Easy Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes
Easy Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes are a classic dish that promises a taste of the South with every bite. These flavorful, caramelized, and fork-tender sweet potatoes are baked in the oven in a buttery sugar glaze. This is a fantastic Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato recipe for Thanksgiving and will be the hit of your holiday table.
In the South, it is very rare to find a Thanksgiving dinner without a sweet potato dish on the table. This candied sweet potato recipe is just as tasty as my Southern-style sweet potato casserole and my Southern sweet potato pie.
This is the perfect dish for holidays, celebrations, and Sunday dinners, and it is easy enough for weeknight meals. My mother-in-law introduced me to candied sweet potatoes for the first time over 30 years ago, and they have always been a staple on our holiday table. This candied version is a tried and tested family favorite, and I hope it becomes a favorite for you and your family as well.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This side dish is definitely a southern-style addition to your holiday table.
- The potatoes are cooked slowly in a syrupy sauce, making them sweet and tender. They are homemade from scratch and baked in the oven.
- I love southern candied sweet potatoes, and after the first bite, you’ll be hooked. This recipe is made without marshmallows, but you can easily add them in the last few minutes in the oven.
- This glazed sweet potato recipe is unlike any other. With just a few basic ingredients, anyone can create this delicious and classic recipe without problems.
- The buttery caramel toffee flavor is perfect for the season. Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes are buttery, sweet, simple, and delicious. So this year, instead of making them ordinary, make them extraordinary.
Sweet Potatoes also go great with southern collard greens.
Ingredients Needed for the Perfect Sweet Potatoes
For the complete recipe for candied sweet potatoes, see the printable recipe card below.
- Sweet Potatoes (about 2 pounds) – Sweet potatoes are the star of this dish. You’ll need about 2 pounds of fresh sweet potatoes washed, peeled, and sliced fry style.
- Butter – Everything is better with butter. I usually use salted butter, but unsalted butter will also work.
- Water – A little water to get things cooked.
- Brown Sugar – Sweet potatoes and brown sugar just go together. Light brown sugar (or dark brown sugar) will work. I have used both, and the outcome is the same.
- White Sugar – White granulated sugar adds more sweetness.
- Karo Syrup – Karo syrup helps control sugar’s crystallization for a nice and glossy outcome.
- Vanilla – Vanilla extract for flavoring.
How To Make Candied Sweet Potatoes
This recipe begins with fresh, peeled sweet potatoes sliced in a fry style and combined with butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. For step-by-step instructions, see the printable recipe card below.
- First, start by peeling and slicing your potatoes – fry style.
- Then, melt butter in a large cast-iron skillet on low heat. Add water, sugars, syrup, and vanilla. Heat and stir until melted.
- Add potatoes and toss well until coated. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes on the stovetop. Gently stir every 5 minutes or so to ensure the potatoes are evenly coated and not sticking.
- After 20 minutes, carefully move the skillet to a 350-degree oven and bake for 40-45 minutes without stirring. Baked candied sweet potatoes are out of this world fabulous.
- Allow potatoes to sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. This will allow the sauce to set on the potatoes.
Yams vs Sweet Potatoes- What’s the Difference?
Yams and sweet potatoes are entirely different vegetables. Some grocery stores will mislabel them and call them both sweet potatoes or vice versa, but this is incorrect. Yams and sweet potatoes are different in looks and taste.
Yams have dark brown and rough skin. The inside (flesh) is more starchy compared to a regular white potato.
Sweet Potatoes usually have a smother skin with a reddish color. The inside (flesh) is orange, soft, creamy, and sweet. Sweet potatoes are more easily found in grocery stores year-round.
Cooking a Turkey couldn’t be easier. Be sure to check out How To Cook a Turkey in a Bag for a moist and delicious turkey every time.
Recipe Tips
For the best sweet potato recipe for Thanksgiving, follow these tips to ensure you have the best dish on the table.
- Try to make the slices as uniform as possible; this will allow all potatoes to cook at the same rate. I have found if the sweet potatoes are large, cut each potato into quarters and then slice. This makes it a lot easier to handle the bigger potatoes.
- Preheat the oven before starting this recipe so the cooking process does not stop as you move from stovetop to oven.
- Stir the potatoes gently as they are cooking on the stovetop.
- Most of the liquid will cook out, so watch your potatoes during the last few minutes of cooking time. They will be fork tender.
- Allow the oven-baked caramelized sweet potatoes to cool slightly before serving. This will allow the sauce to thicken a bit.
Like Sweet Potatoes? Be sure to add my Sweet Potato Casserole to your holiday table this year.
Recipe Variations
This is the ultimate Thanksgiving sweet potato recipe. You can customize this recipe with a few variations to make it perfect for you and your guests.
- Sprinkle a few pecans over the top of the sweet potatoes before baking in the oven.
- Add warm spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie.
- I love a good old fashioned sweet potato recipe with marshmallows. Feel free to add a layer of mini marshmallows to the top of the cooked sweet potatoes and place them back in the oven until they have melted.
Storage Tips For Leftover Candied Sweet Potatoes
To store leftovers: Cool sweet potatoes, then place them in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator. They will keep for several days and are fantastic reheated to eat again.
To Reheat: The best way to reheat these potatoes is in the oven, microwave, or stovetop. They warm really fast, so be careful.
Be sure to check out my No-Bake Pumpkin Pie for a delicious holiday dessert.
What Is The Sauce For Candied Sweet Potatoes?
Butter, water, sugar, syrup, and vanilla all work together to form a sticky glaze that is scrumptious and heavenly.
Recipe FAQs
You can make this dish the day before and reheat it before serving. Warm in a 350-degree oven for about 20 minutes or so.
No. They are different vegetables with different flavors and textures.
Yes, this recipe could also be a dessert. The sweet potatoes are coated with a sugar and butter sauce and then baked until soft. Add a little vanilla ice cream to the bowl and top with extra sweet juices from the pan.
Sausage Apple Cranberry Stuffing is great as a side dish for the holidays, and let’s not forget the Homemade Cranberry Sauce.
Best Thanksgiving Day Sides
Sausage, Apple, and Cranberry Stuffing
23 Southern Side Dishes for Thanksgiving or Christmas
Green Bean Casserole
Chicken and Dressing
Pineapple Casserole
Be sure to try my Southern Chicken and Dressing for the holidays.
More Sweet Potatoes Recipes
Sweet Potato Casserole with Brown Sugar Pecan Topping
Be sure to check out my Southern Desserts for more delicious sweets.
Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes about 2 large or 4 medium
- 1 stick butter (½ cup)
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup white sugar
- ¼ cup Dark Karo Syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°.
- First, start by peeling and slicing your potatoes – fry style.
- Melt butter in a large cast-iron skillet on low heat. Add water, sugars, syrup, and vanilla. Heat and stir until all is melted.
- Add potatoes and toss well until coated. Bring to simmer and cook for 20 minutes on the stovetop. Gently stir every 5 minutes or so to ensure the potatoes are evenly coated and not sticking.
- After 20 minutes, carefully move the skillet to a 350-degree oven and bake for 40-45 minutes without stirring.
- Allow potatoes to sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. This will allow the sauce to set on the potatoes.
Sweet, delicious and easy to do. My family loved these and we will definitely make them again.
What an amazing way to cook sweet potatoes. These look incredible.
These are *incredible*! They really are like candy. I think I could eat these every single day!
Ooooh, these sweet potatoes look so good! I especially love that caramelized flavor. Definitely perfect for the holidays.
This is seriously amazing!! I can’t wait to make it again and again!
These candied sweet potatoes was so delicious. It was an instant hit at home! perfect for the holidays