Whipped Sweet Potatoes (Easy Holiday Side Dish)
Can y’all believe the holidays are just around the corner? I’m already starting to think about what my family and I will eat on Thanksgiving. Now that I’m older and a more experienced cook, I like to contribute to the actual meal rather than just eating and helping with the cleanup. I love making desserts, but this year I’m contributing something else to the day: Whipped Sweet Potatoes.
If you’re planning ahead for Thanksgiving dinner, consider Whipped Sweet Potatoes as one of your side dishes. They’re a crowd pleaser, safe for any age, and are just really easy to whip up before dinner is served. My recipe serves 3-4 people (as a side dish), so double or triple it for larger parties.
Whipped Sweet Potatoes are a perfect side dish for Thanksgiving.
I’ve always loved potatoes, in almost any form. Mashed, roasted, baked, fried… I love potatoes. Who doesn’t, though? It took me a while to learn to love sweet potatoes, but now they’re a regular in my diet. They’re marginally better for you than “regular” potatoes—though I don’t believe “regular” potatoes are really all that bad for you—and sweet potatoes are a really nice fall vegetable. Also, that orange color is just gorgeous.
My mom has been making whipped sweet potatoes for years, and I’ve adapted her recipe into my own. There’s a surprising ingredient in there, and I know it’ll sound weird at first, but trust me, it balances really well with the potatoes’ flavor and the cinnamon and nutmeg.
That surprising ingredient: orange! Bear with me, it works, I promise.
The juice and zest don’t add a huge hit of orange flavor, but they do brighten up the sweet potatoes and add just a touch of citrusy sweetness to balance the earthy, root-vegetable-ness of the potatoes. Plus, with a few dashes of cinnamon and nutmeg, it’s just sweet potato perfection.
Here’s how to make my easy Whipped Sweet Potatoes for your holiday meal.
It really doesn’t get any easier than this, y’all.
You will need:
- Sweet potatoes (obviously)
- Cream cheese
- Butter
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg (freshly grated, if possible)
- An orange
- Splash of milk, if needed, to reach your desired consistency
First, cook the potatoes. You can bake them whole if you have time. But if you’re short on time, boiling them works just as well. Peel the potatoes and chop them into large chunks. Then cover them in cold water, add salt, bring the water to a boil, and boil until they’re fork tender (about 15 minutes).
If you prefer to bake the potatoes, rub them lightly with oil, wrap in aluminum foil, and bake for 35-40 minutes at 350ºF. Or microwave them for 8-10 minutes without the foil.
Drain and mash the potatoes. Once the potatoes are cooked, carefully pour the water off and transfer the cooked potatoes to a mixing bowl. Give them a light mash with a whisk, spatula, or potato masher.
Add the remaining ingredients. While the potatoes are still warm, add the cream cheese, butter, orange zest and juice, and spices, and stir.
Whip (or mash). Mix carefully with a hand mixer (or by hand with a whisk or wooden spoon) on low to medium speed, until well blended. You can also use your masher to mash everything together. Stop to scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to make sure everything gets blended. Mix again for another 30 seconds, or until it reaches your desired level of fluffiness. If needed, you can add a splash or two of milk to get the consistency you desire.
I prefer my whipped sweet potatoes pretty smooth with minimal chunks. If you prefer yours chunky, stop using the hand mixer about halfway through and switch to a rubber spatula or spoon to maintain some larger pieces.
Serve and enjoy! Serve them warm with your meal. Top with additional butter, cinnamon, and/or brown sugar.
These Whipped Sweet Potatoes make a delicious addition to any holiday spread. If you make them part of your holiday meal, I’d love to see a picture! Tweet me a photo, tag me on Instagram, or share your photo on my Facebook page.
Thanks so much for reading and eating along, y’all! If you’re still hungry, follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for more scratch-made recipes.
Did you enjoy this recipe? You might also like:
- Best Homemade Mac & Cheese
- Pumpkin Bread
- Pumpkin Cannoli Dip
- Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Orange Oatmeal Craisin Cookies
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This post was last updated October 2021.
Whipped Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 sweet potatoes (large)
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1 orange (juice and zest)
- 1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into large chunks.
- Place potato chunks in a large pot and cover with cold water. Add salt.
- Bring the potatoes to a boil, and boil until they're fork tender, about 15 minutes.
- Once cooked, drain the water off and transfer the potatoes to a mixing bowl.
- Add the cream cheese, butter, orange zest and juice, and spices. Lightly mash to start blending.
- Blend with an electric hand mixer (or whisk, or masher, or wooden spoon) until all ingredients are blended together. Add a little milk if needed.
- Serve warm and enjoy.
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