Handheld Sweet Potato Casserole without Nuts
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This sweet potato casserole without nuts is perfect for those nut-free homes — plus it’s a fun handheld version. It’s a fun and tasty twist on a classic.
Disclosure: I’m excited to partner with Old El Paso this year to bring you fresh and flavorful recipes. Thank you for supporting Rachel Cooks by reading about brands we love and use in our own home.
Sweet potato casserole is a Thanksgiving classic. Who can resist the combination of sweet potatoes topped with fluffy marshmallows? This twist gives you all that flavor in a little handheld package – perfect for big Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving celebrations.
There are a million takes on sweet potato casserole but these mini boats are unlike anything I’ve ever tried. Mashed sweet potatoes flavored with cinnamon, butter (it is Thanksgiving after all!), brown sugar, and maple syrup. That would be great on its own, right?
But put it in an Old El Paso Mini Soft Tortilla Taco Boat and magic happens. The edges of the tortilla boats crisp up perfectly and the marshmallows are like icing on the cake. It’s the perfect handheld sweet potato casserole.
I envision these being perfect for a big Friendsgiving celebrating or a Thanksgiving where you want to be traditional, but not same ol’ same ol’ traditional. Traditional with a twist. These are your answer to that dilemma. If you want more fun sweet potato ideas, try twice baked sweet potatoes or sweet potato bread pudding. Or if you prefer things more on the savory side, these scalloped sweet potatoes with gruyere and bacon are to die for.
Best news about this handheld sweet potato casserole? It’s easy to make, of course. I baked my sweet potatoes the day before so that they were ready to be combined with all the sugar and butter and cinnamon. Or instead of baking the sweet potatoes, you could use your Instant Pot to cook them. You could even do the mixing step a day ahead.
Tip: You could make this the day AFTER Thanksgiving and use leftover sweet potatoes! What a yummy and creative way to use leftovers!
After combining the sweet potatoes with brown sugar, maple syrup, butter, and cinnamon, you spread them into mini boats and pop these delectable treats into the oven. Let them get hot and crispy, pull the boats out, and top with marshmallows. Back into the oven for a couple minutes and you’re good to go! So yummy!
I made this handheld sweet potato casserole without nuts so that my kids could eat them and because I know many sweet potato casserole recipes contain nuts. I wanted to give you an alternative. However, if you aren’t celebrating with folks who have nut allergies, pecans or walnuts would be a fantastic topping in place of the marshmallows.
My kids thought these were the coolest things ever. What kid wouldn’t love something that they can eat with their hands — and something that is COVERED IN MARSHMALLOWS. E and N were thrilled when these showed up on their plate for dinner.
Need more sweet potato recipes? I’ve got you covered!
- 25 Sweet Potato Recipes : a Rachel Cooks collection of recipes by various bloggers
- Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Southwest style
- Vanilla Bean Mashed Sweet Potatoes (you could use this mixture as an alternative to fill the boats!)
- Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
- Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole (nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free!)
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups mashed cooked sweet potatoes (about 3 large potatoes)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 12 Old El Paso Mini Soft Tortilla Taco Boats (one 5.1oz package)
- 1-2 cups mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. In a large mixing bowl, combine mashed sweet potatoes, cinnamon, butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup.
- Place Old El Paso Mini Soft Tortilla Taco Boats on a baking sheet.
- Spread sweet potato mixture evenly into each taco boat.
- Bake for 12 minutes. Carefully add mini marshmallows and bake for 2 more minutes or until marshmallows are puffy.
- Turn on broiler for 1-2 minutes to brown if desired (watch carefully!!!).
Notes
- To fill the mini boats easily, place sweet potato filling in a large zip-top bag. Snip off corner and pipe filling into mini boats. Press down with a spoon gently to get filling to edges.
- If you’re a fan of ginger, it would be a great addition to these. I’d recommend adding ¼ to ½ teaspoon ground ginger.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Husband’s take: No complaints (such a nice husband) although sweet potatoes in general aren’t his favorite thing. He did a fair amount of sharing with the kids because they couldn’t get enough.
Changes I would make: None are necessary but I do think a touch of ginger would be delish.
Difficulty: Easy!
Disclosure: I’m excited to partner with Old El Paso this year to bring you fresh and flavorful recipes like this sweet potato casserole without nuts. Thank you for supporting Rachel Cooks by reading about brands we love and use in our own home.
Amber says
I have made this for Thanksgiving every year for the last few years. Everyone loves them! I can’t usually find the tortilla boats, so I make them in muffin pans with crescent rolls cut to fit and filled with the filling.
Rachel Gurk says
That’s a perfect adaptation! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, it means a lot to me!
Ally says
Can you make the filling the night before??
Rachel Gurk says
Yes! That will work great!
Anna says
Woooww, looks absolutely awesome. I really need to try this recipe as soon as possible. Looks very authentic and perfect for Thanksgiving!
Erin @ Texanerin Baking says
I think these are the coolest thing ever, too! Such a fun treat.
Gina @Running to the Kitchen says
These are so cute! Great for the holidays!!
Rachel Gurk says
Thanks Gina!
Cookin Canuck says
What a fun idea for the holidays! I have a feeling my boys would be tempted to eat sweet potatoes if I served them like this.
Kirsten/ComfortablyDomestic says
SO thrilled to see a recipe for sweet potato casserole that is nut free! Making it in individual servings with marshmallows will send my boys over the edge of happiness. Who doesn’t like finger food?