I was never a big fan of the candied yams that are almost always on the Thanksgiving table. In fact, I’m pretty sure that I thought I hated sweet potatoes until well into my twenties because of them. The large chunks of sickly sweet orange “yams” and then the bizarre marshmallow topping? What is that about? Don’t get me wrong. I love marshmallows, like, a lot. I just found the whole thing to be weird and I wasn’t a big fan.I was never a big fan of the candied yams that are almost always on the Thanksgiving table. In fact, I’m pretty sure that I thought I hated sweet potatoes until well into my twenties because of them. The large chunks of sickly sweet orange “yams” and then the bizarre marshmallow topping? What is that about? Don’t get me wrong. I love marshmallows, like, a lot. I just found the whole thing to be weird and I wasn’t a big fan.
By the way, did you know that the “yams” sold in American supermarkets are actually just sweet potatoes? True yams are starchy tubers from the Caribbean. So orange, white or purple, pretty much everything we see in the grocery store in the U.S. are sweet potatoes, even if they are labeled as “yams”.
I’m not sure when this dish replaced the marshmallow yams for my family, but it was after I was already an adult. My mom learned how to make this from some friends of hers and she started making it for our Thanksgiving dinners. It didn’t take long for me to start thinking of it as a “must have” on the Thanksgiving day table. The first year I had Thanksgiving without her, I had to call her for the recipe.
I love that it is a slightly different take on the traditional, and in my opinion it tastes much better. Since the sweetness only comes from maple syrup and the apples, it doesn’t have that overwhelmingly sweet quality. It took me a few tries to get the recipe pinned down to exactly as good as my mom makes it, but it seems like my last attempt was the winner.
I made a smaller serving size of this dish because, well, I made it three times and there are only two of us here. So this recipe is only to serve four, but feel free to double or triple the recipe depending on how many people you are serving. I tried this two ways. One was to drizzle the maple syrup and then sprinkle the spices on each layer, but I found that the spices did not get evenly distributed that way. I preferred to mix the spices, maple syrup and butter together and then spread each layer with the syrup mix. That made the texture better and allowed the spices to be more even. You will notice that on some of my photos the spices are sprinkled on, but the recipe will have my preferred method detailed.
The other thing is that the sweet potatoes need to be par cooked before going into the oven with the apples, because the apples cook much faster than sweet potatoes. We just microwave them for a few minutes, which also makes them easier to cut! And last of all, you can actually sub butternut squash for the sweet potato and it tastes almost the same.
Sweet Potato Apple Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 apples cored and thinly sliced (1/4 inch thick)
- 2 small sweet potatoes or 1 large
- 2 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter
- 5 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Peel the sweet potato and poke a few holes in it. Microwave for about 3 minutes or bake for 20 minutes, so that it is starting to get soft but not cooked.
- Slice the sweet potato into thin slices, about 1/4 inch thick.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat, then add the maple syrup, spices and salt. Whisk together until smooth.
- In a baking dish, lay the sweet potatoes in a single layer.
- Brush with some of the butter/syrup mixture.
- On top of that, place a layer of apple slices. Brush the apples with more syrup.
- Continue with another layer of sweet potatoes, then syrup, then apples and then the last of the syrup. Use a brush to ensure that everything is coated with the syrup.
- Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the apples and sweet potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife.
Notes
Nutrition
What are the must have dishes for your Thanksgiving table? Do you love candied yams?
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Elma says
I am off sugar. completely . I usually gill sweet potato as my dessert. but I think it would be nice change to add apples with the spices, omitting the maple. will give it a try. thanks for new idea.
Meghan says
Hi Elma, I’m glad to hear it will work for you! The apples and sweet potatoes make a great pair!
Katharina says
Liked using spiced maple syrup and melted butter to brush on ingredients. But increase prebaking the sweet potatoes to about 60 minutes baking before assembling the casserole. Otherwise they remain rubbery. leftovers are great with yoghurt for breakfast.
Meghan says
I’m glad you enjoyed it Katharina!
Jackie says
Hi Meghan
What kind of apples did you use in this recipe.
Meghan says
Hi Jackie!
I used Jonagold apples, but I think macintosh or any baking apple would work great here. Thanks for the comment!
2sassymomma says
Have you tried Granny Smith apples for a sweet and tart taste?
Meghan says
Hi! I haven’t, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work!
Christine | Mid-Life Croissant says
I absolutely love this and need a casserole dish so I can start making things like this. I’d like a dish as cute as yours! Where did you get it? Thanks for sharing this at #SaucySaturdays
Meghan says
Thank you Christine! I got that dish at Crate and Barrel a few years ago, I use it all the time! Thanks for hosting Saucy Saturdays!
