Simple Southern Candied Yams Recipe

I don’t make many soul food recipes now, because I already make the ones that my family and friends enjoy the most. I like creating new recipes though so I asked my Easy Soul Food Recipes Facebook friends what they wanted to learn how to make in 2024. One answer was candied yams. I usually make sweet potato casserole, but I made some tasty candied yams last year just to switch things up. Today, I’ll share my simple Southern candied yams recipe. 

Candied yams are a staple soul food dish. Sweet and tender yams are the perfect side dish for a variety of occasions – from family dinners to holiday meals. I speed up the baking time of this classic dish by cooking the yams before baking them in the oven. They are still absolutely delicious though. 

To save time, I microwave the washed yams for approximately 10 minutes until they are soft. Next, I rinse and peel them before slicing the yams into rounds. Then, I cover them with a sweet sauce before baking them in the oven. Here is a quick and easy recipe for southern candied yams that will have your guests asking for seconds.

Southern Candied Yams

Southern Candied Yams

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Simple candied yams in oven recipe

Ingredients

• 4 yams, sliced into 1-inch rounds
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup water

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly butter the inside of a 9×13 baking dish.
2. Microwave the washed yams until they are soft (approximately 10 minutes). Be careful not to overcook the yams in the microwave. They should be soft but not mushy.
3. Pour cold water over the yams and gently remove the skins before slicing them into 1-inch rounds.
4. In a saucepan, mix the butter, water, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and vanilla extract over a medium-low heat. Stir everything together until the butter melts and the sugar has dissolved.
5. Layer the yams in a 9x13-inch baking dish and pour the sauce over top. Make sure that you coat each piece.
6. Bake the dish in the oven uncovered for 25 minutes -  until the yams are tender and the sauce is thick and bubbly.

Step-By-Step Photos

This is a great basic recipe. You can experiment with additional flavors though. For instance, some Southern people like to add a pinch of ginger or cloves. Others like marshmallow toppings and others like to add pineapple chunks and pineapple juice for pineapple-glazed candied yams. Although I tend to prefer minimalist dishes, you can get creative. Just choose what you and your family will enjoy the most.

These sweet (with a touch of savory) yams go well with a variety of main courses. Since today is the first day of Black History Month 2024, consider serving the yams with my other traditional soul food dish recipes. Fried chicken or ham are just a few complementary main dish options that celebrate the rich culinary heritage of the African diaspora community. Enjoy!