Description
Candied Sweet Potatoes are a warm and comforting holiday side dish featuring tender sweet potatoes coated in a rich, caramelized glaze made from brown sugar, butter, and warm spices. Easy to prepare with simple pantry ingredients, this dish offers a perfect balance of sweetness, buttery richness, and subtle spice, making it an irresistible addition to any festive meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 3 to 4 medium firm sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into evenly sized chunks or slices
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup water or fresh orange juice
Instructions
- Preparing the Sweet Potatoes: Start by peeling the sweet potatoes and cutting them into evenly sized chunks or slices to ensure uniform cooking. This helps each piece soak in the flavors and become perfectly tender.
- Making the Syrup: In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until the mixture is smooth and bubbling, forming the signature sweet glaze that will coat the potatoes.
- Cooking the Potatoes: Place the sweet potato pieces in a baking dish, pour the prepared syrup evenly over them, then add just enough water or fresh orange juice to create steam during baking. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake until the potatoes are tender and easily pierced with a fork.
- Caramelizing the Top: Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes to allow the syrup to thicken and caramelize, creating a glossy finish with slightly crisp edges that add texture.
- Cooling and Serving: Let the Candied Sweet Potatoes rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the glaze to set and intensify in flavor, then enjoy this delicious side dish.
Notes
- Choose firm sweet potatoes to avoid mushy results.
- Cut sweet potatoes evenly to ensure consistent cooking and flavor absorption.
- Don’t skip adding water or juice to create steam for tender potatoes.
- Cover the baking dish tightly to lock in moisture for soft interiors.
- Bake uncovered at the end for a caramelized glaze and texture contrast.
- Use fresh, aromatic ground cinnamon for the best flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: candied sweet potatoes, holiday side dish, sweet potatoes recipe, caramelized sweet potatoes, festive side dish, gluten free, easy side dish
