Southern Candied Yams (Soul Food Recipe!) Recipe

If you’re craving that classic, comforting sweetness that only homemade Southern candied yams can bring, then let me introduce you to the ultimate Southern Candied Yams (Soul Food Recipe!) Recipe. I absolutely love how this turns out every single time—perfectly tender sweet potatoes bathed in a rich, buttery, spiced syrup that’s just the right kind of sticky and sweet. Once you try it, you’ll see why it’s a soul food staple and a must-have for holidays, family dinners, or any time you want to add a heartwarming side dish to your table.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic of this Southern Candied Yams (Soul Food Recipe!) Recipe comes down to balancing warm spices with the natural sweetness of the yams. Using real butter and a combo of granulated and brown sugar helps create that sticky, flavorful glaze you’ll want to spoon over everything.

• Sweet potatoes: Try to choose ones that are firm, uniformly shaped for even slicing—longer and thinner sweet potatoes are easier to chop evenly.
• Unsalted butter: I like using unsalted so I can control the salt balance perfectly in the dish.
• Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and helps form that glossy syrup coating around each yam slice.
• Brown sugar: The dark or light brown sugar adds moisture and depth with its molasses notes.
• Ground cinnamon: A classic warm spice that defines the flavor profile here.
• Ground ginger: Adds a subtle spicy zing that complements the sweet potatoes beautifully.
• Ground nutmeg: Just a little touch brings out the cozy fall flavors.
• Salt: Enhances the sweetness and balances all the flavors.
• Ground cloves: Potent and aromatic, a little goes a long way to deepen the spice blend.
• Vanilla extract: This little splash rounds out the syrup, making it utterly irresistible.

Variations

One of the things I love about this Southern Candied Yams (Soul Food Recipe!) Recipe is how customizable it is. Over time, I’ve tweaked it slightly depending on the season, who’s eating, or just what I have on hand.

• Healthier twist: I once swapped half the sugar for pure maple syrup—while it changed the flavor slightly, it gave the syrup a beautiful depth and kept things lighter.
• Spice it up: If you like a little heat, a pinch of cayenne pepper adds an unexpected but delightful kick that my family goes crazy for.
• Orange zest: Adding a bit of fresh orange zest to the syrup mix brightens the whole dish wonderfully and feels so festive during the holidays.
• Vegan friendly: Use coconut oil or vegan butter instead of butter and swap honey or maple syrup for sugar to make this recipe vegan without losing any soul.

How to Make Southern Candied Yams (Soul Food Recipe!) Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Sweet Potatoes

I always start by preheating my oven to 350°F and buttering up my 9 x 13-inch baking dish—this helps keep those yams from sticking and adds an extra buttery touch. Then, I wash, peel, and slice my sweet potatoes into uniform ½-inch rounds. This size is key because it helps them cook evenly and soak up that syrup without falling apart.

Step 2: Make That Heavenly Syrup

Next, I melt the butter with both sugars and all the spices in a medium saucepan over medium heat. I usually stir just enough to combine things—the goal is to warm everything and blend those flavors without dissolving the sugar completely. When that thick, beautiful syrup forms, I stir in the vanilla and immediately take it off the heat. Trust me, if you cook the sugar until completely dissolved, it’ll harden on the yams like candy—which sounds good but really isn’t what we’re after!

Step 3: Coat and Bake the Yams

Now for the fun part—pouring the syrup all over those yam slices. I use a wooden spoon (or sometimes my hands if I’m feeling hands-on) to gently toss the potatoes, making sure every piece gets coated. It takes some effort but seriously worth it to avoid dry, clumped spots. Then I cover the dish with foil and pop it into the oven for 40 minutes to start softening those spuds.

Step 4: Toss and Finish Baking

After 40 minutes, I carefully remove the foil and toss the yams again. This step is crucial because it redistributes that luscious syrup and lets all the slices absorb the flavor evenly. Then I bake them uncovered for an additional 30 to 40 minutes until they’re fork-tender and the syrup thickens to that perfect sticky finish. You want them soft but still holding their shape, not mushy mess.

Step 5: Rest and Serve

Once out of the oven, let the yams cool in the pan for about 10 minutes to let the syrup thicken a bit more. I like to serve this up using a slotted spoon so I can drizzle extra syrup on top of each serving. My family goes crazy for that final sweet touch!

How to Serve Southern Candied Yams (Soul Food Recipe!) Recipe

Garnishes

While these yams are delicious all on their own, I like adding a sprinkle of chopped toasted pecans or walnuts for a nice crunch contrast. Sometimes, I’ll add a dash of flaky sea salt on top just before serving to heighten the sweetness. A little fresh chopped parsley can also add a fresh pop of color if you want to go fancy!

Side Dishes

This Southern Candied Yams (Soul Food Recipe!) Recipe pairs exceptionally well with fried chicken, collard greens, cornbread, and black-eyed peas. It’s a true soul food feast when you bring them all together! I especially love serving them alongside roast turkey during the holidays for that perfect balance of savory and sweet.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I’ve served these yams in individual ramekins or mini cast iron skillets topped with a pecan half. It makes the presentation feel elevated and thoughtful. Another fun idea is to layer slices and drizzle syrup in a pretty glass baking dish for a stunning tablescape. You could also top with marshmallows and broil briefly for a sweet Southern casserole twist.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Like most cooked sweet potato dishes, leftover Southern Candied Yams store wonderfully. I place mine in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. The yams soak up the syrup even more overnight and taste just as delicious the next day.

Freezing

Freezing candied yams isn’t my go-to because the texture can get a little soft after thawing, but it’s doable. I recommend freezing in shallow containers for faster thawing and reheating gently in the oven to retain that luscious glazed texture.

Reheating

When reheating, I prefer using the oven so the syrup doesn’t dry out. Cover the dish lightly with foil and warm at 325°F until heated through—usually 15-20 minutes. You can add a little extra butter or a splash of water if the syrup looks too thick. Microwaving works in a pinch but can make the yams a bit gummy.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Southern Candied Yams (Soul Food Recipe!) Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it reminds me of those cozy family gatherings filled with warmth, laughter, and a table full of soul-satisfying food. I hope you’ll give it a try and share it with your loved ones—you’ll enjoy how easy it is and how incredibly flavorful the yams turn out. Trust me, once you make these, they’ll be your go-to side dish for every holiday and special dinner to come.

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