Preheat oven to 425℉ (218°C). Spray a parchment-lined baking sheet with oil. Give the sweet potatoes a good rinse. You can remove the skin if you want, but I keep it on for more texture and dietary fiber. Slice the potato widthwise into slices. Pile the slices on the baking sheet and coat with olive oil, salt & black pepper. Line the sweet potato slices in a single layer. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown, flipping halfway through. Cooking time will vary.
While the potatoes roast, make the Whipped Ricotta. Add the ricotta cheese, olive oil, honey, orange zest, fresh thyme, and salt to a food processor. Blend until smooth, about 2-3 minutes pushing down the sides as needed.
Make the pecan topping by mixing chopped dates, chopped pecans, honey, orange zest and fresh thyme in a small bowl. Heat a small skillet on medium heat and add a drizzle of olive oil. Add the pecan & date mixture. Heat the mixture, stirring frequently until warmed.
Assemble the sweet potatoes by adding a layer of the whipped ricotta and spoonful of the pecan date mixture on top.