Soul Food Candied Yams (Printable)

Tender sweet potatoes glazed in a buttery brown sugar syrup with warm spices for a classic side.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 (1 stick)
05 - 1/4 cup water
06 - 1/4 cup fresh 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

# Step-by-Step:

01 - Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
02 - Arrange the sliced yams in a single, even layer in a large 9x13-inch baking dish.
03 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, water, and orange juice. Stir until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves completely, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
04 - Remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, and vanilla extract until fully combined.
05 - Pour the hot syrup evenly over the yams in the baking dish, ensuring all slices are thoroughly coated.
06 - Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
07 - Remove the foil and baste the yams with the syrup. Continue baking uncovered for an additional 20 minutes, or until the yams are tender and the syrup achieves a thick, glossy consistency.
08 - Let cool for 10 minutes before serving to allow the syrup to thicken further.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The syrup caramelizes into this glossy, sticky goodness that makes people go quiet when they taste it.
  • It comes together in under two hours and most of that is just the oven doing the work while you relax.
  • Even if you think you don't like sweet potatoes, this dish might change your mind because the spices balance everything perfectly.
02 -
  • Don't skip the foil-covered step; it prevents the edges from drying out and keeps those yams creamy inside while the syrup does its thing.
  • If your syrup looks too thin after the uncovered baking, that's actually okay because it continues to set as it cools, and you'll be amazed at the transformation.
03 -
  • Make sure your yam slices are as even as possible; a mandoline slicer takes the anxiety out of this step and ensures everything cooks at the same pace.
  • The orange juice isn't just a flavor accent—it also adds acidity that prevents the dish from feeling heavy and one-dimensional on the palate.
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