This Ain’t Grandma’s Sweet Potato Casserole

IMG_7090

I don’t know why but I kept singing this song in my head as I baked this dish:

‘Grandma’s casserole got run over by a reindeer…’

Of course, to the famous Christmas tune of ‘Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer’ ;)

Last week when I asked you to send in your favourite Thanksgiving recipes that you wanted veganized, a certain email from Julianna spoke to me:

Hey Angela,
This is a famous recipe that has been in our family for generations. Our family calls it the Senator Russell after some Senator in Georgia a long time ago. It’s very Southern and delicious.
As the token vegetarian (and most days vegan except for honey and occasional greek yogurt) in my Southern family I would love a way to make this so that I could enjoy it as well.

I knew that I had to try out my first vegan sweet potato casserole. My mom has been making sweet potato casserole ever since I was knee high to a grasshopper and it is a treat that I always enjoyed! I was determined to make a vegan sweet potato casserole that would taste delicious.

Out of respect for Julianna’s family, I am not going to post their recipe on here, but I will tell you some ingredients that I chose to do without: eggs, white sugar, butter, evaporated milk, brown sugar, white flour. I couldn’t have selected a better recipe to make healthier too!

My first attempt was a huge and utter epic failure. It tasted good, but the texture was not up to par. Too much liquid. But I knew that could be easily resolved.

Last night, I jumped into my car at 10pm and booted it to the grocery store to buy more sweet potatoes. From 10:30-midnight, I was working on attempt #2. How is that for dedication?!

This morning I popped the casserole into the oven…and voila, my friends. Magic happened. Second time is a charm. ;) Not to mention I got to photograph in natural light which is always superior!

This Ain’t Grandma’s Sweet Potato Casserole (Vegan)

IMG_7154


Ingredients:

  • 4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cooked
  • 2 tablespoons margarine (I used Earth Balance)
  • 1/8 cup almond milk (or soy, hemp, etc)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine grain salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Topping:

  • 1/4 cup margarine
  • 1/2 cup Sucanat (or brown sugar)
  • 1/3 cup spelt flour
  • 3/4 cups chopped pecans (I didn`t have- optional)
  • 1-2 T chia seeds

IMG_7119     
Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 F and lightly grease a 2 quart casserole dish with canola oil. I wipe a bit on with a paper towel. Peel and then boil sweet potatoes until tender.  Mash the sweet potatoes with the margarine until smooth. Add the milk, vanilla, maple syrup, sea salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. Pour into casserole dish. Next, mix the topping ingredients together until well-combined. Sprinkle topping mixture over the casserole and bake for approx. 50 minutes, checking it every so often.

Makes 10 servings at approximately 215 calories per serving (without pecans)

IMG_7122IMG_7128

Notes:

1) I adapted this recipe from the fabulous Susan over at Fat Free Vegan blog.

2) I searched far and wide for vegan marshmallows in my neck of the woods but I did not find any. As you may know, marshmallows are not vegan (Gelatin is derived from animal hides and bones). If you choose to add some you may sprinkle some mini marshmallows over top of the casserole during the last 15 minute or so of baking.

3) If you want a crunchier topping, you can broil the casserole for a few minutes on medium at the end of baking. This will caramelize the crust. However, please note that the crust will flatten and the appearance will not be as nice. I tried it, it looked sad in the pictures, so I re-did the crust!

IMG_7156

How did it taste?

JACKPOT!!

This sweet potato casserole is a big winner in my books! Both the sweet potato mixture and the sweet spelt topping was utterly divine. I did not miss the marshmallow topping, in fact I liked this one better.

I cut down the sugar by over half. I really DID NOT miss the 1/4 cup of sugar and 2 T of maple syrup that I cut out. It was still very sweet. I actually can’t imagine having it any sweeter than it already was. It was ‘just right’ in my opinion and isn’t going to give you a tummy ache. ;)

IMG_7138

I also removed the pecans because I didn’t have any. I actually mixed in some chia seeds into the topping! The best thing about this dish is that you can adapt it to however you’d like it!

