Sweet potatoes are a pretty common side dish, but we always reach for this orange sweet potato bake when dinner calls for something special. This recipe creates a gorgeous-looking casserole filled with hearty sweet potatoes in a sticky-sweet, cinnamon-orange sauce. It’s colorful and bright, and it complements almost any savory recipe. Need we say more?
Ingredients for Orange Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet potatoes: We’re all for buying “ugly” produce from the grocery store, but sweet potatoes with cracks and bruises have already started going bad, so look for sweet potatoes with smooth skin. Buying bad sweet potatoes is a common sweet potato mistake that we don’t want to see you make.
- Cornstarch: A bit of cornstarch thickens up the glaze for this orange sweet potato bake. Feel free to swap with tapioca or arrowroot starch if that’s all you have.
- Cinnamon: Sweet cinnamon pairs with both oranges and sweet potatoes, so it only makes sense to warm up this casserole with cozy cinnamon.
- Orange juice: You’ll need three or four oranges to squeeze out 1 cup fresh orange juice. We don’t blame you if you decide to go with one of the best orange juice brands instead!
- Orange zest: Reach for a large orange to yield 2 tablespoons orange zest. Otherwise, grab two medium oranges, just to be safe.
- Walnuts: This recipe needs a crunchy, nutty element, and walnuts are just the thing!
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the sweet potatoes
Place the sweet potatoes in a Dutch oven, and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat. Cover and simmer until the sweet potatoes can easily be pierced with a knife or fork, 25 to 30 minutes. Drain.
Preheat your oven to 350°F. When the sweet potatoes have cooled enough to handle, peel them and cut into 1/2-inch slices. Arrange the slices in a greased shallow 3-quart baking dish. Set aside.
Step 2: Create the glaze
In a large saucepan, whisk together the brown sugar, cornstarch, salt and cinnamon. Whisk in the orange juice, honey, butter, water and orange zest. Bring everything to a boil. Cook and whisk the orange mixture until thickened, about two minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in the walnuts.
Step 3: Assemble and bake
Pour the orange mixture over the sweet potatoes. Bake, uncovered, until everything is heated through, about 25 minutes.
Recipe Variations
- Make it vegan: To make our orange sweet potato casserole vegan, simply swap the brown sugar for coconut sugar, replace the honey with maple syrup, and use vegan butter. Easy!
- Punch up the spice: We love how the cinnamon warms up this orange sweet potato casserole, and you can take it a step further with a small dash of nutmeg and a pinch of ground ginger.
- Add a garnish: Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary on top for a pop of green.
Orange Sweet Potatoes Tips
Can I roast the sweet potatoes instead of boiling them?
No, we don’t recommend roasting the sweet potatoes instead of boiling. Roasting will make their insides too jammy to hold their shape and cut into rounds.
What should I serve with orange sweet potatoes?
Orange sweet potato casserole will be right at home on an Easter holiday table with dishes like bourbon-glazed ham, herb-buttered baby carrots and spring asparagus.
We also love this orange sweet potato bake during Christmastime! Pair with rich recipes like stuffed pork tenderloin and a tray of freshly baked holiday herb cheese rolls.
