Modified: Nov 18, 2024 · Published: Nov 11, 2024 by LaKita · This post may contain affiliate links.

Easy Candied Yams

Name: Easy Candied Yams
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 5 large yams (sweet potatoes), peeled and cut into large chunks (about 4 to 5 cups); 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 8 tablespoons butter, cubed

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This recipe for Easy Candied Yams is a delicious side dish that combines sweet yams, with butter, sugar, and warming spices. They're rich, tender, and full of flavor. Sure to be popular with everyone at the table.

This recipe pairs well with your favorite protein and side dish of Southern Collard Greens Recipe with Ham Hocks or Garlic Green Beans for a complete meal. Also, if you love the flavor of sweet potato, then you should try making an Easy Sweet Potato Pie, Sweet Potato Casserole, or Sweet Potato Cornbread.

Close up overhead view of finished yams in a white baking dish.

Candied yams are a southern staple and soul food classic. They're the perfect combination of sweet potato, butter, sugar, and spices.

Sweet, buttery, caramelized goodness.

For years I avoided making these because my mom makes the best version so I didn't feel I needed to take on the task of making this dish. I didn't even bother to learn. It just wasn't important. That's until recently when I was craving them and didn't want to bother asking my mom to whip up a batch.

I chose to give her a call and ask her how to make them and was floored when she told me how easy it is to make them. Her version requires making the syrup separately and pouring it on top of the cooked sweet potatoes. However, this is the lazy gal version and it turns out just as delicious.

Let's get started!

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What is a Candied Yam?
Do Yams and Sweet Potatoes Taste the Same?
Ingredients You'll Need
How to Make Candied Yams
Best Candied Yams Recipe Tips & Tricks
Storage Tips
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What is a Candied Yam?

A candied yam is a southern classic dish that is actually made using sweet potato. The sweet potato is cut into pieces and covered with butter and two different types of sugar. Once heated the mixture combines to create a sweet and buttery syrup that carmelizes the sweet potato pieces to make candied yams.

Do Yams and Sweet Potatoes Taste the Same?

No, they do not. Real yams are native to Africa and are a root vegetable that looks similar to the bark of a tree. It has a more starchy flavor, similar to a regular potato. Yams can be purchased in specialty markets.

Sweet potatoes are more commonly found in grocery stores. They are sweet and have a reddish-brown outer skin with an orange sweet flesh in the center. It is not uncommon for sweet potatoes to be labeled as yams in supermarkets.

Ingredients You'll Need

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make yams in separate bowls on marble surface.

Yams - These are most commonly referred to as sweet potatoes in the produce section at most grocery stores. They may also be labeled as Mississippi red sweet potatoes or yams. Again, if they're labeled as yams, make sure that it looks like an orange potato with a red outer skin and not tree bark, which is actually a yam and is not sweet.
Ground Cinnamon - Make sure it is pure ground cinnamon without any additional ingredients added to it. This adds a bite of sweetness and warm spice flavor.
Ground Nutmeg - This spice certainly makes a difference, so definitely do not omit it. It gives the yams a nutty spice flavor.
Brown Sugar - For this ingredient, you can use light or dark brown sugar. The dark brown sugar contains more molasses and adds a richer flavor. The light brown sugar is sweet and similar to cane sugar. Either is fine, I have used them both to make this recipe. You can also substitute it with maple syrup.
Granulated Sugar - As called white or cane sugar, works well to add additional sweetness to the recipe.
Butter - Use salted or unsalted butter, whichever you prefer in your favorite brand.

See the recipe card below for ingredient quantities and instructions.

How to Make Candied Yams

Place the cut yams into a large pot and cover them with water. Bring the yams to a low rolling boil and cook until they have a bite and can be pierced with a fork.

Overhead view of cut up sweet potatoes in a large pot.

Next, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. and grab a square baking dish. Drain the water off the yams and carefully pour them evenly into the bottom of the baking dish.

Boiled sweet potatoes in large white baking dish on marble surface.

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Sprinkle the top of the cooked yams evenly with ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg.

Boiled sweet potatoes in baking dish topped with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Spread the granulated sugar and brown sugar over the yams to evenly distribute.

Sweet potatoes topped with granulated sugar and brown sugar in baking dish.

Top with the cubes of butter evenly over the top.

Cubed butter added to the top of the other yam ingredients in a white baking dish.

Place the yams into the oven to bake for 10 minutes. The butter should be melted and the candied mixture at the bottom of the baking dish. Remove the baking dish from the oven and gently toss the candied yams to evenly cover them in the brown sugar mixture.

Baked candied yams in square white baking dish on marble surface.

Place the candied yams back into the oven and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until the yams are fork-tender. Serve while they're still warm as a side dish to compliment any meal.

Close up view of finished yams in white baking dish with serving spoon.

They're perfect to share with your family and friends for Sunday dinner or your Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas meal.

Best Candied Yams Recipe Tips & Tricks

The yams (sweet potatoes) can be cooked/boiled 1 day ahead and refrigerated overnight to use the next day.
Be sure not to boil the sweet potatoes too long. This is just a parboil to soften them enough to be pierced with a fork. They will finish cooking in the oven.
While baking the sauce will settle at the bottom of the baking dish underneath the potatoes, be sure to gently spoon the sauce over the sweet potatoes after removing them from the oven and before baking.
Try not to fuss over cutting the sweet potatoes before boiling them, they can be similar in size without being all exactly the same.
You may use light or dark brown sugar and if you don't have either on hand, granulated cane sugar is perfectly fine to use instead.

Storage Tips

Storage. Refrigerate any candied yams leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The butter may solidify, but it will melt upon reheating. Simply stir to incorporate before serving.

Reheating. When you're ready to serve the candied sweet potatoes again, reheat them in the microwave in a microwave-safe dish or in a medium-sized saucepan on the stovetop over medium-low heat for a few minutes.

Freezing. These yams are best enjoyed the same day they're made or a few days after by reheating. This recipe does not freeze well, unfortunately.

Single serving of finished yams in white bowl with spoon in it.

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Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ideas for these Easy Candied Yams? Please share them in the comments below!

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