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Home / Courses / Side Dishes

Sweet Potato Soufflé

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Author: Imma Published:12/07/2021Updated:11/20/2021
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This Sweet Potato Souffle with mashed sweet potatoes is made light and fluffy with eggs and sweetened up with sugar and spices. A little vanilla doesn’t hurt, either. It’s so versatile; it can make either as a side dish or dessert.

Contents…

Sweet Potato Soufflé vs. Casserole
Recipe Ingredients
Alternative Ingredients
Tips and Tricks
FAQs
What Else Can I Add?
More Sweet Potato Recipes
How to Make Sweet Potato Soufflé

Sweet Potato Soufflé fresh from the oven

Rich and creamy sweet potato souffle is the perfect holiday side dish or dessert. It reminds me of a combination of a casserole and a custard. Yum!

The first time I heard of a souffle, I thought, “Wow, that sounds really fancy!“.

It was amazingly easy and so delicious — light, fluffy, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Then, I thought that this would be really good with mashed sweet potatoes.

What surprised me the most is that you can make this a few hours ahead of time without worrying it will deflate.

If you are searching for the perfect sweet potato recipe that will impress your guests, this sweet potato souffle recipe is what you’re looking for.

Sweet Potato Souffle vs. Casserole

Scooped Sweet Potato Souffle

Sweet Potato Casserole is definitely Southern comfort food. Souffle, I believe, is French comfort food. Combine the two, and you have a soul-satisfying and delicious recipe for any time of year, but especially great for the holidays.

Souffle is fluffed with beaten egg whites, flour, and baking soda, while a casserole is pure mashed sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows or toasted pecans.

They are both astonishingly delicious, but the soufflé (like my carrot souffle) is creamier with a lighter texture.

Recipe Ingredients

  • Sweet potatoes – The principal flavor and bulk contributor to this souffle are mashed sweet potatoes.
  • Large eggs – The egg yolks are separated from the whites, then the whites are whipped into a beautiful fluff that gives the souffle its light texture.
  • Brown sugar – Not only does this sweet ingredient up the flavor factor, but the molasses in it adds minerals.
  • Vanilla extract – This fabulous flavor enhancer goes so well with desserts and is so easy to make at home. See my Homemade Vanilla Extract HERE.
  • Evaporated or whole milk – The concentrated milk adds creaminess without adding too much extra liquid.
  • Butter – This creamy fat gives any dish an excellent texture and flavor.
  • All-purpose flour – Flour helps hold the fluffiness, so it doesn’t collapse.
  • Baking powder – A leavening agent helps the eggs in their job of fluffing a souffle.
  • Allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg – These spices go so well with sweet potatoes and pumpkin. You can replace them with a pumpkin pie mix, too.
  • Salt – A pantry-staple flavor enhancer that ramps up the flavor without changing it.

Alternative Ingredients

Sweet potatoes – Canned sweet potatoes (canned yams) will work. Drain them very well and mash them, then measure four cups of puree.

If they’re packed in syrup, you may want to halve the sugar so it’s not too sweet. I know it wouldn’t be a sweet potato souffle, but you could use pumpkin puree, too.

Brown sugar – Brown sugar is white sugar with molasses mixed in. I don’t worry about having it in my pantry before starting a recipe. Mixing a teaspoon of molasses in a half cup of white sugar will give you the half cup of brown sugar you need.

Dairy–free – Just about any vegan butter replacements will work, and you can use coconut cream to replace the evaporated milk.

Gluten-free – You can replace the flour with all-purpose gluten-free flour.

Tips and Tricks

  1. To double the recipe, double all the ingredients. If baking in a larger baking dish, add 20 minutes to the baking time.
  2. You can see in the pictures what I love to serve with this scrumptious dish. Homemade Biscuits and Bacon Wrapped Green Beans. Why not go all out on a meat-free night? Oh, wait, bacon doesn’t count.😉 Shhh!
  3. While common sense tells us that a recipe with beaten egg whites is not good for a make-ahead, this one defies all logic. Go ahead, make the recipe all the way up to right before you bake it. Then wrap it up and keep it in the fridge. It will last a few hours, at least giving you time to have it ready to bake later that day or in the morning for breakfast.
  4. You can even freeze the unbaked souffle for up to three months. Cover it well with plastic wrap after it cools and put it in the freezer. When ready to bake, thaw it for about eight hours or overnight in the fridge and bake.
  5. Leftovers will last in the fridge for three or four days in an airtight container.
  6. If you want to freeze leftovers, they should last frozen for about a month in an airtight container.
Green Beans Bacon with a serving of Sweet Potato Souffle

FAQs

What is the difference between a sweet potato and a yam?

