Southern Living Sweet Potato Soufflé

 I made this for thanksgiving, and it is extraordinarily delicious. I’m usually lukewarm about the sweet potatoes on the thanksgiving table. I make them because you’re got to have them, but this was, perhaps, the best thing on the table. I made it in advance and froze it without the topping. Put it in the fridge the night before and pulled it out a few hours few early to let it defrost. I added the topping and baked it after the turkey came out. 

Ingredients

Filling:

• 4 large or 5 medium sweet potatoes (about 6 cups mashed flesh)

• Cooking spray

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 cup light brown sugar

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon

• 2 large eggs

• 1/2 cup whole milk

• 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

• 1/4 tsp. salt

Topping:

• 2/3 cup light brown sugar

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt

• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

• 1 1/2 cups pecan halves

• 5 Tbsp. melted butter

Directions

1. Bake the potatoes: 

   Preheat oven to 425°F.

   Wash and thoroughly dry outside of sweet potatoes. Wrap in aluminum foil, and place on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 1 1/2 hours; remove and allow to cool until you can easily remove the skins, about 30 minutes.

   Prepare sweet potato filling: 

   Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a glass 9- x- 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.

   In the bowl of a mixer or with an electric hand mixer, beat sweet potatoes on medium-high until they become smooth, about 2 minutes. Add butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon; mix until fully combined. Add eggs, milk, vanilla, and salt; beat on medium high until the mixture is fully homogenous. Pour into prepared baking dish.

   Make topping and add to the soufflé: 

   In a bowl, stir together brown sugar, flour, salt, and cinnamon until well combined. Add pecans and toss to coat. Add melted butter and stir until butter is evenly absorbed.

   Scatter across the surface of the soufflé.

   Bake soufflé: 

   Bake until the center of the soufflé is set and does not jiggle when tapped, 45 to 55 minutes.