My goal for this casserole was to create a dish that felt like a special occasion dish, but still wholesome and delicious at the same time. I feel like I achieved this goal.

444 Thank you to everyone who has submitted a recipe for me to veganize- I wish I had time to make all of them! Be sure to check out my delicious Vegan Pecan Pumpkin Pie recipe too if you are looking for a healthy Thanksgiving dessert! For your convenience, there is now a Pumpkin Pie icon on the right sidebar so you can quickly locate it.

~~~~

Charity:

1) Please help Jill raise $500 in one day for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training. She is raising money in honour of her father-in-law who is currently battling lymphoma.

2) Project Feed Me: Week 6 and Week 7 items are up!

Glo Bakery:

Untitlefffffffd 1) Due to popular demand, I have extended the Healthy Holiday Lovers Glo Bar pack sale until this Friday! Click here for more info.

2) The new holiday Glo bar- Present- will be 25% off until Today at 4pm. Get them at this awesome price while you can!

Angela_Signature

We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

{ 61 comments… read them below or add one }

natalie @ nono2yoyo November 24, 2009

Oh my goodness, this looks so delicious! I love holiday recipes! I also love learning new ones and trying them out! Thanks for sharing! Thanks for your help with Project Feed Me too! You’re awesome!!! xoxo nat

Reply

Ameena November 24, 2009

Trying a new recipe at 10:30?? You have such dedication! Looks delicious!!

Reply

Jessica @ How Sweet It Is November 24, 2009

This is awesome! Can’t believe you veganized it and it looks delicious! :)

Reply

Dori November 24, 2009

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG. Sweet potato casserole is my obsession and I live for it all year long. This version looks AMAZING and I NEEEEED to make it. You have no idea how much I need this. This is my favorite post of yours ever.

Reply

Christie @ Honoring Health November 24, 2009

I have been wanting to make over my mom’s sweet potato casserole and this looks like it would do the trick!

Reply

Courtney November 24, 2009

YAY! This looks awesome and I’m no where near vegan or even vegetarian. My first intro to sweet potatoes was in a buttery, sugary casserole a few thanksgivings ago at my hubby’s family thanksgiving. I since then have learned to appreciate the sweet potato unadorned, or with hummus or beans on it. But I think this is something I would make and enjoy!
Thanks!
Courtney
Adventures in Tri-ing

Reply

Julianna November 24, 2009

BALLER!

I am thankful for this recipe! I can’t wait to try it out!

THANK YOU!! :) It was totally worth the anticipation :)

Reply

Estela @ Weekly Bite November 24, 2009

Angela, this looks delicious! I think I may make this for Turkey Day!

Reply

Claire November 24, 2009

Yum!!! and dairy-free…perfect:-) cc

Reply

krissy November 24, 2009

HOLY YUM!!!!! I am SO trying this – my mouth is watering looking at your pictures :) hehe I love recipes that our Non-vegan family members can’t complain about – this will certainly be one of them :)
Thanks for adapting and posting the recipe!
xoxo love you doll!

Reply

Lauren @ Eater not a runner November 24, 2009

That looks awesome! I may just make it for a regular dinner :-)

Reply

Shannon (The Daily Balance) November 24, 2009

looks amazing! Love that you cut the sugar, too — Nice work, Ange!

Reply

Lauren @ Eater not a runner November 24, 2009
Laura @ Backstage Pass to Health & Happiness November 24, 2009

Great quote from Emerson! He’s one of my favorite quotable philosophers.

Thanks for this recipe, it sounds super yummy! Can’t wait to try it out :-)

Reply

Nicole November 24, 2009

YUMMY!!!

Reply

Jill November 24, 2009

Thanks again for helping me get the word out, Angela. We’ve raised $30 so far, but I know that we can get $500 by the end of the day!

Reply

Vanessa (Last Night's Leftovers) November 24, 2009

Glad it was a success! I think I’m going to have to try your recipe :)

Reply

Melinda November 24, 2009

Looks great. We are using my mother in laws recipe for ours that we plan to bring to a party so I hope it goes well. No marshmallows for me either.

