Sweet Potato Cranberry Gratin Festive Recipe
This Sweet Potato Cranberry Gratin is a festive and comforting side dish perfect for holiday gatherings. Layers of tender boiled sweet potatoes and tart fresh cranberries are bathed in a sweet and spiced creamy mixture, then topped with nutty Gruyère cheese and crunchy breadcrumbs, baked to golden perfection for a deliciously warm and flavorful gratin.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potato and Fruit:
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
Cream Mixture:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Topping:
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to warm up while you prepare the gratin components.
- Boil Sweet Potatoes: Place the peeled and sliced sweet potatoes in boiling water and cook until tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Drain well to remove excess moisture.
- First Layer: Grease a baking dish and layer half of the boiled sweet potato slices evenly at the bottom.
- Add Cranberries: Sprinkle half of the fresh cranberries evenly over the sweet potato layer.
- Prepare Cream Mixture: In a bowl, combine the heavy cream, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Mix well to blend the flavors.
- Pour Cream Mixture: Pour half of the spiced cream mixture evenly over the sweet potatoes and cranberries layer to infuse flavor and moisture.
- Repeat Layers: Layer the remaining sweet potato slices, followed by the remaining cranberries, and pour the rest of the cream mixture on top.
- Add Toppings: Evenly distribute the shredded Gruyère cheese and breadcrumbs over the top for a crispy, cheesy crust.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden brown and bubbly.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the gratin to cool for a few minutes to set, then serve warm as a festive and flavorful side dish.
Notes
- Boiling the sweet potatoes beforehand ensures they cook evenly and become tender without drying out in the oven.
- Gruyère cheese adds a rich, nutty flavor, but Swiss or mozzarella can substitute if unavailable.
- For extra texture, you can sprinkle chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts on top along with the breadcrumbs.
- This dish can be made ahead and refrigerated; reheat covered with foil in the oven before serving.
- Adjust the amount of brown sugar for sweeter or more tart flavor according to preference.
Keywords: sweet potato gratin, cranberry gratin, holiday side dish, festive side, baked gratin, Gruyère cheese recipe, sweet potato casserole
