Sweet Potato Bites with Marshmallows & Pecans: The Ultimate Easy Holiday Side Dish & Appetizer
Get ready to delight your taste buds with these incredible **Sweet Potato Bites with Marshmallows and Pecans**! Far from being just another holiday side, these charming individual servings offer a fresh, modern, and undeniably delicious twist on the traditional sweet potato casserole. They’re not only a feast for the eyes, looking absolutely adorable on any platter, but also incredibly easy to prepare. Perfect for your festive gatherings, family dinners, or any occasion that calls for a touch of sweet and savory indulgence.
If you’re looking to break away from the usual, perhaps slightly predictable, sweet potato casserole, then you’ve arrived at the perfect recipe! While the classic version has its place, these sweet potato bites introduce an exciting new dynamic. Imagine thick, tender rounds of butter-roasted sweet potatoes, generously drizzled with rich maple syrup, then crowned with fluffy, toasted marshmallows and a crunchy pecan half. Each bite delivers all the comforting, familiar flavors of your favorite sweet potato casserole, but in a convenient, elegant, and utterly delightful single-serving package.
Not only are these sweet potato bites incredibly tasty, but they’re also surprisingly simple to make. Requiring just 5 key ingredients and minimal prep time, you can whip up a batch of these show-stopping treats in under an hour. They’re guaranteed to be a conversation starter and a crowd-pleaser, making them an ideal choice for busy holiday hosts or anyone looking to add a touch of gourmet flair with ease.
Table of Contents
- Perfect as an Appetizer or Side Dish
- Why These Sweet Potato Bites Are a Must-Try
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How to Make These Sweet Potato Bites
- Recipe Tips and FAQs
- Serving Suggestions & Holiday Pairings
- More Sweet Potato Recipes
- Get the Recipe
Perfect as an Appetizer or Side Dish!
One of the most remarkable qualities of these sweet potato bites with marshmallows and pecans is their incredible versatility. They seamlessly transition between roles, making them ideal as a festive appetizer to kick off your holiday meal or a delightful side dish to complement your main course. Whether you’re hosting a grand Thanksgiving feast, a cozy Christmas dinner, an Easter brunch, or simply attending a potluck, these bites are guaranteed to impress. Their individual portions make them easy to pick up and enjoy, reducing mess and adding a touch of elegance to any buffet spread. Prepare for compliments – everyone is sure to adore them!
Why These Sweet Potato Bites Are a Must-Try
Beyond their delicious flavor, these sweet potato bites offer several compelling reasons to make them your new go-to recipe:
- Single-Serving Convenience: Forget the messy serving of traditional casseroles. Each bite is perfectly portioned, making them easy to grab and enjoy.
- Elegant Presentation: Their mini size and colorful toppings make them visually appealing, adding a sophisticated touch to your table.
- Kid-Friendly: The sweet taste and toasted marshmallows make these an instant hit with children, encouraging them to eat their vegetables!
- Less Mess: No more scooping sticky casserole onto plates; these individual bites mean cleaner serving and easier cleanup.
- Modern Twist: They offer a refreshing update to a beloved classic, perfect for those who appreciate tradition with a contemporary flair.
- Perfect for Potlucks: Easy to transport and serve, they’re a fantastic dish to bring to gatherings.
- Speed and Simplicity: With minimal ingredients and straightforward steps, even novice cooks can achieve fantastic results.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering your ingredients for these sweet potato bites is a breeze. Each component plays a vital role in creating that perfect balance of sweet, savory, and textural delight. Here’s what you’ll need, along with a brief explanation of why each item is essential:
- Sweet Potatoes: The star of our dish! Choose firm, unblemished sweet potatoes for the best flavor and texture. They provide natural sweetness and are packed with vitamins, especially Vitamin A.
- Butter: Melted butter is used for roasting, imparting a rich, savory depth that perfectly complements the sweet potatoes and helps them caramelize beautifully. Feel free to use unsalted butter and adjust salt later, or a good quality salted butter for extra flavor.
- Maple Syrup: A natural sweetener that adds a warm, earthy sweetness and a beautiful glaze. Real maple syrup is highly recommended over pancake syrup for its superior flavor.
- Salt: A touch of salt is crucial to balance the sweetness of the potatoes, maple syrup, and marshmallows, enhancing all the flavors without making the dish overly sweet.
- Regular-Sized Marshmallows: Halved marshmallows create that iconic, gooey, toasted topping. They melt into a delightful, slightly crispy, golden-brown crust under the broiler.
- Pecan Halves: These add a wonderful crunch, a nutty flavor, and an essential textural contrast to the soft sweet potato and gooey marshmallow. They’re a classic pairing with sweet potatoes.
