Air Fryer Crème Brûlée Sweet Potato Mash

This crème brûlée sweet potato mash uses just three ingredients, sweet potatoes air fried until completely soft, mashed with cinnamon and brown sugar, then topped with a brown sugar and cinnamon layer that gets candied into a crackly glaze, just like the top of a crème brûlée.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Cooking Method: Air Fryer

Cuisine: American

Course: Side Dish

Estimated Calories: Approximately 210 per serving

Air Fryer Crème Brûlée Sweet Potato Mash

Air Fryer Crème Brûlée Sweet Potato Mash might be the easiest side on the Thanksgiving table, and it’s the one the kids ask about first. The air fryer does all the work while you handle everything else.

Cooking the sweet potatoes whole until they’re completely soft makes the flesh jammy and naturally sweet, no peeling, no chopping, no pot of boiling water taking up a burner you need for something else.

Then comes the part that makes it. The mash gets covered with a layer of brown sugar and cinnamon and finished with smoke until that layer turns into a candied glaze. You tap it with a spoon and it cracks, just like a crème brûlée.

Three ingredients. One hour. Zero stress. That’s the kind of side dish Thanksgiving actually needs.

Making the full spread? See all of our Thanksgiving sides in one place: Holiday Recipes.

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Crème Brûlée Sweet Potato Mash

• Only 3 ingredients. Sweet potatoes, cinnamon, and brown sugar, that’s the whole list.
• That candied top. A brown sugar and cinnamon layer turns into a crackly crème brûlée style glaze that everyone wants a piece of.
• Hands-off cooking. The air fryer does the work for a full hour while you cook everything else.
• Naturally sweet. Slow-cooked sweet potatoes get jammy and caramel-sweet all on their own.
• No peeling, no boiling. Cook them whole and scoop the flesh right out of the skin.
• Kid approved. Warm cinnamon and brown sugar make this the first side to empty.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Crème Brûlée Sweet Potato Mash

• 5 sweet potatoes
• 1 tsp cinnamon, divided
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, divided

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

• Air fryer: Cooks the sweet potatoes evenly with zero babysitting.
• Large bowl: For scooping and mashing.
• Potato masher or fork: For mashing to your preferred texture.
• Spoon: For scooping the flesh out of the skins.

Donaldo’s Tips

• Pick similar-sized potatoes. Even sizes mean even cooking, no raw centers next to burnt ends.
• Cook until completely soft. The potato should give easily when squeezed with a towel. If it’s firm, give it more time.
• Mash while warm. Warm flesh mashes smooth and takes the cinnamon and sugar evenly.
• Sweeten gradually. Sweet potatoes vary, taste after half the sugar and add more only if you want it.
• Add the smoke at the end. The smoke is what candies the sugar layer. Spread the brown sugar and cinnamon in an even layer first so it melts and glazes evenly.
• Let the top set for a minute. Give the candied layer a minute after the smoke and it firms up, so you get that crack when the spoon goes in. Serve it warm.

Ingredient Substitutions

• Brown sugar: Maple syrup or honey, using a little less since they’re sweeter and thinner.
• Cinnamon: Pumpkin pie spice, or cinnamon with a pinch of nutmeg.
• Air fryer: Roast the whole sweet potatoes in a 400°F oven for about 1 hour instead.

What to Serve With Air Fryer Crème Brûlée Sweet Potato Mash

This mash was born for the holiday table. Serve it with:

• Roast turkey
• Sausage, pear and cranberry stuffing
• Green bean casserole
• Creamed Corn
• Homemade fresh cranberry sauce
• Glazed ham
• Roast chicken

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Air Fryer Crème Brûlée Sweet Potato Mash

Refrigerating

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Reheating

Reheat in the microwave in short bursts, stirring between each, or in a 350°F oven, covered, for about 15 minutes. A small splash of water or milk loosens it if it’s thick.

Freezing

Freeze in an airtight container for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

~ Recipe~

Ingredients

For the Crème Brûlée Sweet Potato Mash

• 5 sweet potatoes
• 1 tsp cinnamon, divided
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, divided

How to Make Air Fryer Crème Brûlée Sweet Potato Mash

Step 1: Air Fry the Sweet Potatoes

Place the sweet potatoes in the air fryer and cook at 385°F for 1 hour, until completely soft all the way through.

Step 2: Mash

Cut the potatoes open, scoop the flesh into a large bowl, and mash with most of the cinnamon and most of the brown sugar until smooth.

Step 3: Top, Smoke, and Candy the Top

Spoon into a serving dish and spread the remaining brown sugar and the remaining cinnamon in an even layer over the top. Finish with smoke until the sugar melts into a candied glaze. Let it set for a minute so the top firms up, then serve warm.

Recipe Notes

• Similar-sized potatoes cook evenly, this matters with a full hour of cooking.
• The flesh should scoop out cleanly and leave the skin behind. If it resists, it needs more time.
• Taste before adding all the sugar. Some sweet potatoes are sweet enough almost on their own.
• Spread the sugar layer evenly, all the way to the edges, so it candies into one sheet that cracks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know when the sweet potatoes are done?

They should feel soft when gently squeezed (use a towel, they’re hot) and a knife should slide in with no resistance.

Can I bake these in the oven instead of the air fryer?

Yes. Roast the whole sweet potatoes at 400°F for about 1 hour, until completely soft.

Do I need to peel the sweet potatoes?

No. Cook them whole and scoop the flesh out of the skin after cooking, the skin comes right off.

Can I make crème brûlée sweet potato mash ahead of time?

Yes. Make the mash a day ahead, refrigerate, and reheat covered in the oven. Do the sugar and cinnamon layer and the smoke finish after reheating, so the candied top stays crackly.

Can I make it less sweet?

Absolutely. Start with half the brown sugar, taste, and add more only if you want it. The potatoes bring plenty of natural sweetness.

What makes it crème brûlée style?

The candied crust on top. The brown sugar and cinnamon layer sets into a thin, crackly glaze over the soft mash, the same crack you get on a crème brûlée, just on sweet potatoes.

What does the smoke add?

The smoke is what melts the sugar layer into that candied glaze, and it gives the dish a gentle smoky depth, like it finished over a fire. It’s a finish, a few minutes is all it takes.

Additional Details

Description: Crème brûlée sweet potato mash with a candied brown sugar and cinnamon crust. Air fryer sweet potatoes mashed smooth and finished with smoke so the top cracks like a crème brûlée. A standout Thanksgiving side dish.