This Easy Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes recipe is homemade from scratch and baked in the oven. From there, you drizzle the dish in a thick caramelized syrup. Your Sunday dinners and soul food holiday events just got much better!
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We have eaten “candied yams” AKA “Black folks’ sweet potatoes” for soul food Sunday dinners and on pretty much every holiday for all of my life. I have had my fair share of sweet potatoes over the years. And there are some versions I just can’t get with.
Some make their dishes way too sweet for me. Save some sugar for dessert! This recipe has a nice balance.
What’s the Difference Between Sweet Potatoes and Yams?
In most grocery stores there is no difference between the two. Most stores often label sweet potatoes as yams.
Yams have more starch and are drier. They have bumpy tough, brown skin. Yams are typically used in Caribbean and West African dishes. You have probably never eaten yams, as they are hard to find in the United States.
Years ago, Southerners (primarily in Louisiana) started to refer to them as yams. And since this is a Southern recipe, you will often hear it called candied yams.
You can read more about The Difference Between Yams and Sweet Potatoes here.
Do You Make Sweet Potatoes Using the Oven or the Stove?
This is a hot debate in our community. I prefer mine baked, just like mac and cheese. I love the textured of baked sweet potatoes. The decision is yours, both will have similar cook times.
How to Slice Sweet Potatoes
The shape is up to you. Be sure to scrub the potatoes really well and peel them first.
- Rounds: This is my favorite method. I slice them about half an inch to 1 inch thick.
- Bite-Sized Chunks: An inch thick.
- Large Ovals
How to Sweeten The Glaze
I lighten up this dish by using monkfruit sweeteners as opposed to table sugar. You can use whatever you wish and the measurements are exactly the same.
This combination of flavors will produce that amazing sweet flavor. I don’t use marshmallows because with this combination, the dish is sweet enough. Feel free to add them if you wish.
How to Make Candied Sweet Potatoes
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Add the sweet potatoes to a 9×13 baking dish.
- Heat a saucepan on medium-high heat and add the butter.
- When melted, add the ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, white sugar, brown sugar, and salt. Stir.
- Remove the pot from heat and add in the vanilla extract. Stir. Pour the candied mixture over the sweet potatoes.
- Cover the sweet potatoes in foil and bake.
Can You Make The Dish Ahead of Time? How Long Will It Last?
The dish will last 3-4 days properly stored and covered in the refrigerator.
Southern Main Dish Recipes
Baked Turkey Wings
Southern Baked Ham With Pineapple
Cajun Roasted Turkey
Air Fryer Turkey
Air Fryer Baked Ham
Traeger Smoked Turkey
Instant Pot Brisket
Air Fryer Whole Chicken
Lobster Mac and Cheese
More Southern Side Dishes to Pair With Sweet Potatoes
Homemade Southern Cornbread
Air Fryer Cornbread
Southern Baked Mac and Cheese
Sweet Potato Biscuits
Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas
Grand Marnier Cranberry Sauce
Cornbread Muffins
Homemade Blueberry Cornbread
Sweet Potato Cornbread
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar
Southern Vegetable Side Dishes
Southern Green Beans
Southern Sweet Potato Casserole
Southern Collard Greens
Homemade Creamed Corn
Sweet Potatoes Au Gratin
Southern Coleslaw Recipe
Southern Potato Salad
Southern Mustard Greens
Instant Pot Southern Green Beans
Instant Pot Collard Greens
Instant Pot Cabbage
Fried Cabbage
Okra and Tomatoes
Southern Black Eyed Peas
Squash Dressing
Get a complete listing of Southern Style Soul Food Recipes here. You will also love our Candied Sweet Potatoes (Yams) with Marshmallows, Stovetop Candied Sweet Potatoes, Sweet Potato Casserole Without Marshmallows recipes.
Get a full listing of Soul Food Thanksgiving Recipes and the Best Authentic Soul Food Recipes here. If you want to switch up your holiday feast, check out our Thanksgiving Chicken recipe.
Easy Southern Soul Food Candied Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes Washed and Peeled. This was 2 large sweet potatoes for me. Weigh for accuracy.
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar or sweetener
- 3/4 cup white sugar or sweetener
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 teaspoons vanilla I use pure vanilla, not imitation.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Peel and slice the sweet potatoes into rounds about 1/2 to 1 inch thick. I love to use this swivel peeler from Amazon. It peels fast.
- Add the sweet potatoes to a 9×13 baking dish.
- Heat a saucepan on medium-high heat and add the butter.
- When melted, add the ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, white sugar, brown sugar, and salt. Stir. You want to ensure the sugar melts down, but don't overcook the glaze.
- Remove the pot from heat and add in the vanilla extract. Stir. Pour the candied mixture over the sweet potatoes.
- Cover the sweet potatoes in foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil and stir and baste the sweet potatoes. Ensure the candied mixture fully coats the sweet potatoes.
- Cover the pan in foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes. Mine usually takes the full 20 minutes. Test the sweet potatoes by piercing them with a fork. You want for the potatoes to be soft.
- Allow the sweet potatoes to sit for 15 minutes before stirring. This will thicken up the sweet potatoes.
Video
Notes
- If making candied sweet potatoes for the first time, you may want to test out your desired level of sweetness. You can start with half of the recommended servings above. From there, continue to build and taste repeatedly until the dish suits your needs.
- You can omit any of the spices in this recipe, make it suit your taste.
- Watch your sweet potatoes closely. Every oven will cook at varying speeds. You may need more or less time.
- Your sweet potatoes will be runny if you don’t allow them to sit in the sauce and thicken after baking.
- If you notice grains of sugar in your sweet potato glaze after pouring it over the sweet potatoes, it’s fine. It will cook down as the sweet potatoes bake and when you baste the sweet potatoes after 30 minutes.
- The macros above assume monkfruit organic sweetener is used. If you use standard sugar the macros are: Cals: 397 Carbs: 58G Fat: 19G Protein: 1G
Rachel
Wednesday 7th of February 2024
Made this recipe for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Was a crowd pleaser both times. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
staysnatched
Thursday 8th of February 2024
So happy to hear it was a hit!
Tee
Monday 20th of November 2023
Thank you for this recipe. Delicious. We add coarsely chopped salted cashews just before serving.
staysnatched
Tuesday 21st of November 2023
That sounds good!
Vickie
Tuesday 24th of January 2023
This looks amazing...after the sauce thickens...I was wondering about a quick glazing on a tray in my air fryer oven...to give them a little crisp.
staysnatched
Friday 27th of January 2023
I don't make these in the air fryer.
Maria Campbell
Monday 28th of November 2022
I came here looking for an easy sweet potato recipe to replace a casserole I’ve made for many years at thanksgiving and this did not disappoint. The recipe was easy and it delivered on taste! I can’t wait to make this again!
staysnatched
Tuesday 29th of November 2022
I'm so glad you will make it again!
Ashley
Sunday 27th of November 2022
This recipe is so good and easy to follow! Quick to prepare and delicious, but not lacking in flavor. The perfect side dish for any holiday/Sunday supper!
staysnatched
Monday 28th of November 2022
Yay! So glad to hear it.