Soul Food Candied Yams (Printable Version)

Sweet potatoes glazed in a buttery brown sugar syrup with warm spices, a classic Southern side.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 4 large yams or sweet potatoes (about 2 lbs), peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds

→ Syrup & Sweeteners

02 - 1 cup packed light brown sugar
03 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
05 - 1/4 cup water
06 - 1/4 cup orange juice

→ Spices

07 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
02 - Arrange sliced yams in a single, even layer in a 9x13-inch baking dish.
03 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, water, and orange juice. Stir until butter melts and sugar dissolves, approximately 3-4 minutes.
04 - Remove saucepan from heat and stir in cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, and vanilla extract.
05 - Pour hot syrup evenly over yams in baking dish, ensuring all slices are thoroughly coated.
06 - Cover dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
07 - Remove foil, baste yams with syrup, and continue baking uncovered for an additional 20 minutes until yams are tender and syrup is thick and glossy.
08 - Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving to permit syrup to thicken further.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like a hug wrapped in caramelized butter and spice, with barely any effort required from you.
  • The syrup gets thick and glossy during baking, creating pockets of pure sweetness without needing marshmallows or extra toppings to feel fancy.
  • This recipe actually gets better when you take your time letting it rest after baking, so you can prep other dishes guilt-free.
02 -
  • The syrup thickens as it cools, so if it looks a little loose coming out of the oven, don't panic—it will set up beautifully on the plate.
  • Even a few minutes of extra baking without the foil can make the edges crispy and caramelized, which some people love, but watch closely so they don't turn dark brown.
03 -
  • Use a vegetable peeler with a sharp blade to peel the yams—they can slip, so don't feel bad holding them in a towel for grip.
  • If you forget the orange juice, a splash of apple cider or even a squeeze of fresh lemon works beautifully to brighten the syrup.
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