Easy sweet potato casserole recipe with canned yams

Q: Can you substitute canned yams for sweet potato?

The short answer is no, you cant always substitute yams for sweet potatoes. Thats because yams and sweet potatoes are different vegetables with totally different origins, even though they often get lumped together in the same category in the United States.

Q: Are Bruces yams actually sweet potatoes?

Bruces Yams Cut Sweet Potatoes in Syrup are carefully made from only the most tender part of the sweet potato called the sweetheart. For easy preparation that delivers goodness on the fly, simply heat and eat these canned vegetables.

Last updated: Sep 27, 2022 by ·

Table of Contents Show

Ingredients
Step by step
Description
Reader Interactions
Can you substitute canned yams for sweet potato?
Are canned yams and sweet potatoes the same?
Are Bruce's yams actually sweet potatoes?
Are yams in a can already cooked?

Unbelievably easy sweet potato casserole with a crumbly buttery brown sugar and pecan topping. This Southern Sweet Potato Casserole is one Thanksgiving or holiday dessert recipe you won't want to miss!

When I was a little girl Thanksgiving was one of my favorite days-right up there with Christmas. It was a magical day full of all of my favorite foods-stuffing, turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, candied yams, and of course, classic Southern sweet potato casserole recipe.

Today I'm going to let you in on the recipe that rocked my Thanksgiving world!

Ingredients

canned yams (I recommend Bruce's)
sugar
milk
egg
butter
vanilla extract
brown sugar
all-purpose flour
pecans

Step by step

This really is about as easy of a recipe as can be.

Mash the sweet potatoes up. You can decide how smooth you want them, I like mine a little lumpy.
Add in sugar, milk, eggs, butter, and vanilla.
Pour into a casserole dish.
In another bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, and flour. Mash with a fork until it's nice and uniformly crumbly. Stir in the pecans.
Top the casserole with the crumbly pecan mixture.
Bake 25 minutes in the oven and you're all done!

FAQs

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes! You can make this easily ahead of time. Spread the sweet potato mixture into a casserole dish. Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Make up the topping and store separately in the refrigerator. When you are ready to bake, sprinkle the streusel on top of casserole and bake as directed.

How do I know when my sweet potato casserole is done?

The casserole is done when the topping is golden brown and the center is firm.

Can I freeze this casserole?

Yes again!
If you want to freeze it before baking, you'll need to prep the casserole and topping separately. Prepare sweet potato mixture and spread into casserole dish. Cover with 2 layers of plastic wrap and store in the freezer up to 3 months.
When you are ready to bake the sweet potato casserole, remove from the freezer and allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Make the pecan streusel topping mixture and place on top of casserole and bake as directed.

How do I store leftovers?

Store covered in the refrigerator up to 4 days.

If you’ve tried this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!

Description

Unbelievable sweet potato casserole with a crumbly buttery brown sugar and pecan topping. This is one Thanksgiving or holiday dessert recipe you won't want to miss!

40 oz can yams (I use Bruce's brand), drained
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup milk
1 egg
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup brown sugar
⅓ cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter, softened
½ cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Pour yams in a large bowl and mash until desired smoothness. (I leave some lumps.)
Add granulated sugar, milk, egg, 3 tablespoons of butter, and vanilla. Mix until thoroughly blended.
In a smaller bowl combine brown sugar, flour, 2 tablespoons of butter and mash with a fork until crumbly. Stir in pecans.
Pour yam mixture into an 8 by 8-inch baking dish. Top with brown sugar mixture. Bake for 25-35 minutes or until top is golden brown and bubbling.

Keywords: sweet potato casserole

Reader Interactions

Can you substitute canned yams for sweet potato?

The short answer is no, you can't always substitute yams for sweet potatoes. That's because yams and sweet potatoes are different vegetables with totally different origins, even though they often get lumped together in the same category in the United States.

Are canned yams and sweet potatoes the same?

No, yams and sweet potatoes are not the same. Yams have rough, dark brown skin that is often compared to tree bark, and their flesh is dry and starchy like a regular potato. Sweet potatoes have smooth reddish skin, softer flesh (when cooked), and a sweet flavor.

Are Bruce's yams actually sweet potatoes?

Bruce's Yams Cut Sweet Potatoes in Syrup are carefully made from only the most tender part of the sweet potato called the sweetheart. For easy preparation that delivers goodness on the fly, simply heat and eat these canned vegetables.