Y’all know ain’t nothing like some Southern Candied Yams. We always have these on a Sunday supper table. I thinly slice the yams then bake them in a spiced syrup until they are beyond tender. A lot of candied yam recipes are cooked on the stovetop like my mama’s candied sweet potatoes. But by baking them instead, you cut the work in half. In just under an hour, you can have the most tender, warm, and flavorful candy yams you’ll ever taste! No lies detected.
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They’re Lovin’ It! Here’s what They’re Sayin’:
“I recently tried making these candied yams and they were a delightful addition to our Sunday dinner. The yams were absolutely irresistible. It’s a truly comforting and mouthwatering dish that I’ll be making again, especially for holiday gatherings.”
—KRYSTEN
How To Make Candied Yams
Step 1: Add potatoes to a large pot with water and boil until just tender, not mushy. Drain and allow the potatoes to cool to room temp.
Step 2: Next add sugar, cornstarch, and all spices to a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the apricot nectar, orange juice, and zest and stir together then bring to a boil, stirring the entire time. Remove from the heat and add in vanilla and half the butter.
Step 3: Add the tender potatoes to a baking dish. Pour the mixture over the potatoes then take the remaining butter and cut into pats and place on the top of the potatoes.
Step 4: Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and potatoes are soft and completely tender.
Baked Candied Yams Recipe
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 lbs yams or sweet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced 1/4 inch thickness
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 cup apricot nectar
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice warmed until hot
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter separated
Instructions
- Add potatoes to a large pot with water and boil until just tender, not mushy though. Drain and allow the potatoes to cool to room temperature.
- Add the tender potatoes to a 9×13 inch sized baking dish. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Next add sugar, cornstarch, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a medium sized saucepan over medium heat. Next stir in the apricot nectar, hot orange juice, and orange zest and stir together then bring to a boil, stirring the entire time. Remove from the heat and add in vanilla extract and half of the butter.
- Pour the mixture over the potatoes then take the remaining butter and cut into pats and place on the top of the potatoes.
- Bake for 25-35 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and potatoes are soft and completely tender.
Notes
How To Store & Reheat Baked Candied Yams
Pop any leftovers in an airtight container after they have cooled down. I prefer to reheat in the oven. Preheat to 350 degrees then add leftover yams to a baking dish covered with foil and bake for 25-35 minutes, or until heated through.How Long Will Baked Candied Yams Last In The Fridge?
They should last for up to 3 to 5 days in the fridge.Can I Freeze Candied Yams In Oven?
Yep for sure boos! Place the leftovers in freezer-safe bags. They should last for up to 6 months. When you want to reheat, let them thaw in the fridge overnight.Nutrition
Recipe Tips
- Pick Them Right!: Look for deep orange yams that are free from soft spots or bruises when picking them out. They will have a richer flavor.
- Slice Evenly: Aim for consistent 1/4-inch thickness when slicing your yams! This will make sure that they bake evenly.
- Mellow Out: Marinating the sliced yams in the glaze for a few minutes before baking allows those flavors to really penetrate and soak into the yam.
- Soak Trick: Before boiling the yams, give them a quick soak in cold water for about 30 minutes. This helps draw out excess starch so the yams get tender but not mushy as they bake.
- Layer It Up: When arranging the yam slices in the baking dish, drizzle a bit of glaze between each layer to get a consistent burst of sweetness in every bite. Boss moves!
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Serving Suggestions
- Comfort Vibes: Serving these candy yams with my auntie’s Southern baked chicken and a nice harvest salad is a delish move to make.
- Southern Sunday Supper: Get down on some soul food with a meal of fried chicken, Southern baked macaroni and cheese, collard greens, these candied yams and honey cornbread. And don’t forget my big mama’s sweet potato pie recipe for dessert. It’s a hit every time!
- Thanksgiving: Serve these along with cornbread dressing, honey baked ham and turnip greens.
Ingredient Notes
- Butter: You can use salted butter here and just omit the salt in the recipe. Ghee will also work and make a thicker glaze due to the lower water content.
- Brown Sugar: If you don’t have any, make homemade brown sugar with granulated sugar and molasses.
- Yams: You can also swap in sweet potatoes here if you can’t find yams.
- Spices: If you don’t want to use individual spices, you can also use a pre-packaged apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice for ease.
- Orange Juice and Zest: You can use another citrus flavor like lime or lemon and it will still brighten the flavors perfectly.
Recipe Help
Yep! Boiling them starts the tenderizing process so they become perfectly tender as the syrup gets thick and sticky on them. If you don’t, they still may be a bit tough.
Yams have rough, dark brown skin that is often compared to tree bark, and their flesh is dry and starchy. Sweet potatoes have smooth reddish skin, softer flesh, and a sweet flavor.
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My mom taught me to make candied yams with pineapple juice which I love, but decided to switch things up and try this recipe with orange juice. I can’t decide which I like best – these were SO good!
My yams came out perfect. They were sweet and fork tender. I loved the flavor.
Oh I loved your recipe. Never imagined a Baked Candied Yam recipe ever. Have to give this recipe a try. Perfect option for a good Appetiser.
I love baked candied yams, your recipe using apricot nectar and orange juice differs from mine, so I gave it a try. Really delicious, thank you
These candied yams were a hit! I love that they had a perfect amount of sweetness. The perfect holiday side dish.
These classic, fabulous, Southern baked yams are sure to be a crowd pleaser in my house.
Loved the texture and flavor of these baked yams. They came out great! Thanks for the recipe!
Served this with dinner last night and it was a savory success! Even my picky eaters enjoyed this dish; looking forward to serving this again for Thanksgiving!
So delicious! These will definitely be making an appearance at our Thanksgiving table!
These really are the best baked candied yams ever! They’re sweet and tender, and I know I’ll be making these again during the holidays!