This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Marshmallow-topped sweet potato bites, caramelized with maple syrup, woody cinnamon, and butter topped with nutty pecans – an eye-closing, “mmm” inspiring way to serve sweet potatoes. These sweet potato bites are a quick and easy solution for when you’re in need of a tasty appetizer or snack. With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up these bites in no time.
Looking for a delicious and festive holiday appetizer? Look no further than these sweet potato bites topped with marshmallows and pecans! These sliced sweet potato rounds make for a great appetizer, especially if you’re a fan of sweet potato casserole. They are simple to prepare and can be made ahead of time, so they’re perfect for a party. Plus, they’re gluten-free and dairy-free, so everyone can enjoy them!
Recipe At a Glance
Cuisine Inspiration: American
Primary Cooking Method: Oven-Baking and Broiling
Dietary Info: Gluten-Free, Vegetarian
Key Flavor: Sweet and Spiced
Skill Level: Easy
Standouts
- Quick and Easy: From prep to plate, you can have this sweet potato side dish ready in less than 45 minutes.
- Flavorful Yet Simple: A blend of maple syrup and cinnamon brings depth of flavor with minimal effort.
- Festive Presentation: The marshmallow and pecan topping make these bites visually appealing, perfect for holiday gatherings or special occasions.
- Advance Prep Option: You can peel and slice the sweet potatoes in advance and store them in cold water in the fridge until you’re ready to bake.
- Kid-Friendly: With familiar and loved ingredients like sweet potatoes and marshmallows, this dish is sure to please even the little ones.
Ingredients to make Sweet Potato Bites
- Sweet potato: A large sweet potato is peeled and cut into rounds of a half an inch in thickness before being baked.
- Maple syrup: The sweet potato rounds are tossed in maple syrup which caramelizes when they bake.
- Marshmallows: Each baked slice of sweet potato is topped with a marshmallow, just like a sweet potato casserole.
- Pecans: I love to finish off the rounds with some chopped pecans for a little crunch. You could also use walnuts.
How to make Sweet Potato Bites with marshmallows
- Wash and peel the sweet potato, then slice it into thick rounds, about ½ inch thick.
- Drizzle the sweet potatoes with maple syrup and salt, and use my hands to coat them well.
- Transfer the sweet potatoes to a baking dish, spray them with cooking spray, and roast them in the oven til they are warm, caramelized, and super tender.
- Place marshmallows on top of each sweet potato round and broil it in the oven until the marshmallows deflate. Then I immediately place a pecan half, so they stick to the marshmallows. You can also add the pecans before you broil them.
Tips for making the best sweet potato bites
- Slice the potatoes evenly. You don’t want to end up with sweet potato rounds of varying sizes, the thin ones may end up too soft, while the thick ones are undone. You’re looking for uniform thickness so you can get that “just right” cook that’s consistent on all of them.
- Use sweet potatoes rather than yams. Yams will still work for this recipe, but they do have a more potato-like texture. Check out my post on why yams and sweet potatoes are different.
- Use a fork to check that the sweet potatoes are cooked. They should be tender when pierced. This will take around 20 to 25 minutes depending on the thickness of the slices.
- Spray your baking sheet or use parchment. The maple syrup can cause the sweet potatoes to stick to the pan. Remove them straight away so that the maple syrup doesn’t cool and harden.
popular substitutions & additions
- Toast your pecans beforehand. For a more intense pecan flavor, you can toast the pecans on a baking sheet at 350 degrees F for 5 to 7 minutes before adding them to the sweet potato bites.
- Serve the sweet potato bites with a dipping sauce of your choice. Some good options are cranberry sauce, balsamic reduction, and honey.
- Use marshmallow fluff. If you’re worried about your marshmallows getting too stiff after melting them, you can use marshmallow fluff in place of regular marshmallows. Simply spread the fluff on top of each sweet potato round and broil as usual.
