Delicious Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole with Maple Pecan Topping: Your Healthier Holiday Favorite

Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole is a truly delicious, wholesome, and comforting take on the classic holiday side dish, perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth in a healthier way. Imagine a rich, creamy, and warmly spiced sweet potato base, crowned with a crunchy, buttery Maple Pecan Topping that caramelizes beautifully as it bakes. This impressive casserole is naturally vegan and gluten-free (when using appropriate flour), proving that your favorite holiday recipes can be both nutritious and incredibly indulgent.

This recipe celebrates the natural sweetness of the sweet potato, enhanced by warm cinnamon and rich maple syrup. It’s a fantastic, make-ahead dish that’s guaranteed to be a hit at any holiday gathering. You can visit our New York for more delicious recipes.

Why You’ll Love This Dish

Feature	Benefit
Naturally Vegan	Entirely plant-based, making it inclusive for all guests.
Healthier Indulgence	Made with wholesome ingredients, serving as a lighter take on a heavy classic.
Textural Delight	Combines ultra-smooth, creamy sweet potato with a crisp, crunchy pecan topping.
Holiday Essential	The perfect warm, spiced side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Make-Ahead Friendly	Can be assembled in advance and baked just before serving.

An Overview of Flavors and Textures

The Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole with Maple Pecan Topping is a comforting symphony of sweet, spiced, and rich flavors with contrasting textures.

The casserole base is made from tender sweet potatoes mashed until wonderfully smooth and creamy.¹ This rich base is infused with cinnamon and sea salt, and sweetened by maple syrup, creating a complex, caramelized flavor. The addition of vegan butter and milk ensures a luscious, velvety body.

The star of the show is the Maple Pecan Topping. It bakes into a buttery, shatteringly crisp, golden crust that provides an essential crunch. Pecans contribute a warm, nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with the sweet maple glaze. This Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole is a truly satisfying blend of creamy, warm, and crunchy notes.

The Star of the Show: The Maple Pecan Topping

While the smooth sweet potato base is the anchor of this dish, the true defining characteristic and “star” of this Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole is the Maple Pecan Topping. This simple mixture of coarsely chopped pecans, almond flour, melted vegan butter, and maple syrup transforms the casserole from a basic mash into a gourmet, holiday-ready dessert. As it bakes, the topping crisps up and the maple syrup caramelizes around the nuts, creating a warm, crunchy, and irresistibly buttery crust. This rich textural contrast against the soft, creamy interior is what makes this casserole so memorable and addictive.

How to Make Your Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole with Maple Pecan Topping

This casserole is easy to prepare and can be assembled ahead of time, making it ideal for busy holiday cooking. The key is to ensure the sweet potatoes are mashed until completely smooth.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes (includes boiling and baking)

Total Time: 55 minutes

Servings: 6–8 pieces

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

Component	Amount	Ingredient	Notes
For the Casserole:	3.3 pounds	Sweet potatoes	Peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
	3 tablespoons	Sugar (brown, cane, or coconut)
	3 tablespoons	Maple syrup (or agave nectar)
	¼ cup	Vegan milk (any kind)
	6 tablespoons	Oil (olive oil or unrefined coconut oil)
	6 tablespoons	Vegan butter, softened
	1 teaspoon	Cinnamon
	½ teaspoon	Sea salt
For the Topping:	3 tablespoons	Maple syrup (or agave nectar)
	8 tablespoons	Almond flour (or any flour)
	1½ tablespoons	Melted vegan butter
	1½ cups	Pecans, coarsely chopped	Or walnuts

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven & Cook Potatoes: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Boil or steam the sweet potato cubes until they are fork-tender, which takes about 15–20 minutes. Drain the potatoes very well.
2. Mash Sweet Potatoes: In a large bowl, combine the cooked sweet potatoes with the sugar, 3 tablespoons of maple syrup, vegan milk, oil, 6 tablespoons of vegan butter, cinnamon, and sea salt. Mash the ingredients thoroughly until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy.
3. Prepare the Topping: In a separate small bowl, mix the almond flour, 1½ tablespoons of melted vegan butter, 3 tablespoons of maple syrup, and the chopped pecans until the mixture is coarse and crumbly.
4. Assemble the Casserole: Transfer the mashed sweet potatoes to a greased 9×9-inch (or similar size) baking dish. Sprinkle the pecan topping evenly over the entire top surface of the casserole.
5. Bake: Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the topping is beautifully golden brown and crispy, and the sweet potato base is heated through and slightly bubbling around the edges.
6. Serve: Let the casserole cool slightly for about 5–10 minutes before serving warm.

Expert Tips for Your Casserole

Category	Tip
Texture	For the smoothest casserole, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to whip the sweet potato mixture after mashing.
Make-Ahead	You can assemble the entire casserole (up to step 5, but without the topping) a day ahead. Store the topping separately and add it right before baking.
Pecan Crispness	Ensure the pecans are coarsely chopped; this helps the topping stay crunchy and prevents it from becoming soggy.
Spice Profile	Add a pinch of ground ginger, nutmeg, or allspice to the sweet potato mash for a more complex holiday flavor.
Vegan Butter	Use high-quality vegan butter for the best, most authentic buttery flavor in the mash and the topping.

Conclusion: Your Deliciously Easy & Wholesome Dinner

The Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole with Maple Pecan Topping is a true delight—a perfect balance of comforting spice and natural sweetness that makes for an incredible holiday side dish. With its velvety base and crunchy pecan topping, it’s a dish that feels both indulgent and wholesome. Easy to prepare and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser, this Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole is sure to become a beloved favorite in your kitchen.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I use canned sweet potato purée?

Yes, you can. Use 4-5 cups of canned sweet potato purée instead of boiling fresh potatoes. Reduce the liquid (milk/butter/oil) slightly, as canned purée is often wetter.

Can I make the topping gluten-free?

Yes, the topping is naturally gluten-free if you use almond flour, as instructed.

How should I store leftovers?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently in the oven or microwave.

Can I use walnuts instead of pecans?

Yes, walnuts or even chopped almonds work well as a substitute for pecans in the topping.2

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