Soul Food Candied Yams (Printable Version)

Sweet potatoes glazed in buttery brown sugar syrup with cinnamon and nutmeg, a classic Southern side dish.

# Components:

→ Vegetables

01 - 4 large yams or sweet potatoes (about 2 lbs), peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds

→ Syrup & Sweeteners

02 - 1 cup packed light brown sugar
03 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter
05 - 1/4 cup water
06 - 1/4 cup orange juice

→ Spices

07 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

# Preparation steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F
02 - Arrange sliced yams in a single, even layer in a 9x13-inch baking dish
03 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, water, and orange juice. Stir until butter melts and sugar dissolves, approximately 3-4 minutes
04 - Remove saucepan from heat and stir in cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, and vanilla extract
05 - Pour hot syrup evenly over yams in baking dish, ensuring all slices are thoroughly coated
06 - Cover dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes
07 - Remove foil, baste yams with syrup, and continue baking uncovered for 20 minutes until yams are tender and syrup becomes thick and glossy
08 - Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving to permit syrup to thicken further

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The syrup caramelizes into a glossy coat that tastes like you spent hours fussing when you really didn't.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and vegetarian, so everyone at the table gets to enjoy it without modifications.
  • You can make it ahead and reheat it gently, which is a lifesaver when your oven is already packed on busy cooking days.
02 -
  • If you skip the uncovered bake, your syrup will be thin and watery instead of that gorgeous, spoonable glaze—trust the process and don't rush it.
  • Uneven yam slices mean some pieces cook tender while others stay firm, so take an extra minute to slice them as uniformly as you can.
03 -
  • Use a vegetable peeler instead of a knife to peel yams—it's safer and removes less of the flesh than you'd think you need to.
  • If your syrup looks thin after the uncovered bake, you can always return the uncovered dish to the oven for another 5 to 10 minutes, but watch it so it doesn't burn at the edges.
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