Candied Yams Bourbon Brown Sugar (Printable Version)

Tender yams glazed with bourbon, brown sugar, and spices for a warm, comforting side dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Yams

01 - 4 large yams (about 2½ lbs), peeled and cut into 1-inch rounds

→ Glaze

02 - ½ cup unsalted butter
03 - ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
04 - ¼ cup pure maple syrup
05 - ¼ cup bourbon
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
07 - ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
08 - ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
09 - ¼ teaspoon salt
10 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Garnish

11 - ¼ cup chopped pecans, optional

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Arrange yam rounds evenly in the prepared dish.
02 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add brown sugar, maple syrup, bourbon, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Stir until sugar dissolves and mixture is smooth, approximately 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
03 - Pour glaze evenly over yams, tossing gently to ensure even coating.
04 - Cover baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
05 - Remove foil, baste yams with glaze, and bake uncovered for additional 20 minutes or until yams are tender and caramelized.
06 - If desired, sprinkle chopped pecans over yams before serving.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It's foolproof enough for a beginner but impressive enough to make people think you spent hours in the kitchen.
  • The bourbon deepens everything without tasting boozy, just rich and mysteriously sophisticated.
  • You can have it ready to bake in under 20 minutes, leaving your oven time for other dishes.
02 -
  • Don't skip the foil for the first 25 minutes; I learned this the hard way when my yams dried out on top before they softened inside.
  • The glaze will seem thin when you first pour it, but it thickens and concentrates beautifully as it bakes, so trust the process.
  • Baste halfway through the uncovered baking to ensure every slice gets caramelized and glossy, not just the edges.
03 -
  • Toast your pecans in a dry skillet for 2 to 3 minutes before sprinkling them on top, which transforms them from meh to unmissable.
  • Use a sharp knife to slice the yams; a dull blade will tear them and they'll cook unevenly, so take the extra minute to sharpen it first.
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