Deliciously Sweet: Southern Sweet Potato Recipe
Imagine the aroma of sweet potatoes as they bake in your oven, infused with the flavors of butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. You can almost taste them already, can’t you? Well, my friend, get ready for a recipe that will transport you straight to the South with its soulful and heart-warming flavors.
My Southern Sweet Potatoes recipe is a classic soul food style candied yams recipe baked with nothing but real, wholesome ingredients. This easy recipe celebrates traditional Southern cooking – a cuisine that’s built on making meals from scratch with fresh ingredients found locally.
Whether it’s Thanksgiving or just another weeknight dinner, this recipe is perfect for anyone who wants to add a little piece of the South to their plate. You can make it with canned sweet potatoes or start from scratch with fresh garnet yams. I guarantee you’ll fall in love with this delicious and comforting side dish. So fire up your oven and let’s get cooking!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
As someone who has been cooking southern cuisine for years, I can tell you that this Southern Sweet Potatoes Recipe is a dish you’ll fall in love with. Not only is it easy to prepare, but it’s also loaded with mouthwatering flavors that are sure to satisfy your soul food cravings.
Firstly, who doesn’t love sweet potatoes? They are a versatile ingredient that can be used in both savory and sweet dishes, making them perfect for any meal of the day. And when they are coated in a thick layer of butter and brown sugar, like they are in this recipe, they become an irresistible treat that even the pickiest eaters will enjoy.
Secondly, this recipe is all about simplicity. With just a handful of ingredients and a few basic steps, you can make a delicious side dish that will impress your guests or simply satisfy your own cravings. You can even make it ahead of time and reheat it when needed, making it perfect for those busy days when you don’t have much time to cook.
Finally, this recipe is the epitome of southern-style candied yams. The garnet yams are sliced into 1/2 inch thick rounds and coated with a mixture of butter, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon before being baked in the oven until tender and caramelized. The result is a dish that perfectly balances sweetness and richness, making it the ideal side dish for any holiday or occasion.
In short, if you’re looking for an easy and delicious recipe that’s perfect for any southern-style feast, then this Southern Sweet Potatoes Recipe is the one for you. From its simple ingredients and quick preparation to its delicious flavor and unique blend of spices, there’s no reason why you won’t love every bite of this classic soul food dish.
Ingredient List
Ingredients:
- 4 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/2 inch thick rounds
- 1 cup salted butter, melted
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 cups water
If you want to make Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes from scratch, you will need good quality ingredients. You will need large sweet potatoes or garnet yams that should be thinly peeled and sliced to around 1/2 inch thick rounds. The yolks should be a rich yellow orange color; the potato should be firm to the touch and not show any discoloration. To enhance the flavor of the yams, we will use a combination of real butter and white sugar. Still, if you follow the recipe, you can’t go wrong. You will also need ground cinnamon and nutmeg to spice up your candied yams. And with just two cups of water, you will find that the dish is neither too soupy nor too dry but at just the right consistency.
The Recipe How-To
Now that you know why this Southern Sweet Potatoes recipe is a must-have on your dinner table, let’s get to the details on how to prepare this dish!
Recipe Ingredients:
- 4 pounds of sweet potatoes
- 1 cup salted butter
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cup of packed brown sugar
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Peel the sweet potatoes and slice them about 1/2 inch thick rounds.
- In a small bowl, stir together white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan and add in the spice mixture from step 3. Take it off heat and cool for two minutes.
- Place the sliced sweet potatoes into a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Pour the butter-spice mixture over the sweet potatoes and stir gently until all sweet potatoes are coated.
- Cover the baking dish with foil, tightly sealing all edges.
- Bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until they are almost cooked through.
- Remove foil and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes to allow for caramelization and a golden color.
And there you have it! Your Southern Sweet Potatoes are now ready to be served alongside any Thanksgiving dinner or as a scrumptious side dish on any regular weeknight meal. Keep reading for more tips and tricks that will turn this recipe from impressive to divine!
Substitutions and Variations
For those who want to switch things up or don’t have all the ingredients on hand, there are some substitutions and variations you can try with this southern sweet potato recipe.
Firstly, instead of using white sugar, you can substitute it with brown sugar or even honey for a deeper, richer sweetness. If you prefer a more savory taste, you can use salted butter or add a pinch of salt to your unsalted butter.
If you’re short on time, canned sweet potatoes can be used in place of fresh sweet potatoes – just be sure to drain any excess liquid before proceeding with the recipe. And for those who don’t have an oven available, you can cook the sweet potatoes on the stove top until soft and then follow the same recipe instructions.
For a more elevated twist on this soul food classic, try adding various spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg during the cooking process. You can also experiment with different toppings such as marshmallows or roasted pecans for extra crunch and texture.
