These homemade candied yams are an essential Thanksgiving dinner dish. The recipe takes simple sweet potatoes and turns them into sweet, buttery, and tender pieces of deliciousness. Not to mention, the best part about this candied yams recipe is that it's so quick and easy to make. In fact, it takes just 10 minutes to prep 'em, then your oven will do all of the heavy lifting from there.
Table of Contents
Ingredients You'll Need
One of my favorite things about this candied yams recipe is that it takes just about a handful of simple ingredients to make it. If you have sweet potatoes, I can almost guarantee that you have everything else you need too!
Anyway, here's what you'll need to make 'em:
- 1.5 lb. sweet potatoes
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon gingerbread spice (or a mix of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon fresh orange juice
Common stuff, right?!
By the way, if you do have to pick up some sweet potatoes to make this recipe, make sure to grab extras because you can use them to make this sweet potato cornbread next. It's another one of my favorite sweet potato recipes!
Ingredient Substitutions And Suggestions
If you're looking to save time, you can make this candied yams recipe by using canned sweet potatoes or pre-cut frozen sweet potatoes instead of fresh ones. Whichever one of those options you choose, it'll cut your prep time in half!
Now, you'll notice that this candied yams recipe uses gingerbread spice. It's the most efficient way to get those tasty warm spices into this dish. But, if you don't have gingerbread spice on hand, you can always create a homemade spice mixture by combining a half teaspoon of each of the following ingredients: ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, and allspice.
Lastly, to add a bit more texture to the candied yams you can sprinkle some chopped walnuts - or pecans - on top of them.
How to Make Candied Yams
As I've mentioned, these candied sweet potatoes are super easy to make.
Just 10 minutes of prep is all it takes to whip 'em up, and the whole process boils down to following just 4 simple steps.
How easy does that sound?!
Anyway, let's not waste any more time, let's get cooking!
Step 1: Cut the Sweet Potatoes
First, you'll want to start by preheating your oven to 375°F. Then, grease a 10x7 inch casserole dish with some butter or baking spray.
Now, you can peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into ½-inch thick circular slices, and place them into the prepared baking dish.
Step 2: Make the Candied Mixture
Next, in a saucepot set over medium-heat, you'll want to combine the butter, sugar, and brown sugar.
Then, once the butter is melted, stir in the gingerbread spice, vanilla extract, and orange juice, and make sure to stir until everything has fully combined.
Step 3: Bake The Candied Sweet Potatoes
Ok, so now that the mixture is prepared, you're going to bring back your greased baking dish with the sliced sweet potatoes in it. Then, you'll want to pour the prepared mixture from the saucepot over the sweet potatoes and cover each and every one of them in it. You can also give them a little mix to coat the sweet potatoes as well.
Next, tightly cover the entire baking dish with aluminum foil and put it in the oven to bake for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, uncover the sweet potatoes and bake for another 20 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender.
Step 4: Serve
Finally, once the candied sweet potatoes are cooked to perfection, take them out of the oven and let them cool slightly before serving.
Enjoy!
How to Store Candied Yams
This recipe for candied yams will make about 4 servings, so it's really the perfect side for any dinner occasion. More than likely you won't end up with any leftovers because they're so tasty, but if you do they store really, really well.
Any leftover candied yams you end up with you can just transfer to an airtight container and they'll stay good for up to 5 days.
Alternatively, if you'd like to store them for even longer you can freeze them. They'll stay good for up to 6 months stored in an air-tight container in the freezer.
How to Reheat Candied Yams
When you're ready to serve your leftover candied sweet potatoes, they're definitely best reheated!
The quickest method to reheat them is definitely in the microwave. Just add them to a large bowl and microwave in 20-second increments - stirring between each one - until warmed. I find for me this usually takes atleast a few cooking intervals to achieve.
However, if you're planning on reheating more than one or two servings of the candied yams, I recommend warming them back up in the oven. Simply add them back into a baking dish and warm them back up in the oven at 375°F for about 15 minutes - or until they're heated all the way through.
FAQs About This Candied Yams Recipe
Are sweet potatoes and yams the same?
Yes and no. Sweet potatoes are, in fact, considered yams. With that said, other types of yams have a hard, dark brown skin, and a white fleshy inside that is starchy, like a white potato.
What are candied yams made of?
Candied yams are a classic Southern soul food that usually consists of sweet potatoes baked with a combination of sugar and butter, and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger.
Are candied yams a dessert or a side?
Candied yams can be served as a side or as a dessert, it really is up to you. If you need a little something to elevate your dinner, they make for a great side. But, if you have a sweet tooth craving after dinner, you can totally eat them as a dessert as well.
My Final Thoughts
Well, that's how to make candied yams with just a few simple ingredients!
Thanksgiving dinner really does hit differently with this dish on the table. I know when we serve these candied yams at our house they're always gone in a flash, and I'm sure that will be true at yours too.
As always, if you try this recipe, let me know how it went in the comments below.
More Sweet Potato Recipes
If you enjoyed this sweet potato recipe, and are looking for some more to make just like it, we've got a ton on the blog for you to try next.
Here are some of my favorites:
- Sweet potato cookies
- Sweet potato pecan pie
- Sweet potato muffins
- Patti Labelle's sweet potato pie
- Sweet potato puree
Oh, and for more easy recipes, make sure to check out our Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. We post new ones on them every single day.
The BEST Candied Yams Recipe | Takes Just 10 Minutes To Prep
These homemade candied yams are the essential dish for your Thanksgiving dinner. This recipe takes simple sweet potatoes and turns them into sweet, buttery, and tender pieces of deliciousness. Seriously, they're so, so good. And the best part about this Southern candied yams recipe is that only takes 10 minutes to prep!
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb. sweet potatoes
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon gingerbread spice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon fresh orange juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Peel the sweet potatoes. Cut the potatoes into ½-inch thick slices, and place in a deep 10x7 inch greased baking dish.
- In a saucepot, combine butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Set it over medium-high heat and heat until the butter is melted.
- Stir in gingerbread spice, vanilla extract, and orange juice.
- Pour the syrup mixture over the prepared sweet potatoes. Tightly cover the entire baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake the sweet potatoes for 30 minutes.
- Uncover the sweet potatoes and bake for another 20 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender.
- Serve the sweet potatoes with the syrup poured on top.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 398Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 66mgCarbohydrates: 72gFiber: 6gSugar: 48gProtein: 4g
Alicia Costella
Loved this and am making it for Thanksgiving.