Easy Candied Yams

5-ingredient Candied Yams are a simple side dish for your holiday meal. Made with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, these caramelized sweet potatoes are baked in the oven until perfectly sweet and tender.

It’s time to start thinking about all of those delicious side dishes you’ll serve with your Holiday Ham or Turkey! Along with our Candied yams, be sure to bake a fresh batch of Homemade Dinner Rolls and Whipped Honey Butter. (Your taste buds will thank you!)

Easy Candied Yams

This recipe for candied yams is one of my favorites to make. They take only a few minutes to prepare and the rest of the time they bake in the oven. I love that it requires very little effort but still turns out irresistibly delicious.

These homemade candied yams are sweet and buttery. They have the perfect soft texture and taste totally amazing. They’re the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table!

Yams vs. Sweet Potatoes

While yams and sweet potatoes many look very similar and are thus easily confused, they are not the same vegetable. One way to tell the difference is that the skin of a yam looks similar to tree bark and a sweet potato has more of a reddish color. Both have different textures and tastes, and they will cook differently.

Most of the “yams” in American supermarkets are actually just mislabeled sweet potatoes. So while this dish is commonly called candied yams, it’s actually made with sweet potatoes!

The sweet potatoes I bought for this recipe were labeled “garnet yams,” if that helps when you’re looking for them in the grocery store.

How To Make Candied Yams

Now that you know where to start, let me show you just how easy these candied yams are to make.

INGREDIENTS –

• 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into one inch chunks
• 4 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS –

Prep – Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees F. For this simple recipe, you’ll want to peel two pounds of sweet potatoes. After they’re peeled, cut them into chunks that are about an inch long. Do not boil them.

Add The “Candy” –  Toss the sweet potato slices with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Once the sweet potatoes have been evenly coated with the spices, pour the mixture into a 9 x 13 baking dish. You do not need to cover them with aluminum foil.

Cook – Bake the candied yams for about 40 minutes or until they’re tender. The cooked yams should be easy to pierce with a fork and tender throughout.

Tip – I like to give them a good stir after they’re cooked and then return them to the oven for a few more minutes. This will allow the sauce to thicken and caramelize just a little.

Tips for Candied Yams

Make-Ahead Instructions – If you’re trying to free up some oven space on the big day, these candied yams can be cooked in advance. Be sure to warm them up thoroughly before serving so that the syrup/ sauce is nice and smooth.

Add Mini Marshmallows – Adding miniature marshmallows on top of the candied yams is a delicious variation. Simply cover the yams with 4 cups of marshmallows during the last 5 minutes of baking until the marshmallows have partially melted and are golden brown. If you’re making these ahead of time, don’t add the marshmallows until you reheat them before serving.

Extra Flavors – If you want to add a little variety to this classic candied yam recipe, try adding a pinch of nutmeg to the sauce. Chopped walnuts or pecans are also a great addition to this recipe.

Leftovers – Store any leftovers in an airtight container. They’ll last in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

More Classic Side Dishes

• Homemade Green Bean Casserole
• Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
• Healthy Oven Roasted Vegetables
• Strawberry Pretzel Salad
• Easiest Potato Salad Recipe

HERE’S A PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE –

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Easy Candied Yams Recipe

Servings: 8 People

5-ingredient Candied Yams is a simple side dish for your holiday meal. Made with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, these caramelized sweet potatoes are baked in the oven until perfectly sweet and tender.

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:50 mins

Total Time:1 hr

Ingredients

• 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into one inch chunks
• 4 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400. Toss the sweet potatoes with the butter, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Pour the sweet potatoes into a 9 x 13 baking dish.
• Bake 40 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender. Stir the potatoes and bake for an additional ten minutes to lightly caramelize the sauce. Serve warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Cup · Calories: 174 kcal · Carbohydrates: 30 g · Protein: 2 g · Fat: 6 g · Saturated Fat: 4 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g · Trans Fat: 0.2 g · Cholesterol: 15 mg · Sodium: 182 mg · Potassium: 394 mg · Fiber: 4 g · Sugar: 11 g · Vitamin A: 16263 IU · Vitamin C: 3 mg · Calcium: 44 mg · Iron: 1 mg

Other Notes

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: christmas, Holiday, thanksgiving, vegetables