Candied Sweet Potatoes are a MUST HAVE on every holiday table! They are easy to make with only 4 ingredients. They taste 100 times better than what you get in a can! Candied Yams are a classic holiday dish! Toss the marshmallows and make this dish instead! This post has been updated from November to improve reader experience.
This is an easy Candied Yams Recipe with only 4 ingredients!
Easy Candied Sweet Potatoes
This recipe is a classic family recipe. This is my Grandma Phyllis’s Candied Sweet Potato Recipe and it is on every holiday table – sometimes even when it isn’t a holiday. These sweet potatoes are just that good!
I’ve talked about Grandma Phyllis before and shared her macaroni and cheese recipe. Her meals weren’t fancy because dollars were tight and the family was large. They always served a crowd, were absolutely delicious and filled with love!
Candied Yams only have four ingredients; sweet potatoes, butter, brown sugar and Karo syrup.
We decided they were a MUST for our on-air segment with Teresa & George from KSEE24 News in 2015. What made this even more fun is that Mom and Dad were here for Thanksgiving and got to join in the fun!
Ingredients for Candied Sweet Potato Recipe
- sweet potatoes
- butter
- brown sugar
- Karo syrup
Can Candied Yams be made ahead?
Yes! This recipe can easily be made a couple of days in advance. Remove from the refrigerator, place in an oven proof dish, cover and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Although most potato dishes don’t freeze well, this one does! You can make it several days/weeks in advance. Sealed well, it can be frozen for 4-6 weeks, thawed and reheated.
Mom basting the sweet potatoes
I always use an electric skillet when I make this dish. You can just as easily make them in a skillet on the stove top. I like this recipe because it’s not made in the oven!
You can’t rush the process to candy the yams. It takes at least an hour. Continue basting the sweet potatoes every 10-15 minutes. Soon the candied yams will begin to glisten and caramelize!
During the holidays oven space is always at a premium, right? If you’re looking for more great recipes for Holiday Side Dishes NOT Made in the Oven – click here.
Easy candied yams recipe. These potatoes are sweet and tender!
Candied Yams Recipe
What is the difference between sweet potatoes and yams?
Ooh, that’s a great question! When you’re at the store you’ll see golden skinned potatoes with golden flesh and dark orange potatoes. The flesh of these potatoes is a bright orange. Both are actually sweet potatoes, often labeled incorrectly as yams. Yams have dark skins and are quite starchy. This is the best reference I’ve found to give you the skinny! Check out this quick read from Kitchn.
Does it make a difference which potato you choose the light or dark-skinned sweet potatoes?
Not at all! I choose the darker colored potatoes just because when they cook up and caramelize, they look so amazing!
You know Dad got in on the fun!
We had a blast when the TV crew came by, even Dad got in on the fun! We giggled and laughed and had such a good time! The show ended with all of us sitting around the table saying what we are thankful for. It was really a wonderful morning!
How do I make sweet potatoes with brown sugar and butter?
- Start by peeling the sweet potatoes and putting them onto boil – you want them just fork tender. Drain them well.
- From there it’s really easy! Place the potatoes into a frying pan or electric skillet. Just add butter, brown sugar and dark Karo syrup and allow the potatoes to bubble and simmer away!
- Cook the potatoes, basting with the syrup every ten minutes or so. You’ll want to cook them for at least an hour – an hour and a half is even better to perfectly caramelize the candied yam recipe.
Be sure to make plenty, because these are the BEST Candied Sweet Potatoes!
If you’d like to see the clip from the show, click this link from the KSEE24 Sunrise Show
Looking for more great side dishes?
- Sautéed Brussels Sprouts
- Roasted Broccoli with Lemon
- Pan Roasted Vegetables with Sauce
- Easy Dinner Rolls
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Electric Skillet – if you decide to get an electric skillet, I recommend a deep dish.
When you try these candied yams, be sure and leave a five-star rating below! It’s one of our very favorites and I know you’ll love it too! Also if you snap a picture, be sure and tag me on Instagram at @bowl_me_over or #bowlmeover – I’d love to see pictures of your tasty eats!
Candied Sweet Potatoes
Candied Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Candied Yams are a family favorite. This recipe has been in our family for years - it's sweet and decadent and always served on special occasions. I hope you love this recipe as much as we do!
Ingredients
- 3 pounds sweet potatoes
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 stick butter
- 1 1/2 cups Karo Syrup
Instructions
- Peel and boil the sweet potatoes until just fork tender - about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately drain really well.
- Transfer potatoes to a large frypan or electric skillet. Add the remaining ingredients, brown sugar, butter & syrup. Turn heat to medium until the butter and brown sugar melts and the mixture is thick and bubbly. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 1 1/2 hours, basting every 10-15 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Ohh ohh, Ken’s got the microphone. Recipe looks amazing. Can’t wait to try it tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving, Bowl-me-Over and family.
Gosh your comment slipped right by me! Thanks for stopping by Michelle – and yes, Dad definitely enjoyed the morning and I hope you did give these a try – so easy and delicious!
The Clark household is yamming it up with Mom and Dad -Yay!
You’re a natural on camera and the recipes look super easy and delish- perfect combo for guests.
Thanks for sharing
We be yammin’ no doubt! :D. Good to hear from you my friend, you are too kind!
That is delicious recipe, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning and tweeting.
You are very welcome – thanks for stopping by!
These would be such a great addition to any holiday menu! Just shared them on my Facebook page and sending some other foodie love your way! They look delicious!
Awesome, thank you so much for sharing Michelle!
So easy and so delicious looking.
Loving those easy recipes!
The recipe looks tasty and how fun to have the family (your parents) in the kitchen with you.
Love spending time with my folks – family is the best! Thanks for stopping by Peter
This looks like a fantastic recipe, thank you for sharing!!
Family favorite Tara – hope you give it a try!
These looks so simple to make and wonderful to enjoy! Thanks for this great recipe!
Thanks guys I hope you give this recipe a try! I love these easy sweet potatoes – so delicious!
These look great! And can I just say that I’m really glad you didn’t put marshmallows on this. This way it looks awesome!
Never been a fan of marshmallows on my sweet potatoes, I think this is better too!
Oh, I’m definitely making it for the Thanksgiving potluck! It’s SO easy – finally a recipe that’s such a no-brainer for busy women! Thanks!
You’ll love them Liza – these are Dan’s favorite side dish!! Happy Thanksgiving!
My mom always made this recipe ,but since she passed ,I didn’t know.I the measurements..Then I found this and I said “yea”.It’s cooking right now, but it is n’ t thickening. I followed the recipe exactly. What could I have done wrong? I’m definitely not remaking them,For next time ,can you reply. TY.
Good morning Marilyn, Happy Thanksgiving! The sugars will thicken as it cools, just keep spooning the sugary sauce over the sweet potatoes and they will glaze and become sweet and sugary, it will take an hour to an hour and a half. Be patient! They will reheat beautifully.