Description
Southern candied sweet potatoes celebrate traditional Southern comfort with caramelized slices of buttery goodness. Rich brown sugar and warm spices create a delightful side dish you’ll savor at family gatherings and holiday meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potatoes:
- 4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
Sugars:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
Butter and Seasonings:
- 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons/113 grams) unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), creating an ideal environment for caramelizing sweet potatoes.
- Select a large oven-safe skillet and melt butter over medium heat until it becomes golden and fragrant.
- Combine granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and water into the melted butter, whisking until a glossy, rich syrup develops.
- Carefully arrange sweet potato slices in the syrup, gently turning each slice to ensure complete and even coating.
- Place the skillet in the preheated oven, covering it to allow potatoes to steam and absorb the sweet syrup for 40 minutes.
- Uncover the skillet and continue baking for an additional 20 minutes, allowing the syrup to caramelize and thicken around the potato slices.
- Remove from the oven and delicately drizzle vanilla extract across the surface, softly folding to distribute the aromatic essence.
- Let the candied sweet potatoes rest for 5 minutes to allow the syrup to set, then serve warm as a decadent side dish.
Notes
- Swap regular sugar with coconut sugar or maple syrup for a lower glycemic index and more complex flavor profile.
- Use ghee instead of butter to make the recipe dairy-free and add a rich, nutty undertone.
- Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts on top before the final baking for extra crunch and protein boost.
- Cut sweet potatoes into uniform slices to ensure even cooking and consistent caramelization throughout the dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Snacks, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 343
- Sugar: 36 g
- Sodium: 146 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 72 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg