Candied Yams Bourbon Brown Sugar (Printer-Friendly)

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

# What You Need:

→ Yams

01 - 4 large yams (approximately 2½ pounds), peeled and sliced 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

# How to Cook:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Warm Flavor Profile: The blend of bourbon, brown sugar, and maple syrup creates a deeply caramelized and sophisticated sweetness.
  • Texture: Baking the yams twice—once covered and once uncovered—ensures they are perfectly tender and caramelized.
  • Holiday Classic: The addition of warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger makes this a quintessential side dish for celebratory meals.
02 -
  • Basting is Essential: Don't skip basting the yams once the foil is removed; it helps create the glistening, caramelized finish seen in holiday presentations.
  • Uniform Slicing: Slicing the yams into consistent 1-inch rounds ensures they all cook at the same rate.
  • Nutty Garnish: If you use the optional pecans, adding them at the very end maintains their crunch against the tender yams.
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