Candied Yams with Brown Sugar (Printable Version)

Tender sweet potatoes baked in rich brown sugar butter syrup with warm spices, perfect for holiday gatherings.

# What You Need:

→ Sweet Potatoes

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

→ Syrup

02 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
03 - 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
04 - 1/4 cup water
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
07 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Optional Garnish

09 - 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
10 - Mini marshmallows, for topping

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Place sliced sweet potatoes in a single, even layer in the prepared baking dish, slightly overlapping if necessary.
03 - In a medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, water, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla extract until completely smooth and sugar is dissolved.
04 - Pour the syrup mixture evenly over the sweet potatoes, ensuring all pieces are coated.
05 - Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes to begin tenderizing the potatoes.
06 - Remove foil and carefully baste the sweet potatoes with the syrup from the bottom of the dish. Continue baking uncovered for 15 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender and syrup is bubbly and thickened.
07 - If desired, sprinkle with chopped nuts or mini marshmallows. Broil for 2-3 minutes until golden brown, watching closely to prevent burning.
08 - Allow the dish to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving to let the syrup thicken slightly.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The brown sugar butter sauce creates this incredible sticky glaze that people will fight over
  • These reheat beautifully and actually taste better the next day as the flavors deepen
02 -
  • Don't skip the basting step when you remove the foil, it's what creates that gorgeous lacquered look on every slice
  • If your syrup seems too thick before baking, add another tablespoon of water, it should pour like honey
03 -
  • Buy extra sweet potatoes because once people taste these, they will absolutely ask for seconds
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully in the microwave and make an incredible breakfast the next morning
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