Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows

Scrub the sweet potatoes well, and then pierce them in about 6 places with a fork or paring knife so they don't explode.*** (See Notes)

Place potatoes in the baking pan and roast for about 1 hour, or until fork tender. A paring knife or fork should be able to be inserted easily without resistance when they're done. Note that more medium sized potatoes may cook in 45-50 minutes whereas really large ones will take over an hour, 60 to 75 minutes.

After the potatoes have baked, cut them vertically down the center with a sharp knife, the sharper the better so you don't mutilate the skins too much because you need to save them. Note - remember the potatoes will be extremely hot as you pull them out of that 425F oven where they were for an hour. Use tongs when handling them. Additionally, I always wear a pair of latex Handsaver Kitchen Gloves for jobs like this which saves my fingers from getting burnt. You can allow the potatoes to cool somewhat before handling them, but not completely because the butter won’t melt nor will the cream combine as nicely if they’re too cold. 

Reduce the oven temp to 350F.

Carefully scoop out the flesh from the sweet potatoes and place it in a large bowl, taking care not too scoop every last bit of it nor go too shallowly, because the skins will not hold their shape if you do so.

To the bowl with the sweet potato flesh, add the brown sugar, butter, pumpkin pie spice, cream, salt, and beat with a handheld electric mixer on medium-high speed until as smooth as desired. Alternatively, you can mash by hand with a potato masher if you prefer a chunkier texture.

Evenly divide and spoon the mixture back into the potato skins and place filled potatoes back in the original baking pan.

Evenly top with the marshmallows, return to the oven (note the reduced oven temp to 350) and bake again for about 10 minutes, or until the marshmallows are as golden browned as desired; keep a close eye on them as marshmallows are prone to burning.

Serve immediately.