Serves 8
OH BOY, does this recipe bring out the kid in me! I don’t know if it’s the marshmallows or the whipped sweet potatoes or the memories of my sister and me picking the crunchy melted marshmallows off the top. But whatever it is, Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving to me without marshmallowed sweet potatoes. Just make sure when buying your marshmallows that you check the ingredients label carefully. You can get natural marshmallows at health food stores, but regular brands will work too. Just keep in mind that they do contain refined sugar, so this is really a once-or-twice-a-year kind of recipe. However, if you’re definitely anti-marshmallow, the sweet potatoes are actually pretty good even without the happy marshmallow topping.
5 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
½ cup nondairy butter (such as Earth Balance)
2 tablespoons full-fat canned coconut milk
2 tablespoons real maple syrup
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground or freshly grated nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground vanilla bean (or 1 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract)
1 teaspoon Himalayan salt
Enough mini marshmallows to cover the top of the potatoes—about 2 cups, more or less (make sure they are gluten free)
Put the sweet potatoes in a large pot and cover with cool water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer until tender enough to stick a fork in the potatoes easily, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain in a colander and return to the pot.
Add the butter, milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and salt. Beat with a hand mixer until smooth. If the mixture seems too dry, add more coconut milk.
Transfer the sweet potato mixture to a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Completely cover the top with a single layer of marshmallows so you can’t see any potatoes underneath.
Turn on the broiler. Put the sweet potatoes under the broiler and watch carefully. Remove as soon as the marshmallows start to turn golden-brown. Do not leave for even 1 minute longer or they will burn. The whole broiling process will only take a couple of minutes.
Serve warm and enjoy the trip down memory lane!