Sugary Candied Yams are made with canned sweet potatoes, fresh butter, caramely brown sugar, and topped with loads of soft mini marshmallows. Once baked, the tender yams are blanketed with a gooey sweet glaze and a pillowy crust. A better holiday side dish doesn’t exist.
The holidays are the time to cook up all of your favorites! Here are some holiday favorites to make yours even more special. This Simple Stuffing, is a great recipe for beginners and Corn Casserole is a classic side dish that’s got to be included in the festivities.
Candied Sweet Potatoes
Big chunks of sweet potato get dotted with rich butter and smothered in brown sugar and cinnamon. As they bake, the sugar and butter melt into the most luxurious syrupy glaze that coats each piece of sweet potato. As the final step, the top is covered in a generous layer of marshmallows that puff up to golden perfection and give a slight caramelized crunch.
This decadent side dish is an absolute favorite at holiday gatherings. I mean really, who could pass it up? Even my kid that doesn’t like sweet potatoes, loves this one. That’s probably because it’s more of a dessert than a side, but it’s the holidays so we indulge a little.
Trust me in using the canned yams, this is how my mom always made them for us for the holidays. They end up with a divine texture that is hard to replicate when using your own baked sweet potatoes. Plus, it is a time saver, so you can now put more energy into baking the turkey.
Candied Yams Ingredients
- Yams:These are actually sweet potatoes, you’ll need two of the biggest cans.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter to control the amount of salt that gets added.
- Brown Sugar: Light or dark brown sugar can be used.
- Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon adds a hint of spice.
- Salt: A little bit of salt helps balance out the sweetness.
- Marshmallows: I use mini marshmallows to help keep the top layer a little more even, but large marshmallows can also be used.
How to Make Candied Yams
Here are the basic instructions to make candied yams. Check out the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post with full ingredients and instructions to make it.
Cooking Tips and Tricks
- If you need less, easily cut the recipe in half and bake in a 9×9 or 8×8-inch pan.
- Add a nice layer of marshmallows to give them a thick layer on top.
- Completely drain the can of sweet potatoes. If they are still too sweet, you can carefully rinse them before cooking.
- If you use the broiler to toast the marshmallows, keep a close eye on them so they don’t burn.
Recipe Variations
- Instead of canned yams, use baked sweet potatoes or air fryer whole sweet potatoes.
- Add additional spices such as ground cloves, allspice, or nutmeg.
- Pour in a splash of orange juice for a little flavor complexity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between yams and sweet potatoes? In the United States people use the terms yams and sweet potatoes interchangeably. Real yams are brown and scaly, they are also starchier and less sweet than sweet potatoes.
Can I leave off the marshmallows? Yes, you can bake the sweet potatoes with just the sauce. The marshmallows make this dish even more decadent.
How to Store & Reheat
How to store it? Let the sweet potatoes cool and put in an airtight container. It should last about 4-5 days in the fridge.
How do you reheat ? To reheat in the oven, make sure the sweet potatoes are in an oven safe baking dish covered loosely with aluminum foil. Place into an oven preheated to 350°F and cook for 15-20 minutes until heated through. You can add fresh marshmallows at the end and broil for 1-2 minutes. You can also reheat in the microwave 30 seconds at a time until heated through.
How to freeze? Let cool completely before putting into an air tight, freezer safe container. can be frozen for 3-6 months, just be sure to label with the recipe and date. Thaw frozen cooked on a plate in the refrigerator overnight until defrosted.
Try these other holiday recipes!
- Potatoes Au Gratin
- Air Fryer Turkey Legs
- Fried Apples
- Air Fryer Rosemary Butter Carrots
- Turkey Pot Pie with Cheddar Biscuits
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Balsamic
If you’ve tried this southern candied yams recipe, don’t forget to give me a star rating and leave me a comment below in the comment section. I love to hear from people who have made my recipes.
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Candied Yams
Ingredients
- 80 ounces canned yams/canned sweet potatoes in light syrup, two 40 ounce cans, drained
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter 1/2 a stick, cut into slices
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 5 cups miniature marshmallows
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9×13-inch pan and set aside.
- In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon.
- Gently pour the drained yams into the baking dish, spreading them into an even layer.
- Place the cut up butter all over the sweet potatoes.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture all over the sweet potatoes.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the dish from the oven and uncover. Sprinkle on the marshmallows as evenly as possible, then return to the oven uncovered. Bake for an additional 15 minutes until marshmallows are lightly browned.
Notes
- If you need less, easily cut the recipe in half and bake in a 9×9 or 8×8-inch pan.
- Add a nice layer of marshmallows to give them a thick layer on top.
- Completely drain the can of sweet potatoes. If they are still too sweet, you can carefully rinse them before cooking.
- Let the sweet potatoes cool and put in an airtight container. It should last about 4-5 days in the fridge.
Nutrition
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