Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

prep time:: 30 min
total time:: 1 hr , 30 minutes

Makes 12 servings

In this innovative reinterpretation of the mini-marshmallow-topped casserole, the potatoes are baked and mashed, then the flesh is returned to the jackets and gilded with pecans and fluffy marshmallows. It’s food that’s altogether familiar, yet new.

ingredients

14 (each about 8 ounces) sweet potatoes
1/2 cup sour cream
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 3/4-inch-thick slices
1 3/4 cups packed light-brown sugar
4 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
2/3 cup pecans, toasted, coarsely chopped
40 large marshmallows, halved crosswise

directions

1
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prick sweet potatoes with a fork. Bake until soft, about 50 minutes. Let cool slightly on a rack.
2
2. Cut a lengthwise slit in potatoes almost all the way through, leaving about 1 inch at each end intact. Scoop out flesh, leaving a 1/2-inch border on skins. Put flesh in a medium nonreactive bowl, then transfer half to a food processor. Process until smooth; return to bowl. Stir in sour cream, 6 tablespoons softened butter, 1 cup brown sugar, lemon juice, and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper.
3
3. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Transfer sweet potato mixture in batches to a pastry bag fitted with a very large round tip. Pipe mixture into 12 of the potato shells, dividing evenly; discard remaining 2 shells. Filled shells can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 day. Just before serving, top with remaining 3/4 cup brown sugar, the sliced butter, and pecans; arrange marshmallows on top. Bake on a rimmed baking sheet until hot and marshmallows are golden brown, 7 to 10 minutes.

notes

It takes a lot of time to scoop sweet potatoes out of their shell and pipe filling back in. These taste the same in a casserole dish, although they aren't as cute.(And everyone will know that you cheated!)

Source: Lauren