With the holiday season approaching rapidly, it’s time to break out the favorites: turkey, ham, squash, and of course potatoes. It can’t be the holidays without potatoes, and those potatoes need to bring the full cheer. Very Merry Mashed Potatoes are certainly not going to miss out on the festivities: the fluffy, creamy, tangy, cheesy delight of perfectly made mashed potatoes might as well be wearing its party hat when it reaches the table. Your tastebuds will be wearing their own party outfits when you take a bite of Very Merry Mashed Potatoes.
Ingredients
- 4 pounds Russet potatoes, rinsed, peeled, and chopped into chunks
- salt, to taste
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 1/2 cups white cheddar cheese, grated and divided
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated or shredded
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- parsley or chives, freshly minced, optional, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Grease a 2–3-quart baking dish.
Step 3 –In a 5-quart pot, boil about 2 inches of water. That should be enough to cover the potatoes, but add more as needed.
Step 4 –Once boiling, add a generous helping of salt, about 1 tablespoon.
Step 5 –Place the potatoes into the boiling water and cover the pot just enough so steam can still escape.
Step 6 –Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the potatoes until fork-tender, about 20-25 minutes.
Step 7 –Transfer the potatoes from the heat and drain them.
Step 8 –Place the potatoes back into the pot and season them with the salt.
Step 9 –Add the melted butter and mash the potatoes well.
Step 10 –In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, 1 3/4 cups of the white cheddar, and the parmesan together, using low speed if using a hand mixer, until smooth.
Step 11 –Mix the sour cream, the garlic, and the black pepper into the cheese mixture.
Step 12 –Stir the cheese mixture into the mashed potatoes until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
Step 13 –Spread the potatoes into the prepared baking dish.
Step 14 –Top the potatoes evenly with the remaining cheddar.
Step 15 –Bake uncovered until the cheese is melted, about 25 minutes.
Step 16 –Garnish with the parsley or chives and serve.