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    Home » Sides and Veggies

    Published Oct 17, 2022 (Updated Jun 11, 2025) by Heather Bilyeu

    Sweet Potato Casserole with Crunchy Cornflake Topping

    5 from 1 review
    1 Comment
    This post may contain affiliate links
    Jump to Recipe

    This southern style sweet potato casserole with a crunchy cornflake topping is everything you love about Thanksgiving sides!. It starts with fresh sweet potatoes, peeled, diced, and boiled until fork-tender, then whipped with butter, brown sugar, eggs, and warm spices for a silky-smooth filling. Topped with a sweet candy-like cornflake topping and baked to golden perfection, it’s the kind of dish that steals the show on any holiday table. Serves 8-10.

    Small white plate with Sweet Potato Casserole with Crunchy Cornflake Topping on it. The baking dish with it in it and a bowl of brown sugar in the background.

    I know I am not the only one who loves all the sides at Thanksgiving. Like we all pile our plates with Southern-style mashed potatoes and slow cooker green beans and all our other favorites and suddenly we are just laying a slab of fried turkey on top because the plate it full.

    I know you feel me on this. 😉

    Since you absolutely cannot have too many sides, I am taking the base of my old fashioned sweet potato casserole with marshmallows, tweaking it a little and adding this absolutely irresistable crunch cornflake topping that is sweet and wonderful and I could just eat it by the spoonfuls TBH. Having teh combo of the smooth sweet potatoes with the crunchy topping is beyond and I am obsessed. Let me show you how to make it!

    Cut sweet potatoes, cornflakes, sugar, butter, pecans, brown sugar, and spices on a white table.
    Boiling peeled and diced sweet potatoes in a large pot on the stove.
    STEP 1 - Peel and diced the potatoes. Place them in a large pot covered in water, and place on a stove over high heat. Bring to a boil. Cook the potatoes until fork tender (about 10-15 minutes).
    Boiled diced sweet potatoes in a large bowl with a stick of butter in it.
    STEP 2 - Drain the potatoes and place them in a large bowl. Add the butter, brown sugar, eggs, and spices. Mix with a hand mixer until smooth, the butter is melted, and no lumps remain.
    Filling for sweet potato casserole in a clear bowl on the counter.
    STEP 3 - Add in milk and mix until smooth and incorporated.
    Filling for sweet potato casserole in a baking dish before going into the oven.
    STEP 4 - Pour into a greased baking dish. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. While that bakes, mix all the topping ingredients together in a bowl.
    Baked Sweet Potato Casserole with Crunchy Cornflake Topping in a white baking dish on a white counter top.
    STEP 5 - Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle on the topping. Place back in the oven and continue cooking for an additional 15-20 minutes.
    Are white baking dish of Sweet Potato Casserole with Crunchy Cornflake Topping with plates, napkins, wooden spoons, cornflakes, and brown sugar next to it.

    How to Prep Ahead of Time for Thanksgiving

    I am a firm believer in making as much of the Thanksgiving meal AHEAD OF TIME as possible! No matter if you are hosting the whole gathering or just bringing a dish, save yourself some time and effort the day of by having sweet potato cornflake casserole done and ready to go ahead of time!

    ⭐️ PRO TIP: after freezing Thanksgiving sides personally for years and learning the do's and don't of it - the biggest tip when making this ahead of time is to prep the topping right before it is needed and ready to go in the oven. Otherwise, the butter with make the cornflakes soggy and it will not be crunchy.

    You have a couple of different options to prep ahead:

    1. The Day Before: Prep casserole all the way up to baking without the topping. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and keep stored in the fridge until needed. Make the topping right before baking and continue with the directions.
    2. How to Freeze: if making more than a day in advance, make all the way up to baking and skip adding the topping. Place in the casserole dish and wrap airtight with plastic wrap and/or foil a couple of times and place in the freezer for up to 6 months. Remove from the freezer and place in the fridge for 24 hours to thaw. Continue with directions to finish baking, making the topping right before needed. To bake from frozen, remove from the freezer and place in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes with a sheet of foil on top. Remove, add the topping, and place back in the oven to finish baking for an additional 20-30 minutes or until the middle is hot and bubbly and the top is a crunchy golden brown.
    A plate of sweet potato casserole on a small with plate wit a gold spoon next to it.
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    Recipe

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    sweet potato casserole in a white baking dish with plates, napkins, and serving spoons around it.

