Ok, I’m going to admit something…I had all of these holiday dishes photographed and done 2 years ago…but my son was a baby only around 7 weeks old, and I got too ambitious with thinking I’d get them out then.  Did I do it last year?  No, that slipped by too.  Well, not this year…I mention it only to say that my photos of my daughter are super cute AND she’s now almost 6, when in these photos she was almost 4!  Where does the time go?  Anyway, these smashed sweet potatoes are easy enough that a 3 year old helped me make them, and she liked them too!

I grew up with the mashed sweet potatoes with the crushed pecans and brown sugar topping (well, at least around my teen years my mom introduced that; I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a thing in the 80s and before), and I like that dish ok, but it’s never been my favorite.  But I do love me some sweet potatoes, so I started looking for another way to make them that wasn’t so sugar laden.  Voila!  Smashed sweet potatoes.

Smashed Sweet Potatoes

Serves 4

3 large (or 4 medium) sized organic sweet potatoes
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp kosher salt
(FYI, the above ingredients can be its own recipe of roasted pumpkin pie spiced sweet potatoes)
1 cup full fat coconut milk
1/4 tsp vanilla powder

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.  Wash the sweet potatoes and cut them into cubes.  In the microwave or on the stove top, heat the coconut oil so it becomes a liquid.  Place the sweet potatoes on the baking sheet and drizzle with coconut oil, spices, and salt.  Toss with your hands until all the pieces are coated.  Bake for 35 mins until the potato is easily pierced with a fork.

Once the sweet potatoes are baked, add them to a large bowl, and add the coconut milk and vanilla powder.  Mash with a fork for a chunky texture, until all ingredients are mixed well.  If you want a creamier texture, to get closer to those aforementioned mashed sweet potatoes, you can peel potatoes before roasting, and mix with a hand blender; you may need to add a little extra coconut milk.

 

Seriously, how could I not include these photos of her, even though she’s older now?  Ah my little baby…

I hope you enjoy these with your family too!

xo,

Jen