Candied Yams Recipe
Sweet, buttery, and perfectly caramelized, this classic candied yams recipe is the ultimate holiday side dish. Made with simple ingredients, it’s a crowd-pleaser everyone will love!
Equipment
- Large saucepan or microwave-safe bowl
- Baking dish (9x13-inch)
- Aluminum foil
- Basting brush or spoon
Ingredients
- 4 large sweet potatoes about 2–3 lbs, peeled and sliced into ½-inch rounds
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup water or orange juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
- Prepare the sweet potatoes:
- Arrange the sliced sweet potatoes in an even layer in the prepared baking dish.
- Make the glaze:
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, honey (or maple syrup), cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, and vanilla extract. Stir well and cook until the mixture is smooth and begins to bubble. Remove from heat and stir in the water or orange juice.
- Coat the sweet potatoes:
- Pour the warm glaze evenly over the sweet potatoes, ensuring all slices are well coated. Use a basting brush or spoon to distribute the glaze if necessary.
- Bake:
- Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, gently stir or baste the yams with the glaze, and bake uncovered for an additional 20–25 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender and the glaze has thickened slightly.
- Serve:
- Allow the candied yams to cool for 5–10 minutes before serving. Spoon some of the caramelized glaze over the yams for extra sweetness.