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1
Preheat oven to 400u00b0 F with rack in the lower middle position. Line a rimmed sheet pan with foil. Arrange sweet potatoes on the sheet pan so they are not touching each other. Pierce each sweet potato several times with a paring knife. Bake until cooked through, 60 to 90 minutes depending on the size of the potatoes. The potatoes should be soft, and when cut in half no white streaks should be visible. Remove from oven, and cut in half to allow steam to escape. Allow to cool for 10 to 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375u00b0 F.
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2
While sweet potatoes are baking, butter 2-quart baking dish, and set aside. Zest and juice the orange. 1 teaspoon of zest will be used in the topping, and 1/4 cup juice will be used in the filling.
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3
Also make the crumble topping while the potatoes are baking. Combine the orange zest, dates, coconut, flour, salt, and French four spice in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse until no large date pieces remain, 5 to 6 pulses. Add butter and pulse until mixture starts to become crumbly, another 5 to 6 pulses. Add pecans (or rolled oats) and pulse until mixture is combined, and few largish pieces of pecans remain, another 4 to 5 pulses. Transfer mixture to a bowl. Return food processor bowl and blade to processor.
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4
Use a spoon to remove sweet potato flesh from skins. Transfer half of the flesh to a food processor, and half to a medium to large bowl. Break the pieces in the bowl into roughly 1-inch chunks.
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5
Add orange juice, 3 tablespoons maple syrup, buttermilk, melted butter, salt, French four spice, cinnamon, and vanilla to the food processor. Process until smooth about 20 to 30 seconds. Taste for sweetness, and add additional maple syrup if needed. Add egg yolks, and process until well combined, about 10 seconds.
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6
Transfer sweet potato mixture from processor into bowl containing sweet potato chunks. Fold together gently but thoroughly so the chunks remain intact. Transfer the mixture to the buttered baking dish. Smooth into an even layer with a rubber spatula.
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7
Evenly distribute the crumble topping over the sweet potato mixture, leaving about a half inch rim of uncovered sweet potato around the edges (to prevent over-browning of the topping.)
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8
Cover with foil. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove foil, and bake and additional 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges have puffed and the topping has browned. Allow to cool on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
