Candied Yams

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Stovetop Candied Yams are tender, buttery, tangy, and sweet with a delicious brown sugar citrus glaze. Candied yams are a classic part of any holiday meal, and the homemade version is so much better than the canned option from the grocery store. This easy and simple Thanksgiving side dish is quick to prepare making it the perfect stress-free side.

Stovetop Candied Yams are tender, buttery, tangy, and sweet with a delicious brown sugar glaze. This simple Thanksgiving side dish is quick and easy! | aheadofthyme.com

Plus, you only need a handful of pantry staple ingredients to transform these sweet potatoes into something delicious and flavorful. Serve brown sugar glazed yams for holiday dinners or any night of the week you are craving a sweet side dish.

Why You'll Love the Candied Yams

It's quick and easy. This sweet potato recipe is so easy to prepare, especially if you prep the sweet potatoes ahead of time. You literally throw them into your cooking pot, add a quick glaze with simple pantry staple ingredients, and then cook together until tender. It takes just over 30 minutes to make and serve on the table, with only 15 minutes of it being active prep time.
Serve it on Thanksgiving or all season long. Although candied yams are a classic Southern side dish to serve at the Thanksgiving table, you don't have to limit yourself to the holidays. We make this recipe throughout the fall and winter season. I mean, why not? It's a great side for family dinners or fall dinner parties. Plus, leftovers are great in a soup or over a salad the next day.
Sweet and savory flavor. Just because something takes little time and effort to prepare, doesn't mean that its lacking in other areas. This stovetop candied yam side dish is loaded with flavor in every bite. It's sweet, buttery, and tangy — all in one.

Ingredient Notes

To make delicious Candied Yams, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

yams or sweet potatoes - you will need to peel and slice the yams (or sweet potatoes) into ½ inch slices. If you can't find true yams, use garnet sweet potatoes instead.
butter - you can use salted or unsalted butter. If using salted, don’t add in the extra salt that is called for in the recipe.
orange juice - we add freshly squeezed orange juice to give the yams a citrus flavor. If you don’t want an orange flavor, free free to leave these out and add in water instead.
dark brown sugar - we prefer our candied yams less sweet so we only added in ⅓ cup. For traditional candied yams which are quite sweet, add in 1 cup of sugar.
ground cinnamon
pure vanilla extract
salt
pecans - optional to add on top when serving.
rosemary - optional to add on top when serving.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a large pot, and a serving dish.

How to Make the Best Candied Yams

Cook yams. Place yams in a large pot and cover with water to cover them by about an inch. Heat over high heat and bring to a boil. Boil until the yams are slightly soft, about 5 minutes. Drain well and place the yams back in the pot.

Make sauce. In the same pot with the yams, add butter, orange juice, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir well and bring the sauce to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes until the sauce becomes syrupy and the yams are fully cooked.

Serve. Transfer to a serving dish and serve warm.

Recipe Variations

Southern candied yams. Take the flavor to the next level by adding a splash of Bourbon. It pairs perfectly with the warm spices.
Naturally sweetened yams. Skip the dark brown sugar and use maple syrup for a natural sweetness.
Mashed candied yams. Instead of keeping them in large pieces, feel free to mash the yams in the buttery syrup. You can even bake them in a baking dish with mini marshmallows just like sweet potato casserole.

You can also customize these Candied Sweet Potatoes by adding some toppings such as:

Marshmallows. Transfer the yams to a casserole dish and add a layer of marshmallows. Pop into a 375 F preheated oven and bake for 5 minutes, or until browned.
Bacon. Top with cooked bacon bits for a delicious salty flavor that pairs with the sweet yams really well.
Nuts. We topped our yams with crushed pecans but you can switch them up with other nuts such as walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts.
Streusel. Transfer the yams to a casserole dish and add a streusel (crumb topping) on top. To make a streusel, mix together ½ cup of flour, ¼ cup brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Add ¼ cup butter and use a fork to smash the butter into smaller pieces. Then, use your fingers to press the ingredients together until it forms crumbles. Bake in a 375F preheated oven for about 5 minutes, or until brown and crisp.

How to Serve

Candied Yams are typically served as a side dish with fall and winter dinners while sweet potatoes are in season. They're also the perfect side dish to serve on Thanksgiving.

Some holiday entrees that pair well with roasted acorn squash are:

For more recipe ideas, see our 40 Best Thanksgiving Main Dishes.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Use the right potatoes. Although you can use either yams or sweet potatoes, not all sweet potatoes are a great fit. Purple Japanese sweet potatoes have a different texture and flavor profile. Jewel or Garnet sweet potatoes are best.
Prep the yams in advance. The majority if the prep in this recipe comes from slicing up 4-5 yams. Make this recipe a little easier on Thanksgiving by slicing them up ahead of time (of to 2 days in advance). Store the sliced yams in a bowl covered in water until ready to cook.
Don't overcook. The goal is to have fork-tender yams with a little texture, not a mash. Test the yams and remove them from the heat when a fork slides through them.
How to test for doneness. The yams are done once they are fork tender. To test, insert a fork into a slice. If the fork comes out easily and the yams and the yams are tender, then they are done. If they are mushy, they have been overcooked.
Cook in a casserole dish. You can make this recipe in the oven instead. Add the sliced uncooked yams into a 9x13-inch casserole pan greased with some oil or butter. Cook the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan over the stove by bringing to a boil and then simmering over low heat for about 2-3 minutes. Pour sauce over the yams and bake uncovered for 15 minutes. Cover with foil and continue baking for 30-35 minutes until tender.

How to Use Leftover Candied Yams

Add leftover sweet potatoes to salads. Slices of brown sugar glazed sweet potatoes are delicious over a fall salad. Add it in place of butternut squash in the following salads: Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad, Fall Harvest Salad, or Thanksgiving Salad.
Make soup with leftovers. Another option for leftovers is to throw it into a soup. This may be the better option as the yams get very soft, almost breaking apart. Add some chicken or vegetable stock, simmer, blend, and top with your favorite soup garnishes. You can also use it in your favorite soups to add sweetness and bulk.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Store leftover candied yams in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

How to Reheat

Reheat leftover candied yams by roasting in a 350F preheated oven for about 10 minutes until warmed through, or in a 350F air fryer for 5 minutes until warm.

How to Freeze

Spread leftover candied yams on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and freeze for 2 hours. Then transfer them into a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat your desired serving size straight out of the freezer by sautéing until heated through and crisped up. You can also bake it from frozen, microwave, or air fry.

FAQ

Do I have to boil yams before baking?

That's optional. We prefer to boil the yams and skip the baking process, but you can also bake them without boiling or boil them and then bake them! The boiling process makes sure each bite is perfectly tender and moist without drying out. It can also help you reduce the amount of time the dish needs to spend in the oven. If you do boil this yam recipe, be sure to remove them from the pot when they are fork tender to avoid overcooking.

Are candied yams just sweet potatoes?

Yams and sweet potatoes are different root vegetables, although the term is often used interchangeably in the United States. Yams have a thicker, denser texture than sweet potatoes, but they can be hard to find. For this recipe, you can use them interchangeably.

Do you bake candied yams?

That's entirely up to you! Although sweet potato casserole is usually baked to melt and toast the marshmallows, candied yams do not need to be baked. It's much faster and easier to boil real yams (or sweet potatoes) until tender, then drain off the liquid and toss them in a flavorful brown sugar mixture. They can be served just like that, or place them in a baking dish and keep them warm in the oven.

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