Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole is one of the most popular dishes in the United States, especially during the Thanksgiving holiday. It is made from sweet potatoes that are boiled or baked until tender, then mashed and mixed with butter, sugar, eggs, and milk to achieve a smooth, custard-like texture. The mixture is baked and topped with sweet, crunchy layers such as brown sugarcoated pecans or toasted marshmallows.

The Meaning of Casserole

The term Casserole comes from the French word meaning pot or baking dish. In culinary arts, it refers to a method of cooking in which various ingredients are combined in a single dish and baked together until fully cooked. This technique became one of the most convenient and widely adopted methods in modern Western cooking.

Early Versions: Candied Sweet Potatoes

Before the creation of the Sweet Potato Casserole we know today, sweet potatoes were commonly prepared as Candied Sweet Potatoes.
Historical records show that recipes for candied sweet potatoes appeared in classic American cookbooks such as The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book (1896) by Fannie Farmer, one of the earliest and most influential culinary references in American history.

By the early 20th century, sweet potatoes began appearing in recipes described as Casserole Dishes. These recipes typically involved mixing mashed sweet potatoes with milk, eggs, butter, sugar, and spices before baking them to create a fragrant, creamy, and sweet dessert-like dish.

The Turning Point: The Marshmallow Topping

A major turning point came in 1917, when the Angelus Marshmallows Company commissioned Janet McKenzie Hill, a prominent food editor and founder of the Boston Cooking School Magazine, to create recipes featuring marshmallows as a key ingredient.
One of her creations was the Sweet Potato Casserole topped with marshmallows, a recipe that transformed this simple dish into a classic American holiday favorite. This collaboration effectively introduced the version of Sweet Potato Casserole that has since become iconic.

A Symbol of Southern Comfort and Tradition

Over time, Sweet Potato Casserole gained immense popularity, particularly in the Southern United States, where sweet potatoes and pecans are major crops. The dish became a Thanksgiving staple and a cherished part of family gatherings and celebrationssymbolizing warmth, abundance, and the rich culinary traditions of the South.

Today, this comforting casserole remains a quintessential part of American food culturebridging tradition, nostalgia, and the spirit of gratitude that defines the holiday season.