Bourbon Bacon Sweet Potato Casserole, Maple Style

Here’s another regular Thanksgiving side dish!

It begins with roasted sweet potatoes, then there’s the whole Bourbon meets orange zest meets cinnamon, nutmeg and butter – like, so much butter. But it’s the holidays and the holidays include copies amounts of butter. And as if adding bourbon (and allthebutter) wasn’t luxurious enough, there’s also a brown sugar, pecan and maple bacon streusel over top.

The combination of creamy sweet potato mash and the crisp and crunchy streusel topping is a match made in heaven.

To cook this Maple Bacon Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole Gather:

for the crumb topping:

• maple bacon – Amps up the maple flavor in this dish.
• unbleached all-purpose flour – The base for the crumb mixture.
• dark brown sugar – Lends sweetness and subtle caramel-like flavor
• kosher salt – Enhances the flavors in the crumb topping.
• unsalted butter – Lends fat and flavor.
• pecans – Adds texture and nutty flavor.

for the sweet potatoes:

• sweet potatoes – I use red or garnet sweet potatoes.
• olive oil spray – Or grease with unsalted butter.
• unsalted butter – Lends fat and flavor.
• orange zest – Imparts fresh citrusy flavor.
• cinnamon (ground) – Lends distinct warm and woodsy flavor.
• nutmeg (ground or freshly grated) – Warm, aromatic with subtle hints of clove.
• kosher salt – Enhances the flavors of the dish.
• bourbon – I use Bulleit brand (not sponsored).
• maple syrup – Lends sweetness and subtle maple flavor.
• half & half – Gives the sweet potato mixture creaminess.

sage browned butter:

• unsalted butter – Browned in a skillet which lends nutty flavor.
• sage (fresh) – Adds subtle earthiness that’s slightly peppery and pungent.

Preheat your oven to 375°F (or 190°C).

Grease a casserole dish with nonstick spray.

Roast The Sweet Potatoes:

Scrub and pat dry 5 pounds of sweet potatoes. Place on a foil or parchment lined baking pan and roast for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes or until quite tender. Remove and let cool. Once safe to handle, remove the skin and discard.

Make The Crumb Topping:

Cook 4 strips of diced maple bacon in a skillet until lightly crispy. Then use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon and transfer to a paper towel lined plate, leaving the fat in the pan.

In a bowl, measure and add 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, 3/4 cup dark brown sugar and 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt.

Using a pastry blender mix the dry ingredients. Then add in 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter.

Use the pastry blender to cut the butter into the dry ingredients.

Next, add in 1 cup chopped pecans and the crisp bacon.

Stir to combine. Then refrigerate until you’re ready to use.

Prepare the Sweet Potato Mixture:

To the bacon in the skillet, add 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, the zest from 1 orange, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon each of ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg, 1/3 cup bourbon and 2 tablespoons maple syrup.

Heat over low, stirring only until the butter has melted and set off to the side.

In the bowl of your stand mixer, add the peeled sweet potatoes.

Mix on low speed, mixing until mostly smooth.

Pour in the bourbon maple butter mixture.

And the half & half.

Mix on low speed, slowly increasing the speed, as the mixture comes together.

Transfer the sweet potato mixture into the prepare casserole dish.

Spread smooth into an even layer.

Sprinkle with the chilled crumb topping over top.

Bake on the middle rack of your preheated oven for 20 minutes, rotating half way through.

Let sit while you prepare the sage brown butter.

Make The Sage Brown Butter:

Wipe out the skillet you used earlier with paper towel. Add 2 tablespoon unsalted butter. Melt over medium-low, stirring until the butter starts to brown.

Then remove off of the heat, add in 8 sage leaves and fry for a minute or two.

Remove the sage and pour the sage brown butter over top.

Garnish with the crispy sage leaves.

It’s almost to pretty dig into. Almost.

Scoop and serve onto plates and enjoy!

Enjoy! And if you give this Maple Bourbon Bacon Sweet Potato Casserole recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!