How to Make These Sweet Potato Bites
Making these sweet potato bites is a straightforward process, broken down into a few simple steps. Follow these instructions carefully to achieve perfectly tender sweet potatoes with beautifully toasted marshmallows and crunchy pecans.
- Prepare and Combine Sweet Potatoes with Butter: Begin by preheating your oven to 425°F (220°C). Grease a large sheet pan with butter or a nonstick spray to prevent sticking. Peel your sweet potatoes and carefully slice them into uniform 1-inch rounds. Consistency in size is key for even cooking. Place the sweet potato rounds on the greased sheet pan and drizzle them generously with melted butter. Toss gently to ensure each round is evenly coated. A sprinkle of salt at this stage will enhance their natural sweetness during roasting.
Coating sweet potato rounds with melted butter and salt before roasting. - Roast Sweet Potatoes to Perfection: Place the sheet pan in your preheated oven. Roast for about 20 minutes. After this initial roast, flip each sweet potato round over—you should see a lovely browning on the bottoms. Continue to bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender. The exact cooking time may vary depending on the thickness and size of your rounds, so check for tenderness frequently. This roasting step brings out their natural sugars and creates a delicious base.
Flipping the sweet potato rounds for even cooking and browning. - Add Maple Syrup and Marshmallows: Once the sweet potatoes are tender, remove the pan from the oven. Keep the oven on, but switch it to the broiler setting. Drizzle the roasted sweet potato rounds with maple syrup and gently toss them right on the pan to ensure an even coating. Then, carefully place a halved marshmallow on top of each sweet potato round. Arrange them neatly to prepare for broiling.
Adding maple syrup and marshmallows before the final broil. - Broil and Top with Pecans: Place the sheet pan back into the oven, directly under the broiler. This step is quick and requires constant vigilance! Broil for just 1-3 minutes, watching continuously until the marshmallows are beautifully golden brown and lightly toasted. They can go from perfect to burnt in a matter of seconds. As soon as they achieve that lovely toasted finish, remove the pan from the oven. Immediately press a pecan half into the top of each warm, gooey marshmallow. The heat will help the pecan adhere.
- Serve and Enjoy! These sweet potato bites are truly at their best when served hot and fresh from the oven, allowing you to experience the contrast of warm, tender sweet potato, melty marshmallow, and crisp pecan. Arrange them artfully on a serving platter and watch them disappear!
Recipe Tips and FAQs
To ensure your sweet potato bites turn out perfectly every time, keep these helpful tips and answers to common questions in mind:
Top Tips for Success:
- Uniform Sweet Potato Slices: Aim for sweet potatoes of roughly the same size, and slice them into consistent 1-inch rounds. This is crucial for ensuring they all cook evenly and become fork-tender at the same time.
- Timing the Maple Syrup: Adding the maple syrup *after* roasting and *before* broiling, rather than with the butter, prevents it from burning in the hot oven during the initial roasting phase. This preserves its distinct flavor and ensures a perfect glaze.
- Effortless Marshmallow Cutting: Use kitchen shears to easily cut regular-sized marshmallows in half. It’s much less sticky and more efficient than using a knife.
- Broiler Watch: The broiler works quickly! Never walk away from the oven when the marshmallows are under the broiler. They can go from perfectly golden to burnt in a matter of seconds. Keep a close eye on them until they reach your desired level of toastiness.
- Serve Immediately: These bites are best enjoyed warm and fresh from the oven, when the marshmallows are soft and gooey, and the sweet potatoes are tender.
Possible Flavor Variations:
- Spice It Up: Along with the maple syrup, add a generous sprinkling of warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice for an even more aromatic and comforting flavor profile. A pinch of ground ginger can also be lovely.
- Nutty Alternatives: While pecans are classic, feel free to experiment with other nuts such as toasted walnuts, blanched almonds, or even candied hazelnuts for a different crunch and flavor.
- Citrus Zest: A little orange zest mixed with the maple syrup can add a bright, refreshing note that beautifully complements the sweet potatoes.
- Brown Sugar Glaze: Instead of, or in addition to, maple syrup, you can create a simple brown sugar glaze by melting brown sugar with a touch of butter and brushing it over the roasted sweet potatoes before adding marshmallows.
- Savory-Sweet Twist: For a hint of savory, consider a tiny sprinkle of flaky sea salt over the marshmallows just after they come out of the broiler.
