When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, we all probably have one dish that we can't do without. For me, it's my mom's sweet potato and apple casserole. I debated between two possible titles for this dish:
"Best Ever Sweet Potato Casserole" or "Not Your Mamma's Sweet Potato Casserole"
I'm not exaggerating. In my opinion, this is the best Thanksgiving side dish ever, and it's definitely "not your momma's casserole!" If you're looking for the traditional sweet potatoes smothered in butter, brown sugar and marshmallows (my hubby's favorite), this is not it. The tangy apples in this recipe make it a sweet and savory side dish that's perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. I get asked for the recipe every time I make it. Every time. Ready to try it?
And, just in case you were wondering . . . for those of you with gluten allergies . . . it's naturally gluten-free! No adaptation needed. Yeah!
How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole with Apples
The casserole comes together in layers, but first we'll get the sweet potatoes, apples, and sauce ready. Here's how I make it, with a couple of tools that help with the apple prep.
Prepare the sweet potatoes
Bake the sweet potatoes at 400°F until they are about half done. Start checking after 20-30 minutes. A fork should pierce them, but they should still feel firm, not mushy. Let them cool enough to handle, then peel and cut them into ½-inch slices.
Peel and slice the apples
Peel the apples and cut them into ¼-inch slices. Any apples will work. My mom and I usually use Fuji, but my grandma used apples from her own trees, including Jonathan and Red Delicious.
You can slice the apples by hand, but I like using the mandoline slicer feature on this vegetable chopper. It's faster and makes uniform slices.
Make the sauce
Combine the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan, then add the water. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once it thickens, add the butter and stir until combined. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and butter a 9 × 13-inch baking dish.
Layering the sweet potatoes and apples
Layer the sliced sweet potatoes and apples in a buttered baking dish, adding half the sauce between the layers and the rest on top.
Ready for the oven
The recipe below makes a full batch in a 9 × 13-inch baking dish.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Apples
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Bake the sweet potatoes at 400°F until about half done. Start checking after 20–30 minutes; a fork should pierce them, but they should still feel firm, not mushy.
- When cool enough to handle, peel the sweet potatoes and cut into ½-inch slices. Peel the apples and cut into ¼-inch slices.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F. Butter a 9 × 13-inch baking dish.
- For the sauce, combine the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan. Add the water and bring to a boil. When thickened, add the butter and stir until combined.
- Place a layer of sweet potatoes in the buttered baking dish, followed by a layer of apples. Cover with half the sauce. Repeat the layers, ending with the remaining sauce.
- Sprinkle with the optional brown sugar. Cover and bake at 350°F until the apples and sweet potatoes are tender, about 40 minutes.
Notes
So, what's your go-to Thanksgiving side dish? What is it that you can't do without at Thanksgiving dinner?
While you're here, be sure to check out these other ideas for Fall. (Images are linked.)
I'm so glad you stopped in for a visit! If you like what you see, please like, pin, tweet, or share in some way!
Linda @ With A Blast
Pinned ! This looks great, Heidi :-)
Heidi@OneCreativeMommy
Thanks, Linda. It tastes great, too! I'm off to check out your mac & cheese soup!
Jessi @ Practically Functional
Oh my gosh, this looks absolutely delicious! I'm definitely trying it this year. :-) Pinning, and thanks so much for sharing at my link party!
Heidi@OneCreativeMommy
Thanks, Jessi. I hope you love it!
Rhonda
I will have to give this recipe a try. It sounds so good and a little different. I love that it has apples. I am sure it tastes great. I will pin it so I don't loose the recipe....my printer is broken. AHHH!
Heidi@OneCreativeMommy
I hope you like it, Rhonda. It's definitely a favorite at our house! (It took me a while to respond to this. I hope your printer is fixed by now!)
Kathleen @ Fearlessly Creative Mammas
Oh, my sister will love this! She is a sweet potato nut and she has kids with celiac disease, so they will be able to eat this too. I will make sure she gets this link. Thank you for linking up to Tips and Tricks!
Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
This sounds delicious. I am going to have to give it a try. Thanks so much for sharing with Wednesday's Adorned From Above Link Party.
Have a great week.
Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
http://www.adornedfromabove.com
Cathy
Thank you for sharing at our TGIF Link Party at A Peek Into My Paradise! Your post is featured at this weeks party I can’t wait to see what you share this week! I am currently accepting posts for themed bloggers showcase/roundups and would love for you to participate! Go here for the details and to join in on the fun! http://apeekintomyparadise.com/bloggers-showcase-submissions Cathy @ http://apeekintomyparadise.com
Heidi@OneCreativeMommy
Thanks so much, Cathy! I just popped over and linked up for this week.
Julie Moore
That definitely sounds like something my sister would love, and I would definitely try! Thanks for sharing this to my Thanksgiving link-up! :) You're the best!!
Heidi Fowler
Thanks, Julie. I hope she likes it. Happy Thanksgiving!
Marilyn
OH, I like that this is easy and yummy! :D
Emily
yum!! that looks so good. What an interesting combination!!
laura rubenstein
WOW Yum!!
CHERYL RUSSELL
I would love to make this for Thanksgiving. I was hoping to make it to try it now and freeze what I would be taking on Thanksgiving. Do you think it would freeze well? Should I take it out of the freezer on Wednesday and let it thaw in the fridge overnight?
Patty A Wilson
I want to try this recepie. Do you have a suggestion for sugar substitute?
Heidi
Hi, Patty. I’ve never tried to make this recipe low in sugar. I have used molasses, agave nectar and Stevia before, but I have no idea how they would taste in this recipe. I’d love to hear if your experiment is a success.
Ryan
Hi, not sure if this is still monitored, but I have a question because my wife wants to make this. When you say "bake until about half done," do you just mean put them on the oven rack by themselves? On a pan? Wrapped in foil? 350? And roughly how long would be half done? Assume I know nothing about cooking. Thank you!
Heidi
Good question, Ryan. I usually bake my sweet potatoes at 400 Degrees for an hour, which gets them nice and soft. Sweet potatoes can make a mess in the oven, so I often wrap them in foil or put them on a pan. For this recipe, you do not want them super soft for the first step. Bake them until your fork can easily pierce the potato, but it still feels firm inside -not mushy. Try starting with 20-30 minutes at 400 degrees. You want them cooked enough so that the apple slices and sweet potatoes slices finish cooking at the same time.
Enjoy!