These Southern Candied Yams are sweet, buttery, and full of that nostalgic flavor that makes every holiday table complete. Tender slices of sweet potato are baked in a rich brown sugar glaze with warm spices and a hint of cream for extra silkiness. Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Sunday dinner, this easy candied yams recipe is the kind of comfort food that everyone asks for seconds of.
If you’ve been searching for an easy Southern candied yams recipe, this is the one you’ll make again and again. If you like this recipe, you’ll love this Sweet Potato Pudding recipe as well.
Ingredients
- Sweet potatoes
- Unsalted butter
- White sugar
- Light brown sugar
- Heavy cream
- Salt
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground nutmeg
- Orange or pineapple juice
- Vanilla extract
How to Make Southern Candied Yams
Preheat the oven
Set your oven to 350°F (177°C).
Prepare the sweet potatoes
Peel the potatoes with a peeler, then slice them into ½-inch-thick rounds. Arrange them evenly in the casserole dish.
Make the brown sugar glaze
In a medium pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add both sugars, a pinch of salt, the orange juice, and heavy cream. Whisk until smooth and creamy. Stir in the cinnamon and nutmeg, then bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
Add the vanilla
Once the mixture starts to bubble, remove it from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
Combine and bake
Pour the warm glaze over the sliced potatoes, coating them evenly. Use a spoon or your hands (with gloves) to gently toss and make sure each slice is well covered.
Bake
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the foil, baste the potatoes with the syrup from the pan, and bake uncovered for another 20 minutes, or until tender and caramelized.
You asked, I answered
Frequently Asked Questions
Tips for Perfect Southern Candied Yams
- Even slices = even baking: Try to keep your slices uniform so they soften evenly.
- Don’t skip the heavy cream: It gives the syrup that rich, velvety texture.
- Use real sweet potatoes: Most “yams” sold in the U.S. are sweet potatoes, and they’re perfect for this dish.
- Make ahead: You can bake them a day early, then reheat at 300°F for 15–20 minutes before serving.
These Southern Candied Yams are the definition of sweet comfort. Each bite melts into buttery, caramel-coated goodness that pairs perfectly with baked mac and cheese, greens, or roasted turkey. Simple ingredients, soul-satisfying flavor — that’s what makes this dish a true Southern classic. Let me know in the comments if you made these delicious candied yams, or tag me on Instagram. Enjoy!
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The Best Candied Yams
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Bake
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
Sweet, buttery Southern candied yams baked in a brown sugar glaze with warm spices and cream. The perfect sweet potato side for holidays or Sunday dinner.
Ingredients
- 5 large sweet potatoes
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3 tablespoons orange or pineapple juice
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven
Set your oven to 350°F (177°C) and lightly butter or spray a medium casserole dish. - Prepare the sweet potatoes
Peel the potatoes with a peeler, then slice them into ½-inch-thick rounds. Arrange them evenly in the casserole dish. - Make the brown sugar glaze
In a medium pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add both sugars, a pinch of salt, the orange juice, and heavy cream. Whisk until smooth and creamy. Stir in the cinnamon and nutmeg, then bring the mixture to a gentle boil. - Add the vanilla
Once the mixture starts to bubble, remove it from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. - Combine and bake
Pour the warm glaze over the sliced potatoes, coating them evenly. Use a spoon or your hands (with gloves) to gently toss and make sure each slice is well covered. - Bake covered
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the foil, baste the potatoes with the syrup from the pan, and bake uncovered for another 20 minutes, or until tender and caramelized. - Serve
Spoon the buttery syrup over the top and serve immediately while warm.
Notes
Even slices = even baking: Try to keep your slices uniform so they soften evenly.
Make ahead: You can bake them a day early, then reheat at 300°F for 15–20 minutes before serving.
