Description
Creamy Potato Stacks are individual gratins made from thinly sliced Yukon Gold potatoes layered in a muffin tin with a rich mixture of heavy cream, butter, garlic, thyme, and Parmesan cheese. Baked until golden and tender, these stacks make an elegant and delicious side dish perfect for holidays or dinner parties.
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes
- 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced (about 1/8 inch thick)
Cream Mixture
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Additional
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Tin: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix Cream and Seasonings: In a large bowl, combine the heavy cream, melted butter, minced garlic, thyme, salt, pepper, and half of the grated Parmesan cheese. This mixture will coat the potatoes, infusing them with flavor.
- Coat Potato Slices: Add the thinly sliced potatoes to the cream mixture and gently toss to ensure all slices are evenly coated with the cream and seasoning blend.
- Layer Potato Slices: Place the coated potato slices into each muffin cup, stacking them until the stacks rise just above the rim of each cup for an attractive presentation.
- Add Remaining Cream Mixture: Spoon any leftover cream mixture evenly over the stacked potatoes in each muffin cup to keep them moist during baking.
- Sprinkle Parmesan Cheese: Top each stack with the remaining Parmesan cheese for a golden, cheesy crust.
- Bake Covered: Loosely cover the muffin tin with foil and bake for 30 minutes. This initial baking allows the potatoes to cook through gently.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for another 15 to 20 minutes, or until the tops of the stacks are golden brown and the potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife.
- Cool and Serve: Let the stacks cool for 5 minutes in the tin before carefully removing them with a spoon or offset spatula. Serve warm as a delicious side dish.
Notes
- For extra richness and flavor, add a layer of shredded Gruyère or sharp cheddar cheese between the potato layers.
- These potato stacks reheat well and can be prepped ahead of time and baked just before serving.
- This dish is excellent as a side for holidays, dinner parties, or any special occasion.
