Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman, is renowned for her heartwarming comfort food recipes. From decadent pumpkin cheesecake bars to creamy mashed potatoes and comforting apple crisp, her dishes are packed with flavor and often a generous touch of sweetness. Among her delightful creations, the Pioneer Woman sweet potato casserole, or “Soul Sweet Taters,” stands out as a truly exceptional holiday side dish, perfect for gracing your Thanksgiving or Christmas table.
While many sweet potato casseroles rely on a blanket of marshmallows for their sugary topping, Ree Drummond’s recipe takes a different, and arguably more sophisticated, approach. Her Soul Sweet Potatoes are crowned with a delectable pecan-brown sugar streusel. As it bakes, this streusel transforms into a deeply golden brown, adding a rich sweetness and a delightful candy-like crunch to every spoonful of the smooth, mashed sweet potato beneath. This twist elevates the classic sweet potato casserole to new heights of flavor and texture.
Toh 3 2 Ft Toh Pioneer Woman Sweet Potato Casserole Nancy Mock Getty Images Jvedit
This recipe, inspired by the Pioneer Woman’s Soul Sweet Potatoes, easily serves 10 and is best baked in a shallow 13×9-inch baking dish to maximize that wonderful streusel-to-sweet potato ratio. However, any large baking dish will work just as well.
Crafting Pioneer Woman’s Sweet Potato Casserole: A Step-by-Step Guide
ingredients for sweet potato casserole on a wooden surface
Ingredients:
For the Sweet Potatoes:
- 4 medium sweet potatoes (approximately 3 pounds total)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Pecan Streusel Topping:
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup pecans, finely chopped
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and sliced
Directions: Bringing Soul Sweet Taters to Life
Step 1: Baking the Sweet Potatoes to Perfection
four whole sweet potatoes on a baking sheet
Begin by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). Thoroughly scrub the sweet potatoes under cool, running water to remove any dirt. Place the clean sweet potatoes directly onto a baking sheet. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until they are tender enough to be easily pierced with a fork. Once baked, carefully cut the potatoes open lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out the cooked sweet potato flesh into a large mixing bowl, discarding the skins.
Step 2: Mashing and Combining Flavors
mashed sweet potatoes in a blue glass bowl with a masher
Increase the oven temperature to 400°F (200°C). Using a hand masher or a sturdy fork, mash the sweet potatoes in the bowl. They don’t need to be perfectly smooth; a slightly chunky texture is perfectly acceptable. Add the granulated sugar, milk, large eggs, vanilla extract, and salt to the bowl with the mashed sweet potatoes. Mix or mash until all ingredients are fully incorporated and evenly distributed throughout the potatoes.
Step 3: Crafting the Pecan Streusel Topping
brown sugar, chopped pecans, flour and sliced butter in a bowl for streusel topping
In a separate medium-sized bowl, combine the light brown sugar, finely chopped pecans, and all-purpose flour. Add the cold, sliced butter to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry blender or two forks to cut the butter into the mixture. Continue cutting until the butter is evenly distributed and the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. The cold butter is key to creating a crumbly, crunchy streusel. A pastry blender can make this task easier, and it’s a handy tool for any baker’s kitchen.
Step 4: Assembling and Baking to Golden Perfection
Pioneer Womans Soul Sweet Potatoes in a baking dish before being baked
Spread the mashed sweet potato mixture evenly into a 13×9-inch baking dish. Generously sprinkle the pecan streusel topping evenly over the entire surface of the sweet potatoes, ensuring every bit is covered. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes. The casserole is ready when the streusel topping has turned a beautiful golden brown and is delightfully crunchy, and the sweet potato mixture is heated through. Serve the Pioneer Woman Soul Sweet Taters immediately while warm to enjoy the contrast of textures and flavors at their best. Consider pairing it with other favorite potluck recipes for a complete and crowd-pleasing meal.
Tasting Notes: Why This Sweet Potato Casserole is a Winner
Pioneer Womans Soul Sweet Potatoes in a baking dish after being baked
Having grown up with marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole as a holiday staple, I was intrigued by the pecan streusel topping of the Pioneer Woman’s Soul Sweet Taters. And after trying it, I can confidently say it’s a game-changer!
This casserole delivers the comforting sweetness you expect from a sweet potato dish, thanks to both granulated and brown sugar, but it avoids the sometimes cloying sweetness that marshmallows can bring. The streusel topping is the star, offering a wonderful butterscotch-like flavor with a satisfying crunch from the caramelized brown sugar and toasted pecans. It’s the ideal complement to the smooth, vanilla-infused sweet potatoes underneath, creating a balanced and deeply flavorful side dish.
A small serving of these rich and decadent sweet potatoes is quite satisfying, making this recipe perfect for holiday gatherings or family dinners where you need to feed a crowd. And the good news is that leftovers reheat beautifully in either the oven or microwave, and the flavors seem to meld and deepen even further overnight.
Make-Ahead Magic: Preparing Soul Sweet Taters in Advance
For those busy holiday cooks, Ree Drummond’s Soul Sweet Potatoes recipe is a dream come true as it can be easily prepared in advance. This make-ahead flexibility is invaluable when juggling multiple dishes for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
You have two options for preparing ahead: you can fully assemble the sweet potato casserole in the baking dish, topping it with the streusel, or you can prepare the streusel separately and store it in an airtight container. In either case, cover the sweet potato mixture and/or streusel tightly and refrigerate until you are ready to bake. About an hour before baking, remove the casserole from the refrigerator to allow it to come closer to room temperature, which will ensure even heating. If you have stored the streusel separately, sprinkle it over the sweet potatoes just before baking and bake as directed. This make-ahead tip ensures a stress-free holiday side dish that is bursting with flavor and texture.
