Holiday Spiced Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

• 3 to 4 pounds red-fleshed sweet potatoes, yams
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 4 Tbsp butter
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons orange zest
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. Heat your oven to 400 degrees F. Prick the sweet potatoes in several places with a fork so steam can escape as they bake.
2. Arrange the sweet potatoes on a foil-lined roasting pan, or use a sturdy rimmed baking sheet. Roast until they are soft all the way through, about 50 minutes, though an hour or more may be needed. Take them out of the oven and leave them until you can handle them comfortably.
3. Split the sweet potatoes lengthwise, then spoon the tender flesh into a large bowl.
4. Add the brown sugar, butter, lemon juice, orange peel, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and salt, and stir to combine.
5. Beat the sweet potatoes with an electric mixer until the mixture is fully smooth. You can also do this by hand, if your arms are up for it.
6. Add a little freshly ground black pepper to taste, then taste and adjust. Try not to finish the bowl before anyone else gets some.