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Authentic Classic Southern Candied Yams

Close-up of thick-cut, caramelized Southern candied yams piled high on a white plate.
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Make the best Southern candied yams with this recipe. You achieve a perfectly sweet, buttery, and caramelized glaze on tender sweet potatoes, ideal for your holiday table or as a soul food side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 pounds yams (sweet potatoes), peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Arrange the sliced yams in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
  3. In a medium saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, water, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  4. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly until the butter melts and the sugars dissolve completely. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then remove it from the heat immediately.
  5. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  6. Carefully pour the hot glaze evenly over the yams in the baking dish.
  7. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
  8. Bake for 45 minutes.
  9. Remove the foil and continue to bake for another 15 to 25 minutes, or until the yams are tender when pierced with a fork and the glaze has thickened and caramelized. Baste the yams with the pan liquid halfway through this uncovered period.
  10. Let the Southern candied yams rest for 5 minutes before serving hot.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, substitute 1/4 cup of the water with orange juice.
  • If the glaze seems too thin after baking, remove the yams and boil the remaining liquid on the stovetop for 3-5 minutes until it reduces and thickens.
  • You can use yams or sweet potatoes; the terms are often used interchangeably for this dish.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://rosatasty.com/southern-candied-yams-recipe/