Al Roker Says It’s Not Thanksgiving Without His ‘Terrific’ Sweet Potato Casserole

Mar. 15, 2025

Al Roker’s Sweet Potato Casserole.Photo:Barry Brecheisen/Getty; Fred Hardy

Barry Brecheisen/Getty; Fred Hardy

A must-have holiday dish inAl Roker’shouse has mysterious origins.“Sweet potato poon is one of those things where, I don’t know if my mom got it from somebody, I don’t even know where the name came from,” theTodayanchor says about his mother’s recipe. “It wasn’t the holidays in our house if sweet potato poon wasn’t there.“The Roker family’s sweet potato poon, which is included in his new cookbookAl Roker’s Recipes to Live By,is a twist on a classic marshmallow-topped casserole. The dish is chock-full of autumnal spices, like cinnamon and allspice, but with a surprising twist: canned pineapple.“It has a sweet, umami kind of flavor about it. It’s just terrific,” says Roker. “It could be a side dish, or it could be a dessert — it’s almost like a sweet potato pie without the crust.“Al Roker’s Marshmallow-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole.Fred HardyAl Roker’s Marshmallow-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole3 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-in. chunks (about 9 cups)½ cup (4 oz.) unsalted butter, cut into ½-in. pieces1 cup packed dark brown sugar¾ cup (about 3 ¼ oz.) all-purpose flour2 Tbsp. baking powder1½ tsp. kosher salt½ tsp. ground cinnamon¼ tsp. ground nutmeg¼ tsp. ground allspice¾ cup canned crushed pineapple, drained (from 1 [20-oz.] can) (optional)1 (12-oz.) pkg. large marshmallows1.Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 13x9-inch broiler-safe baking dish with cooking spray.2.Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high. Add potatoes; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender when pierced with a fork, about 16 minutes. Drain, and transfer to a large bowl; add butter, and mash using a potato masher until mostly smooth and butter is fully combined. Stir in brown sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice until well-combined. Fold in crushed pineapple, and spread mixture in an even layer in baking dish.3.Bake in preheated oven until lightly browned, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven. Preheat oven to broil with rack about 6 inches from heat source.4.Place marshmallows in a single layer on top of sweet potatoes. Broil until marshmallows are toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Let casserole cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.Serves:12Active time:20 minutesTotal time:1 hour, 20 minutes

A must-have holiday dish inAl Roker’shouse has mysterious origins.

“Sweet potato poon is one of those things where, I don’t know if my mom got it from somebody, I don’t even know where the name came from,” theTodayanchor says about his mother’s recipe. “It wasn’t the holidays in our house if sweet potato poon wasn’t there.”

The Roker family’s sweet potato poon, which is included in his new cookbookAl Roker’s Recipes to Live By,is a twist on a classic marshmallow-topped casserole. The dish is chock-full of autumnal spices, like cinnamon and allspice, but with a surprising twist: canned pineapple.

“It has a sweet, umami kind of flavor about it. It’s just terrific,” says Roker. “It could be a side dish, or it could be a dessert — it’s almost like a sweet potato pie without the crust.”

Al Roker’s Marshmallow-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole.Fred Hardy

Fred Hardy

Al Roker’s Marshmallow-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

3 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-in. chunks (about 9 cups)

½ cup (4 oz.) unsalted butter, cut into ½-in. pieces

1 cup packed dark brown sugar

¾ cup (about 3 ¼ oz.) all-purpose flour

2 Tbsp. baking powder

1½ tsp. kosher salt

½ tsp. ground cinnamon

¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

¼ tsp. ground allspice

¾ cup canned crushed pineapple, drained (from 1 [20-oz.] can) (optional)

1 (12-oz.) pkg. large marshmallows

1.Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 13x9-inch broiler-safe baking dish with cooking spray.

2.Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high. Add potatoes; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender when pierced with a fork, about 16 minutes. Drain, and transfer to a large bowl; add butter, and mash using a potato masher until mostly smooth and butter is fully combined. Stir in brown sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice until well-combined. Fold in crushed pineapple, and spread mixture in an even layer in baking dish.

3.Bake in preheated oven until lightly browned, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven. Preheat oven to broil with rack about 6 inches from heat source.

4.Place marshmallows in a single layer on top of sweet potatoes. Broil until marshmallows are toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Let casserole cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Serves:12

Active time:20 minutes

Total time:1 hour, 20 minutes

source: people.com