Easy Sweet Potato Mash with Maple Butter (2 ways!)

Sweet potatoes. Butter. Maple syrup. A pinch of cinnamon. Honestly, who thought anything this good could be made this easily? The sweet potato mash is creamy, cozy, a little bit indulgent, and ready in about 25 minutes flat. It’s the kind of side dish that steals the spotlight at the holiday table and honestly, at any table on any random Tuesday night too.

Everyone I’ve made these for LOVES them. I don’t think you’ll regret making them!

This recipe is made 2 ways, one with the Instant Pot,( Instant Pot 6 qt.model) and the other on the stove top.

Scrumptiously Easy Instant Pot Sweet Potato Mash that Everyone Will Love

I remember being a little kid and whenever it was a holiday we would have a huge pan of baked sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows and nuts. So, when I make this dish it takes me right back there, only with a different spin on flavors.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Silky sweet mashed sweet potatoes without a lot of effort (even less if you use the instant pot!).
• Buttery/sweet flavors are comfort food on a plate
• The dish works great for both holidays or just a busy weeknight

Ingredient List and Substitutions

• ✅Sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed: A tip – scrub the potatoes and leave the skin on for extra flavor, fiber and nutrients.
• ✅Butter: If you don’t have butter on hand, try a good butter flavored margarine (I like Becel’s Butter Flavored Margarine – not sponsored. You could also go with a vegan butter as well – my favorite vegan butter is called MELT).
• ✅Maple syrup: This is a hard one to replace because maple syrup has a pretty unique flavor. Try honey or agave as substitutes, though maple is truly the move here. For a richer, more caramelized flavor, a little brown sugar does the trick too.
• ✅Cinnamon
• ✅Water
• ✅Salt and pepper
• ✅Dried thyme (optional, but lovely)

SALTYPOT TIP: To make things extra special, sprinkle over top some toasted pecans, a sprinkle of brown sugar, or a handful of mini marshmallows right before serving for something different for the holidays.

Make Your Own Mashed Sweet Potatoes With These Easy Steps

• First, cut up and peel two large sweet potatoes and place in the Instant Pot.
• Add  the water
• Add the spice

• Cook on High then do a quick release when cooking is up.
• I like to mash the sweet potatoes with butter and sprinkle a little bit of maple syrup at this point.
• After it is all mashed up, place them in a serving bowl and add a dollop of butter on top. I like to drizzle maple syrup all over them and serve!

No Instant Pot? No Problem! How to Make This on the Stovetop

Don’t have an Instant Pot? You can totally make this on the stovetop with zero fuss. 

Just peel and cube your sweet potatoes, then toss them into a pot of lightly salted boiling water. Cook for about 15 to 20 minutes until they’re completely tender and a fork slides in without any resistance.

Drain them well, then mash with your butter, cinnamon, salt, pepper, thyme, and as much maple syrup as your heart desires.

The results will be exactly the same deliciousness, it just takes a bit longer this way. Easy Peasy!

Salty Pot Tip: Don’t skip draining well before mashing. Excess water = watery mash. Give them a good drain and even let them steam-dry in the pot for a minute before you go to town with the masher.

Tips for the Best Instant Pot Sweet Potato Mash

• Cut your cubes roughly the same size so they cook evenly because no one wants half-mushy, half-firm lumps in their mash.
• Do a quick release when the cook time is up … there’s no need to wait for a natural pressure release on this one.
• Drain off any remaining liquid before mashing for the creamiest texture.
• If you prefer more subtle sweetness, hold the maple syrup back during mashing and just drizzle it over the top at serving time.
• Want it silky smooth? Use a hand mixer instead of a potato masher. Want it more rustic? Leave some texture in there. Both are correct methods.

Fun Fact: Sweet Potatoes Aren’t Even Related to Regular Potatoes

This is a bit shocking, but regular potatoes and sweet potatoes are botanically unrelated!

Regular potatoes are closing related to tomatoes, eggplants, and even peppers because they are all in the Solanaceae family. However, sweet potatoes are in the Convolvulaceae family which more known as the morning glory family.

Now you have an interesting fact to share with your friends and family about potatoes!