Yams with Marshmallows are everyone’s favorite holiday side! Make it with yams or sweet potatoes, the day before or just before dinner — make our Thanksgiving yams recipe work for your family!
Yams with Marshmallows
Soft, tender sweet potatoes covered with a blanket of marshmallow toasted to a gorgeous golden brown… the ideal sweet complement to those heavy, savory Thanksgiving dishes.
The dish is complementary in itself — the creamy, spiced purée is accompanied by a fluffy yet crispy topping that’s almost addictive.
What are we serving our Thanksgiving yams recipe with? We always have our easy turkey gravy, perfect for pouring over stuffing and mashed potatoes, and sweet and tangy cranberry sauce. For dessert, we have these fun candy cupcakes that look like turkeys for the kids and subtly sweet maple pumpkin bread pudding for the adults.
Why you will love this recipe
- It’s naturally sweet and nutritious, with vitamin A, potassium, and fiber in spades.
- It looks almost as good as it tastes! The contrasting orange and white are perfect for fall.
- The soft texture and sweet taste will satisfy family members of all ages.
- You can prepare it ahead of time and bake it later!
How to make perfect Yams with Marshmallows
Bake. It takes up to 45 minutes for sweet potatoes to bake until they’re soft and fork-tender. Wrapping them in foil will help accelerate the process! It also keeps them moist, not charred.
Purée per your preference. Once baked, you can use either a mixer or potato masher to break down the potatoes. Break them down as much as you like: into chunks, into a totally smooth purée, or something in the middle. You could even just chop them with a knife for big pieces!
- Use small or medium marshmallows. Smaller ‘mallows make it easier to get an even layer on top of your casserole. The appearance after they melt is also so appetizing —like hills and hills of sweet, fluffy goodness!
Pro Tips for Preparing This Thanksgiving Yams Recipe
- You can use canned or frozen ingredients. Canned, frozen, even mashed potatoes that’ve been canned… they’ll all work! However, try to get those with no sugar added so that you can follow the rest of this Thanksgiving yams recipe with no further substitutions. Additionally, if the ingredients are frozen, note if they need to be steamed before use.
- Prepare this yams recipe for Thanksgiving ahead of time. You can assemble this dish up to 3 days ahead of time — right up until the purée is spooned into the baking dish! Don’t add the marshmallows yet because they’ll weep if they chill for too long. When you’re ready to bake, just add the fluff right before and proceed with the recipe.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions for Yams with Marshmallows
Sweet Potatoes: This recipe can easily be made with yams if you prefer. The cooking time will vary, but both have a pleasant flavor — particularly when paired with the following spices and always delicious marshmallows.
Brown Sugar: Use dark brown sugar if you want a rich, deep flavor and light brown sugar for a sweeter, lighter casserole. Regular white cane sugar is an okay substitute as a last-case scenario, but not preferred when making yams with marshmallows.
Ground Cinnamon & Nutmeg: Allspice, cloves, and ginger are all common substitutes for both spices. If you have apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice in your cabinet, you could use either one to make yams with marshmallows. They’re all flavors of the season!
Marshmallows: For a gooier topping, consider trying marshmallow fluff! It will roast and toast the same way, but will have a “smooth” rather than “bumpy” appearance.
Frequently asked Questions about Our Thanksgiving Yams Recipe
Why do people put marshmallows on yams?
They’re the perfect pair! The yam has a natural sweetness as well as a savory, earthy flavor that’s just a bit nutty. Marshmallows, when roasted, take on a caramel-like taste with just a hint of vanilla. Together, they’re unbeatable!
People also love this combination because it breaks up an otherwise heavy holiday meal. It goes very well with roasted turkey, ham, beef, and chicken.
Do you boil yams before baking?
You can! Doing this helps them to bake faster in the end. Of course, you’ll be waiting for them to boil as well, so you’re not saving too much time in the end.
It’s up to you. Roasting gives them an entirely different flavor than boiling, so you might want to try it both ways and see what you like best.
What is the difference between yams and sweet potatoes?
Yams with marshmallows, sweet potatoes with marshmallows… both are delicious! And yet the two are different.
If you look at them side-by-side, the two are quite different even visually. A yam is yellow or brown with a bark-like skin, whereas a sweet potato is bright, orange, and smooth.
They’re different in taste, too. Sweet potatoes are softer and sweeter, while the yam is starchier and not as creamy after cooking.
Yams With Marshmallows
Ingredients
- 2 lb sweet potatoes
- 1/3 cup butter melted
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 cup marshmallows mini or medium sized
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Then, cover each sweet potato with foil paper and bake them for 40-45 minutes or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
- Remove the potatoes from the foil paper; do it carefully, as they will be very hot. Remove the peel with your hands, or alternatively, slice potatoes length-wise and scoop out the flesh.
- Place cooked sweet potatoes into a bowl and add the remaining ingredients, except for the marshmallows. Mash them using a potato masher or a stand mixer until everything is well combined and smooth. Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed to suit your preferences.
- Place sweet potato puree into a 9×13-inch baking tray and extend it evenly. Finally, top it with the marshmallows in a single layer and bake it at 400F for 8-10 minutes.
- Keep a close eye on the oven, as marshmallows can burn quickly. Remove the tray from the oven once they are lightly melted and brownish on top.
- Serve hot as a side dish in your future holiday dinner.
Notes
- Yams with Marshmallows are often served as a side dish during holiday dinners. They pair well with savory dishes like roasted meats and turkey.
- For an attractive presentation, consider briefly broiling the marshmallows on high for a minute or two at the end to achieve a golden, toasted appearance.
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