Love buttery, roasted sweet potatoes? Well today, we’re raising the bar and making them FONDANT style! Slow-roasted in garlicky stock so they absorb flavour and become meltingly tender inside, and caramelised on the outside. Serve as-is, or douse with Maple Butter Pecan Sauce for extra wow factor.
Simple to make, sounds fancy, tastes fab. Home run! (Pssst – Excellent holiday side dish)
Fondant Slow-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Stick the word “fondant” in front of “potato”, and suddenly your everyday spuds sound a whole lot fancier.
But in reality, it’s just potatoes that have been slow-roasted with a little stock until they absorb the flavour. They become creamy and savoury on the inside, and golden caramelised on the outside.
Just a little bit of extra effort for which you will reap very big rewards.
While you can “fondant” ordinary potatoes, I think it’s even better with sweet potatoes. Especially if you douse them with the optional-but-not-really Maple Butter Pecan Sauce!
What you need for Fondant Slow-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Here’s what you need:
For the Fondant Potatoes:
Sweet potatoes – 1.25 – 1.5 kg / 2.5 – 3 lb or 3 medium/large ones, preferably around the same size. Basically you need enough to fill a roasting pan with 3cm / 1.2″ thick rounds, leaving some space between each one. Leave the skin on – it’s free extra nutrition but also holds the slices together even when they are meltingly tender inside;
Butter AND oil for roasting – we love butter for flavour, but it burns at high temperatures. So to help minimise this, we use a combination of butter with oil so we get the best of both worlds – the buttery flavour and some nice browning which you can only achieve in a hot oven; and
Salt & pepper.
For the Maple Butter Pecan Sauce:
Maple syrup – pure maple syrup is best, for the best flavour! If you can’t get or your budget doesn’t extend to pure maple syrup, opt for honey rather than artificially-flavoured maple syrup;
Butter – to add a touch of buttery richness into the sauce; and
Chopped pecans – best to chop whole ones yourself for better flavour than buying pre-chopped. Also terrific with walnuts, almonds, pistachios – and probably more, I just haven’t tried!
How to make Fondant Sweet Potatoes
Here’s how to make fondant sweet potatoes:
Thick slices – Cut into thick 3cm / 1.2″ slices – thick enough so they don’t collapse into mush with the 1-hour roasting time required for this recipe;
Sprinkle & drizzle – Lay in a roasting pan, douse with melted butter and oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Just squidge them around in the pan, turning to coat – no need to dirty a separate bowl for this step;
Roast 20 minutes – Roast for 20 minutes in a hot 240°C/465°F oven;
Flip & roast 15 minutes – Flip, then roast for another 15 minutes. By this time, both sides should have some nice colour on them and they will be cooked through. But we’re going to take them further to make them ultra creamy on the inside as well as add flavour!
Baste – Spoon the buttery pan juices over the potato;
Roast in stock 20 minutes – pour stock in and optional garlic (I just can’t help myself). Then return to the oven for another 15 to 20 minutes until the stock is soaked up by the potatoes. You’ll end up with a thick sludge at the bottom of the pan which might even look a little burnt, but that’s ok – we aren’t using it!
This is what they look out of the oven – caramelised on the edges with the skin holding together the super soft flesh inside!
How to make the Maple Butter Pecan Sauce
Plonk and simmer – Toast the pecans in a dry pan first to bring out the nutty flavours. Then just add butter, maple, cinnamon and a pinch of salt and simmer for a couple of minutes until it reduces and thickens slightly.
The sauce will thicken as it cools, so don’t worry if it looks thin when hot!
Sweetness factor – and how to reduce sweetness
With the sweet potato and the Maple Butter Sauce, there’s no denying that this is a sweet dish so it might not be to your taste if you aren’t into sweet-savoury dishes.
However, unlike other similar sweet potato dishes, this has an element of savoury in it from the stock absorbed by the potatoes and the nuts which counteracts the sweetness.
