Candied yams in a rectangular white baking dish next to a white and brown towel all on a wooden surface (with logo overlay)

Candied Yams

Delicious sweet potatoes can be used to make a traditional holiday side dish of candied yams with very little prep time involved.

Jump to Recipe

Having sweet candied yams or sweet potatoes seems to be a staple for holiday meals. My family makes a version topped with marshmallow fluff that is delicious. But, I also wanted to try something a bit different from the usual.

When we grill lunch over at my in-laws, my father-in-law often makes baked potatoes. Well, Justin and his mom both prefer sweet potatoes. And many times, I see them adding some brown sugar to the sweet potatoes. A yam and sweet potato are technically different things, but they are often interchanged.

Taking their idea of butter and brown sugar on the yams, I used that to come up with a different way to make candied yams than the traditional sweet potato casserole that I grew up with.

Step by Step

Preheat the oven to 350F. Peel and cut the potatoes into 1/2 inch rounds and gather your ingredients.

Ingredients for candied yams in stainless steel bowls on a wooden surface: sliced sweet potatoes, cream, butter, spices, sugars, and vanilla extract

Layer the sweet potatoes in a lightly greased 9×13 baking dish.

Sliced sweet potatoes in layers in a white casserole dish on a wooden surface

Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the sugar and brown sugar, stirring until well combined.

Sugar and brown sugar mixed in a medium saucepan on a wooden surface

Stir in the heavy whipping cream and cook, stirring often, for 5-7 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Sugars with cream in a saucepan on a wooden surface

Stir in the vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg.

Melted combined sugars with seasonings in a medium saucepan on a wooden surface

Pour the sugar mixture over the potatoes and cover with aluminum foil.

Sweet potato slices covered with sugar sauce in a white casserole on a wooden surface

Bake, covered, for about 40 minutes. Uncover and gently stir. Bake again, uncovered, for about 25-30 minutes, until they are tender.

Candied Yams in a white casserole dish with a white and brown towel behind all on a wooden surface (vertical)

Leftovers

Let the leftovers cool to room temperature. Cover with foil or move to a leftover container. Refrigerate up to 2-3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350F for about 5-10 minutes, until heated through.

Recipe

Originally Published On: October 9, 2020

Candied yams in a rectangular white baking dish next to a white and brown towel all on a wooden surface

Candied Yams

Delicious sweet potatoes can be used to make a traditional holiday side dish of candied yams with bery little prep time involved.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Course:
Side Dish
Cuisine:
American
Keyword:
holidays
|
sweet potatoes
|
yams
Dietary Needs:
Egg-Free
|
Nut-Free
Servings: 8
5 from 8 votes

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs sweet potatoes
  • 4 tbsp butter (salted)
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/8 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350F
  • Peel and cut the potatoes into 1/2 inch rounds
  • Layer the sweet potatoes in a lightly greased 9×13 baking dish
  • Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat
  • Add the sugar and brown sugar, stirring until well combined
  • Stir in the heavy whipping cream and cook, stirring often, for 5-7 minutes
  • Remove from the heat
  • Stir in the vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg
  • Pour the sugar mixture over the potatoes and cover with aluminum foil
  • Bake, covered, for about 40 minutes
  • Uncover and gently stir
  • Bake again, uncovered, for about 25-30 minutes, until they are tender
Click the buttons below to share and print this recipe
Pin Recipe Print Recipe
Nutrition Facts
Candied Yams
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 240 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 4g20%
Cholesterol 20mg7%
Sodium 263mg11%
Potassium 400mg11%
Carbohydrates 43g14%
Fiber 3g12%
Sugar 24g27%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 16317IU326%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 50mg5%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

27 thoughts on “Candied Yams”

  1. 5 stars
    I LOVE candied yams. I love them so much, in fact, I don’t just make them for the holidays. Some people look at me like I’m weird, but I make them on the regular.

  2. This is so good! I’m about sure that my family specially my kids would love this so much! Thanks for sharing this recipe!

  3. 5 stars
    I love the sound of candied yams. I’m not sure I’ve even had yams before but this sounds like it would be such a lovely dish. I’d love to try it.

  4. This is actually my favorite! You can also try frying this and it’s so good. Anyway, will try to do the baked version. Thank you for sharing the recipe.

  5. I love candied yams (and sweet potato casserole!). I need at least one on my Thanksgiving table, although they’re more like dessert than a veggie. Ha!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating