Southern Sides
Candied Yams
Sweet potatoes baked in a buttery brown sugar glaze with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla.
- Prep Time
- 15 minutes
- Cook Time
- 1 hour
- Total Time
- 1 hour 15 minutes
- Servings
- 8
Candied yams sit somewhere between a side dish and a dessert, and nobody at the table minds.
Baking them in the glaze rather than boiling first keeps the slices intact and lets the syrup thicken around them.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Holiday classic
- Five-minute glaze
- Make-ahead friendly
- Kid approved
Ingredients
- 4 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, cubed
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
Substitutions: Maple syrup can replace half the brown sugar for a less sweet glaze.
How to Make It
- 1
Layer
Arrange the sweet potato slices in a buttered baking dish.
- 2
Glaze
Scatter brown sugar, butter, spices, and salt over the top, then drizzle with vanilla.
- 3
Bake covered
Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 40 minutes.
- 4
Finish uncovered
Uncover and bake 20 more minutes, basting once, until the glaze thickens.
Recipe Tips
- Slice evenly so everything cooks at the same rate.
- Baste halfway for a glossy finish.
What to Serve With It
- Southern Fried Chicken — Buttermilk-brined chicken with a craggy, deeply seasoned crust that stays crisp long after it leaves the skillet.
- Southern Baked Macaroni & Cheese — A rich, custard-style baked mac and cheese with sharp cheddar, a creamy center, and a browned, bubbling top.
- Slow-Simmered Collard Greens — Tender collards simmered low and slow with smoked turkey until the pot likker is rich and savory.
Storage & Reheating
- Refrigerator
- Up to 4 days covered.
- Freezing
- Freeze up to 2 months.
- Reheating
- Reheat covered at 325°F for 20 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yams or sweet potatoes?
Southern candied yams are made with orange-fleshed sweet potatoes.
Recipe Card
Candied Yams
Sweet potatoes baked in a buttery brown sugar glaze with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla.
- Prep
- 15 minutes
- Cook
- 1 hour
- Total
- 1 hour 15 minutes
- Servings
- 8
Ingredients
- 4 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, cubed
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Arrange the sweet potato slices in a buttered baking dish.
- Scatter brown sugar, butter, spices, and salt over the top, then drizzle with vanilla.
- Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 40 minutes.
- Uncover and bake 20 more minutes, basting once, until the glaze thickens.
Notes
Assemble the day before and bake just before dinner.
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Chicken
Southern Fried Chicken
Buttermilk-brined chicken with a craggy, deeply seasoned crust that stays crisp long after it leaves the skillet.
Southern Sides
Southern Baked Macaroni & Cheese
A rich, custard-style baked mac and cheese with sharp cheddar, a creamy center, and a browned, bubbling top.
Southern Sides
Slow-Simmered Collard Greens
Tender collards simmered low and slow with smoked turkey until the pot likker is rich and savory.