- Consider adding other toppings. You could try toasted coconut flakes or sliced almonds to give your sweet potato bites another dimension of flavor. Just be sure that any add-ons are chopped finely so that they don’t overwhelm the dish.
What to serve with your Sweet Potato Bites
This sweet potato side dish is perfect to serve as part of your Thanksgiving meal. Serve them alongside other favorites like:
- Thanksgiving Turkey
- Baked Cranberry Sauce
- Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes
- Oven Roasted Brussel Sprouts
- Thanksgiving Vegetarian Stuffing
how to store & reheat Sweet Potato Bites
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
To reheat your sweet potato bites, you can place them in a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees F until warmed through. Alternatively, they can be heated in the microwave on 30-second intervals until warm and gooey.
how long will Sweet Potato Bites last in the fridge?
Your sweet potato bites will last for about 3-4 days in the refrigerator. For best results, try to eat them as soon as possible or store them in an airtight container with a piece of parchment paper between each slice to prevent sticking. If you notice that they have become soggy, it’s best to discard them and make a fresh batch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any marshmallows will work here, but I find it’s best to slice them in half so that they are not too puffy for the sweet potato rounds
We prefer to peel the sweet potatoes for this recipe, but you can leave them on if you like. Just rinse them well to remove any loose dirt.
Nope! You can simply bake them as-is for a delicious and easy appetizer. However, if you want to par-boil the sweet potato rounds for added texture or flavor, you can do so by boiling them in salted water for about 7 minutes before baking. Keep in mind the roasting time will need to be adjusted if you decide to boil them first.
You can definitely swap out the maple syrup if you’d like. Honey is a straightforward alternative that will bring a similar sweetness with a bit of floral undertone. Agave syrup or a simple syrup could also work in a pinch. If you’re aiming to cut down on added sugars, you might try a sugar-free maple syrup. Keep in mind that each substitute will bring its own unique flavor profile to the dish.
This Thanksgiving side dish is warm, sweet and savory and very kid-friendly. It reminds me of sweet potato casserole without the commitment of making an entire casserole dish. Not only are they a delicious appetizer, but they can also be served alongside other favorites like roasted turkey or Baked Macaroni and Cheese. It’s such a sweet treat that it almost tastes like dessert!
More sweet potato recipes:
- Melting Sweet Potatoes
- Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Sweet Potato Toast
- Loaded Breakfast Sweet Potatoes
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Smashed Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl
- Sweet Potato Waffles
- Huevos Rancheros with Sweet Potatoes
If you try this feel good Sweet Potato Bites recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!
This Sweet Potato Bites recipe was originally published on November 10, 2018. The recipe has not been modified, but the post now includes new photography and more tips for how to make the sweet potato bites recipe.
preorder MY book
The Feel Good Foodie Cookbook is now available everywhere books are sold!
Amazon Barnes & Noble Books A Million Hudson Booksellers BookshopSCHULER Books (SIGNED)
Sweet Potato Bites
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet potatoes peeled and sliced into ½ -inch-thick rounds
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 12 marshmallows sliced in half
- 24 pecan halves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the sliced sweet potatoes to the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with melted butter and maple syrup and season with cinnamon and salt. Toss the sweet potatoes to make sure they are well coated and then arrange in a single layer.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the sweet potatoes are tender.
- Top each sweet potato round with one marshmallow, and broil on high for 30-60 seconds, until the marshmallow puffs. Working quickly and carefully, press one pecan half on top of each sweet potato bite. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
I made this on thanksgiving and it came out so good! Perfect sweetness and it looks amazing! Will always be making it! Thank you Yumna for your continuous amazing recipes!
Ahh thanks so much! Really happy you liked it!
I’m not the best cook, but I had some sweet potatoes about to go bad and I saw your recipe and it looked so easy so I had to try it! These rounds were made with ease, didn’t take long at all, and were so delicious! I’ll definitely be making these again!!!
Oh yay! I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks so much for sharing!!