This sweet potato casserole without nuts is a fun and tasty twist on a classic. Try the handheld version or bake it in a casserole.
Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: This is a very versatile recipe:; it can be made in the mini bowls with marshmallows or in a casserole, with or without nuts. The filling can be made ahead.
How long it takes: about 30 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: baking sheet, mixing bowl
Servings: 12
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.
There are a million takes on sweet potato casserole but these mini bowls are unlike anything I’ve ever tried. Mashed sweet potatoes are flavored with cinnamon, butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup. That would be great on its own, right?
But put it in a mini soft tortilla taco bowl and magic happens. The edges of the tortilla bowls 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. Mini sweet potato bowls are traditional with a twist; they are super easy to serve. I like to call them mini boats!
If you’re looking for more sweet potato ideas, try twice baked sweet potatoes or sweet potato bread pudding. If you prefer things more on the savory side, these scalloped sweet potatoes with Gruyère and bacon are amazing.
More About This Sweet Potato Casserole
Easy! After combining the sweet potatoes with brown sugar, maple syrup, butter, and cinnamon, spread the mixture into mini bowls and pop these delectable treats into the oven. Let them get hot and crispy, pull the bowls out, and top with marshmallows. Back into the oven for a couple minutes and you’re good to go!
Nut-Free! I made this handheld sweet potato casserole without nuts so my kids could eat them. Even if you’re not worried about nut allergies, I know that many children don’t care for nuts in their food and often sweet potato casserole recipes contain nuts. I wanted to give you an alternative recipe. However, feel free to substitute a nutty streusel topping instead of the marshmallows if you want.
Handheld! 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. The mini boats are small enough for kids to easily handle, too.
Ways To Change This Recipe
- Make a casserole instead. If you don’t want to mess with the little bowls, bake the sweet potato mixture in a small casserole dish.
- Add a nutty topping. If you’d rather have nuts than marshmallows, add a streusel topping. Add it right away and let it bake the entire time.
- Pumpkin pie! Use pumpkin pie spice instead of the cinnamon.
- Make it vanilla. Fill the bowls with vanilla bean mashed sweet potatoes instead.
- Bake the sweet potatoes the day before so that they are ready to be combined with all the sugar and butter and cinnamon. You can also use your Instant Pot to cook them. The filling mixture can be made a day ahead.
- Use leftover sweet potatoes. You could even make this the day AFTER Thanksgiving and use leftover sweet potatoes. What a yummy and creative way to use leftovers!
Store baked sweet potato casseroles in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For best results, reheat in a toaster oven or oven so the tortilla boats crisp up.
More Sweet Potato Recipes
Sweet Potato Casserole without Nuts – Handheld!
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups mashed cooked sweet potatoes (about 3 large potatoes)
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
- ⅓ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 12 Old El Paso Mini Soft Tortilla Taco Boats (5.1 oz. package)
- 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. Divide sweet potato mixture evenly into each taco boat (see note).
- Bake for 12 minutes. Carefully add mini marshmallows and bake for 2 more minutes or until marshmallows are puffy.
- Turn on broiler for 1 to 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.
- Substitute pumpkin pie spice for the cinnamon, if desired.
- Make a casserole: Instead of dividing the mixture into the taco boats, place in a small greased casserole dish. Bake as directed, adding 15 minutes to baking time. Top with marshmallows, if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did You Make This?Share a comment and rating below! I love hearing what you think!
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.
That’s a perfect adaptation! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, it means a lot to me!
Can you make the filling the night before??
Yes! That will work great!
Woooww, looks absolutely awesome. I really need to try this recipe as soon as possible. Looks very authentic and perfect for Thanksgiving!
I think these are the coolest thing ever, too! Such a fun treat.
These are so cute! Great for the holidays!!
Thanks Gina!
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.
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?