Description
This Candied Yams recipe offers a sweet and warmly spiced side dish perfect for holiday dinners or comforting family meals. Tender chunks of sweet potatoes are coated in a rich, buttery sauce infused with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, maple syrup, and vanilla, then baked to caramelized perfection.
Ingredients
Sweet Potatoes
- 4 lbs Sweet Potatoes (about 6 medium sweet potatoes)
Sauce
- 10 tablespoons Salted Butter
- 1 1/2 cups Brown Sugar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 2 tablespoons Maple Syrup
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the yams.
- Prepare Sweet Potatoes: Wash, peel, and cut the sweet potatoes into chunks. Place them evenly in a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
- Make the Sauce: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Allow the butter to brown slightly, which adds a nutty flavor. Reduce heat to low and whisk in brown sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and kosher salt. Cook gently for 5 minutes so the flavors meld and the mixture thickens.
- Add Maple Syrup and Vanilla: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the maple syrup and vanilla extract until fully combined, creating a thick, glossy sauce.
- Coat Sweet Potatoes: Pour the sauce over the sweet potatoes in the baking dish. Use a spoon to mix carefully, ensuring all pieces are evenly coated with the buttery spiced syrup.
- Bake: Bake the sweet potatoes uncovered for 1 hour and 5 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork and the sauce is bubbly and caramelized. Serve warm.
Notes
- For extra texture, add chopped pecans or walnuts before baking.
- Use fresh spices for the best flavor impact.
- Control sweetness by adjusting the amount of brown sugar or maple syrup to taste.
- Cover with foil during the first 45 minutes if tops brown too quickly, then uncover to finish baking.
