These candied sweet potatoes are a delicious and easy side dish that is perfect for any occasion! The best part is, they only require a few simple ingredients. So go ahead and give them a try!
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Candied Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a delicious and nutritious side dish that everyone will love. These candied sweet potatoes are made with the perfect blend of sweetness to make them irresistible.
I've experimented with sweet potatoes for many years and always come back to this same recipe. It was one my grandma made when I was a child and one that showed up at every holiday feast.
If you want something a bit different, you might want to try the sweet potato crostini with prosciutto. It's a great appetizer that is upscale, elegant, and delicious while featuring your favorite sweet and savory base.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds sweet potatoes (1 ½ kg)
- 2 ¼ cups brown sugar (460 g)
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup water
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Optional:
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup crushed almonds, pecans, or walnuts
- ½ cup mini marshmallows
Handy Kitchen Tools
How to Make Candied Sweet Potatoes
Wash and peel the sweet potatoes. You may want to rinse them again after peeling to remove any debris.
Cut the sweet potatoes into ½ chunks or rounds.
In a medium saucepan, add the potatoes, brown sugar, water, salt, and butter.
If desired, add ground cinnamon to the mixture at this point.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and let cook for 18 to 20 minutes.
Stir the mixture occasionally, cooking until they are fork-tender.
Remove the potatoes from the saucepan leaving the liquid behind, then continue cooking it until it is thickened and bubbly, for an additional 5 to 7 minutes.
Once the sugar liquid has thickened, pour over the cooked sweet potatoes.
For added flavor and texture, top with crushed almonds, pecans, walnuts, and marshmallows.
You can also pour this into a baking dish and top with marshmallows then broil for 3 to 4 minutes to melt and brown the top before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
While both sweet potatoes and yams are tubers, there is a big difference between the two. Yams are starchier and drier than sweet potatoes, and they also have a different flavor. Candied yams are often made with brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon, while candied sweet potatoes usually just use sugar and spices.
They are not the same thing, but in this case, they can be used somewhat interchangeably for a tasty side dish. You may even find different colored yams and sweet potatoes that add a unique look and flavor to the side dish.
If your candied sweet potatoes are watery, there are a few possible reasons. The first is that you didn't let the liquid boil long enough after removing the potatoes. It needs to cook down to thicken.
The second reason is that you may have put too much liquid. While the recipe uses 1 cup of liquid to cook the potatoes, you may find that you need to use less depending upon the humidity or climate. I recommend decreasing by ¼ cup, or alternately boiling the potatoes, draining them, then creating the sauce separately to coat them in after they cook.
While you can freeze cooked sweet potatoes, I do not recommend doing so unless you absolutely have to. The sugar syrup will crystallize when frozen and does not have as nice a texture once thawed and reheated.
You can store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days after preparing. If you do choose to freeze them, do so in a container with 1" extra space at the top and store them for up to 6 weeks.
What Should I Serve Candied Sweet Potatoes With?
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it goes well with just about any entree. I love that they pair so nicely with chicken, pork, beef, or fish.
One of my favorite meals to serve these with is the classic roasted chicken with garlic butter. Of course, it goes well with garlic and herb baked chicken breast, barbecue chicken breast, or even the always loved classic Instant Pot pot roast recipe.
My husband likes these alongside the skillet pork chops with pan gravy and this easy pork loin with homemade barbecue sauce. As you can see, they are a super versatile side dish, but I'll be honest that I have even had them for breakfast, snack, or as a dessert!
More Easy Side Dishes
If you want more tasty side dishes to add to your meal plan, look no further. There are tons of great additions to your meal plan that are flavorful and easy to prepare, and these are some of my favorites. Make sure to bookmark them, print out the recipes, and pin them to Pinterest!
- The Best Ever Candied Carrots Recipe
- Cheesy Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe
- The Best Homemade Creamed Corn Recipe
- Easy Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower Recipe
- Cheesy Duchess Potatoes Recipe
📖 Recipe
The Best Candied Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Tender and naturally sweet, this recipe for candied sweet potatoes is a perfect addition to any meal!
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups brown sugar (460 g)
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup water
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Optional
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup crushed almonds, pecans, or walnuts
- ½ cup mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Wash and then peel the sweet potatoes.
- Cut them into ½" rounds or chunks.
- In a medium saucepan, add the potatoes, brown sugar, water, salt, and butter.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat. Then cover.
- Cook for 18 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender.
- Remove the potatoes from the saucepan, leaving the liquid.
- Let the liquid continue cooking for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring regularly, until it is at a rolling boil and begins to thicken.
- Once thickened, pour the sauce over the potatoes. Top with chopped nuts or marshmallows before serving.
Notes
Add cinnamon to the sugar syrup for extra flavor.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 674Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 394mgCarbohydrates: 109gFiber: 2gSugar: 104gProtein: 2g
Kathryn McKisic
Your receipe is for 4 on your candied sweet potatoes. How is this receipe adjusted for 10 people.
Aena
Hi you use 2,5 times the ingredients that should adjust it to 10 people.