When I pull these Southern candied yams out of the oven, the entire kitchen smells like the holidays. The sweet potatoes are soft and buttery, and they soak up every bit of that brown sugar syrup until each piece glistens. As I stir through the pan, the sauce thickens and hugs every bite with warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. This is the kind of side dish that reminds me of family gatherings where the food was comforting, simple, and full of love. One spoonful of these yams brings all of that right back.
Why You Will Love This as a Holiday Side Dish
These candied yams are everything you want in a holiday recipe. They are sweet, cozy, buttery, and full of warm spices that taste like tradition. They pair perfectly with turkey, ham, or any hearty comfort meal. The sauce thickens beautifully in the oven and turns the sweet potatoes into a rich and irresistible treat. They are simple to prepare, guaranteed crowd-pleasers, and always disappear fast.
Southern Candied Yams
Ingredients
- 4 large sweet potatoes
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Set your oven to 350°F.
- Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into even chunks.
- Place a large pot over medium heat and add the sweet potatoes, brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, water, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and salt.
- Stir gently and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes so the sweet potatoes begin to soften and the syrup starts to thicken.
- Pour everything into a baking dish, spreading the potatoes evenly.
- Bake for 45 minutes. Baste the potatoes with the syrup a few times to help them caramelize and deepen in flavor.
- Remove the dish from the oven and let the yams cool for a few minutes before serving.
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