Many people call sweet potatoes yams. However, they’re not the same. Sweet potatoes are related to that beautiful flower called morning glory.

A true yam is an entirely different family (Dioscoreaceae) and has a completely different taste and look. Yams are used much like potatoes and are not sweet at all.

What does a soufflé taste like?

Incredibly delicious, light, and fluffy. Other than that, it really depends on what other ingredients you add, whether mashed sweet potatoes, mashed carrots, or another veggie for a savory souffle. But then you can use peaches, apples, or other fruit for a sweet souffle.

Is sweet potato soufflé a side dish or dessert?

Honestly, this exquisite recipe could be either. While I tend to use it as a dessert, you could cut down on the sugar a little for a side dish. It’s up to you.

Sweet Potato Souffle in ramekins

What Else Can I Add?

For a side dish: Crushed pineapple, toasted pecans, and toasted walnuts.

For a dessert: Candied cranberries, mini marshmallows, whipped cream, grated and toasted coconut, and chocolate chips.

More Sweet Potato Recipes

  • Sweet Potato Casserole – This Southern classic comfort food is topped with crunchy buttery pecan, brown sugar, and toasted gooey mini marshmallows. A creamy, sweet must-have for the holidays.
  • Sweet Potato Bread – Another traditional Southern comfort food that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. This recipe is a great way to use leftover sweet potatoes from your holiday dinner.
  • Candied Sweet Potatoes – Mouthwatering and tender sweet potatoes coated in an aromatic buttery brown sugar glaze with a zesty, citrusy hint of lemon and orange. Is it a side dish or dessert? That is totally up to you.
  • Sweet Potato Pie – Sweet potatoes are the shining star of this dessert. However, the homemade pie crust takes the cake. The decadent filling spiced up with cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg make a special holiday dinner even more incredible.
Taking a bite of Sweet Potato Souffle

How to Make Sweet Potato Soufflé

Instructions 1-4

Cook the sweet potatoes

  • Rinse, peel, and cut the sweet potatoes into chunks, then place them in a medium saucepan. Water should cover the potatoes with at least an inch. (Photos 1 & 2)
  • Cook the sweet potatoes – Bring to a boil over high heat and then reduce the heat. Cook until tender and are easily pierced with a fork—about 12 minutes or more, depending on the size of the potatoes. (Photo 3)
  • Finish the potatoes – Drain water and simmer for about 1 minute or until water has evaporated. (Photo 4)
  • Alternative – Using leftover baked sweet potatoes. Peel and mash. 😉
Instructions 5-8

Make the sweet potato puree

  • Preheat oven to 350℉/177℃.
  • Make the sweet potato puree – Place in a large mixing bowl while sweet potatoes are still hot, with brown sugar, egg yolks, vanilla extract, and evaporated milk. Thoroughly mix using a handheld mixer; a stand mixer works just as well. (Photos 5-8)
Instructions 9-12

Finish the puree – Add melted butter and mix. Follow with the flour, baking powder, salt, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Continue mixing until smooth and thoroughly blended. (Photos 9-12)

Instructions 13-16

Assemble the sweet potato souffle

  • Beat the egg whites – Beat the egg whites until they form stiff, glossy peaks in a medium bowl. This helps soufflé from being too dense. Do not overbeat. (Oops, I was having so much fun I forgot to take pictures 😬)
  • Start to mix – Gently fold in a third of the egg whites to the sweet potato mixture using a large spatula. This initially lightens up the mixture and prepares the batter for the remaining egg whites. (Photos 13 & 14)
  • Gently finish mixing – Add the remaining egg whites all at once and gently fold them until barely any white streaks remain. Stop folding. (Photo 15)

Off to the oven

  • Prepare the baking dishes – Spray a 13×9-inch baking pan (or 3½- to 5-quart casserole or divide it in ramekins). In this recipe, I split the sweet potato soufflé in half. One half I baked in a casserole (about a 2-quart casserole dish) and the rest in ramekins. (Photo 16)
  • Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until well puffed and slightly brown on top. Do not open the oven door for at least 20 minutes to prevent cold air from collapsing the soufflé. The soufflé will deflate slightly when removed from the oven.
  • Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Sweet Potato Soufflé
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Taking a bite of Sweet Potato Souffle
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Sweet Potato Soufflé

