Mini Sweet Potato Tarts with Gingersnap Pecan Crust and Toasted Marshmallows
A gingersnap cookie crust is filled with a spiced sweet potato filling and topped with marshmallows. Make one large Sweet Potato Tart or a few minis!
Creating This Sweet Potato Dessert Recipe
I have never made Sweet Potato Pie before. Obviously I was completely missing out.
Thanksgiving at my house usually features Pumpkin Pie with Caramel Pecan Topping and Deep Dish Apple Cranberry Pie with Oatmeal Pecan Crumb Topping. And during the last two years ,Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake has also made an appearance.
I figured it was time for me to add some new Thanksgiving dessert recipes to my repertoire. I didn’t want something complicated, the cheesecake fills that slot.
Or with a traditional Butter Pie Crust since I already had two of those between the Pumpkin Pie and the Apple Cranberry Pie.
And something small or individual would be nice because you can just make a few if you want. Plus, smaller bakes faster.
The solution was a Mini Sweet Potato Tart with a Gingersnap Pecan Crust.
I’ve never really been much of a fan of the Sweet Potato Casserole recipes with the marshmallows on top, but I thought something with those flavors in dessert form would be pretty good.
So for a little something extra, I added Mini Campfire® Marshmallows to the tops of the tarts at the very end and broiled for just a couple of minutes until they were toasted and golden brown.
If you are looking for something a little different this Thanksgiving, give these Mini Sweet Potato Tarts with Gingersnap Pecan Crust and Toasted Marshmallows a try.
Ingredients for Sweet Potato Tarts
Whether you choose to make mini tarts or one big one, the ingredients list remains the same:
- Gingersnap cookies
- Pecans
- Brown sugar
- Salt
- Butter
- Sweet potatoes
- Spices
- Whole milk
- Vanilla extract
- Eggs
- Campfire marshmallows
For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.
How to Make Sweet Potato Tarts
This sweet potato dessert is a cinch to make! Simply prepare the crust and pre-bake to firm it up. Then, blend together the filling and bake!
- Make the crust: Process the cookies, pecans, brown sugar, and salt in a food processor until finely ground.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the melted butter.
- Divide the crust mixture between three 4.75-inch mini cast iron skillets. Press down firmly.
- Bake for 5 minutes.
- Make the filling: Add the ingredients to a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth.
- Divide the filling between the cast iron skillets.
- Bake until the edges are puffed and the center has a slight jiggle to it.
- Top with Campfire marshmallows and broil just until golden.
The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.
Can I Make One Large Sweet Potato Tart?
Yes, of course! I made three mini tarts, but you can make one large one using a regular cast iron skillet.
Can This Recipe Be Prepped Ahead?
Yes, you can prepare this unique sweet potato recipe in advance.
If you’d like to prepare these ahead of time (either a few hours in advance or the day before), finish up the recipe before you reach the marshmallow step. Then just before serving, add the marshmallows and toast under the broiler. Serve immediately.
Tips for Making Sweet Potato Tarts
- This recipe is small. It makes only three tarts, but you can easily double it to make six.
- If you have multiple recipes on your dessert table, two people can easily split one of these mini tarts.
- I recommend placing the mini skillets on a baking sheet. This makes it so much easier to remove the tarts from the oven.
More Sweet Potato Dishes for Thanksgiving:
In this Sliced Sweet Potato Casserole, sweet potato slices are baked in a spiced orange maple glaze and sprinkled with juicy, bright pomegranate arils.
These Savory Sweet Potato Cubes feature roasted sweet potato cubes tossed in olive oil, salt, and pepper and then tossed generously with fresh garlic and sage.
While these tender Sweet Potato Rolls will make an excellent addition to any Thanksgiving menu, they’re also a great way to use up leftover baked sweet potatoes for a post-Thanksgiving treat.
Don’t see what you’re looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more recipes.
These Maple Chipotle Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts are the kind of vegetable side dish that has everyone asking for seconds!
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Mini Sweet Potato Tarts with Gingersnap Pecan Crust and Toasted Marshmallows
Buttery gingersnap-pecan crusts filled with silky sweet potato custard, topped with toasted marshmallows for a nostalgic twist. These mini tarts are easy to prep ahead and come together quickly with simple pantry ingredients.
Ingredients
For the Gingersnap Pecan Crust
- 135 grams cruchy gingersnap cookies (about 1 ⅓ cups crumbs)
- 1 cup pecans
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- Pinch of kosher salt
For the Sweet Potato Filling
- 1¼ lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into chunks
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- Zest of ½ orange (optional, but adds brightness)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
For the Topping
- Mini marshmallows (about 1–1½ cups total)
Instructions
Make the Crust
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a food processor, combine 135g gingersnap cookies, 1 cup pecans, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, and a pinch of kosher salt. Pulse until finely ground.
- Transfer to a bowl and stir in 6 tablespoons melted butter.
- Divide the crust mixture evenly between four 4.75-inch tart pans (about ⅓ cup per tart), pressing firmly into the bottom and up the sides.
- Bake for 5 minutes, then remove from oven and set aside. Increase oven temperature to 400°F.
Cook the Sweet Potatoes
- Boil 1 ¼ lbs peeled, chopped sweet potatoes in a medium saucepan until fork-tender (about 12–15 minutes). Drain and transfer to a blender.
- Add ½ cup brown sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ginger, ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg, zest of ½ orange (if using), ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ cup whole milk, and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract. Blend until completely smooth.
- Add 2 large eggs and blend on low until just combined.
Fill & Bake
The filling mixture should pour smoothly, but not be runny.
- Divide the filling between the 4 tart shells (a scant ½ cup each).
- Place the tart pans on a baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 20–25 minutes, until the edges are puffed and the centers jiggle just slightly.
- Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
Toast the Marshmallows
If prepping ahead, stop before broiling and refrigerate. Add marshmallows and broil just before serving.
- Turn on the broiler and position the rack to the upper-middle of the oven.
- Top each tart with a ring of mini marshmallows, filling the surface from edge to center.
- Broil for 2–4 minutes (watching constantly so the marshmallows don't burn), just until puffed and golden brown. Watch closely so they don’t burn.
- Serve warm.
Notes
If you’d prefer to use a kitchen torch instead of broiling:
- Top each baked tart with mini marshmallows as directed.
- Use a small butane kitchen torch to gently toast the surface, moving the flame in slow, sweeping circles about 2–3 inches above the tart.
- Keep the torch moving to avoid burning any one spot—marshmallows will puff and brown quickly.
- Toast to your preferred golden-brown finish, then let cool slightly before serving.
For a 9-inch Tart
This recipe can also be made as one standard tart.
- Use a 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom
- Bake crust for 7–8 minutes at 350°F
- Pour in all of the filling (you’ll use it all)
- Bake at 400°F for 30–35 minutes, or until edges are puffed and center has just a slight wobble
- Broil with marshmallows
- Let it cool at least 15–20 minutes before slicing. This version makes 8–10 slices depending on how you cut it.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 3 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 290Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 127mgSodium: 119mgCarbohydrates: 53gFiber: 5gSugar: 31gProtein: 8g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
Find more Marshmallow recipes on the Marshmallow Madness Pin Board. To learn more about Campfire® Marshmallows, follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Campfire® marshmallows. All opinions about Campfire® marshmallows are 100% my own.
Allison says
I love these! They will look so pretty (and taste so good) on our Thanksgiving table.
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Loving these mini tarts! I love using sweet potatoes in baking! I could dive right into one of these pans!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
I just love that these are mini. So yummy!
Sues says
This is an awesome idea!! Perfect for a little pre-Thanksgiving dinner party 🙂