Description
Southern Candied Yams are a classic, comforting side dish featuring tender sweet potatoes simmered slowly in a rich, buttery syrup made with brown sugar, white sugar, warm spices, and orange juice concentrate. This traditional recipe yields a sweet, warmly spiced casserole perfect for holiday dinners or cozy family meals, served best warm with a luscious glaze coating each slice.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potatoes
- 2 lb sweet potatoes
Syrup and Spices
- 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
- 4 tbsp frozen orange juice concentrate (thawed)
- 2 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 stick butter (approximately 8 tbsp)
Instructions
- Prepare the Yams: Scrub, peel, and slice the sweet potatoes into 1/2 inch thick rounds to ensure they cook evenly and absorb the syrup well.
- Combine Ingredients in Pot: In a medium pot over medium-high heat, add the sliced sweet potatoes along with dark brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, vanilla extract, butter, and thawed orange juice concentrate. Stir carefully to coat the sweet potatoes evenly in the sugar and butter mixture.
- Simmer the Yams: Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover the pot and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for about 50 minutes or until the yams are tender when pierced with a fork. If yams are still firm, continue cooking longer as needed.
- Reduce the Syrup: Remove the lid and turn the heat back to medium. Allow the cooking liquid to boil, stirring occasionally until it reduces and thickens into a syrup that coats the yams, about 10 minutes.
- Keep Warm and Serve: Remove the pot from heat and transfer the candied yams to an oven-safe dish. Keep warm in the oven until ready to serve. These yams are best enjoyed warm with their rich, syrupy glaze.
Notes
- Candied yams are a cherished old-fashioned side dish, slowly cooked on the stovetop in a sweet and spiced buttery sauce.
- Using dark brown sugar enhances the depth of flavor, but light brown sugar works well too.
- For best results, keep the yams covered during simmering to retain moisture and allow even cooking.
- The orange juice concentrate adds a subtle citrus brightness that balances the sweetness.
- This dish pairs perfectly with savory mains like roasted turkey or ham.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (about 180g)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
