Soul Food Candied Yams (Printable Version)

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

# What You 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
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

# Steps:

01 - Preheat your oven to 350°F.
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, about 3 to 4 minutes.
04 - Remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, and vanilla extract.
05 - Pour the hot syrup evenly over the yams in the baking dish, ensuring all slices are coated.
06 - Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
07 - Remove the foil, baste the yams with the syrup, and continue baking uncovered for an additional 20 minutes, or until the yams are tender and the syrup is thick and glossy.
08 - Let cool for 10 minutes before serving to allow the syrup to thicken further.

# Expert Pointers:

01 -
  • The yams become impossibly tender while the edges caramelize into sweet, crispy bits that taste like candy.
  • You can make this ahead and reheat it, which means one less thing to worry about on busy holiday mornings.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, so it works for almost everyone at the table without feeling like an afterthought.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting time, even if you're hungry, because the syrup needs those minutes to thicken from soupy to luxurious.
  • If your syrup looks too thin after baking, you can pour it into a saucepan and simmer it on the stovetop for a few minutes to reduce it further before serving.
03 -
  • Pack your brown sugar firmly into the measuring cup and resist the urge to stir the syrup too much once it's cooking, as this can make it grainy.
  • If you're using fresh yams instead of sweet potatoes, they may take a few extra minutes to soften, so don't be afraid to peek at them and add a little baking time if needed.
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