By: Becky Hardin
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This old-fashioned Candied Sweet Potatoes recipe only requires 3 ingredients, so it’s super easy to make! Slices of sweet potatoes are coated in a sweet and buttery glaze, then baked in the oven until soft and mouth-wateringly delicious. This classic sweet potato side dish is a must for Thanksgiving!
Table of Contents
What’s in this Candied Sweet Potatoes recipe?
You only need 3 basic ingredients to make candied sweet potatoes (plus a pinch of salt). It’s such an easy recipe, and sure to please everyone at the table.
- Sweet Potatoes: This vegetable is the star of this side dish.
- Butter: Use salted butter to make the “candy” mixture–it creates a rich and buttery sauce!
- Powdered Sugar: I prefer confectioner’s sugar for the sauce because it’s light and doesn’t get grainy.
- Salt: Just a pinch to balance the flavors.
Pro Tip: Boil the potatoes whole, then peel and slice after they’ve cooled.
Variations on Baked Candied Sweet Potatoes
These easy candied sweet potatoes are such a simple recipe–you don’t need much to make them taste good! But if you like, you can add some other ingredients into the sauce, like vanilla extract, maple syrup, or orange zest. You can also sprinkle something on top before baking, like cinnamon (or nutmeg or allspice), chopped pecans, or fresh rosemary or thyme.
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What are candied sweet potatoes?
Slices of sweet potatoes are cooked in a glaze, made of butter and sugar, that gives them a “candied” effect, like caramelization. They taste rich, buttery, and sweet.
Can you boil sweet potatoes with skin on?
Yes! You can boil sweet potatoes whole, with the skin still on. Peel and slice them after boiling, when they are softer and easier to handle.
How do you make the candy glaze for sweet potatoes?
Making the glaze for these candied sweet potatoes is simple. Just melt butter in a saucepan, then whisk in a bit of sugar and salt until everything is fully melted and combined.
How long do you bake candied sweet potatoes?
This sweet potato recipe only takes 25-30 minutes to bake in the oven at 450°F. Boiling them first keeps the oven-time down!
How thick should I slice sweet potatoes for this recipe?
Cut the sweet potatoes into 1/2 inch slices. This is the perfect thickness to make them soft and tender–thicker and they’d need to cook longer, thinner and they’ll get too mushy.
Are candied sweet potatoes and candied yams the same thing?
Yams are a different type of potato, with white flesh and brown skin. However, sweet potatoes are often sold as “yams”, so in North America, you’ll likely end up with the same thing. That means candied yams are often the same thing as candied sweet potatoes.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover candied sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven covered with foil for 20-30 minutes, or until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze these candy sweet potatoes in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
These baked candied sweet potatoes are a classic Thanksgiving side dish that pairs beautifully with Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, creamed corn, ambrosia salad, and the rest of your holiday favorites.
Recipe
Candied Sweet Potatoes Recipe
4.78 from 9 votes
Author: Becky Hardin
Prep: 10 minutes minutes
Cook: 1 hour hour
Total: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
Serves4
Print Rate
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These super easy, 3-ingredient candied sweet potatoes are baked in a buttery glaze, making the most delicious side dish.
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
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Ingredients
- 3 pounds sweet potatoes scrubbed
- ½ cup salted butter (1 stick)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- Pinch kosher salt or flaked sea salt
Recommended Equipment
2-Quart Baking Dish
Instructions
Boil sweet potatoes until fork-tender, 30-45 minutes depending upon their size. Drain and set aside until cool to the touch.
3 pounds sweet potatoes
Preheat oven to 450°F and spray a 2-quart baking dish with nonstick spray. Peel the potatoes and cut into ½-inch thick slices. Place potato slices in one layer in the dish, slightly overlapping slices. Set aside.
Melt the butter in a small saucepan then add sugar and salt. Whisk until ingredients are incorporated and smooth. Pour evenly over the potatoes.
½ cup salted butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, Pinch kosher salt
Bake at 450°F for 25-30 minutes (they should be fully glazed and still shiny).
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
Storage: Store candied sweet potatoes in an airtight container for 5 days in the fridge, or 3 months in the freezer.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 654kcal (33%) Carbohydrates: 80g (27%) Protein: 14g (28%) Fat: 31g (48%) Saturated Fat: 19g (119%) Cholesterol: 92mg (31%) Sodium: 508mg (22%) Potassium: 1572mg (45%) Fiber: 10g (42%) Sugar: 26g (29%) Vitamin A: 49270IU (985%) Vitamin C: 10.9mg (13%) Calcium: 401mg (40%) Iron: 2.2mg (12%)
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More Sweet Potato Recipes for Thanksgiving
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Rolls
- Sweet Potato Soufflé Cups
- Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Pie
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