Maple Candied Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

4-5 sweet potatoes
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup apple cider
3 Tablespoons butter
1 cinnamon stick or 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
2 whole cloves
1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest, optional

Instructions:

To cook the sweet potatoes, wash them and prick all over with a fork.
Wrap in foil and bake in a 375-degree oven until very tender.
This can take anywhere from 50 minutes to 1½ hours, thinner potatoes cook more quickly.
Cool and peel.
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
In a small pot, combine syrup, cider, butter, cinnamon, cloves and orange zest.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until somewhat thickened, about 15 minutes.
Pour syrup over sliced sweet potatoes and bake, uncovered, until bubbling and brown, 25 to 40 minutes.

Source: cooking.nytimes.com