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Southern Candied Yams bring that feel-good magic to the table. Imagine this: tender, sweet yams bathed in a sweet buttery glaze, with warm hints of cinnamon and vanilla filling the kitchen. I’m telling you, this dish doesn’t just sit on the side, it demands attention.
Why I love candied yams
These yams are all about taking a simple ingredient and making it shine. They bring warmth, sweetness, and a little Southern charm to any meal, reminding us that the sides are just as important as the main.
Ever since I was little, I loved candied yams. I don’t know if it’s my sweet tooth or what but I just can’t get enough of them. I love when they touch the mac and cheese on the plate! Phew, pure bliss I tell ya!
They are pretty simple and easy to make as well. There’s so many ways to make yams but this is one of the best candied yams recipe, trust!
Ingredients for southern candied yams recipe
- Sweet potatoes: The base of this dish, bringing a natural sweetness and soft texture.
- Salted butter: Adds richness and a slight saltiness that balances the sweetness.
- Cinnamon: A warm, comforting spice that’s essential for classic Southern flavors.
- Nutmeg: A pinch goes a long way to add depth to the sweetness.
- Brown sugar: Adds a rich, caramel flavor and helps create that syrupy glaze.
- Granulated sugar: Balances the brown sugar for a perfectly sweet mix.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavors and rounds out the sweetness.
The full written recipe with measurements is below on the recipe card.
How to make southern style candied yams
Preheat your oven to 400°F.
Peel and slice the sweet potatoes into ½-inch pieces, then arrange them in a greased baking dish.
In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat and stir in sugars, spices, and vanilla until smooth.
Pour this mixture over the sweet potatoes, mix them up a little and cover with foil, and bake for 45 minutes.
Increase the heat to 425°F, remove the foil, and bake another 15 minutes for a beautiful caramelized finish.
Serve warm and enjoy the cozy goodness!
Recipe Tip
Adding a little squeeze of orange juice will bring out all the flavors. This is optional but something I do from time to time.
Commonly Asked Questions
Yes! Prepare the dish as directed, let it cool, cover, and refrigerate. Reheat in the oven at 350°F until warmed through.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven for best results.
Of course! Just add a pinch of salt to balance the flavors.
Check out more holiday recipes
Please remember to leave a review if you make this recipe. The feedback helps me to become a better cook and develop amazing recipes for you.
Southern Candied Yams
Ingredients
- 3 sweet potatoes, about 1.5lbs
- 5 tbsp salted Butter, see notes
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- ¼ tsp Nutmeg
- ½ c Brown sugar
- ¼ c granulated sugar
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Peel the potatoes, rinse them off and cut them into ½ inch to 1 inch thick circles. Feel free to cut the circles in half as well to fit them into the dish you may be using.
- Grease a small baking dish with butter.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat melt the butter. Once melted, reduce the heat to medium low. Add in the sugars, spices and vanilla extract. For the spices, gradually add them and taste the mixture until it’s spiced to your liking. Stir to combine for about 3 minutes.
- Pour the mixture evenly over the sweet potatoes and cover with foil.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. After the 45 minutes, remove the foil and mix around the potatoes a bit. Turn up the heat on the oven to 425 and let bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes.
- Take out the oven, let cool, serve with your favorite main and other sides. Enjoy!
Video
@theres.food.at.home Ep 5 Candied Yams! The full recipe is on the blog as always. #thanksgivingrecipes #sides #foodtiktok ♬ Heart Of A Woman – Summer Walker
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Who needs dessert with this on the plate! Thanks for sharing this is a staple in American dishes. I would love to see some of the variations. Smashed sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows and nuts.
ooo I love those variations!
okay Im a huge fan of yams. Very important dish for the holidays. I was on yams duty & this dish was sooooo easy to make & guests loved it! I definitely looked like a natural cook with this dish!
Thank you =) I’m glad it was a hit!
I doubled the recipe and when I tell you this was the easiest recipe with the BEST results! The sweet potatoes were fall of the bone tender and I was able to customize the sauce to my specific liking. I have tried to Mac candied yams before and this is by far the best one I’ve ever made.
Thank you!! I’m so happy this came out perfect for you.
Turned out so good! Will definitely be making again!
=) I’m so happy!
Loveee this recipe! So easy to follow & really delicious! A new favorite in my family
Thank you!
I’ve always made sweet potatoes for holiday gatherings but over the years lost my recipe and never quite got it right since. Then, I found this recipe and it’s absolutely delicious! It’s not overly sweet like some other recipes. Perfectly balanced! I doubled the recipe so we would have some leftovers. I highly recommend keeping this recipe in your recipe box to use all the time! Thank you so much!!
I’m so glad Sara!
My husband made Candied Yams for the first time in life this Thanksgiving and this receipt did not fail us! It was simple, easy to follow & delicious. Having the how to video accessible was the perfect pairing! If you want actual southern receipts, look no further. Thanks girl!