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Creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes Everyone Will Love

Creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes Everyone Will Love

These creamy mashed sweet potatoes combine tender sweet potatoes with butter, warm heavy cream, and your choice of fresh orange juice or milk. Add maple syrup or light brown sugar for a sweeter holiday-style side dish.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 4 pounds Sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) Unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup Heavy cream, warmed
  • 1/2 cup Fresh orange juice or milk
Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, plus more for the cooking water
  • 1/2 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
Optional Sweetener
  • 2 tablespoons Pure maple syrup or light brown sugar

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Place the peeled, 1-inch sweet potato chunks in a large pot and cover them with cold, generously salted water.
  2. Bring the pot to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, until every piece is completely tender and easily pierced with a fork.
  3. Drain the sweet potatoes very well, then return them to the warm pot for 1 to 2 minutes so excess moisture can evaporate.
  4. Warm the butter and heavy cream together over low heat until the butter melts and the mixture is hot, but do not let it boil.
  5. Mash the sweet potatoes with a potato masher, or pass them through a ricer for an especially smooth texture.
  6. Gradually mix in the warm butter-and-cream mixture, followed by the orange juice or milk, stopping when the potatoes are creamy.
  7. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, then stir in maple syrup or light brown sugar if a sweeter flavor is desired.
  8. Serve the mashed sweet potatoes hot, with an extra little pat of butter if desired.

Notes

Drain thoroughly and steam-dry the potatoes briefly to prevent a watery texture. Add warm dairy and butter gradually, and avoid overmixing because a food processor can make mashed potatoes gluey.