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Classic Southern Candied Yams Recipe

Close-up of four glazed, caramelized slices of southern candied yams sitting in syrup on a white plate.
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Make authentic Southern candied yams with a sweet, buttery, and caramelized glaze. This recipe yields tender yams perfect for holiday meals or as a rich comfort food side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 pounds yams (sweet potatoes), peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup 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, butter, and water.
  4. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly until the butter melts and the sugars dissolve completely. Do not let it boil rapidly.
  5. Remove the syrup mixture from the heat. Stir in the vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  6. Carefully pour the warm 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. Baste the yams with the glaze from the bottom of the pan.
  10. Return the dish to the oven, uncovered, and 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 slightly.
  11. Let the yams rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the glaze to set.

Notes

  • For a stovetop method, cook the yams in the glaze mixture over medium-low heat, covered, stirring gently every 10 minutes until tender, about 40 minutes. Uncover for the last 10 minutes to thicken the glaze.
  • Use yams (true yams) or sweet potatoes; sweet potatoes are typically used in this Southern recipe.
  • For an extra sticky glaze, increase the brown sugar by 2 tablespoons.

Nutrition

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