Candied Yams
The BEST Candied Yams! Made with a sweet, caramelized sauce and a hint of cayenne pepper... these candied yams make a delicious side dish for any meal and are especially perfect for the holidays!
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Servings: 12
Ingredients
- 5 medium sweet potatoes
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
Instructions
- Wash and peel the sweet potatoes, then slice them into 1/2 inch pieces. Transfer sliced potatoes into a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar, orange juice, vanilla, and spices. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to a simmer and simmer for 10 minute, until mixture has reduced slightly. Pour the sauce over the yams in the baking pan.
- Cover with foil, then bake at 400°F for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 45 minutes, gently mixing every 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Recipe variations
- Cut the sweet potatoes into chunks instead of slices
- Leave the skin on if you prefer
- Sweeten with maple syrup instead of brown sugar (omit or reduce the orange juice)
- Use salted butter instead of unsalted (omit the extra salt in the recipe)
- Add additional spices such as allspice, ginger, or cloves
- Add a splash of bourbon in place of the vanilla extract to finish them off