Sweet Potato Bake with Pecan Topping

sweetpotatocasserole Sweet Potato Casserole is a traditional Thanksgiving side loved by many. Soft and buttery mashed sweet potatoes with a buttery brown sugar and cinnamon pecan crumb topping. It doesn't get any better. This Sweet Potato Casserole is baked with the traditional flavours you love, while allowing the sweet potatoes and pecans to shine through each mouth-watering bite. Perfect for Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas, the best part is you don't need super expensive ingredients to make it.

Sweet Potatoes:
4 cups sweet potatoes, cooked and peeled
½ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup 2% or skim milk
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs, whisked
½ tsp. kosher or sea salt

Pecan Topping:
½ cup all-purpose flour, unbleached
½ cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
½ cup pecans, crushed (blitz in a food processor for a smoother crumb)
½ tsp. sea salt
2 Tbsp. cinnamon sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C/160°C fan, Gas Mark 4). Lightly spray a 13x9" baking dish with cooking oil spray (or grease with a light coating of butter); set aside.

For the Sweet Potatoes:
Beat sweet potatoes with the sugar, milk, butter, vanilla, eggs and salt. Mix well to combine. Pour into prepared baking dish. Set aside.

For the Topping:
Combine flour, brown sugar, butter, pecans and salt. Mix well to form crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over the sweet potatoes. Top evenly with the cinnamon sugar.

Bake for 25 minutes or just until golden.

Change oven settings to broil (or grill), and broil for 5-10 minutes, until the top has crisped a little and browned.

Allow to stand for 5-10 minutes to set before serving.

Makes 8 servings.

Cook's Notes:

Microwave Method:
Wrap 2 large sweet potatoes in one piece of paper towel each. Microwave on high settings for 8 minutes. Remove carefully from microwave and unwrap (being careful of the steam that will escape from inside the paper towels). Pierce all over with a fork, wrap again and microwave for a further 2 minutes until soft (if the centres are still a little hard, don't worry they will continue to cook in the oven later).

Slow Roast Oven Method:
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C/200°C fan, Gas Mark 7). Spray a baking tray/sheet with nonstick spray and arrange 2 large sweet potatoes the tray. Roast for one hour in the oven, or until soft (check them after 40 minutes, pierce with a fork, and continue roasting if needed).