Sweet Potato and Cranberry Crisp with Potato Chip Topping: The Ultimate Thanksgiving Dessert or Side Dish
Get ready to redefine your holiday table with a truly unforgettable dish: the Sweet Potato and Cranberry Crisp with Potato Chip Topping. This isn’t just another Thanksgiving side; it’s a culinary revelation that takes the familiar comfort of sweet potatoes and elevates it with an unexpected, yet utterly delicious, sweet and salty crunch. Forget everything you thought you knew about classic sweet potato casserole – this innovative crisp is designed to grab attention and garner requests for second helpings. We’re taking a delightful detour from tradition, creating a festive side dish (or perhaps a decadent dessert!) that balances tender, spiced sweet potatoes with the vibrant tartness of cranberries and a show-stopping, crispy potato chip and pecan topping.
My Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Revelation: From Skeptic to Superfan
Confession time: For as long as I can remember, the traditional sweet potato casserole, candied yams, or whatever form they took, always ended up being the skipped item on my Thanksgiving plate. It just never seemed to fit. Often, these dishes felt like an afterthought, presenting as a mushy, overly sweet concoction, frequently overshadowed by an excessive layer of melted marshmallows. The texture was often monotonous, the sweetness cloying, and the overall experience, frankly, lackluster. Next to the savory turkey, fluffy mashed potatoes, and tangy cranberry sauce, it always felt out of place, a sugary anomaly that I felt compelled to bypass.
But this year, everything changed. I challenged myself to reimagine this holiday staple, transforming it into a dish I wouldn’t just tolerate, but actively crave – a Thanksgiving side so good, I’d want seconds, maybe even thirds! My mission was to infuse it with dynamic flavors and textures that would make it a truly essential part of the holiday feast. The result is a vibrant, exciting, and thoroughly “completely delicious” Sweet Potato and Cranberry Crisp that has officially converted me and promises to win over your guests too.
More Than Just a Side: A Dessert-Worthy Creation
While we often categorize sweet potato dishes as “sides,” this particular crisp blurs the lines beautifully. With sweet potatoes simmering in a rich, aromatic syrup and topped with an irresistible sweet and salty crunch, it truly leans into the realm of dessert. Of course, it’s Thanksgiving, and the beauty of holiday meals is that rules are often bent! So, if you choose to serve this alongside your main course, I fully support it. But be warned: its decadent profile, bursting with autumnal spices and a caramelized finish, might just have your guests reaching for it after the turkey is gone, perhaps even with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of freshly whipped cream!
The Heart of the Dish: Tender Sweet Potatoes & Tart Cranberries
The foundation of this crisp begins with thinly sliced sweet potatoes, ensuring an even cook and a delightful, tender-yet-firm texture that avoids any hint of mushiness. They are gently simmered in a fragrant bath of packed brown sugar, warming cinnamon sticks, earthy allspice, and a hint of nutmeg, all brightened by the zest of fresh orange. This creates a deeply flavored, subtly spiced base that is both comforting and sophisticated. The simmering process allows the sweet potatoes to absorb all these wonderful aromatics, setting the stage for a truly exquisite experience that is far from boring.
The addition of vibrant cranberries is where this dish truly takes a “crisp” turn, reminiscent of a classic fruit crisp. These ruby-red jewels burst with a tartness that perfectly cuts through the inherent sweetness of the potatoes and syrup, adding a much-needed zing and a beautiful seasonal flare. They provide a delightful pop of flavor and a soft, juicy texture that complements the tender sweet potatoes, creating a harmonious balance that is both festive and incredibly satisfying. Whether fresh or frozen, cranberries are indispensable for this recipe’s unique character, elevating it beyond a simple sweet potato dish.
The Unexpected Star: Kettle Brand Potato Chip Topping
Now, let’s talk about the topping – the secret weapon that transforms this dish from merely great to absolutely extraordinary. This isn’t your grandma’s crumbly streusel; it’s a bold, innovative blend that delivers an unparalleled textural and flavor contrast. When Kettle Brand first approached me with the idea of reinventing a holiday classic using potato chips, I didn’t hesitate for a second. The concept of incorporating that signature kettle-cooked crunch and savory saltiness into a sweet holiday dish had been a burgeoning idea in my mind for months, and their partnership was the perfect catalyst to bring it to life and make this dream recipe a reality.
For this recipe, I specifically chose Kettle Brand’s Sweet and Salty flavor. Honestly, these chips are a game-changer on their own, but crushed and combined with other traditional crisp topping ingredients, they are pure magic. The subtle sweetness inherent in these chips, combined with their robust saltiness and irresistible crunch, creates an absolutely divine counterpoint to the soft, sweet filling. The topping also includes finely chopped pecans, which contribute a rich, nutty depth and another layer of satisfying crunch, along with brown sugar and a touch of all-purpose flour, all bound together with luxurious melted unsalted butter.
The genius of using Kettle Brand chips lies in their exceptional texture and flavor integrity. Unlike other chips, their thicker, kettle-cooked style holds up beautifully when baked, retaining that satisfying crunch even after being incorporated into the topping. This ensures that every single spoonful of your Sweet Potato and Cranberry Crisp is met with that delightful, surprising pop of savory, sweet, and nutty goodness. While the Sweet and Salty flavor is my top recommendation for achieving this specific balance, other Kettle Brand flavors like Sea Salt, Honey Dijon, or even the intriguing Maple Bacon could offer unique and delicious variations for the adventurous chef, adding another dimension to this already remarkable dish.
