5mediumyams or sweet potatoes - ends cut, peeled, and chopped into 1" cubes
½-¾cupcane sugar
1teaspoonvanilla extract
1Tablespoonorange juice
½cubeunsalted butter- melted
ground or fresh grated nutmeg, to taste
2largeeggs
Pecan Topping
½-1cuppecans, chopped
1-2Tablespoonsdark and light brown sugar
¼-½teaspoonground cinnamon
ground or fresh grated nutmeg, to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F
To a large stock pot, add cut yams and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat.
Meanwhile, combine chopped pecans, brown sugar, and spices. Set aside.
Once a fork slides easily through the middle of a few of the largest yam pieces, rinse then drain thoroughly. Transfer to a large bowl.
Sea Level: Add sugar, vanilla, orange juice, butter, nutmeg, and eggs. With an electric mixer start on low working up to medium-high and beat until mixture is light and fluffy.
High Altitude Only: Add sugar, vanilla, orange juice, butter, and nutmeg. With a handheld electric mixer, beat starting on low working up to medium-high. When mixture's smooth, add eggs and continue until light and fluffy.
Spatula the yam mixture into a 2.5 quart casserole dish. Smooth the top then sprinkle with pecan topping.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes, then remove foil and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Towards the end minutes, watch the pecan top carefully for additional browning. Pecan yam casserole is finished when warm, set, and the pecans are toasty golden and the brown sugar is melted.
Surround, serve, and enjoy.
Notes
Recipe gifted by my friend Collette, a.k.a Coco.
ovens and times vary based on dish type and size used, so please begin watching on the earlier side.
Coco's family prefers marshmallows, some of mine do too. I've divided the dish and added these.
this recipe can be prepped the day before and refrigerated. Let the casserole rest on the counter thirty minutes prior to baking, as direct fridge to oven contact may cause glass to break or shatter. Add the pecan topping prior to baking. An increased baking time of five to ten minutes may be necessary.