Description
This Caramel Candied Yams recipe features tender sweet potato slices baked in a rich, buttery caramel sauce infused with warm spices and topped with crunchy pecans. A classic holiday side dish perfect for adding a sweet, comforting touch to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potatoes
- 4 medium sweet potatoes or yams, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
Caramel Sauce
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Topping
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish thoroughly with butter or non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Arrange Sweet Potatoes: Place the peeled and sliced sweet potatoes in a single, even layer inside the prepared baking dish to ensure uniform cooking.
- Make Caramel Sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, water, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir constantly until the mixture boils and sugars fully dissolve, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Coat Sweet Potatoes with Sauce: Pour the warm caramel sauce evenly over the sweet potatoes in the baking dish. Gently move the slices to coat each piece well with the sauce.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil to retain moisture and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. This softens the sweet potatoes while infusing them with the caramel flavor.
- Add Pecans and Finish Baking: After 30 minutes, remove the foil, sprinkle the chopped pecans evenly over the yams, and bake uncovered for an additional 10-15 minutes until the pecans are toasted and the sauce is bubbly.
- Serve: Remove from oven, let cool slightly, and serve warm as a sweet, comforting side dish.
Notes
- You can substitute pecans with walnuts or skip nuts entirely for a nut-free option.
- Adjust the spice levels by adding more cinnamon or nutmeg to your taste.
- For a richer caramel flavor, you may brown the butter before mixing the sauce ingredients.
- Make sure to slice the sweet potatoes evenly for consistent cooking.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently in the oven.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
