These whipped sweet potatoes (brown sugar sweet potatoes) are easy to make and a great side dish to replace regular mashed potatoes. It requires a handful of simple ingredients and has a creamy consistency, making it a perfect side dish for dinner or holiday meals. With minimal prep, these mashed sweet potatoes will be ready in less than 30 minutes. Serve them alongside your favorite main dish for a filling meal.
Why Make Brown Butter Whipped Sweet Potatoes
- Easy recipe with basic ingredients: This mashed sweet potato recipe is easy to follow and uses basic ingredients. You don’t need to peel or chop the potatoes before cooking; just wash and rinse them.
- Perfect side dish for dinner or holiday meals: These sweet potatoes are creamy and delicious, suitable for family dinners and holiday meals.
- A delicious twist on a classic side dish: This sweet potato dish is amazing and the perfect way to give your family a break from regular mashed potatoes during your next holiday meal.
Ingredients Needed
These creamy mashed sweet potatoes don’t require much. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:
- Sweet potatoes: washed and rinsed; no need to peel
- Water: cold water for the Instant Pot
- Butter: I’m using salted butter. But, you can use unsalted butter, then decide whether to add additional salt to taste at the end.
- Vanilla extract
- Ground Nutmeg
- Ground Cinnamon
- Brown Sugar
- Sour Cream: You can also use milk, heavy cream, coconut milk, softened cream cheese, Greek yogurt or coconut cream.
Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of the post for the exact ingredient amounts and full step-by-step instructions.
How to Make Brown Sugar Whipped Sweet Potatoes
- Pressure Cook the Sweet Potatoes: Add the sweet potatoes to the steamer insert of an instant pot. Pour one cup of cold water and pressure cook the potatoes for 12 minutes (this helps them become fork tender). While the sweet potatoes cook, add the butter to the saucepan.
- Brown the butter: Turn the heat to medium-low and allow the butter to brown for 5-7 minutes (it will turn amber in color). Remove from heat and set aside.
- Add the sweet potatoes to a stand mixer bowl: Use quick pressure to remove the lid once the sweet potatoes are finished cooking, and allow them to cool to the touch. Peel off the sweet potato skin (should fall off easily by hand).
- Whip: Add the potatoes to a stand mixer bowl with the dough attachment, add the browned butter (including the browned bits at the bottom of the saucepan) and the remaining ingredients to the stand mixer bowl. Turn the stand mixer to “stir” and mix until the sweet potatoes are incorporated and smooth.
Top Cooking Tips & FAQs
Here are some tips for making this delicious sweet potato mash recipe:
- Alternatives for sour cream: You can also use milk, heavy cream, coconut milk, Greek yogurt or coconut cream.
- Brown the butter: Browning the butter is optional but adds so much flavor to the dish. It’s worth the time to make it. I prefer to brown my butter on lower heat since you can burn your butter easily if you use medium-high heat and get distracted.
- Alternatives for a stand mixer: You can use a hand mixer, potato masher or food processor to make this recipe.
Mashed Sweet Potato Toppings
Some toppings for this mashed sweet potato recipe are candied nuts, maple syrup, whipped honey butter, and marshmallows.
You can visit my savory mashed sweet potatoes recipe for topping ideas for a savory version. Savory sweet potatoes are one of my personal favorites since it’s the perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors.
Storage and Leftovers
Add leftover mashed sweet potatoes to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
You could also put your sweet potatoes in a freezer bag and store it in the freezer for next time.
If you feel your sweet potatoes are runny or too soft, you can use flour or cornstarch to thicken them. I try to avoid this by using a pressure cooker with minimal water (as to submerging the potatoes in water in a large pot) and by adding liquids like sour cream or heavy cream slowly at the end to achieve the consistency I want.
You can use the steps mentioned above.
Sweet Potatoes contain less starch than regular potatoes. So, using sweet potatoes for mash is a great step. You an also rinse the potatoes before cooking them.
What to Serve with Sweet Potato Mash
Sweet potato mash goes with various main course and side dish recipes.
Main Dishes
Below are some main dish ideas perfect for busy weeknights and/or your Thanksgiving table:
- Roasted Turkey
- Pressure Cooker Turkey Breast
- Roast chicken
- Ninja Foodi pressure cooker pot roast
- Air fryer whole chicken wings
- Air fryer steak
Side Dishes
Make your holiday dinners pop by serving this easy mashed sweet potatoes recipe with the following sides:
- Instant Pot Collard Greens
- Southern Green Bean Casserole Recipe
- Cranberry Sauce
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
More Mashed Sweet Potato Recipes
You can cook and enjoy your sweet potatoes in various ways. Other sweet potato dishes besides this whipped sweet potato recipe are:
- Savory sweet potato mash: this version uses savory ingredients and would pair well with gravy.
- Sweet Potato Pie with Canned Yams
- Sweet Potato Pancakes
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Canned Yams
Whipped Sweet Potatoes
Equipment
- 6-quart Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs sweet potatoes washed and rinsed, no need to peel
- 1 cup water for the Instant Pot
- 4 tbsp butter salted
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ⅛ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp sour cream
Instructions
- Add the sweet potatoes to the steamer insert of an instant pot. Pour in one cup of water.
- Pressure cook the potatoes on high for 12 minutes.
- While the sweet potatoes cook, add the butter to a small saucepan.
- Turn the heat to medium-low and allow the butter to brown for 5-7 minutes. It will turn amber in color. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Use quick pressure release to remove the lid once they are finished cooking.
- Allow the potatoes to become cool to the touch. Then peel off the skin.
- Add the potatoes to a stand mixer bowl with the dough attachment.
- Add the browned butter (including the browned bits at the bottom of the saucepan) and the remaining ingredients to the stand mixer bowl.
- Turn the stand mixer to “Stir” and mix until the sweet potatoes are incorporated and smooth.