Recipe Review

This Easy Sweet Potato Casserole Is for Marshmallow-Lovers

published Nov 16, 2022
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
sweet potato casserole recipe by Simply Recipes in baking dish on marble
Credit: Photo: Andrew Bui; Food Styling: Jessie YuChen

When I saw that the Simply Recipes’ Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows was one of the top Google results, I immediately added it to my list of sweet potato casserole recipe contenders. Simply Recipes has led me to countless successes over the years, and I was optimistic this casserole would turn me into someone who loves marshmallows on their sweet potato casserole.

The recipe calls for mashing roasted sweet potatoes with orange zest and juice, which sounded light and bright. The topping technique is also unique. Instead of using mini marshmallows, the recipe calls for snipping large marshmallows in half to reveal the sticky centers, which will spread more easily than the cornstarch-coated outsides. I was excited to try this technique.

Get the recipe: Simply Recipes’ Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows

Credit: Photo: Andrew Bui; Food Styling: Jessie YuChen

How to Make Simply Recipes’ Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

To start, I halved the sweet potatoes and roasted them at 425°F on a parchment-lined and oiled baking sheet. Once tender, I peeled and mashed them with butter, the zest of an orange, and 1/2 cup of orange juice. I added it all to a baking dish, dotted the top with extra butter, and returned it to the oven at 375°F until warmed through, about 30 minutes.

While that was happening, I snipped an entire bag of large marshmallows in half for the topping. Once warmed, I added the marshmallows to the top and popped it back in the oven for the final time to melt and brown the marshmallows. 

Credit: Photo: Andrew Bui; Food Styling: Jessie YuChen

My Honest Review of Simply Recipes’ Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

These sweet potatoes cooked the most evenly and thoroughly in the suggested time. They didn’t have any blackened spots, which can sometimes happen to sweet potatoes if they over-caramelize. And I didn’t need to keep opening and closing the oven to check on them. They were also easy to peel and mashed effortlessly by hand. 

The only trouble I had with the prep work was that I didn’t get a half cup of orange juice from one orange. Luckily, I grabbed an extra orange while I was at the store just in case. When it came to cooking, I had trouble with the marshmallow topping. I let the casserole cook with the marshmallows for almost twice as long as the recipe indicated and still didn’t get any browning — 375°F is not hot enough. I finally switched on the broiler for a minute.

Despite a few hiccups, this was definitely the easiest recipe. But how did it taste? Well, like a creamsicle! Sweetening the sweet potatoes with orange juice keeps them from being candy-like, but the orange flavor is quite strong. The sweet potatoes on their own aren’t bad, but paired with the large volume of marshmallow, I was definitely getting dessert vibes.

As for the marshmallows, using the larger version definitely delivered the ultra-melty, gooey topping as promised. But I didn’t see that as a good thing. Not only did this recipe have the most added topping, but it also called for the smallest weight of sweet potatoes. The ratio was not balanced. This was less sweet potato and more molten, sugary-sweet sauce. 

If You’re Making Simply Recipes’ Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows, a Few Tips

  1. Consider reducing the amount of orange. The juiciness of oranges varies, so play it safe and grab an extra orange to ensure you have a half cup of juice. After adding the orange juice, taste the filling before adding the zest. You might not need it at all.
  2. Play around with the topping. For the most interesting presentation, cut some large marshmallows in half lengthwise and others widthwise to create a fun cobblestone pattern. But more importantly, consider reducing the volume of marshmallows.
  3. Broil, if needed. If the marshmallows aren’t browning in the oven, use your broiler.

Overall rating: 7/10