Crafting Your Holiday Masterpiece: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
Creating this Sweet Potato and Cranberry Crisp is surprisingly straightforward, allowing you to focus on enjoying the process and the incredible aromas that will soon fill your kitchen. It all begins with preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure a perfectly golden, bubbly crisp.
The first step involves preparing the star of the show: the sweet potatoes. They are thinly sliced to ensure even cooking and a consistent, tender texture throughout the dish. These slices are then gently simmered in a medium saucepan with a delectable mixture of packed brown sugar, warm holiday spices such as cinnamon sticks, ground allspice, and a hint of ground nutmeg, along with a pinch of kosher salt. A generous addition of unsalted butter, pure vanilla extract, and the bright zest of one orange infuses the potatoes with incredible depth and complexity. Just enough water is added to barely cover the sweet potatoes, ensuring they cook perfectly until they are tender but still hold their shape, avoiding any mushiness. Once tender, the sweet potatoes are carefully removed from the liquid using a slotted spoon and transferred to an 8-inch baking dish, where fresh or frozen cranberries are then added alongside them.
The simmering liquid isn’t discarded; it’s a treasure trove of flavor! This liquid continues to simmer on the stovetop until it has been reduced to about 1 cup, usually taking around 15 minutes. This reduction intensifies all those beautiful spices and sweet notes, creating a rich, concentrated syrup. After the cinnamon sticks are removed, this luscious syrup is spooned generously over the sweet potatoes and cranberries, ensuring every part of the filling is coated in its deliciousness.
For the pièce de résistance, the topping is prepared in a separate bowl. It’s a delightful blend of packed brown sugar, all-purpose flour, melted unsalted butter, finely chopped pecans, and, of course, our innovative star ingredient: crushed Kettle Brand potato chips. This combination creates a beautifully crumbly, irresistible mixture that is then sprinkled evenly over the top of the filling, promising that signature sweet and salty crunch in every bite. The crisp is baked until it achieves a gorgeous golden brown color on top and the filling is bubbling invitingly, typically taking about 35-45 minutes. A short cooling period of 15 minutes is recommended after baking to allow the flavors to meld and the crisp to set slightly before serving warm. Any leftovers can be stored conveniently in the fridge.
This dish is not only a fantastic way to utilize seasonal ingredients but also an exciting conversation starter for any holiday gathering. Its unique blend of flavors and textures will undoubtedly make it a new family favorite, perhaps even converting other sweet potato skeptics!
Sweet Potato-Cranberry Crisp
Pin Recipe
Leave a Review
Ingredients
For the filling:
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes , thinly sliced (900 grams)
- 1 cup packed light or dark brown sugar (213 grams)
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (28 grams)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 orange
- Water
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries (100 grams)
For the topping:
- ½ cup packed light or dark brown sugar (55 grams)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (60 grams)
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter , melted (75 grams)
- ½ cup pecans , chopped (55 grams)
- 1 ½ cup potato chips , crushed (45 grams)
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350°F.
-
Place the sweet potatoes, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, allspice, nutmeg, salt, butter, vanilla and orange zest in a medium saucepan. Add enough to water to just cover the sweet potatoes. Bring to a boil and simmer until sweet potatoes just begin to turn tender, but are still firm. Use a slotted spoon to remove the sweet potatoes. Place in an 8-inch baking dish and add the cranberries.
-
Continue to simmer the liquid in the saucepan until it has been reduced to about 1 cup, about 15 minutes. Remove cinnamon sticks. Spoon over the sweet potatoes and cranberries.
-
In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, butter, pecans and potato chips. Sprinkle mixture over the top of the filling.
-
Bake until golden brown and filling is bubbly, about 35-45 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes, then serve warm. Store leftovers in the fridge.
Final Thoughts and Serving Suggestions
Whether you choose to present this Sweet Potato and Cranberry Crisp as a standout side dish alongside your roasted turkey, or as a glorious dessert to cap off your holiday meal, it promises to be a memorable addition. Its versatility means it can adapt to various moments during your feast. Imagine a warm scoop nestled next to a dollop of fresh whipped cream or a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream – the contrast of temperatures and textures is simply divine, creating an elevated culinary experience. It also reheats beautifully, making it an excellent option for Thanksgiving leftovers or a fantastic make-ahead dish to reduce holiday stress, allowing you more time to enjoy with loved ones.
I genuinely believe this recipe is a game-changer, not just for those who, like my former self, found traditional sweet potato casseroles a bit uninspiring, but for anyone looking to add a truly unique, exciting, and delicious element to their festive spread. The harmony of the tender, spiced sweet potatoes, the bright burst of tart cranberries, and the irresistible salty crunch of the Kettle Brand potato chip topping creates an experience that is both comforting and exhilarating. Give it a try this holiday season, and prepare for rave reviews and empty baking dishes!
Disclosure: I received payment from Kettle Brand Chips in exchange for this sponsored post. Kettle Brand also sent me product. All opinions are my own, as always. Thank you for supporting partnerships with brands that I believe in.