Reply

Erin November 24, 2009

Oh my god, this looks amazinggggg! I love the crust. How you manage to look so fabulous and eat meals like this all the time is such a testament to your focus, drive, and healthy living philosophy!! :)

Reply

Kris | iheartwellness.com November 24, 2009

Great recipe! I am so happy to see you not use sugar! you know me…I think sugar is the enemy! ;) Natural baby!

Reply

Laura Georgina November 24, 2009

That dish is so pretty I could lick the computer screen. I think I may have to give the family thanksgiving sweet potatoes and peaches casserole (oops, my southerner is showing) a makeover based on this and mash it all up just so I can add the topping…

Reply

Gillian November 24, 2009

I have never tried ANY form of a sweet potato casserole before (my fam was never big on any casserole type dish actually) – but this I think I must try!!!

Reply

Janna November 24, 2009

wow does that ever look good.

your recipes continue to impress me! keep them coming!

Reply

Julie @savvyeats November 24, 2009

I really wish my parents weren’t already set on their sweet potato dish for Thursday, because I would totally make this instead. Though, they sweet potatoes mashed with bananas and topped with strudel that we’re having are good too….

I’ll be putting this on our Christmas menu, though :)

Reply

Tiffany S. November 24, 2009

Oh yum – I would eat that for dessert!

Happy un-Turkey Day!

Reply

Jil November 24, 2009

I’ve never had a sweet potato casserole before, as I usually prefer my sweet potatoes with a more savory topping — like hot sauce!– but that looks SO good. I will have to try it at some point. :)

Reply

Eve November 24, 2009

Hey Angela, I know you live near(ish) Toronto, and there’s a little all-vegan store there called Panacea that sells sweet and sara marshmallows! Maybe for your next sweet potato casserole? :)

Reply

Jenna November 24, 2009

Sweet potato casserole is a very, very big weakness of mine. This looks great!

Reply

Katie November 24, 2009

YUMMY! I may actually like that sweet tator casserole. You do a great job veganizing these and we really do appreciate it!

Reply

Sarah November 24, 2009

I’m super impressed by your dedication and amazing recreation of that sweet potato casserole!

Reply

amanda@thegrainsofparadise November 24, 2009

Oh my gosh Angela! That looks insane! On my “to do” list for sure now :-) Aloha!

Reply

Paige (Running Around Normal) November 24, 2009

That looks and sounds amazing! I wouldn’t know what to compare it to, though – I’ve never had the real deal either!

Reply

Lauren Modeen November 24, 2009

I am making this on Thanksgiving day for my whole freaking family. WOW!!!!

Reply

Ingunn November 24, 2009

My husband found vegan marshmallows from Dandies Candies that actually melt(!), so last night we made s’mores: http://www.flickr.com/photos/snutur/4131281751/

They were delicious, but I couldn’t find any big graham crackers that didn’t have HFCS and/or trans fats. Lame.

Reply

Rachel November 24, 2009

I love ANYTHING sweet potato, so this is definite temptation! Most of all, thanks for leading me to the Fat Free Vegan blog. My, oh my, I might be here for hrs. :S

Reply

Dawn (HealthySDLiving) November 24, 2009

This looks deliicous! Perfect…I was looking for some vegan recipes to make for Thanksgiving!

Reply

Kate November 24, 2009

That looks so delish and I’m not even a big casserole fan!

Potatoes are just sooo sooo comforting anytime of the year. I’m really enjoying new pototoes as the moment as it’s summer time here in New Zealand!

Reply

Trainerpack November 24, 2009

Yum yum yum yum!

Reply

Sweet Cheeks November 24, 2009

WOW. that looks uh-mazing! Awesome job OSG!

Reply

Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg November 24, 2009

That looks delicious! Thanks for sharing. I feel like sweet potato casserole is one of those things that is always loaded with calories and fat, but shouldn’t be! It’s nice to see a healthy alternative.

Reply

Danielle November 24, 2009

That looks so good! I think I’m going to have to make your pumpkin and sweet potato pie at some point this holiday season. Thank you so much for doing this :)

