classic turkey dinner side dish.

While cranberry sauce seems like the obvious choice I like to pair sweet potatoes with my tart roasted cranberries. Or my kale and cranberry salad might just be the perfect side dish. The sharp cheese will provide an amazing contrast of flavors.

💭 Variations

Paleo Sweet Potato Casserole

If you want to make a truly paleo sweet potato crunch you can use an equal amount of almond flour plus 1 teaspoon arrowroot or tapioca starch. Can't get much healthier than that!

This paleo version is also entirely grain-free making it allergy friendly.

Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole

Fresh eggs should be substituted with a flax egg. To make a flax egg, mix one tablespoon of ground flaxseed meal with three tablespoons of water.

Let the flax egg sit in the fridge for 15 minutes to thicken. You will need 1.5 flax eggs.

👩🏻‍🍳Expert Tips

Tip #1: When serving as a side dish I like to reduce the cinnamon by half and add a dash of cayenne just to make it a bit more savory.

Tip #2: If you want to use fresh sweet potatoes rather than canned I recommend baking rather than boiling to control the moisture content.

Simply prick the sweet potatoes with a fork and bake at 425 F degrees for 45 minutes. Cool, then scrape out the centers. Mash with a little bit of almond milk, coconut milk beverage, or regular milk until smooth.

Tip #3: For a richer flavor add 1 teaspoon of molasses to the filling.

🔪Equipment

You need two mixing bowls, one medium or large bowl and one small. I used an 11-inch oblong baker. You can use a 9x9 baking pan or double the recipe and go with a 9x13 inch.

If using canned sweet potato puree there is no need to use an electric mixer. However, if using roasted sweet potatoes a hand mixer may come in handy.

🌡️Storage

Leftovers will last 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator. Simply cover well with wrap or place in an airtight container and store in the fridge. Serve cold, room temperature, or reheat and serve.

Make-Ahead Sweet Potato Crunch

This casserole makes a great make-ahead side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas since you can easily prep it ahead.

Prepare sweet potato mixture and spread into casserole dish. Wrap tightly and store in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. Prepare the crunchy topping and store it in a separate container in the refrigerator.

Bring the sweet potato custard to room temperature then drop on the crunchy topping. Bake fresh for serving or baked ahead of time to simply serve at room temperature.

We hope this healthy sweet potato crunch earns a place at your Thanksgiving table. We know it will definitely be at ours! I can honestly say it is one of our tried and true family favorites.

More Holiday Side Dish Recipes

💬Frequently Asked Questions

If you try this recipe, be sure to post a photo on Instagram with @peelwithzeal so we can admire your creation! Follow Peel with Zeal on Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook for the latest posts.

📖 Recipe

Sweet Potato Crunch Web Story