Tender Candied Yams Side (Printable)

Sweet potatoes baked in a buttery brown sugar syrup with cinnamon and nutmeg for a warm, rich side.

# What You Need:

→ Sweet Potatoes

01 - 4 large sweet potatoes (approximately 2 pounds), peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds

→ Syrup

02 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
03 - 1 cup packed light brown sugar
04 - 1/4 cup water
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Optional Garnish

09 - 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
10 - Mini marshmallows for topping (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Set the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Place the sliced sweet potatoes evenly in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, water, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla extract until smooth.
04 - Pour the syrup evenly over the sweet potatoes, making sure all slices are coated thoroughly.
05 - Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
06 - Remove foil, baste the sweet potatoes gently with the syrup, then continue baking uncovered for 15 minutes until tender and syrup is bubbling and thickened.
07 - If desired, sprinkle chopped nuts or mini marshmallows on top and broil for 2 to 3 minutes until golden, watching carefully to prevent burning.
08 - Allow the dish to cool slightly prior to serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes of actual work, leaving you free to handle everything else on your plate.
  • The syrup gets thick and glossy, clinging to each slice with this irresistible sweetness that somehow tastes both homey and elegant.
  • Everyone asks for seconds, even people who swear they don't like sweet potato dishes.
02 -
  • Don't skip the basting step—it's the difference between candied yams and just baked sweet potatoes with syrup on top.
  • If your syrup looks thin after baking, you might have used wetter sweet potatoes; this is fine, it'll still taste incredible, just less thick.
  • The marshmallows need constant attention under the broiler; one minute they're perfect, the next they're blackened.
03 -
  • Buy sweet potatoes that are roughly the same thickness so they finish cooking at the same time; uneven slices lead to frustration.
  • If you're making this for a crowd, you can double the recipe in a 9x13 dish without changing the baking time much, though you'll need to stir it more gently halfway through.
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