Papa waits all year for this…it’s absolutely divine! The sweet, buttery caramelization of the yams, combined with the spices and that optional marshmallow topping, makes every bite a cozy, festive delight. Perfectly balanced sweetness with a hint of warmth from the spices. Thanksgiving comfort food at its finest! 🍠✨
Candied Yams
Candied yams come from West African culinary traditions, brought to America by enslaved Africans. By the 19th century, they became a popular holiday side dish, especially for Thanksgiving. 🍠✨
Ingredients
- 4 large yams or sweet potatoes peeled and sliced into rounds
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup miniature marshmallows optional
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare the Yams: Arrange the sliced yams in a single layer in a large baking dish.
- Make the Sauce: In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Coat the Yams: Pour the sauce evenly over the yams, making sure they are well coated.
- Bake: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil, baste the yams with the sauce, and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the yams are tender and caramelized.
- Marshmallow Topping: sprinkle marshmallows over the yams during the last 5 minutes of baking, and bake until they are golden brown and melty.