When do you enjoy sweet potato casseroles? For me, it’s a Thanksgiving dish, but it’s so delicious, creamy, and slightly nutritious. Honestly, it might be better than pumpkin pie! But it also tastes delicious in coffee form, like in this sweet potato casserole latte! It’s literally everything in the dessert, but drinkable. Don’t you want to try?
Here’s how to make this yummy sweet potato casserole latte at home!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s super unique and seasonal!
- Create a dessert in a latte!
- Fun way to use sweet potato and marshmallow together.
- An easy step-by-step recipe to make this cafe-quality drink at home.
- A fancier coffee for when you want a sweet treat.
What is Sweet Potato Casserole?
Sweet potatoes are a native American crop that enslaved Africans adapted to their familiar cuisine in the South. As a result, sweet potato pie and other desserts play a large role in Black Southern culture. However, the casserole was actually a marketing tactic by a marshmallow company that wanted a recipe that helped people use marshmallows in their daily cooking. And in comes the sweet potato casserole, a baked sweet potato dish with a toasted marshmallow topping. How American!
It’s sweet, gooey, creamy, slightly earthy, and sometimes topped with a pecan streusel or just chopped pecans for a nice crunch. There’s something so addictive about it, and a classic during Thanksgiving.
What is in This Sweet Potato Casserole Latte?
The latte version has espresso, milk, ice, a sweet potato, brown sugar, and pecan sauce, and a toasted marshmallow cold foam. I’m pretty proud of this combination, as it has literally everything the dessert has.
I use freshly steamed sweet potatoes, which makes this dish even better!
While it sounds like a lot of components, and it takes a bit of time, it’s so worth it. You get so many complementary flavors, and the espresso cuts through the sweetness nicely. Why eat your dessert when you can drink it, too?
How to Cook Sweet Potatoes Fast
This is a trick I learned from my parents, who always cook sweet potatoes in the microwave for easy steaming. Boiling sweet potatoes makes them slightly mushy, as they absorb some of the water. Plus, it takes a long time, and you use a lot of water.
To cook sweet potatoes in the microwave, poke many holes into the sweet potato skin with a fork. This creates holes for the steam to escape so your potato doesn’t explode. Place the punctured potato onto a plate and microwave for 4 minutes, then, when done, flip it to the other side and microwave for another 4 minutes. You might see steam come out of the microwave, which is normal.
Once finished, the potato will be super hot, so let it cool off a little bit in the microwave before removing it. If you have a large potato, the middle might not be as soft as the outside, so you can heat it up for another 1-2 minutes.
And that’s the secret to soft, creamy potatoes with minimal effort!
How to Toast Marshmallows Without a Torch
You don’t need a butane or kitchen torch to toast marshmallows! I like to broil them in a toaster oven to get a nice char for toasted marshmallow syrup, dips, or flavoring. The broiling method works best with mini marshmallows, which you spread onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (easy clean up after).
Broil the marshmallows for 3-5 minutes or until the top browns nicely. Definitely do not step away from the oven as marshmallows burn really quickly. Once nicely toasted, you’ll want to use the marshmallows immediately since they harden when cool.
If you have regular marshmallows, you can also broil them, but it will take a bit longer. You could also roast them using the fire from the stovetop on skewers.
Sweet Potato Casserole Latte: What You’ll Need
Equipment:
- A toaster oven or butane torch
- A handheld frother
- Espresso machine
- A potato masher
- A small pot
Ingredients:
- Sweet Potato Casserole Sauce
- ½ sweet potato
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup pecans
- 1 cup brown sugar (or brown sugar syrup)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Sweet Potato Casserole Latte
- 1-2 tbsp toasted mini marshmallows
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1½ cups milk
- 1 cup ice
- 2 shots of espresso
- 1-2 tbsp sweet potato casserole sauce
Sweet Potato Casserole Latte Recipe
- Make Sweet Potato Casserole Sauce. Prick a sweet potato with a fork all around, then microwave for 4 minutes. Flip it to the other side and microwave it for another 4 minutes. Let it cool slightly before adding half of the steamed sweet potato flesh into a small pot.
- Into the pot, add brown sugar, vanilla paste, pecans, and water, then cook on low to medium heat. Gently simmer the sauce until the sugar dissolves, then mash the sweet potato and pecans with a potato masher until soft and mushy.
- Once all combined, turn off the heat and set it to the side.
- Make Toasted Marshmallow Cold Foam. Line a small baking tray with parchment paper or get out a baking dish and fill a single layer of mini marshmallows. Broil in the oven or toaster oven for 5-8 minutes or until the top layer gets golden brown.
- Add 1-2 tbsp of toasted marshmallow, heavy cream, and milk to a small cup or bowl. Then whip with a handheld frother for 10-15 seconds or until light and fluffy. You can add a little sweetener here for extra flavor.
- Optional: If your cream is too thick, add a tbsp or two of milk and rewhip.
