Description
Old Fashioned Candied Sweet Potatoes are a classic, comforting side dish perfect for holiday meals or anytime you want a sweet and savory vegetable option. Sliced sweet potatoes are baked in a rich buttery syrup spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla, resulting in tender, caramelized slices with a glossy, flavorful glaze.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potatoes
- 3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/2 inch rounds
Syrup
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Arrange sweet potatoes: Place the peeled and sliced sweet potato rounds evenly in the prepared baking dish, ensuring a uniform layer.
- Make the syrup: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar, water, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla extract. Stir continuously and cook for 3-4 minutes until the sugar dissolves and the syrup thickens slightly.
- Coat sweet potatoes: Pour the prepared syrup evenly over the sweet potatoes in the baking dish. Gently toss or shake the dish to coat all slices thoroughly with the syrup.
- Bake covered: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes to allow the potatoes to start cooking and absorb flavors.
- Uncover and finish baking: Remove the foil, baste the sweet potatoes with the syrup accumulating in the dish, and bake uncovered for an additional 20-25 minutes until the potatoes are tender and the top is caramelized and glossy.
- Cool and serve: Let the candied sweet potatoes cool for 10 minutes before serving. Spoon extra syrup from the dish over the potatoes to enhance their flavor and presentation.
Notes
- For best texture, slice sweet potatoes uniformly about 1/2 inch thick.
- If you prefer a less sweet dish, reduce brown sugar to 3/4 cup.
- Maple syrup adds depth of flavor but can be substituted with honey if unavailable.
- Covering the dish during the first part of baking traps moisture and helps cook the potatoes evenly.
- This dish can be made a day ahead and gently reheated before serving.
