Southern Candied Yams
Southern candied yams are tender sweet potatoes simmered and baked in a rich brown sugar and butter syrup flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. They are sweet, sticky, and perfect for any holiday table.
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.
Video
Recipe Tips
Cut the sweet potatoes into evenly sized chunks. This helps them cook at the same rate so every piece turns out perfectly tender without breaking apart.
