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Ultimate Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole (gluten-free & easy)

This Ultimate Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole is a classic recipe, made with mashed sweet potatoes topped with candied pecans. It's ultra warm and comforting, sweet and satiating. It's gluten-free, and naturally sweetened using coconut sugar.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
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Dec 19, 2019 (Last updated Sep 13, 2021) by Hannah Sunderani

Ultimate Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole (gluten-free & easy)

This Ultimate Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole is a classic recipe, made with mashed sweet potatoes topped with candied pecans. It’s ultra warm and comforting, sweet and satiating. It’s gluten-free, and naturally sweetened using coconut sugar.

Typically made with marshmallows, I’ve topped this Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole with pecans for a healthier and more wholesome version.

Lucky for us, it’s easy to make this crowd pleasing dish. With just 11 ingredients and 1 hour to bake. It can even be made in advanced to save you time on the big day of celebration.

As you know, I’ve been dropping dishes for the holidays like it’s hot. And this is one of the last for your 2019 holiday menu. You’re welcome! Certainly, it’s a winning side dish that everyone can get on board with, vegan or not.

Now, let me tell you exactly how to make this sweet potato casserole so you can get baking it asap!

Ultimate Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole

How to make Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole

The Ingredients:

For this recipe, you will need:

  • sweet potatoes
  • vegan butter (I used earth balance)
  • coconut milk
  • coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
  • flaxseed meal
  • cinnamon
  • nutmeg
  • sea salt
  • pecans
  • almond meal

As yo can see, the ingredients are fairly straight forward, and it’s likely you already have them in your pantry. And if you don’t have some ingredients (like coconut sugar, or flaxseed meal) they will certainly come in handy for future vegan recipes (sweet and savoury). I’ve got lots on the blog that use these ingredients, and a quick search in the search bar will bring them up for ya!

For the sweet potato mash:

Making the sweet potato mash is incredibly easy. We will begin by peeling and chopping the sweet potato into bite sized cubes. Add to a large pot of boiling water and simmer the sweet potato for 15 minutes, or until cooked.

Remove from heat and let cool slightly (10 minutes). Then add the liquids and spice (i.e. coconut milk, flax egg, cinnamon, nutmeg etc.)

how to make sweet potato casserole

Next, mash by hand or use an immersion blender like I did (in image 5 below).

Transfer the mash to a baking dish (I’ve used an 8×11 inch) and sprinkle with your candied pecan topping.

how to make sweet potato casserole

For the candied pecan topping:

In fact, making the candied pecan topping is very similarly to making a crumble topping.

Mix together pecans, coconut sugar, almond meal and vegan butter to combine, and sprinkle over sweet potato mash to coat. It’s a quick and easy topping that adds perfect crunchiness to the sweet potato mash.

how to make sweet potato casserole

Traditionally, we top Sweet Potato Casserole with marshmallows. But this candied pecan topping adds lovely crunch, and needless to say it makes for a healthier and vegan version. I’m sure you will enjoy it even more than the traditional!

Is sweet potato casserole a dessert? Or, side dish?

Now, this is the big debated question. Some will argue that sweet potato casserole originates as a dessert as it used to be served in a pie crust. (Tbh, that sounds ultra delicious to me!).

And no doubt, this recipe is sweet, not savoury. So therefore it should be served as…dessert?

However, those on the other side will argue that sweet potato is a vegetable, and therefore it stands to reason that sweet potato casserole is most definitely a side dish! Just like any other sweet potato dish.

In addition, there are lots of savoury dishes that come in pie form, like pot-pies. So even though it’s sweet, it’s most definitely a side dish.

I say, the choice is yours. I love the combo of sweet and savoury dishes served on my dinner table. For example, a meal with savoury lentil loaf and harvest kale salad, alongside sweet potato casserole is a winning combo.

But, if you prefer to serve this as a dessert I won’t be one to judge.

Ultimate Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole

Can this recipe be made in advance?

Certainly, this recipe can be made in advance to save you time on Xmas or Thanksgiving day. Which is a bonus when we have 101 things to do and places to be. You can make this recipe the day before, and then reheat in the oven, covered in foil for 20-30 minutes.

The recipe can even be frozen and thawed. Wrap well, and keep in freezer for no longer than a week to ensure freshness.

Other recipes you might like:

If you’re looking for some Holiday recipes to pair with this Sweet Potato Casserole, I encourage you to try the following:

Shop my kitchen:

I’m always asked what items I like to use in the kitchen. So, I’ve included my favourites for making this Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole below. You can also find more of my favourite kitchen essentials and products on my Shop page.

(commissions earned as an affiliate. I only recommend products I know and love).

Le Creuset Stoneware Rectangular Dish, 12.5 by 8.25-Inch, Cerise (Cherry Red)

This is the baking dish I’ve used to make the sweet potato casserole.

KitchenAid 2-Speed Hand Blender

Not my exact hand blender but very similar. Used to mash the sweet potatoes. It’s well priced and nothing fancy. Alternatively you could use a classic potato masher.

Pin it! Ultimate Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole

So there we have it, an easy holiday side dish for your holiday gathering. It’s vegan, gluten-free and sweet as can be. Classic and comforting, everyone can get on board with this sweet and tasty side-dish, whether you’re vegan or not. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

And, if you do make this recipe please let me know in the comments below what you think! I love hearing from you. And of course, tag me on Instagram with the hashtag #twospoons. Nothing makes me happier than to see your recreations.


GF

Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole (gluten-free & easy)

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This Ultimate Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole is a classic recipe, made with mashed sweet potatoes topped with candied pecans. It's ultra warm and comforting, sweet and satiating. It's gluten-free, and naturally sweetened using coconut sugar.
Ultimate Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Serves 8 people

Ingredients

Flax egg:

  • 2 tbsp flaxseed meal
  • 6 tbsp water

Pecan Topping:

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Instructions

  • Make the flax egg: In a small bowl, combine the flax meal with and water and mix to combine. Let sit at least 10 minutes.
  • In a small bowl combine the pecans, coconut sugar, almond meal, melted vegan butter, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
  • Preheat oven to 350F/180C. Add the sweet potatoes to a large pot of boiling water and cook until fork tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and add back to the pot with the flax egg mixture, melted vegan butter, coconut milk, coconut sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and sea salt. Mash the sweet potatoes with a potato masher and transfer to an 8x11 casserole dish. Sprinkle with the pecan topping in an even layer.
  • Bake the sweet potato casserole for 30 minutes, or until the pecan topping is golden brown and the sides are bubbling. Let cool for 10 minutes and serve.

Notes

Do ahead: This sweet potato casserole can be made in advanced. Reheat in the oven, covered in foil for 20-30 minutes.
The recipe can even be frozen and thawed. Wrap well, and keep in freezer for no longer than a week to ensure freshness.
Nutritional information is a rough estimate. 

Approvals

Nutrition

Calories: 358kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 486mg | Potassium: 517mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 18983IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 1mg
DID YOU

Tag @twospoons on Instagram
and hashtag it #twospoons

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