Caramelized Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Sweet potatoes covered in a brown sugar glaze in a large white bowl.

Caramelized Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Caramelized sweet potatoes, also called candied yams, are a delicious side dish made by baking sweet potatoes in a rich, buttery brown sugar glaze. Perfect for holiday meals!

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Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 1

Author: Heather Painchaud

Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

2 large sweet potatoes 3 lbs. or about 8 cups, peeled and cubed
½ cup butter
¼ cup maple syrup
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 Tbsp orange juice
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp ground ginger
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 tsp orange zest

Instructions

Peel and dice the potatoes.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease a large casserole dish and fill with the cubed sweet potatoes.
In a medium sauce pan, melt butter, syrup, sugar, orange juice, and spices together.
Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
Keep at a rolling boil, whisking constantly, until the sauce begins to caramelize. You will start to see it thicken and come away on a whisk or spoon. This can take up to 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in the vanilla and zest.
Pour the caramel mixture over the potatoes. Stir to coat all of the potato pieces.
Bake for 30 minutes, stir, then bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are fork tender.
Remove from the oven. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
Serve with your favorite holiday dishes.

Notes

Be sure to use a sharp knife when prepping, as sweet potatoes can be tough to cut.

Always scrub sweet potato skins thoroughly before peeling to remove any dirt or residue.

For a fancier look, use sweet potato slices instead of cubes. Adjust the baking time accordingly.

Lining your baking dish with parchment paper makes cleanup easier.

To make ahead, prep the glaze and potatoes separately, then bake before serving.

Swap maple syrup for honey for a slightly different sweetness.

Store leftover sweet potato casserole in an airtight container in the fridge.

Try tossing leftovers into a salad for a sweet-salty flavor combo.

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