Maple Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Crumble and Spiced Brown Sugar Meringue

Ingredients

For the Sweet Potato Filling:

3 pounds sweet potatoes
1/4 cup real maple syrup, (not pancake syrup)
1/4 cup bourbon or whiskey
1/4 cup water
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

For the Pecan Crumble:

1 1/3 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For the Brown Sugar Meringue:

3 large egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray the inside of a baking pan with cooking oil.
2. Peel the sweet potatoes and slice into 1/2-inch thick disks. Arrange the disks in the 9x13 Rectangular Pan, standing the disks on their side, overlapping and “shingling” them into the pan. Place the remaining filling ingredients in a small saucepan and cook, stirring constantly with a whisk, until the butter has melted completely and the filling sauce starts to boil. Pour the sauce over the sweet potatoes. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the oven 40 minutes.
3. While the sweet potatoes are baking, make the pecan crumble topping by combining the pecans, brown sugar, flour, ginger and salt in a medium bowl. Toss together with a fork. Drizzle the melted butter over the bowl and stir to coat and clump the ingredients together until all the butter is absorbed. Place in the refrigerator until time to use.
4. Once the sweet potatoes have finished initially baking, sprinkle the pecan crumble over the top of the dish. Place back in the oven and bake an additional 30 minutes, or until the crumble is golden brown and the sweet potatoes are cooked fully and tender. Pull the pan out of the oven to cool.
5. While the sweet potatoes are cooling, make the meringue by placing the egg whites and cream of tartar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the wire whisk attachment. Whip the whites on medium high, until they start to foam up. Increase the speed to high and sprinkle the white sugar over the egg whites until the sugar is absorbed and the whites start to look glossy and shiny. Stop the mixer.
6. Place the brown sugar and water in a small saucepan. Heat the pan on medium high, stirring constantly, until all the brown sugar is dissolved. Continue to heat the pan until the brown sugar liquid reaches 220°F. Turn the mixer back onto medium high speed and slowly drizzle the liquid brown sugar into the egg whites, making sure not to hit the mixer wire whisk. Continue mixing the egg whites until all the brown sugar liquid is added. Increase the speed to high and add the cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Beat until the side of the bowl has cooled, about 5 minutes.
7. Spoon the meringue into a large pastry bag fitted with a round tip. Pipe the meringue over the sweet potatoes in a circular fashion, making sure to cover the entire top of the pan. Use a kitchen torch to brown the top of the meringue or place in the oven heated at 350°F for 5 to 10 minutes or until the top of the meringue is brown.