Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever’s Candied Sweet Potatoes with Bourbon

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"Put those marshmallows away,” wrote Anthony Bourdain.

Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
55 mins
Servings:
8

Sweet potatoes take center stage in this unfussy, boozy riff on a classic by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever. Baked in a rich, syrupy sauce of melted butter, brown sugar, fresh apple cider, and smoky bourbon until tender, these luscious and earthy sweet potatoes need nothing more. As Bourdain wrote, “put those marshmallows away.” Make these bourbon sweet potatoes just once, and we think you'll agree.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are sweet potatoes?

    Sweet potatoes, a staple of every Thanksgiving table, are root vegetables with thin, fragile skin and moist texture. As their name suggests, they’re also sweet and loaded with vitamins A, C, and E, plus beta-carotene. Sweet potatoes are native to the United States and available in four varieties — Covington, Beauregard, Orleans, and Murasaki — in varying shades of copper, orange, and even purple. 

  • What’s the difference between yams and sweet potatoes?

    In the United States, "yam" and "sweet potato" are erroneously used interchangeably, but they’re completely different vegetables. Yams are starchy with coarse brown skin and can grow up to 45 feet long. They’re consumed in Latin America, West Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia. Sweet potatoes, by contrast, are softer, with a moist texture and delicate, thin skin. 

Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen 

Boiling the sweet potato pieces in salted water reduces the roasting time, thoroughly seasons the potatoes, and gives them a creamy texture.

Make ahead

Sweet potatoes can be prepared through Step 2 up to 1 day in advance and stored, covered, in the refrigerator. Uncover and let stand at room temperature while the oven preheats. When ready, proceed with Step 3 as directed.

Store glazed sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

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Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (3 ounces), divided

  • 3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces (about 10 cups)

  • 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

  • 1/4 cup apple cider

  • 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) bourbon

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 13- x 9-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high. Boil sweet potatoes, stirring occasionally, until barely tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain potatoes, and transfer to prepared baking dish.

  2. Meanwhile, combine brown sugar and remaining 5 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan; cook over medium, stirring often, until butter is melted, about 2 minutes. Whisk in cider, bourbon, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium, and cook, stirring often, until sugar dissolves, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour sugar mixture over sweet potatoes, and toss to coat; spread evenly in baking dish.

  3. Bake in preheated oven until sweet potatoes are tender and sauce has thickened to a syrupy consistency, 35 to 40 minutes. Serve hot.

    Candied Sweet Potatoes with Bourbon

    James Ransom / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless

Originally appeared: November 2016