Easy candied yams are the perfect side dish for your holiday table, offering comforting sweetness and buttery richness in every bite. These soft, syrupy yams are always a crowd-pleaser.

With just a few ingredients and under an hour from start to finish, candied yams come together with minimal effort. Serve them warm, and watch them disappear before the main course is done.

Star Ingredients in These Candied Yams

Sweet potatoes – Earthy and naturally sweet, they’re the soul of the dish, becoming rich and tender when baked.
Unsalted butter – Adds a velvety texture and deepens the overall flavor with its creamy richness.
Brown sugar – Melts into a caramel-like glaze, lending that signature candied coating with molasses undertones.
Heavy cream – Offers a silky element to the syrup, balancing the sweetness and rounding out the flavor.
Cinnamon & nutmeg – Warm spices that bring seasonal depth and enhance the natural sweetness of the yams.
Salt – Just enough to balance the sweet and sharpen the flavor contrast.

How to Make Candied Yams in No Time

Start by peeling and slicing your sweet potatoes into uniform rounds—this ensures even baking. Layer them neatly in a buttered 9×13” baking dish.

Meanwhile, melt butter and heavy cream together until hot. In a separate bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Pour the hot butter mixture over the sugar and stir until everything’s beautifully blended.

Coat the sweet potato slices with this luscious glaze, cover with foil, and bake for 25 minutes. Then uncover, stir gently, and bake again until the yams are fork-tender and syrupy—about 20 to 30 more minutes. Serve them warm and watch them vanish.

Tips, Tricks & Sweet Little Twists

For the best texture, make sure your sweet potato slices are all the same thickness—about ½ inch. This helps them cook evenly and soak up every bit of the spiced syrup.

A splash of orange juice adds brightness and balance to the sweet base, while a touch of vanilla extract deepens the overall flavor. Both are optional, but they take this dish from delicious to unforgettable.

If you’re feeling nostalgic or want to please the kids, add mini marshmallows once the foil comes off. Let them toast during the final bake, or broil for just a minute to get that golden, gooey topping.

Storing Leftovers: Sweet and Simple

Store any leftover candied yams in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat them gently in the microwave or in the oven at 325°F until warmed through. They can also be frozen, though the texture may soften slightly. For best results, freeze in a single layer with parchment between slices, then reheat in the oven straight from frozen.

Candied Yams Recipe

A comforting and traditional side dish, these candied yams require minimal preparation and yield irresistibly tender, syrup-coated sweet potatoes. Perfect for festive gatherings or family dinners, they bring warmth and sweetness to any table.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Candied Yams Recipe

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 45

Total Time: 55

Servings:

Ingredients

½ teaspoon grated nutmeg
¾ cup packed light brown sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 pounds sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons heavy cream
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish with butter.
Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into ½-inch thick slices. Layer the slices evenly in the prepared baking dish.
Melt the butter with the heavy cream in a medium saucepan over medium heat until hot and fully liquified.
In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Pour the warm butter mixture into the sugar blend and stir until homogeneous.
Evenly distribute the sweetened mixture over the sweet potatoes, ensuring thorough coating. Cover the baking dish with foil.
Place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and gently toss the potatoes to coat with the syrup that has formed.
Continue baking, uncovered, for an additional 20 to 30 minutes, or until the yams are tender and richly glazed. Serve immediately while warm.

Notes

Scrub the sweet potatoes thoroughly before peeling to remove residual dirt.
Uniform slicing helps ensure even cooking throughout.
A splash of orange juice (2 tablespoons) can brighten the syrup with a subtle tang.
Enhance the flavor profile by stirring in ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract.
For a classic twist, top with mini marshmallows after stirring and return to bake uncovered; broil briefly at the end to achieve a toasted finish.