Don’t use cans this holiday season! These easy candied sweet potatoes are buttery, caramelized, and perfectly tender. A cozy, family-friendly side dish made with brown sugar, maple syrup, and warm spices. Perfect for a holiday dinner or weeknight comfort meal!
classic holiday side dish
Growing up, every Thanksgiving dinner I was served included candied yams. Prepared in the traditional (and, in my opinion, baffling) way. Place canned sweet potatoes in a baking dish and top with mini marshmallows. I took a tentative bite, declared that I didn’t like sweet potatoes, and vowed never to eat the overly sweet, bland, aggressive tuber again.
Thankfully, I was introduced to sweet potatoes again as an adult, and they quickly became one of my favorite foods.
But I still stand by my childhood declaration that yams have no place on the holiday table.
When served as a holiday side dish Candied Sweet Potatoes Can’t win. This easy version turns simple ingredients like butter, brown sugar, and a little maple syrup into a glossy caramel sauce that coats each tender sweet potato slice. The result is a warm, comforting dish that’s sweet (but not too sweet), beautifully seasoned, and makes your kitchen smell incredible.
these Easy Candied Sweet Potatoes It’s the perfect combination of nostalgia and practicality. No need to boil or pre-cook, just cut, pour and bake. The oven does all the work, creating perfectly caramelized edges and a thick, syrupy glaze that marries the indulgent yet down-to-earth and simple ingredients.
Whether you make them for Thanksgiving or Sunday dinner or to sweeten up a weeknight meal, these sweet potatoes are a delight for people of all ages. Add toasted pecans for crunch, some orange zest for a bright pop, or mini marshmallows for an irresistible classic. No matter what you serve, this is one of those dishes that disappears quickly and leaves everyone waiting for seconds.
Why we love this recipe:
It was perfectly sweet, buttery and caramelized.
It is naturally rich in fiber and vitamins.
Ideal for the holidays or a cozy family dinner.
The taste and texture kids love – it tastes like a dessert, but it’s considered a vegetable!
Substitutions and Variations:
butter: Substitute coconut oil or vegan butter for a dairy-free version.
sweetener: You can enjoy a richer flavor by replacing maple syrup with honey or molasses.
nuts: Substitute walnuts or almonds for pecans, or omit them entirely in nut-free recipes.
spices: Add cardamom or allspice for a fun twist, or reduce the cinnamon for a milder flavor.
topping: Top with marshmallows for a classic holiday finish. For daily meals, skip to lighter versions.
Tips for Success:
- Slice evenly: Even rounds help ensure that all dishes cook at the same rate.
- Don’t skip your breaks. If you leave the dish alone, the syrup will thicken and stick beautifully to the potatoes.
- Use real maple syrup: It adds sweetness and depth to the brown sugar and provides balance.
- Add texture: Toast the pecans separately before topping for an extra crunch.
- Look at the broiler: Marshmallows toast quickly. It only takes a few seconds to go from golden to tan!
Prepare and store in advance:
- Stay ahead: Assemble the dish (through step 5) up to a day in advance, cover tightly and refrigerate. Grill just before serving.
- Store leftover food: Let cool completely and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 hour. 4 days.
- Reheat: Warm in a 350°F oven until heated through, or microwave individual portions.
More delicious sweet potato recipes:
These easy candied sweet potatoes are sweet enough to make kids happy, healthy enough for parents to appreciate, and easy enough for a weeknight dish. The natural sweetness of potatoes means you don’t need to add a lot of sugar, and the combination of warm spices and buttery syrup makes every bite taste like a cozy fall hug. It’s delightful comfort food that’s nutritious, nostalgic, and downright delicious.
Easy Candied Sweet Potatoes
These easy candied sweet potatoes are buttery, caramelized, and perfectly tender. A cozy, family-friendly side dish made with brown sugar, maple syrup, and warm spices. Perfect for a holiday dinner or weeknight comfort meal!
Serving Size: 8
Preheat the oven 190°C (375°F). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into ½-inch-thick rounds. Arrange slices evenly on prepared dish.
Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat and melt the butter. Add brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg (if using), salt, and orange zest (if using). Stir until the sugar dissolves and the syrup bubbles, about 2 minutes.
Turn off the heat, add vanilla extract and stir.
Pour the syrup evenly over the sweet potatoes and toss lightly to coat.
Cover well with foil and bake. 40 minutes.
Remove the foil, sprinkle the chopped pecans evenly on top, and bake once more uncovered. 20-25 minutesBaste with syrup once or twice.
If using mini marshmallows, sprinkle them on top at the end. 5-7 minutes Of baking. Bake briefly for a golden brown finish. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
take a break 10 minutes Thicken the syrup before serving.
