Homestyle Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes (Print Version)

Make these tender Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes with a rich, buttery glaze. A family recipe that brings warmth and flavor to any table.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 50 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 65 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cuisine: Southern American
Dietary: Vegetarian

# Ingredients:

→ Base Ingredients

01 - 3 lbs (about 4-5 medium) sweet potatoes
02 - ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
03 - ½ cup (packed) light brown sugar
04 - ¼ cup water (or orange juice)

→ Flavor Boosters

05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
07 - ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
08 - Pinch of salt

→ Optional Finishing Touches

09 - 1 cup mini marshmallows
10 - ½ cup chopped pecans

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, grab those sweet potatoes, give 'em a good scrub, and then peel off their skins. Honestly, peeling can be a bit of a workout, but it’s worth it for that smooth texture. Once peeled, slice them into even ½-inch thick rounds. Try to keep them consistent, or some will get mushy while others are still a bit firm. I usually line them up on my cutting board, channeling my inner chef, even if my kitchen looks like a tornado just hit it.
02 - Now for the good stuff! In a medium saucepan, melt your unsalted butter over medium heat. Once it’s all liquidy and happy, stir in the brown sugar, water (or orange juice, if you’re feeling it!), vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and that essential pinch of salt. Whisk it all together until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture is smooth and bubbly. This is where the magic starts to happen, and the smell? Oh, it’s heavenly. Don't walk away from it, I once let mine get too hot and the sugar started to crystallize. Oops!
03 - Carefully add your sliced sweet potatoes to the saucepan with the glaze. Toss them gently until every single slice is beautifully coated. You want them glistening! Then, transfer the glazed Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes to a 9x13 inch baking dish, arranging them in a single layer if you can. Don't overcrowd the dish; they need space to get all caramelized and tender. This is where I always forget to spray the dish first, so learn from my mistakes!
04 - Pop that dish of Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes into a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C). Let them bake for about 25-30 minutes. You’re looking for them to start softening up, and the glaze should be bubbling and getting thicker. The edges might even start to caramelize a bit, which is exactly what we want! Your kitchen will smell incredible, trust me on this one. It's a sign things are going right.
05 - After that initial bake, pull the dish out of the oven. Gently give the Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes a good stir, making sure to redistribute that glorious glaze. This helps everything cook evenly and ensures every piece gets a taste of that sweet, buttery goodness. If you're adding marshmallows or pecans, now's the time to scatter them over the top. Then, send it back into the oven for another 15-20 minutes.
06 - Keep baking until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender and the glaze is thick, sticky, and beautifully caramelized. If you added marshmallows, they should be golden brown and perfectly gooey. If you added pecans, they'll be toasted and fragrant. Pull it out, let it cool for just a few minutes—that glaze is hot!—and then serve these amazing Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes warm. The texture should be soft, the flavor sweet with those warm spices, and the whole thing just screams comfort.

# Notes:

01 - Don't overcrowd the pan, trust me, I learned that the hard way.
02 - You can prep the sweet potatoes ahead and store them in water if you're feeling ambitious.
03 - No brown sugar? Granulated with a splash of molasses works in a pinch, I've done it!
04 - A sprinkle of flaky sea salt at the end just makes these Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes sing.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - 9x13 inch baking dish
02 - medium saucepan
03 - whisk
04 - vegetable peeler

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 350 calories
Total Fat: 15g
Total Carbohydrate: 50g
Protein: 2g

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