These sweet potato bites are truly best enjoyed immediately, straight from the oven, when the marshmallows are perfectly toasted and gooey. However, you can do some significant prep work ahead of time to make assembly quick on the day of serving. You can peel and slice the sweet potatoes up to a day in advance and store them in an airtight container in the fridge (submerged in water to prevent browning, then pat dry before roasting). You can also roast the sweet potato rounds until they are fork-tender, then allow them to cool completely and store them in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. When ready to serve, simply rewarm the roasted sweet potatoes in the oven, then proceed with adding the maple syrup, marshmallows, and pecans, and broil as directed.
If marshmallows aren’t your preference, you can still enjoy a delicious version of these bites! I recommend increasing the maple syrup to ¼ cup to maintain the sweetness and glaze. Chop your pecans finely and toss them with the maple syrup. After roasting the sweet potatoes, spoon a little of this maple-pecan mixture over the top of each sweet potato round. This will still give you a lovely sweetness, a beautiful glaze, and a pleasant crunch, ensuring an attractive presentation without the marshmallows. Another option is a simple streusel topping made from brown sugar, flour, butter, and cinnamon, baked until crumbly.
Leftover sweet potato bites, if any, can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Note that the marshmallows will lose their crisp, gooey texture and become a bit chewier upon cooling.
To reheat, place the sweet potato bites on a baking sheet and warm them in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. You can also quickly broil them for 30-60 seconds at the end to try and re-toast the marshmallows, but watch very carefully to prevent burning.
For a dairy-free version, simply substitute the butter with your favorite plant-based butter alternative. Most marshmallows are naturally gluten-free, but always check the label if you have severe sensitivities. This recipe is naturally gluten-free as written!
Serving Suggestions & Holiday Pairings
These sweet potato bites are incredibly versatile and can elevate any meal. Here are some ideas for how to serve them:
- Holiday Spreads: They are a quintessential addition to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter menus, pairing beautifully with roasted turkey, ham, or prime rib.
- Everyday Dinners: Don’t reserve them just for holidays! Serve them alongside grilled chicken, pork chops, or a hearty vegetarian main for a comforting weeknight meal.
- Potlucks and Parties: Their individual size makes them perfect for potlucks or as a festive appetizer at any party. They’re easy to transport and serve.
- Garnish Ideas: A sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley or chives can add a surprising pop of color and a fresh, contrasting note if you enjoy a more complex flavor profile. A light dusting of powdered sugar after cooling can also enhance their visual appeal for dessert-like presentation.
More Sweet Potato Recipes
If you’ve fallen in love with sweet potatoes, here are a few more delicious recipes to inspire your culinary adventures:
Crackers
Get the Recipe
Ready to make these delightful sweet potato bites? Below is the full, printable recipe card with all the details you need to create this fantastic dish. Enjoy!
2 reviews
Sweet Potato Bites with Marshmallow and Pecans
10
servings
5 minutes
45 minutes
50 minutes
Pin Recipe
Leave a Review
Ingredients
-
4
sweet potatoes
, peeled and sliced into 1-inch rounds (about 2 lbs) -
¼
cup
butter
, melted -
½
teaspoon
salt -
2
tablespoons
maple syrup -
About 12
regular-sized marshmallows
, halved -
About 24
pecan halves
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Equipment
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 425°F and grease a sheet pan with butter or nonstick spray.
-
Add sweet potato rounds to pan, drizzle melted butter over the top, and toss until sweet potatoes are evenly coated. Season with salt.
-
Roast sweet potatoes for about 20 minutes, then flip them over (bottoms should be browned) and roast for another 15-20 minutes until fork tender.
-
Remove from oven and set oven to broil.
-
Drizzle maple syrup over roasted sweet potatoes and gently toss. Top with marshmallow halves.
-
Broil marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes 1-3 minutes until lightly toasted (watch so they don’t burn).
-
As soon as sweet potatoes come out of the oven, press a pecan half into the top of the marshmallow. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Try to choose sweet potatoes of equal size and slice them evenly so they’ll all cook in the same amount of time.
- Use kitchen shears to cut marshmallows in half.
Calories:
174
kcal
,
Carbohydrates:
27
g
,
Protein:
2
g
,
Fat:
7
g
,
Saturated Fat:
3
g
,
Cholesterol:
12
mg
,
Sodium:
213
mg
,
Potassium:
323
mg
,
Fiber:
3
g
,
Sugar:
10
g
,
Vitamin A:
12967
IU
,
Vitamin C:
2
mg
,
Calcium:
33
mg
,
Iron:
1
mg
American
Appetizer
Annalise Sandberg
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Disclosure: This recipe was originally published November 2020 in partnership with Challenge Dairy, Inc. Thank you for supporting partnerships with brands I love and believe in, which make Completely Delicious possible. All opinions are always 100% my own.