    Sweet Potato Casserole with Crunchy Cornflake Topping


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 1 review

    • Author: Heather Bilyeu
    • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
    • Yield: 8-10 1x
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    Description

    This southern style sweet potato casserole with a crunchy cornflake topping is everything you love about Thanksgiving sides!. It starts with fresh sweet potatoes, peeled, diced, and boiled until fork-tender, then whipped with butter, brown sugar, eggs, and warm spices for a silky-smooth filling. Topped with a sweet candy-like cornflake topping and baked to golden perfection, it’s the kind of dish that steals the show on any holiday table. 


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 3-4 Pounds Sweet Potatoes - roughly 4 large sweet potatoes
    • ¼ Cup Butter
    • ¼ Cup Brown Sugar
    • 2 Eggs
    • 1 Teaspoon Salt
    • 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
    • ¼ Teaspoon Nutmeg
    • ½ Cup Milk 

    Crunchy Cornflake Topping

    • 2 Cups Crushed Cornflake Cereal
    • ¾ Cup Chopped Pecans
    • ¾ Cup Brown Sugar
    • 1 Stick of Butter - melted
    • Pinch of salt

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
    2. Peel and diced the potatoes
    3. Place the diced sweet potatoes in a large pot covered in water, and place on a stove over high heat. Bring to a boil. Once at a boil, cook the potatoes until fork tender (about 10-15 minutes).
    4. Drain the potatoes and place them in a large bowl.
    5. Add the butter, brown sugar, eggs, and spices. Mix with a hand mixer until smooth, the butter is melted, and no lumps remain.
    6. Add in milk and mix until smooth and incorporated.
    7. Pour into a greased baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes.
    8. To make the topping, mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle on top. Place back in the oven and continue cooking for an additional 15-20 minutes.
    9. Remove and enjoy!

    Notes

    • Leftovers can be kept wrapped tightly in the fridge for 3-4 days.

    To Make Ahead of Time

    1. The Day Before: Prep casserole all the way up to baking. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and keep stored in the fridge until needed. Make the topping right before baking and continue with the directions.
    2. How to Freeze: if making more than a day in advance, make all the way up to baking and skip making the topping. Place the filling in the casserole dish and wrap airtight with plastic wrap and/or foil a couple of times and place in the freezer for up to 6 months. Remove from the freezer and place in the fridge for 24 hours to thaw. Continue with directions to finish baking, making the topping right before needed. To bake from frozen, place in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes with a piece of foil on top. Remove, add the topping, and place back in the oven to finish baking for an additional 20-30 minutes or until the middle is hot and bubbly and the top is a crunchy golden brown.
    • Prep Time: 30 minutes
    • Cook Time: 60 minutes
    • Category: Sides/Veggies
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: American

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 scoop
    • Calories: 459
    • Sugar: 27.7 g
    • Sodium: 679.2 mg
    • Fat: 21.2 g
    • Carbohydrates: 63.9 g
    • Fiber: 5.2 g
    • Protein: 6 g
    • Cholesterol: 74.9 mg

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @fuelingasouthernsoul on Instagram and hashtag it #fuelingasouthernsoul

    Please rate and review below!

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    Filed Under: Casseroles, Christmas, Sides and Veggies, Southern, Thanksgiving Tagged With: Sweet Potato

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    Hi, I'm Heather! Grab a glass of wine, a blanket, and a cozy seat on your back porch. I am so glad you are here! Born and raised in Kentucky and with proper southern roots, my love for entertaining and hospitality runs deep within my soul. There is nothing that I love more than having people around my table and loving them through food and drink!

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