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Sweet Potato Soufflé in Orange Cups with Cinnamon Pecans – A light fluffy sweet potato filling flavored with fresh squeezed orange juice, topped with cinnamon sugar pecans and baked in an orange cup – a lovely side dish for your holiday buffet table!
Can you believe it’s November already? We had a bunch of trick-or-treaters last night, in fact I tried to keep a close count and came up with 201 children. That doesn’t include adults. I have to sit outside because there’s not enough time to come in and out the door. I ran out of candy and was inside by 8:00 p.m. We live in a neighborhood that’s in a rural area so they bring in van loads of kids from all over. Busy night!
A fun make-ahead recipe for your Thanksgiving buffet
And, can you believe we’ll celebrate Thanksgiving in a few weeks? I think I mention this every year around this time – but it still holds true today … my family gets upset if I try to change the Thanksgiving menu or even tweak an old recipe. They actually give me ‘grief’ all year long and surprisingly the subject comes up fairly often. So just to freak them out a little, I’m going to make Sweet Potato Soufflé in Orange Cups with Cinnamon Pecans for the holidays!
My mother made these and served them at a reception after our wedding 30 years ago, and I still remember how pretty they were and how great they tasted. Besides I just love anything cooked in individual servings and cups. These make a gorgeous presentation on the holiday buffet and you can easily customize your family favorites by topping some with pecans and others with marshmallows. You’re sure to please even the pickiest guest (haha – who am I kidding – I’ll get in trouble for these!) I can’t help myself – I’m a food blogger!
Sweet Potato Soufflé has been a family favorite for generations.
Sweet potato soufflé has been around forever. This is not actually a true soufflé but that’s what my mom and mother-in-law called it. My mother-in-law used a corn flake topping but it is more like a dessert than a side. I cut down the sugar a good bit and the butter too. Feel free to increase them both a little if your family will notice.
Enjoy!
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Sweet Potato Soufflé in Orange Cups with Cinnamon Pecans
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup whole milk
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons orange juice, fresh squeezed
- ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 oranges
For the topping:
- ½ cup pecans
- 1 tablespoon super fine granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ tablespoon unsalted butter
- pinch good sea salt
Instructions
- To make the pecans place a medium size non-stick skillet over medium heat. Melt ½ tablespoon unsalted butter in the skillet and add the pecans. Toss to coat. Combine 1 tablespoon sugar with ½ teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle over the buttered pecans. Turn down the heat to medium-low and cook stirring constantly until the sugar melts and the pecans become shiny. This should only take a few minutes. Sprinkle with sea salt an place the sugared pecans on a parchment lined baking sheet to cool. Set aside.
- Peel the sweet potatoes and cut each into three equal pieces. Place the potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Heat on medium-high until they come to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook until fork tender, 15- 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a one cup measure, whisk together the milk and egg. Set aside.
- Cut the oranges in half and scoop out the pulp and juice. (I used a grapefruit spoon) Reserve 2 tablespoons of the orange juice to add to the potatoes. Slice off a tiny portion of the bottom of each orange half to help it sit flat without tipping over. You don't need to trim very much. Place the orange halves on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Drain the cooked sweet potatoes. Off-Heat, put 3 tablespoons of butter in the still hot pan and cover with the drained potatoes. Add the vanilla, ⅓ cup sugar, orange juice and the milk/egg mixture. Using a hand mixer beat on low until blended. Divide the mixture between the 8 orange halves. You may have a little left over and if so, scoop into a small ramekin coated with cooking spray bake with the oranges.
- Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and top with the cinnamon pecans. Serve warm or room temperature.
Recipe Notes
- Flash freeze the orange pulp to use in smoothies
- The cinnamon sugar pecans can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container
Nutrition
If you love sweet potatoes you might also like this Praline Sweet Potato Pie. This is a dreamy combination of crunchy pecans, brown sugar, buttery caramel and soft maple-infused mashed sweet potatoes. Click HERE to get the recipe for Praline Sweet Potato Pie.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Tricia
Susan says
Hi Tricia. Catching up here after returning from a short trip recently 🙂 How beautiful these sweet potato souffles look. I’m not happy that winter is just around the corner but the good news is citrus season is here. What a great idea for Thanksgiving or Christmas!
Tricia Buice says
I hope you will post about your trip – can’t wait to hear all about it! I love traveling and going new wonderful places. Have a great weekend and thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment!
2 sisters recipes...by Anna and Liz says
These are so sweet! Love the orange cups- genius idea! And, I too get a lot of grief if I change the menu for Thanksgiving…. so funny … we might have the same families!
Tricia Buice says
Grief is the word for sure! Once a year I guess they can have the same old, same old 🙂 Have a great weekend!
handmade by amalia says
You are an artist, Tricia. A delicious dish, beautifully presented, beautifully photographed. I did enjoy my visit today.
Amalia
xo
Abbe @ This is How I Cook says
Love blue and white dishes and they look perfect with these. Such pretty bites! But 201 trick or treaters. Amazing! We had 2!
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Abbe! Lots and lots of candy – but it’s all gone now!
Chris Scheuer says
These are gorgeous and what a fun way to serve them. Love the blue and white plates too, it looks so pretty with the orange hued sweet potatoes. Pinning for Thanksgiving!
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Chris! Hope you are having an awesome time in London – so jealous!
Betty says
I love sweet potatoes in any form, and individual servings of anything are so appealing to me. 🙂 These look so pretty in their orange cups, and sound so delicious. Perfect for Thanksgiving or any time! Every year I tell myself that I’m going to get my shopping done early. I just wish I’d listen!
Tricia Buice says
I hear you Betty and I understand. Gift cards for everybody!
cheri says
Hi Tricia, everything you touch is gold, these are beautiful and I know they are delicious by preparing some of your other recipes. Hope you are doing well with all the weather. thanks C.
Tricia Buice says
You are too sweet Cheri! Thank you so much for the kind words. We’re having a heat wave this week – temps in the 70’s!
Monique says
So pretty Tricia:)
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Monique 🙂
Monica says
This is gorgeous…just love that beautiful pop of orange color and I can picture how amazing they would look at the Thanksgiving table. Sweet potato souffle sounds delicious all in itself. I’m sure your family has to be happy with this!
Tricia Buice says
It’s been a family favorite for years and years Monica – I hope they like it served this way 🙂 Have a great week
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
They look so very beautiful, Tricia. I love that spiced pecan topping as well.
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Angie! Hope you have a wonderful week
Gerlinde/Sunnycovechef says
These little sweet potatoe suffles in orange cups are darling and I love the candied pecans. They would be great at any party.
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Gerlinde – they are easy to serve and delicious too!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
These are eye-poppingly beautiful! I love sweet potatoes, and the idea of pairing them with orange makes my mouth water. I think you’ve outdone your MIL with her cornflakes 😉
Tricia Buice says
Thank you so much Sue!