Also, remember that you’re not supposed to eat the whole platter yourself, just one or two pieces (each piece is a sizeable chunk!) and it’s best served alongside properly savoury dishes for balance.
But if you want to reduce the sweetness, here are a few options:
Skip the sauce – the Fondant Sweet Potatoes have enough flavour as it is, the sauce just takes it over the top!
Just use the pecans sprinkled over the potatoes, ie. no maple sauce;
Use the Honey Lemon Dressing in this Roasted Sweet Potato Salad recipe instead – the lemon balances out the sweetness. Switch the honey for maple syrup to retain a similar flavour profile!
What to serve with Fondant Sweet Potatoes
The flavourings in this dish are certainly on-theme for holiday feasting. It’s right at home on a Christmas or Thanksgiving table. Having said that, it’s just generally an excellent, simple side dish that’s worthy of pulling out all year-round whether it’s to accompany something simple like a lime marinated chicken, a simple crispy pan fried fish or Garlic Prawns.
It’s also a handy dish for big feasting occasions because it can be served warm OR at room temperature, so you don’t need to worry about preparing it fresh. The potatoes are so soft inside and there’s no crispiness to be retained on the outside so it doesn’t matter if they cool down.
If you give this sweet potato recipe a go, I’d love to know how you served it! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Fondant Slow-Roasted Sweet Potatoes – with Maple Butter Pecans
Ingredients
Fondant Potatoes:
- 1.5 kg / 3 lb sweet potatoes – 3 thick ones (Note 1)
- 25g/ 1 1/2 tbsp butter , unsalted, melted (Note 2)
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil (Note 2)
- 3/4 tsp salt , kosher/cooking (1/2 tsp table salt)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/4 cups chicken stock , low sodium (or vegetable stock)
- 1 garlic clove , finely minced
Maple Butter Pecan Sauce (optional / not really!):
- 1/2 cup maple syrup (pure, Note 3)
- 30g/ 2 tbsp butter , unsalted
- 1/3 cup pecans , chopped (Note 4)
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
Serving
- 1 1/2 tsp fresh thyme leaves (highly recommended)
Instructions
Fondant Potatoes:
- Preheat oven to 240°C/465°F (220°C fan).
- Cut the potatoes into 3cm / 1.2″ discs.
- Place the potatoes in a large roasting pan or baking sheet with tallish sides (we're adding liquid later).
- Drizzle with butter and oil, sprinkle with half the salt and pepper. Squidge around, turn potatoes, sprinkle with remaining salt and pepper.
- Roast: Place in the oven and roast for 20 minutes.
- Turn, continue roasting: Carefully turn potatoes, then roast for a further 15 minutes.
- Baste, add stock: Spoon the butter/oil collecting in the pan over the potatoes. Then carefully pour the stock in around the potatoes, and scatter the garlic into the liquid.
- Roast to absorb stock: Return to the oven, and roast for a further 15 to 20 minutes or until most of the liquid has been absorbed/evaporated. The exact time depends on the height of pan walls / how heavy-based your pan is etc.
- Assemble & serve: Transfer potatoes to serving platter, scraping up some of the pan juices as you go (Note 5), and piling them high on the plate. Pour over Maple Butter Pecan Sauce and sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves just before serving. Serve warm – or at room temperature!
Maple Butter Pecan Sauce:
- Place pecans in a saucepan or small skillet over medium high heat. Stir for 30 seconds until you can smell the pecans. Add remaining ingredients, then once the butter melts and it starts bubbling, simmer on medium heat for 1 1/2 minutes until it reduces and thickens slightly (it gets thicker as it cools).
- Transfer to serving jug. Serve over potatoes.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
More sweet potato love
Life of Dozer
A regular occurrence at the dog beach (paired with screeching).
This recipe was easy and delicious. I didn’t add the toppings but it was perfect anyway. The right amount of softness and caramelisation. I didn’t leave skin on and the potatoes still maintains their shape. Will definitely make again!
