Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

• 4 large sweet potatoes (Peeled and sliced about ½ inch thick)
• 0.5 cup butter (Used to grease the baking dish and make the syrup)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 0.5 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 0.5 tsp ground nutmeg
• 0.25 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 0.25 cup water or orange juice (Optional; use either water or orange juice)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. 2

   Lightly grease a large baking dish. Arrange the peeled, ½-inch-thick sweet potato slices in overlapping layers in the dish.

3. 3

   Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat.

4. 4

   Stir the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt into the melted butter.

5. 5

   Cook the mixture for 2–3 minutes, stirring, until the syrup is smooth and syrupy.

6. 6

   Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

7. 7

   If using it, add the water or orange juice to the syrup and stir to combine.

8. 8

   Pour the warm syrup evenly over the layered sweet potatoes.

9. 9

   Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

10. 10

    Remove the foil and gently spoon some of the syrup from the dish over the potatoes.

11. 11

    Bake uncovered for another 25–35 minutes, basting the potatoes once or twice during this uncovered baking time, until they are very tender and coated in a thick, glossy glaze.

12. 12

    Let the sweet potatoes rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

The source states that water or orange juice is optional. Basting once or twice during the uncovered baking time helps build the deep, shiny candied coating.

Nutrition per serving

• side dish
• vegetarian
• Southern
• American
• baked
• holiday
• glazed
• sweet potatoes