Reply

Kasey (Fit For Wellness) November 24, 2009

Sweet Potato Casserole is my favorite dish at Thanksgiving!!!

Reply

Tracey @ TropicalHappiness November 24, 2009

Looks like a great recipe! I think it’s great that you are showing that there are lots of alternatives!!!!
I sent you an email a few days ago about your glo-bars… I hope you got it!!! :)

Reply

Ami November 24, 2009

Thought you might like this, it’s my big brother’s vegan Thanksgiving song: http://mchatton.com/2009/11/the-happy-vegan-thanksgiving-s/

I love your site! Much love & Enjoy!

Reply

healthy ashley November 25, 2009

Oh. my. gosh.

From the looks of this dish I would eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!!

Reply

Jolene November 25, 2009

I don’t know how you do it – but all your recipes look SO amazing, and moist, and delicious, and all around perfect! I cannot wait to be done school (3 more weeks) so that I can make them all!!!!!!!!

Reply

lynn @ queenofthecastlerecipes November 25, 2009

This looks really good, especially with the maple syrup. Yum :)

Reply

Kristina November 25, 2009

Angela, you SO rock. I love your dedication to this, and it looks AMAZING !!!

Happy Turkey (tofurkey!!) day,

Kris

Reply

Madelin @ What is for breakfast? November 25, 2009

That pie looks awesome! I’ve never eaten pumpkin casserole before but I bet it is good :) .

Reply

Jenna November 25, 2009

i can’t wait to make this! it looks so good angela!!

Reply

Tiffanie November 25, 2009

Holy Moly Angela! That sweet potatoe casserole looks AWESOME! I’m so going to the store today (again) to pick up some sweet potatoes! Woo hoo!!! You don’t know how excited I am to be able to bring this vegan dish with me and no one will be the wiser!

This is my first Thanksgiving as a Vegan, and no one in my family even knows I’ve gone vegan (well, except my husband obviously :) ) and I’m still not sure I want to blurt it out, just want them to see the proof in the pudding that you can be vegan and EAT really really good food, and look good in the process! :)

Reply

Tina November 25, 2009

Oh my gosh that looks amazing!!! Thank you for this awesome recipe!

Reply

Stephanie November 25, 2009

This looks unreal!!

Reply

JenP November 25, 2009

Thanks for the recipe. Perfect timing, too. I just made it to take to the in-laws tomorrow. The filling is delicious!

Reply

Stef November 25, 2009

I adapted this one for Thanksgiving this year. The sweet potato mash tastes awesome! Reduced the maple syrup, upped the soy milk, and added fresh ground black pepper. Enough to satisfy anyone, vegan or not! :-) Thanks

Reply

Ann November 26, 2009

THis looks great- my sis is lactose intolerant and her hubby is vegan- so this will fit the bill- can’t wait, but have to go to the store for non dairy products before they close for Thanksgiving!

Reply

Melissa November 26, 2009

We tried this today. It was delicious! My husband said it was very easy to make.

Reply

Annie November 26, 2009

This was a total hit at my table! I’m the only real healthy eater in my family and everyone was so impressed that this wasn’t as decadent as it seemed! Thanks for the wonderful recipe :)

Reply

Katie December 9, 2009

Hey!

This is completely random… I added your blog to my google reader yesterday (and I shall be ordering some bars soon!) and scrolled through the posts. This casserole caught my eye, looks delish! Anyway, this morning I read a post on http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/ where she mentions vegan marshmallows. I remembered being disappointed to read that you couldn’t find any so I thought I would point you toward her blog in the hope’s you can find some of these vegan marshmallows. Random good timing on my reading through some of your old posts!
Katie

Reply

bobbi December 23, 2009

I am making this for Christmas DINNER!

Reply

Sat December 25, 2009

Made this last night for our big Christmas Eve dinner and it was delicious. The chia seeds were a nice touch (luckily they had them at our local food co-op).

Reply

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post: