Warm Sweet-Potato Pudding with Apples and Chestnuts

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Serving size:8
Prep Time:
Total Time:
Warm Sweet-Potato Pudding with Apples and Chestnuts

Think of the best sweet-potato pie you've ever eaten and then take away the crust so you can revel solely in its silky goodness. A bite of this pudding is full and round, with hints of chestnut and dried fruit.

Ingredients

  • 4 4 medium sweet potatoes (about 2 1/4 pounds)
  • 1 cup bottled cooked chestnut or dried chestnut
  • 3/4 cup 3/4 cup dried apple slices, cut into 1/3-inch dice
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened apple juice
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup mild honey
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 tsp cinnamon (preferably Ceylon)
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 11/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 4 4 Medjool dates, pitted and cut into 1/4-inch pieces

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
  2. Bake sweet potatoes in a shallow baking pan until very soft, about 1 1/2 hours.
  3. Meanwhile, soak dried chestnuts (if using) in boiling-hot water 1 hour, then drain. Coarsely chop chestnuts (cooked or dried).
  4. While dried chestnuts soak, bring dried apple and juice to a simmer in a small saucepan, then turn off heat. Let steep, covered, 30 minutes. Drain off and discard apple juice.
  5. Cool baked potatoes to warm, then peel and mash with a potato masher. Transfer 2 cups mashed sweet potato to a bowl and reserve any remainder for another use.
  6. Increase oven temperature to 375°F.
  7. Whisk butter and sugars into warm sweet potato along with honey, nutmeg, cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon salt until smooth. Whisk in eggs, vanilla, cream, and milk, then dates, chestnuts, and apple. Bake in a buttered 1 1/2- to 2-quart baking dish (1 1/2 to 2 inches deep) until just set, 40 to 50 minutes (center will continue to set as it cools).
  8. Cool to warm on a rack, about 20 minutes.

Accompaniment: lightly sweetened whipped cream

Cooks' notes: Sweet potatoes can be baked and mashed 1 day ahead. Chill, covered.
Chestnuts can be soaked, drained, and chopped 1 day ahead. Chill, covered.

Recipe by Scott Peacock, Gourmet; photo by Mikkel Vang.