- Brew Espresso. Brew 1-2 shots of espresso with an espresso machine or other brewing method. You can also use instant espresso powder as a replacement.
- Assemble Drink. Add ice, sweet potato casserole sauce, and milk to a separate glass, then add espresso shots. Top with the toasted marshmallow cold foam and garnish with more toasted marshmallow.
- Mix and Enjoy!
Tips for the Best Sweet Potato Latte
- Use Marshmallows Immediately: Mini marshmallows harden when they cool, so it’s easiest to work with them once they’re done toasting. When cool, they get progressively stiffer and chewier, and removing them from the pan takes a lot of effort. Best to keep it in the toaster oven where it’s warm if you do toast them first.
- Add Extract After Cooking: I use vanilla paste, but if you’re using vanilla extract, add it to your sauce after it’s done cooking. The extract will evaporate away if you add it while the sauce is hot, and you won’t taste much vanilla.
- Cover Sauce When Cooking: The sweet potato sauce thickens after being mashed and starts bubbling, spitting little water droplets. To protect yourself, cover the sauce while it’s cooking!
- Blend Sweet Potato: The sweet potato is quite fibrous, so for a super smooth sauce, you can blend the steamed potato with some water before cooking it. Alternatively, you can strain the sauce once it’s done for a smooth texture.
Variations
- Canned Sweet Potato: Use canned sweet potato for convenience! Since companies usually can sweet potatoes in sugar water, use less sugar in your sauce to account for the extra sugar. They’ll also be softer and easier to mash.
- Marshmallow Fluff: Instead of mini marshmallows, you can toast marshmallow fluff and add it to your cold foam. You can try broiling a small layer of it, torch it, or roast it on an open flame on a skewer (if it sticks…).
- Premade Syrup: For convenience, you can skip the marshmallow and sauce for premade syrups. I would mix butter pecan and toasted marshmallow for a sweet potato casserole flavor, and add mashed sweet potatoes to it.
- Vegan: Use vegan marshmallows and swap the dairy for your favorite vegan alternatives! My favorites are the non-dairy “not milk” options and oat milk.
Sweet Potato Casserole Latte
Equipment
- 1 handheld frother
- 1 toaster oven or butane torch
- 1 espresso machine
- 1 potato masher
- 1 small pot
Ingredients
Sweet Potato Casserole Sauce
- ½ sweet potato
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup pecans
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Sweet Potato Casserole Latte
- 1-2 tbsp toasted mini marshmallows
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1½ cup milk
- 1 cup ice
- 2 shots espresso
- 1-2 tbsp sweet potato casserole sauce
Instructions
- Make Sweet Potato Casserole Sauce. Prick a sweet potato with a fork all around, then microwave for 4 minutes. Flip it to the other side and microwave it for another 4 minutes. Let it cool slightly before adding half of the steamed sweet potato flesh into a small pot.
- Into the pot, add brown sugar, vanilla paste, pecans, and water, then cook on low to medium heat. Gently simmer the sauce until the sugar dissolves, then mash the sweet potato and pecans with a potato masher until soft and mushy.
- Once all combined, turn off the heat and set it to the side.
- Make Toasted Marshmallow Cold Foam. Line a small baking tray with parchment paper or get out a baking dish and fill a single layer of mini marshmallows. Broil in the oven or toaster oven for 5-8 minutes or until the top layer gets golden brown.
- Add 1-2 tbsp of toasted marshmallow, heavy cream, and milk to a small cup or bowl. Then whip with a handheld frother for 10-15 seconds or until light and fluffy. You can add a little sweetener here for extra flavor.
- Brew Espresso. Brew 1-2 shots of espresso with an espresso machine or other brewing method. You can also use instant espresso powder as a replacement.
- Assemble Drink. Add ice, sweet potato casserole sauce, and milk to a separate glass, then add espresso shots. Top with the toasted marshmallow cold foam and garnish with more toasted marshmallow.
- Mix and Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do sweet potatoes and milk taste good together?
Yes! Sweet potatoes taste so good with anything creamy, as they’re sweet and rich already. Have you ever tried a warm baked sweet potato with a scoop of vanilla ice cream??? Unreal.
What are the ingredients in a sweet potato casserole?
A sweet potato casserole has sweet potato, brown sugar, vanilla, eggs, butter, and milk for the filling. The topping is mini marshmallows and pecan crumble made from chopped pecans, butter, flour, and sugar. It’s divine!
How much caffeine does this have?
I use 2 shots of espresso, which is roughly 120 mg of caffeine per drink. You can halve it by using 1 shot or make it decaf with decaf coffee.
What can I substitute for sweet potato?
The closest substitute is red yams, followed by carrots, pumpkins, or parsnips. I’ve heard a lot of people use carrots as a replacement, and their guests can’t even tell it’s a carrot!
Other Dessert-Inspired Drinks to Try
Phew, this drink has a lot of steps, but it’s so worth it. Any good dessert or drink has a lot of love put into it! If you want to try more dessert-inspired drinks, here are some you should try next:
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