A cheering fall and winter recipe, this medley of sweet potatoes and apples makes a great side dish for Thanksgiving dinner, though you need not save this easy preparation for special occasions only. Photos by Rachael Braun.
Recipe
Baked Sweet Potatoes and Apples
A cheering fall and winter recipe, this medley of sweet potatoes and apples makes a great side dish for Thanksgiving dinner, though you need not save this easy preparation for special occasions only.
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Servings: to 10
Ingredients
- 4 large sweet potatoes 4 to 4 ½ pounds
- 2 tablespoons vegan buttery spread such as Earth Balance melted (or substitute olive oil, avocado oil, or sesame oil)
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 2 large apples peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- Cinnamon
- Ground cloves
- ½ cup apple juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Bake or microwave the sweet potatoes until done but still firm. When cool enough to handle, peel them and cut into ½-inch-thick slices.
- Oil a deep, 1 ½ quart baking casserole. Arrange half of the sweet potato slices on the bottom. Drizzle with half of the buttery spread, then half of the maple syrup.
- Top with the apple slices. Sprinkle lightly with the cinnamon and cloves.
- Repeat the layers, then pour the apple juice over the top.
- Bake for 30 minutes, covered, then for another 10 minutes, uncovered. Serve at once or cover and keep warm until needed.
Nutrition (Estimate per Serving)
Calories: 185kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 2gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 87mgPotassium: 476mgFiber: 5gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 16190IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 1mg
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Hannah says
I'm going to try this for my vegan thanksgiving that I'm making for my grandparents who have started eating a (mostly) vegan diet for their health.
Is it correct that you do not peel the sweet potatoes?
Nava says
Hannah, how great that you can explore a plant-based diet with your grandparents. And yes, the sweet potatoes should be peeled. Thanks for catching that omission. I've corrected the instructions. Happy Thanksgiving!
Sarah says
Is there anything I could use instead of margerine?
Nava says
Sarah, I updated this to use Earth Balance or any of three types of oil. See changes in the ingredients!
Dean says
Sarah, whenever I bake sweet potatoes in the microwave, they come out squishy on the ends and barely cooked in the middle. Do they cook more uniformly in a conventional oven? I haven't baked a potato in a regular oven in years, so I don't remember. Do you know any tricks to get things like potatoes to cook more uniformly in a microwave?
thanks!
Dean says
Oops, I meant to address my question to Nava.
Nava says
Dean, sweet potatoes do bake much more uniformly in the oven than in a microwave. The latter is such a time-saver, though. the best tip I can give you is to choose sweet potatoes that are more evenly oblong — that is, that don't have those narrow ends with a wide middle. Not that anything is wrong with those, but they really do come out less evenly in the microwave. The other thing to do is to slightly undercook them altogether in the microwave, so they keep their shape, and bake a little longer if need be once the dish is in the oven.
Hope this helps! Happy Thanksgiving--
charlee says
OMG!!!! This was the highlight of my thanksgiving (aside from the equally delicious mash potatoes w/ groovy onion gravy.) The preparation was so easy too. I love this! Everyone loves it. I was so proud watching some overstuffed family members coming home -- I celebrated alone because they wanted turkey and I'm a vegan-- and eating my dessert (I served it as a dessert rather than side dish.) It was so delicious I wish we didn't have pumpkin pie (vegan of course) since it didn't compare. Thanks so much for the recipe. Everyone is looking forward to the next time I make this... Did I mention how easy it was... I think I did. But I just had to say it again because I am the laziest person that shows how easy this recipe was. Thanks again.
Nava says
Charlee, so glad this was such a hit with you and your family. I've always maintained that the best way to convince non-vegans is not with lectures at the table, but with delicious food!
Holly says
What kind of apples best to use? Granny Smith or Gala? Does it matter? I'm thinking Granny Smith is kind of tart that will balance well with "sweet" yams. What do you think?
Nava says
Hi Holly — really, any apple will do, but I like your idea of using Granny Smith, for the slight tartness. Slice them thin, as they stay fairly firm when baked. Enjoy!
Sandy says
Can this reciepe be prepared a day orTwo ahead of time?
Nava says
Yes, Sandy. Bake it for between half and 3/4 of the time recommended and then finish baking shortly before serving. Enjoy!
Rayna O'Hara says
I was wondering about finishing this in a crockpot because the oven is usually occupied on Thanksgiving!