Easy Candied Sweet Potatoes
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This easy Southern candied sweet potatoes recipe is quick, simple, and melt-in-your-mouth good.
This quick and is so good. Basically, grab a couple of cans of sweet potatoes, cook them in the oven and you have this recipe of syrupy goodness. That’s how easy it is! The end result is tender sweet potatoes with a buttery sweet caramel toffee flavor that will definitely melt in your mouth.
Now, if you’re wondering when to serve this candied yam dish, I say whenever! Have it as a meal or as a Thanksgiving dessert, the choice is yours. I personally think that because sweet potatoes are a vegetable (no matter how you prepare them), you can serve them with any meal and it automatically decreases any guilt you might have because these are so good.
For the main meal, I love pairing this dish with classic Southern comfort food like fried chicken. You can also serve it alongside other Southern side dishes like , cornbread, mac and cheese, and fried okra. What a combo!
Now I want you to try making these candied yams from a can during the holidays and leave your comments below and let me know what you thought of them. If you don’t want to tell everyone how easy they are to make, just smile and say it’s an old-fashioned family recipe handed down through the generations. It’s the truth! You are a part of the Southern Plate family. It was handed down through at least four generations! Happy holidays!
Recipe Ingredients
- Butter
- Sugar
- Canned sweet potatoes or not canned (about 16-18 oz when you cut up )
- Cinnamon
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Drain the sweet potatoes and pour them into an ovenproof casserole dish.
While this is a round casserole dish, it holds the equivalent of an 8×8 baking dish.
Next, sprinkle the sugar over the sweet potatoes.
Cut up butter and put it on top.
Sprinkle with cinnamon.
Place the baking dish in the oven and for 35 to 40 minutes or until syrupy.
Enjoy your delicious candied yams from a can!
Storage
- This recipe for Southern candied sweet potatoes can be made up to four days in advance. The flavors will be even better if you can believe it! Just wrap the dish or store it in an airtight container in the fridge and when it’s time, reheat it in the oven.
- Alternatively, if you don’t make it in advance but have leftovers, they’ll last in the fridge for up to four days.
- I don’t recommend freezing this Southern recipe as the sweet potatoes will turn mushy once reheated.
Recipe Notes
- If the syrup is too thick, you can easily thin it out with some water.
- If preparing this dish for dessert, you can go one step further and sprinkle the top with normal or miniature marshmallows, southern-style. Your tastebuds will explode!
- Besides mini marshmallows, here are some more ingredients to add to your Southern candied yam recipe. Spice-wise, you should also add a half-teaspoon of allspice, clove, nutmeg, , or even cayenne pepper along with the ground cinnamon. For an even sweeter flavor, drizzle your cooked sweet potatoes with maple syrup. Alternatively, add half a teaspoon of vanilla extract when you add the cinnamon. You could also sprinkle some raisins, walnuts, or pieces over the top. It’s so easy to make these your own.
- For a stronger caramelized flavor, use dark or light brown sugar in this instead of .
Recipe FAQs
Should I buy sweet potatoes or yams?
Now, most canned sweet potatoes are labeled yams, so just buy those. This is one of those things that drives me slightly crazy, because they’re not yams, they’re sweet potatoes. Seriously, if you look at the ingredients of canned yams, it actually says sweet potatoes! But if you’re buying the root vegetable, choose sweet potatoes. Fresh yams actually contain more starch (and more calories) so need more butter when cooking.
Ingredients
- 29 oz. can sweet potatoes
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 stick butter
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Drain sweet potatoes and pour them into an ovenproof casserole dish.29 oz. can sweet potatoes
- Sprinkle sugar over sweet potatoes.1 cup sugar
- Cut up butter, put on top and then sprinkle with cinnamon.1 stick butter, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- Place in oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until syrupy.
Nutrition
You may also enjoy these sweet potato recipes:
Sweet Potato Bread With Cinnamon Swirl
Sweet Potato Pie Southern Plate Style
If you’re looking for Grandmama’s Sweet Potato Casserole, please click here.
Thank God for dirty dishes.
They have a tale to tell.
While others may go hungry,
Thank you, God,
We’re eating well.~UnknownSubmitted by Rebecca Orr, thanks Rebecca!. Click here to submit your quote.
Sticky Skillet Candied Sweet Potatoes: Use a heavy bottomed skillet. I don’t measure so I’m not sure how much butter/margarine I use. I take a regular ole tablespoon, dig into the ‘butter bowl’ and get a big ole dollop. Do this twice. It’s quite a bit of margarine. Drain the big can of yams. I use 2 cans of the largest Bruce’s brand. Dump yams over margarine. Now pour one bottle of dark karo syrup over yams & margarine. Must be dark karo. Heat on medium high until a good boil all over. Turn down heat to simmer. It usually takes about 30 minutes for it all to cook down after the rolling boil but you can see when they are done…there won’t be any runny stuff, the yams will be thick and sticky. About half way through the sticky simmering, “try” turning the yams. If you can do this without the yams turning to mush, I mean casserole consistency 🙂 you’re better than me but we like our yams all falling apart….that way every bite is sweet. There will be no runny juice, just thick n sticky. These are sooo sweet & delish!
I made these for Thanksgiving and there was not one crumb left in the dish. Also took this for my office Christmas party and was a big hit – one of the guys wanted to know who made them and said that was the best thing there from a table full of food! Love that they are so easy to make!
What a wonderful comment!! Thank you so much for sharing and I am so glad to hear that the recipe was such a big hit!!
Love them they are delicious! 🙂
I am so glad you liked them Diane!!
Your blog look is lovely and full of inspiration 😉
Big Hugs to you!
Would like to try your mama’s holiday fruit salad! Cathy Vins
Can you please tell me what’s taste better brown or white my kids don’t like sweet potatoes so was woundering also more healthier for you.thank you
I’m thinking you are asking about sugar. If so, it is a personal preference but I prefer brown. Brown is also slightly better for you but any sugar is going to be bad if you eat too much 🙂
Christy, this has nothing to do with the sweet potatoes..(they do sound yummy) just wanted to tell u how much I enjoy ur posts. This will be my second thanksgiving without my mama. Ive been feeling sorry for myself. Tried listening to holiday music, but that made it worse. Got on ur site and couldnt help but smile. You and your mom made my day. Thank you for all you do.
looking forward to next thanksgiving tip! cathy vins