Ingredients
6 sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
Kosher salt
3/4 c. half-and-half or milk
4 tbsp. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
2 tbsp. maple syrup
Freshly ground black pepper
Thyme leaves, for serving
Preparation
Step 1Place potatoes in a large pot. Cover with at least 2" water; generously season with salt. Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are very tender, 15 to 25 minutes, depending on the size of your potatoes.Step 2Mash potatoes with a potato masher. Add half-and-half, butter, and maple syrup and stir to combine; season with salt and pepper. Top with thyme leaves.
Read on for more top tips on making these sweet spuds. If you’re looking for more ways to raise your sweet potato game, check out some of our favorite sweet potato recipes. Do I need to peel my sweet potatoes before boiling them? We do! Peeling and cutting your potatoes beforehand will cut down on boiling time and make it super-simple to mash directly after without needing to peel the skin off. While you can leave the skin on whole potatoes while you’re boiling them, it’ll take slightly longer to cook through and adds more work if you’re looking to mash them. Trust us, doing the prep beforehand makes things much easier. Do I need to add all the half-and-half? You might not need to, it’s up to you and your potatoes; 3/4 cup was the perfect amount for us, giving our sweet potatoes the ideal silky-smooth texture. But no two sweet potatoes are the same, and if yours are slightly smaller (or slightly bigger), the amount of liquid that you need might vary. To ensure you get the texture you want, start by adding 1/2 cup half-and-half with the butter and maple syrup, then add more, 1 tablespoon at a time, until you reach your ideal consistency. Do I have to make these sweet? Nope! We love adding in maple syrup to bring out the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes, but your options don’t stop there. If you’re more of a savory fan, stir in some roasted garlic while you’re mashing, and feel free to up the amount of herbs! If you want to up the sweetness even more, feel free to throw some cinnamon, brown sugar, or pumpkin pie spice into the mix. Looking for more mashed inspo? Check out our favorite mashed potatoes recipes for even more ways to liven up the classic side. Made these? Let us know how it went in the comments below.