Amanda says
YUUUMMMMM. I love everything in this. Everything. I love how it isn’t overly sweetened. If I’m being honest, I’d totally eat this for breakfast with some nice breakfast sausages. omg. <3.
Meghan says
Mmmm, I think that would make an amazing breakfast! Thanks Amanda!
Rachel @ Bakerita says
I’m not a fan of the marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole either – this sweet potato apple casserole looks so much better! I can see why this is a staple on your Thanksgiving table. Looks delicious!
Meghan says
Thanks so much Rachel! I guess we can all just skip the marshmallows this Thanksgiving – at least with our sweet potatoes 🙂
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
OMG, I HATE that sweet potato and marshmallow thanksgiving dish. So gross… no offense to the weirdos that enjoy eating that hot mess. 🙂 Now THIS is how sweet potatoes need to be served!! This looks delish, girlfriend! LOVING the sweet potato, apple and maple combination! Thank your mom for me for this one! Pinned! Cheers, doll!
Meghan says
Haha, that made me laugh and TOTALLY agree 🙂 Thanks so much Cheyanne! And thank you for pinning!!
Ashley says
I’m with you – the marshmallows on top of sweet potatoes always grossed me out! I won’t touch those casseroles! This looks wonderful!
Meghan says
Thanks Ashley! Seems like most people don’t like the marshmallow sweet potato dish!
Kristine | Kristine's Kitchen says
My family makes a healthier sweet potato casserole, too, but I love this one with the apples on top! The spiced maple syrup that you’ve layered in here sounds like the perfect way to flavor this side dish!
Meghan says
Thank you so much Kristine!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
haha, I feel the same way about yams with the marshmallow topping .. not a fan! 🙂 I love this sweet potato apple casserole! what a great idea and love the layering and that syrup! Delicious! Must have dishes for thanksgiving for me? a really delicious homemade stuffing, turkey, mashed potatoes and my lighter green bean casserole!
Meghan says
Thanks so much Alice! I agree, homemade stuffing is another Must Have for me on Thanksgiving too, and yours looks amazing!
Julie is Hostess At Heart says
Meghan, I just love that the only sugar comes from maple syrup. Apples and sweet potatoes are a match made in culinary heaven!
Meghan says
Thank you Julie! I agree that apples and sweet potatoes are a perfect pair!
Jess @ Sweetest Menu says
Wow! This is such a gorgeous dish! I’ve never seen anything like it. Beautiful!
Meghan says
Thank you so much Jess!
Ashlyn | Dollop of Yum says
This looks absolutely delicious! I have never thought of putting apples and sweet potatoes together in a casserole. A perfect fall dish!
Meghan says
Thanks so much Ashlyn!
Kelly says
This is such a great idea! I’m not a fan of the marshmallow casserole and love the sound of this wholesome version so much better! It’s such a beautiful side dish!
Meghan says
Thank you so much Kelly! I wonder if anyone actually likes the marshmallow yams, but still makes it every year?
E.A. says
Miz Fox…the Pics are outstanding!
Just saying…????
I’m loving this TOTAL blog!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Meghan says
Thank you
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
I love this idea and never thought to make a sweet potatoes casserole with apples even though I grill sweet potatoes and apples together all of the time. I definitely need to try this soon!
Meghan says
Ooh, I bet grilled together they are amazing! They go together so well! Thank you Ashley!
annie says
What a hearty, perfect-for-fall dish! Not jut for Thanksgiving, and easy enough to make any day. Also, that last photo is absolutely gorgeous. I mean, they all are, but I like that one the best.
Meghan says
Thanks so much Annie! I wasn’t feeling super excited about the photos for this one so that is nice to hear 🙂
My Dish is Bomb says
Don’t even get me started on those marshmallow creations. I think people could easily quarter those recipes and serve it as a bite-sized dessert. Now this on the other hand is totally my kind of side dish during thanksgiving!
Meghan says
Thank you Katy! I agree, those marshmallow yams are way more of a dessert type thing.
Lauren Gaskill | Making Life Sweet says
Oh wow Meghan! This looks so wholesome and good for the soul. Pinning!
Meghan says
Thank you Lauren! And thanks so much for pinning!
E.A. says
Looks good, dear!! I like how you mixed the spices & butter together! That makes for a
consistent taste rather then getting a mouthful of a certain spice!! Very Scrumpdeliousous!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️??
Meghan says
Thanks Mom 🙂 🙂
Anne Dabecco says
Oh my goodness! These are two of my very favorite things. Will definitely be trying this recipe. Will let you know how it comes out.
Meghan says
Wonderful Anne! Can’t wait to hear about it!