This Sweet Potato Souffle with mashed sweet potatoes is made light and fluffy with eggs and sweetened up with sugar and spices. A little vanilla doesn't hurt, either. It's so versatile; it can make either as a side dish or dessert.
No ratings yet
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 25 mins
French, Southern
Servings 6 -8

Ingredients

Sweet Potato Puree

  • 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into inch cubes
  • Salt to taste

Souffle

  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 6 large eggs, separated
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup evaporated milk or whole milk
  • ⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1-2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)

Instructions

Sweet Potato Puree

  • Rinse, peel, and cut the sweet potatoes into chunks, then add to a medium saucepan. Water should cover the potatoes at least an inch. Add salt to taste.
  • Bring to a boil over high heat and then reduce the heat. Cook until tender, and potatoes can be easily pierced with a fork—about 12 minutes or more depending on the size of the potatoes.
  • Drain water and simmer for about 1 minute or until water has evaporated.

Sweet Potato Soufflé Base

  • Preheat oven to 350℉/177℃.
  • Separate the egg yolks and whites, set the whites aside.
  • Place in a large mixing bowl. While sweet potatoes are still hot, add the brown sugar, egg yolks, vanilla extract, and evaporated milk. Thoroughly mix using a handheld mixer. A stand mixer works just as well.
  • Add melted butter and mix. Follow with the flour, baking powder, salt, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Continue mixing until smooth and thoroughly blended.

Assembly

  • In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites until they form stiff, glossy peaks. This helps soufflé from being too dense. Do not overbeat.
  • Gently fold in a third of the egg whites to the sweet potato mixture using a large spatula. This initially lightens up the mixture and prepares the batter for the remaining egg whites.
  • Add the remaining egg whites all at once and gently fold them until barely any white streaks remain. Stop folding.

Baking Instructions

  • Spray a 13×9-inch baking pan (or 3½- to 5-quart casserole or divide it in ramekins). In this recipe, I split the sweet potato soufflé in half. One half I baked in a casserole (about a 2-quart casserole dish) and the rest in ramekins.
  • Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until well puffed and slightly brown on top. Do not open the oven door for at least 20 minutes to prevent cold air from collapsing the soufflé. The soufflé will deflate slightly when removed from the oven.
  • Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Tips & Notes:

  • To double the recipe, double all the ingredients. If baking in a larger baking dish, add 20 minutes to the baking time.
  • While common sense tells us that a recipe with beaten egg whites is not good for a make-ahead, this one defies all logic. Go ahead, make the recipe all the way up to right before you bake it. Then wrap it up and keep it in the fridge. It will last a few hours, at least giving you time to have it ready to bake later that day or in the morning for breakfast.
  • You can even freeze the unbaked souffle for up to three months. Cover it well with plastic wrap after it cools and put it in the freezer—Thaw it for about eight hours or overnight in the fridge and bake.
  • Leftovers will last in the fridge for three or four days in an airtight container.
  • If you want to freeze leftovers, they should last frozen for about a month in an airtight container.
  • Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 157g| Calories: 426kcal (21%)| Carbohydrates: 60g (20%)| Protein: 11g (22%)| Fat: 16g (25%)| Saturated Fat: 9g (56%)| Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g| Monounsaturated Fat: 5g| Trans Fat: 1g| Cholesterol: 197mg (66%)| Sodium: 564mg (25%)| Potassium: 815mg (23%)| Fiber: 5g (21%)| Sugar: 27g (30%)| Vitamin A: 22057IU (441%)| Vitamin C: 4mg (5%)| Calcium: 209mg (21%)| Iron: 3mg (17%)
Author: Imma
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: French, Southern
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Nutrition Facts
Sweet Potato Soufflé
Amount Per Serving (157 g)
Calories 426 Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Fat 16g25%
Saturated Fat 9g56%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Cholesterol 197mg66%
Sodium 564mg25%
Potassium 815mg23%
Carbohydrates 60g20%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 27g30%
Protein 11g22%
Vitamin A 22057IU441%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 209mg21%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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