
Holiday-inspired Sweet Potato Yams with Cozy Spice Blend bring festive flair to your dinner spread. This timeless dish pairs soft yams with a sweet buttery sauce loaded with brown sugar and warming spices. It's a straightforward yet decadent addition for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special gathering.
Ingredients- Salt: Just a dash to cut through sweetness.
- Vanilla Extract: 1 tablespoon to boost the overall taste.
- Ground Nutmeg: 1/4 teaspoon for a subtle, toasty background note.
- Ground Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon to add cozy warmth.
- Granulated Sugar: 1/4 cup to round out the sweetness.
- Dark Brown Sugar: 1 cup for that deep, molasses-like flavor.
- Butter: 8 tablespoons salted for creating a velvety sauce.
- Sweet Potatoes: 6 medium ones, skinned and cut into ¼ - ½ inch slices for even cooking.
- Step 6:
- Let stand for 10 minutes to cool slightly before you dish it up.
- Step 5:
- Mix everything up, cover again, and bake another 25 minutes. Then remove the cover and bake 10 more minutes.
- Step 4:
- Drizzle your sauce all over the sweet potatoes and pop in the oven with cover for 30 minutes.
- Step 3:
- Make your sauce by melting the butter and mixing in the sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Cook while stirring until it's smooth, then add in the vanilla.
- Step 2:
- Clean, peel, and slice your sweet potatoes. Put them in your baking dish.
- Step 1:
- Get your oven hot at 350°F (175°C) and butter a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Keep any extras in a sealed container in your fridge for up to 3 days.
- Serve hot alongside turkey, ham, or your favorite roasted veggies.
- Try swapping brown sugar with maple syrup for a different sweet twist.
- Sprinkle chopped pecans on top before the last baking stage for some crunch.
Tips from Well-Known Chefs
- Chef Michael Symon loves adding a bit of orange juice to the mix for some zesty freshness.
- Chef Anne Burrell often bakes the sweet potatoes first to bring out their natural sweetness even more.
Turn your yams into the talk of the table by adding a crunchy pecan layer or drizzling with a bourbon-flavored sauce. These touches add more texture and flavor depth, transforming a basic side into something spectacular.
What to Pair with Candied YamsThese sweet yams work wonders next to roast turkey, honey-glazed ham, or fresh green bean casserole. The mix of sweet and savory makes them go well with almost any main dish.
FAQsCan I prepare this dish ahead of time?
You bet! Put it all together the day before and just bake it when you're ready to eat.
What's the best way to reheat candied yams?
Warm them up in your oven at 300°F (150°C) for around 15 minutes until they're heated through.
How can I make this recipe vegan?
Just swap out the butter for plant-based spread or coconut oil to make it totally vegan.
Can I use other types of sweeteners?
Sure thing! Try honey or maple syrup instead of brown sugar for a more natural option.