These substitutions and variations will allow you to make this easy southern candied sweet potatoes recipe your own – whether it’s for Thanksgiving dinner or just a weeknight side dish.
Serving and Pairing
When it comes to serving southern candied sweet potatoes, this is a side dish that will get your guests’ taste buds dancing. This classic soul food-style side dish pairs beautifully with turkey, ham, chicken, or any other meat of your choosing. It’s the perfect addition to any holiday menu, especially Thanksgiving.
Not only does this dish taste incredible, but it also presents beautifully. Served in a lovely baking dish, the glazed Southern-style sweetness of the baked candied yams or sweet potatoes draws the eye and invites indulgence.
As for pairings, try serving these candied yams old-fashioned style alongside some fluffy mashed potatoes, green beans dressed with butter and garlic or roasted Brussels sprouts. Add some mac and cheese, deviled eggs, coleslaw or even a slice of traditional cornbread and you’ve got yourself a true southern feast!
Remember to keep things balanced – this is indeed a sweet dish on its own. If pairing it with other desserts like pumpkin pie or pecan pie consider reducing the sugar amounts in your recipe to avoid an overload of sweetness.
Overall, Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes are easy to make from scratch and will surely elevate any meal they adorn – making this side-dish an easy go-to that will be sure to impress family and friends.
Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating
If you’re planning to serve these southern-style candied sweet potatoes as a side dish on Thanksgiving or any other special event, you’ll be happy to know that they can be made ahead of time. Simply prepare the recipe as directed, let the potatoes cool completely, and then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
When it’s time to serve, reheat the candied sweet potatoes in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until heated through. For best results, cover the baking dish with foil to prevent the brown sugar and butter from burning.
You can also freeze these southern-style candied sweet potatoes for future use. Simply prepare the potatoes as directed, let them cool completely, transfer them to a freezer-safe container and store them in the freezer for up to three months.
To reheat the frozen candied sweet potatoes, allow them to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Once thawed, reheat them in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until they are heated through.
Remember that reheated candied sweet potatoes may not have quite the same texture or flavor as freshly made ones, but they are still delicious and will be enjoyed by all lovers of traditional soul food.
Tips for Perfect Results
As a chef who’s specialized in southern-style cuisine, I know a thing or two about making the perfect candied sweet potatoes. Here are some tips to help you make this soul food classic as good as it can be.
First and foremost, use fresh sweet potatoes. This may sound obvious, but it’s important. Fresh sweet potatoes will have better flavor and texture compared to canned ones. Also, make sure to choose sweet potatoes that are approximately the same size to ensure that they roast evenly.
When baking the sweet potatoes, you can cover them with foil to keep them moist and juicy. Remove the foil during the last 10-15 minutes of baking so that the sweet potatoes can caramelize nicely.
When making the candied sauce, use salted butter instead of unsalted. Salted butter helps balance the sweetness of the brown sugar and white sugar. Also, be patient when melting the butter and dissolving the sugars in water. You want to simmer it for at least 5-7 minutes until it thickens into a syrup-like consistency.
For added depth of flavor, try adding some ground cinnamon and nutmeg to the candied sauce mixture. These spices complement the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes perfectly.
Lastly, make sure you slice your cooked sweet potatoes nice and thick (about 1/2 inch thick) before pouring on the candied sauce. This ensures that each slice gets coated evenly with enough sauce for maximum flavor.
With these tips in mind, your southern-style candied sweet potatoes will turn out perfectly every time, whether you’re serving them for Thanksgiving or just a regular weeknight dinner. Enjoy!
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for an easy and delicious side dish for your next get-together, look no further than this Southern Sweet Potatoes Recipe. Whether you’re into soul food or just want to try something new, this recipe is sure to please. With just a few ingredients and simple instructions, anyone can make these candied yams from scratch.
From the moment you peel and slice those sweet potatoes, the aroma will take you on a journey to the deep roots of Southern-style cuisine. This recipe provides that classic comfort food taste with its perfect balance of sweet and buttery flavors. The easy-to-follow instructions ensure that even beginners can achieve a mouth-watering, glazed southern-style candied sweet potatoes recipe.
Not only is this dish perfect for Thanksgiving, but it’s also great for any casual meal. The baked candied yams can be made ahead of time and stored easily in the fridge until ready to reheat. Impress your guests with this delicious soul food side dish that they’ll keep coming back for more.
So why wait? Try it out for yourself and taste the richness of tradition with every bite. You won’t be disappointed!
Southern Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4 " slices (Red Garnet or yams)
- 1/2 cup water
- 5 cups white sugar
- 1/2-1 cup butter
Instructions
- Rinse the potato slices in ample water and drain.
- Place in a 2 qt covered saucepan and add the water, sugar, and butter.
- Cover and simmer until very tender, about 30 minutes.
- Do not stir during the cooking process.
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