Brown Butter Sweet Potato Bake with Toasted Marshmallows

This sweet potato casserole gets a savory twist with brown butter, fresh herbs, and ginger, topped with toasted marshmallows for a classic American side.

This is a side dish that walks the line between sweet and savory, perfect for Thanksgiving or any festive dinner. The sweet potatoes are roasted until meltingly tender, then whipped with nutty brown butter, fragrant herbs, and a touch of ginger.

The marshmallow topping is the classic finish, but the real magic is in the brown butter and herbs, which keep the dish from being overly sweet. It's a crowd-pleaser that feels both nostalgic and refined.

Ingredients

Servings 8

Converted amounts are rounded.

Method

  1. Adjust oven rack to center position. Place 2 large sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil on a work surface. Working with one sheet at a time, place half of potatoes in center. Fold up foil and crimp edges to seal tightly. Repeat on second sheet with rest of potatoes. Transfer pouches to a rimmed baking sheet and place in oven. Set oven to 300°F. Roast until a thin skewer inserted into potatoes goes in with no resistance, about 2 hours. Remove from oven and set aside until cool enough to handle.
  2. Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, swirling gently until particles are pale golden brown and smell nutty. Add herb sprigs; herbs may cause brown butter to splatter at first, so take care. Swirl herbs in brown butter off-heat until frizzled. Set aside.
  3. Peel sweet potatoes and discard skins. Add flesh to a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat with the whisk attachment or with a handheld mixer until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Strain brown butter into potatoes, discarding frizzled herbs. Beat in ginger, then beat in buttermilk or sour cream. Season to taste with salt.
  4. When ready to finish dish, preheat oven to 375°F. Scrape potatoes into a 2-quart baking dish, smoothing surface with a rubber spatula. Bake until heated through, about 30 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 475°F and top with mini marshmallows. Bake until marshmallows are melted and lightly browned, about 3 minutes (keep an eye on them, as they can brown and then burn very quickly). Serve.

💡 Tips

  • If you don't have buttermilk, you can use plain yogurt thinned with a little milk.
  • The marshmallows can burn quickly, so watch them closely during the final baking.
  • You can prepare the sweet potato mixture ahead and refrigerate; bake just before serving.

Inspired by a recipe from Serious Eats

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