These tasty Southern-style Candied Yams are made in one easy skillet with a buttery brown sugar cinnamon nutmeg syrup. Impress your guests with this tasty and simple yam recipe.
Its sweet flavor is so delicious with baked ham, ham steak, slow cooker turkey, and roasted pork. This is a must-try for any sweet potato casserole lover and a great side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Sweet Potatoes: You would be hard-pressed to find a true yam in a grocery store here. Yams and sweet potatoes are two different starchy root vegetables. However, in the United States, the names are used synonymously for sweet potatoes.
- Butter: unsalted or salted. If using salted butter, adjust the added salt to the recipe to taste.
- Spices: ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, kosher salt, and black pepper
- Vanilla extract: pure vanilla extract
How to make Candied Yams
First, add the sweet potatoes, sugars, butter, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and vanilla to a large skillet or pot over medium heat. As the sugars and butter melt, stir to combine all the ingredients and coat the potatoes with the sugar mixture.
Bring the mixture to a low boil, cover it with a lid or aluminum foil, and reduce it to a simmer. Cook for about 30 minutes or until fork tender. Gently turn the sweet potatoes as they are cooking. Turn the heat up during the last few minutes of cooking to thicken the sauce. For best results, serve promptly.
Preparation Tips
- Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into uniform size chunks. Sweet potatoes can be challenging to cut, so be prepared and be safe.
- Stir the potatoes just enough to mix the spices and glaze both sides of the potatoes.
- Is your stovetop extra busy? It’s no problem; prepare them in a baking dish in the oven using the same concept. Bake covered at 375 degrees for about 25 minutes, stirring to combine and baste several times. Then remove the top and cook until fork tender and glazed.
- For an extra special treat, sprinkle with toasted pecans. Or use an oven-proof skillet, top with mini marshmallows, and bake uncovered at 400 degrees until the marshmallows melt and lightly brown.
Prepare It In Advance
Prepare this dish up to 2 days in advance and let those flavors mingle. Be careful not to cook the sweet potatoes too much. Cook just until barely fork tender. Prepare the recipe as instructed and let the potatoes fully cool. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat on the stovetop on low or in the microwave at reduced power.
Serving Suggestions
- Smoked ham
- Roasted pork loin
- Roast turkey
- Ham steak
- Roasted chicken
- Mac and cheese
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat at reduced power in the microwave.
To freeze first, cool completely. Then, place in freezer bags or a freezer container, removing as much air as possible if using freezer bags. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop on low.
More Sweet Potato Recipes
Candied Yams Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lbs sweet potatoes
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add the sweet potatoes, brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and vanilla to a large skillet over medium heat. As the sugars and butter melt, stir to combine all the ingredients and coat the potatoes.
- Bring the mixture to a low boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook for about 30 minutes or until fork tender. Gently turn the sweet potatoes as they are cooking.
- Turn the heat up during the last few minutes of cooking to thicken the sauce. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. For best results, serve promptly.
Notes
- Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into uniform size chunks. Sweet potatoes can be challenging to cut, so be prepared and be safe.
- Stir the potatoes just enough to mix the spices and glaze both sides of the potatoes.
- Is your stovetop extra busy? It’s no problem; prepare them in a baking dish in the oven using the same concept. Bake covered at 375 degrees for about 25 minutes, stirring to combine and baste several times. Then remove the top and cook until fork tender and glazed.
- For an extra special treat, sprinkle with toasted pecans. Or use an oven-proof skillet, top with mini marshmallows, and bake uncovered at 400 degrees until the marshmallows melt and lightly brown.
Nutrition
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Candace
Beautiful seasonal recipe. We loved it!
Lilah
I love this candied yams recipe! It was both delicious and simple to make. The addition of spices really enhances the flavor, making it perfect for holiday gatherings.
Charlene
I live in the UK and I only ever see yams if I go to the food markets. I am going to try this out with sweet potatoes as I love the flavour and can imagine these would be extra tasty and sweet!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Charlene! Enjoy!
Juliana
Candied Yams make for such a good side dish! Thank you for your easy to follow recipe.
Rhian S
That’s interesting that in the US yams and sweet potatoes are deemed as pretty much the same thing as I thought they were different. Although they look very much like sweet potatoes x
Karen
These yams omg omg omg…I never tried, let alone made candied yams. I can’t wait to make your recipe, can’t wait.
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Karn!
Chrissy A.
I love these candied yams. Me and my family love sweet potatoes so much. I will make these again!
Colette
These are absolutely delicious! I’ve been looking for a new candied yam recipe for the holidays, so I made these last night as a test run. They’re gone now!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Colette! So happy that you liked them!
Kerstyn
The one-skillet method made it so simple to prepare. When I tasted the yams, I was instantly transported to a cozy Southern kitchen.
Lisa
Is there any way to make this non-dairy for allergy reasons?
Beth Pierce
Maybe there is a vegan butter that would work well with this. Hopefully one of the readers will respond.
Moni
These candied yams are a pure delight! The recipe is straightforward, and the result is a heavenly combination of sweet and savory flavors. I can’t wait to make them again for my next gathering. Thank you for sharing this deliciousness!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Moni! So glad that you like them!
Janice
I have never heard of candied yams before! These look so delicious – we will have to try them. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Tanya
The combination of buttery brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg syrup in a skillet is simply mouthwatering. Perfect for holiday feasts or pairing with various meats. Can’t wait to try this Southern-style goodness!
Tammy
Candied yams are holiday must! Now I know fall is underway…I cannot believe how quickly summer went, but I’m very much looking forward to the fall cooking and baking. I love candied yams…yours look perfect and delicious!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Tammy! Enjoy!
Chris
Thanks for the great sweet potato recipe, Beth! The family loves this dish. It will ne on regular rotation at our house.