Southern Candied Yams Recipe
This classic Southern Candied Yams recipe features tender sweet potatoes simmered in a rich, buttery syrup made with brown and white sugars, warm spices, vanilla, and a touch of orange juice concentrate. Perfect as a comforting side dish for holiday meals or family dinners, these yams are sweet, flavorful, and wonderfully caramelized.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern American
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potatoes
- 2 lb sweet potatoes
Syrup and Seasoning
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar (or light brown sugar)
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 stick butter (4 oz)
- 4 tbsp frozen orange juice concentrate (thawed)
Instructions
- Prepare the Yams: Scrub, peel, and slice the sweet potatoes into ½-inch rounds to ensure even cooking and proper absorption of the syrup later on.
- Combine Ingredients in Pot: In a medium, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat, add the sliced yams, butter, brown sugar, white sugar, thawed orange juice concentrate, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, and vanilla extract. Stir the mixture thoroughly until the yams are well coated and the butter and sugars begin to melt together.
- Simmer the Yams: Once the butter and sugars have melted and the mixture starts bubbling like a thick syrup, cover the pot and reduce the heat to let the yams simmer gently for about 50 minutes. Check tenderness by piercing the yams with a fork; if still firm, continue simmering until soft.
- Thicken the Syrup: Remove the lid and increase the heat to medium. Let the syrup come to a gentle boil, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes. This step thickens the syrup to a glaze that will coat the yams beautifully.
- Keep Warm and Serve: Remove the pot from the stove and keep the yams warm until serving. These candied yams are best enjoyed warm as a sweet, flavorful side dish.
Notes
- Ensure the sweet potatoes are sliced evenly for consistent cooking.
- Use dark brown sugar for a richer molasses flavor, but light brown sugar works as well.
- Thawed orange juice concentrate adds a subtle citrus brightness; do not use fresh orange juice as it may water down the syrup.
- Keep an eye on the syrup at the end to prevent burning as it thickens.
- These yams can be reheated gently in the oven before serving.
Keywords: Southern Candied Yams, sweet potatoes, holiday side dish, candied yams recipe, sweet potato side
Find it online: https://thefoodrecipe.com/southern-candied-yams-recipe/
