Sweet Potato and Apple Bake

Instructions

1. Prepare the baking dish
   Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Create the spice mixture
   In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt. Mix well to ensure the spices are evenly distributed.
3. Prepare the glaze
   In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, maple syrup, orange juice, and orange zest until well combined. This will create a flavorful glaze for the dish.
4. Layer the ingredients
   Arrange half of the sweet potato slices in an overlapping pattern in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the apple slices in an overlapping layer. Sprinkle with half of the spice mixture and drizzle with half of the glaze. Repeat with the remaining sweet potatoes, apples, spice mixture, and glaze.
5. Cover and bake
   Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, until the sweet potatoes are beginning to soften.
6. Add toppings and finish baking
   Remove the foil, sprinkle the chopped pecans evenly over the top, and continue baking uncovered for an additional 15 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender and the top is lightly caramelized.
7. Rest and serve
   Allow the dish to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This helps the flavors to settle and makes serving easier. Serve warm as a side dish or light main course.