Description
Make classic Southern candied yams featuring tender yams coated in a rich, thick, buttery brown sugar glaze with warm spices.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 lbs yams or sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/2 inch thick
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Arrange the sliced yams in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter, water, corn syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Remove the syrup from the heat immediately once it boils. Do not overcook the syrup.
- Carefully pour the hot syrup evenly over the yams in the baking dish.
- Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake for 45 minutes.
- Remove the foil and gently spoon some of the syrup over the yams.
- Return the dish to the oven, uncovered, and bake for another 15 to 25 minutes, or until the yams are tender and the glaze has thickened and caramelized slightly. Baste the yams every 10 minutes during this final period.
- Let the yams rest for 10 minutes before serving so the glaze sets up.
Notes
- Use fresh yams or sweet potatoes for the best texture; avoid overly soft ones.
- For a thicker glaze, remove the foil earlier in the cooking process, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- You can substitute maple syrup for the corn syrup for a different flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 75 min
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 55
- Sodium: 120
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: 5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 62
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 2
- Cholesterol: 30