Candied Yams

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In this Candied Yams recipe, yams (or sweet potatoes) are baked in a sweet sauce, infused with warm fall spices, maple syrup and a touch of citrus. Learn how to make Candied Yams that will become a family favorite holiday side dish!

Candied Yams on a plate with a fork


Candied yams are a traditional southern side dish, and an essential component of Thanksgiving dinner.

This is the very best candied yams recipe you’ll ever eat! Sweet potatoes (yams) are peeled & sliced, then cooked to perfection in a delicious sauce that isn’t overly sweet.

With notes of citrus, maple syrup and rich fall spices, this dish will become a family tradition for the holidays. It’s also easy to make with a handful of simple ingredients.

Candied Yams in a baking dish with a spoon

Candied Yams: Ingredients & Substitutions

overhead photo of the ingredients in this Candied Yams recipe
  • Yams (Sweet Potatoes): Use red garnet yams or sweet potatoes for the best results.
  • Light brown sugar. dark brown sugar is a great choice as well.
  • Maple syrup. I don’t suggest making substitutions for the pure maple syrup.
  • Orange juice. I suggest a pulp-free juice.
  • Salted butter. Unsalted butter and ghee are both great substitutes.
  • Cinnamon/nutmeg/ginger. I’ve included my favorite combination and ratio of spices. You can adjust them to your liking, if you wish.
up close photo of Candied Yams on a plate

How to Make Candied Yams

We’ll walk through how to make candied yams step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video!

Begin by preheating your oven to 375 degrees F. Then, generously butter a 9×13” baking dish and set it aside.

a 9x13" baking dish greased with butter

Next, peel the sweet potatoes (or yams) and slice them into ¼” thick round pieces. It’s important to cut them the same thickness so they cook evenly.

round slices of peeled sweet potatoes on a plate

Then, layer the sweet potatoes in the prepared baking dish.

round sweet potato slices arranged in layers in a baking dish to make candied yams

Next, make the (delicious) sauce! Begin by combining the brown sugar, maple syrup, orange juice salted butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and sea salt in a medium saucepan.

Then, bring the mixture to a boil, whisking often. Once boiling, boil for 1 minute. Then remove the remove from heat and whisk until smooth.

two photos showing How to Make Candied Yams - whisking ingredients together to make the sauce

Next, pour the mixture over the prepared sweet potatoes in the baking dish.

How to Make Candied Yams - pouring the sauce over the sweet potatoes in the baking dish

Then, cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.

two photos showing How to Make Candied Yams - sauced sweet potatoes in the baking pan then the pan covered in foil

Then remove the dish from the oven and baste with the sauce, suctioning some off the bottom of the pan and pouring it over the top of the sweet potatoes. You can also use a spoon if you don’t have a metal baster.

After basting, cover the baking dish again with aluminum foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are soft.

How to Make Candied Yams - basting partially baked yams with the sauce

After 15 minutes, remove the pan from the oven uncover and baste again.

How to Make Candied Yams - basting partially baked yams with the sauce

Then, turn the oven temperature up to 425 degrees F.

Return the yams to the oven and bake uncovered at 425 for an additional 30 minutes, basting every 10 minutes, until the sauce has thickened slightly and the potatoes are lightly browned.

two photos showing candied yams in the baking dish after baking is finished.

Serve

Let cool slightly, then serve warm with the sauce from the bottom of the pan drizzled on top.

We love to serve these candied yams as a side dish to our Roast Turkey or Balsamic Pot Roast on the holidays. It’s perfect when served alongside our other favorite Thanksgiving Recipes.

a spoon pouring sauce over Candied Yams on a plate

Store/Freeze

Store leftover candied yams in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

a fork taking a bite of Candied Yams on a plate

Candied Yams Recipe FAQs

Are yams and sweet potatoes the same?

Yes, yams and sweet potatoes are essentially the same root vegetable with a different name!

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, you can double this recipe and bake in two 9×13″ baking dishes if you’re feeding a large crowd for the holidays (like Thanksgiving).

Are candied sweet potatoes and candied yams the same thing?

Yes, candied sweet potatoes and yams are the exact same thing with a different name!

Candied Yams on a plate with a fork

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Candied Yams

Laura
In this Candied Yams recipe, yams (or sweet potatoes) are baked in a sweet sauce, infused with warm fall spices, maple syrup and a touch of citrus. Learn how to make Candied Yams that will become a family favorite holiday side dish!
5 from 3 votes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 16 Servings
Calories 142
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 35 minutes

Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Butter a 9×13” baking dish, set aside.
  • Peel sweet potatoes and slice into ¼” thick round pieces. Layer them in the prepared baking dish.
  • Combine the brown sugar, maple syrup, orange juice, salted butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and sea salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, whisking often.
  • Boil for 1 minute. After 1 minute, remove the pan from the heat and whisk until smooth.
  • Pour the mixture over the prepared sweet potatoes in the baking dish.
  • Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes, then remove the dish from the oven and baste with the sauce, suctioning some off the bottom of the pan and pouring it over the top of the sweet potatoes.
  • Cover again with aluminum foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are soft.
  • After 15 minutes, remove the pan from the oven uncover and baste again.
  • Turn oven temperature up to 425 degrees F.
  • Return the yams to the oven and bake uncovered at 425 for an additional 30 minutes, basting every 10 minutes, until the sauce has thickened slightly and the potatoes are lightly browned.
  • Let cool slightly, then serve warm with the sauce from the bottom of the pan drizzled on top!

Video

Notes

Ingredient Notes/Substitutions
    • Yams (Sweet Potatoes): Use fresh sweet potatoes or red garnet yams for the best results.
    • Light brown sugar. dark brown sugar is a great choice as well.
    • Maple syrup. I don’t suggest making substitutions for the pure maple syrup.
    • Orange juice. I suggest a pulp-free juice.
    • Salted butter. Unsalted butter and ghee are both great substitutes.
    • Cinnamon/nutmeg/ginger. I’ve included my favorite combination and ratio of spices. You can adjust them to your liking, if you wish.
Store/Freeze
Store leftover candied yams in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 142kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 145mg | Potassium: 324mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 12170IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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1 Comment

  1. 5 stars
    Great recipe , however yams ,are not same as sweet potato. and are less common in America they originated in Africa have less fiber less vitamin A, C, and less protein ,and way less Sweet . love your recipe will add it to Christmas Menu which is Italian . the will go great with leg of Lamb , YUMMMM