Outstanding! And so simple. Can’t wait to serve this dish as part of our Thanksgiving. My daughter usually doesn’t want skin on her potatoes (she’s little) well she was happy to eat the sweet potato the whole thing. And I only drizzled a bit of maple syrup (vs the sauce which I thought would be too sweet for us). Yum
LOVE this recipe. I wound up using ube, purple yams, that are carried at the Asian market. Yummy and a unique presentation with that rich color!
This is a delicious recipe, thank you! I replaced the pecans with pine nuts because that’s what we had, and yum!
These were beyond delish! I made as a side dish with Prime Rib Roast. Your flavors are spot on. no need to make adjustments. thank you.
I call these yams and taste entirely different than a sweet potato. I will make this with the light brown potato I call sweet potato.
I’ve only made it with the orange ones so let me know how you go with yours Judy! N x
Made this recipe yesterday for a family gathering. Everyone loved it and asked for the recipe. The roasting process made them so flavorful and soft yet they held their shape. And the pecan sauce was the “frosting on the cake”! This recipe will now be my go-to recipe for holidays and family gatherings! Thanks for sharing this recipe with us!
Woo hoo!! That’s great Gail! I am happy you liked them!! N x
Love thus recipe! I brought this potatoes to our family Christmas lunch and they were gobbled up.
Hi Nagi (and Dozer)!!,
I love this recipe and I wanted to make it for my upcoming Christmas dinner. However, I have very limited space in my oven (which is just large enough to cook the turkey).
How do you think these would turn out if I did steps 1-6 (upto but not including the addition of stock to the tray) pre turkey, then finished them off while the turkey was resting?
Helpppp!
Ps merry Christmas!
Hi Adi – I think that would be fine. Just be sure to warm them back up before adding the stock. N x
I ate with ducks , it’ was so good , tank you
Absolutely love this dish, I followed the recipe exactly! Wondered, would it make much difference to use vege stock instead of chicken? (have to cater for some vegetarians!) Thanks!
I think that would work fine Dayna – the flavour might be a bit different but it will be tasty! N x
I’ve made this two Thanksgivings in a row and my family loves it. Thank you for sharing it!
Thank you for this amazing recipe! I’ve never enjoyed sweet potato casserole so I was thrilled to have a recipe that fits everyone. I make this without the maple sauce for lunch for myself. I cannot get enough of this recipe. If it seems daunting, it isn’t. Go for it!
Hi Nagi. I made these last year and they were fantastic! Any suggestions on a stopping place mid-recipe so I could make ahead and finish on Thanksgiving? Thank you.
Made this for Thanksgiving last year, and it was unanimously requested a month later for Christmas. The family has started the conversation again this year to ensure it’s status as a mainstay of every holiday dinner. It’s AMAZING!!!
These are fabulous! Sweet and savory, sooo good! I am trying recipes out for Christmas and this one will be on the menu for sure. Let them cool a little before you serve them, the flavor gets better and better as they cool a bit. Thanks for this fabulous recipe!
I am so glad you enjoyed them Cindy! N x
I halved the quantity as I live alone and am in lockdown so can’t share with anyone, and I still have enough of this deliciousness for another 3 meals! Another Nagi success!
Finally found a new way to enjoy baked sweet potato! It’s so good that I can’t wait to make the maple butter pecan sauce and finished the sweet potato with fresh thymes from my pots. Thank you for the recipe.
I’m speechless! To say this is the best sweet potatoes I have ever tasted in my entire life would be an understatement!
I tried them without the pecan maple sauce, and they were unbelievable! Thanks Nagi for yet another amazing recipe!
Hi,
I don’t usually cook with nuts, of any kind. Would this make the dish less palatable?
I love the sound of your recipes, but with so many nut allergies, would it be possible for you to suggest alternate ingredients or suggest that the nuts could be left out entirely? It would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.