Easy Oven Baked Candied Yams

Easy Oven Baked Candied Yams feature tender sweet potatoes coated in a rich, buttery brown sugar glaze with cinnamon, vanilla, and a hint of nutmeg. This easy oven-baked side dish is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Sunday dinners, and comforting family meals.

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 55

Resting Time 5

Total Time 1 15

Servings 4

Ingredients

2 pounds sweet potatoes peeled and sliced into ½-inch rounds
½ cup packed brown sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg optional
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup optional

Instructions

Prepare the sweet potatoes: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into evenly sized rounds about ½ inch thick. Lightly grease a 9 × 13-inch baking dish.
Make the glaze: In a bowl, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, salt, and optional maple syrup. Stir until the mixture is evenly combined.
Coat the sweet potatoes: Arrange the sweet potato slices in the prepared baking dish. Pour the brown sugar mixture over them and gently toss or turn the slices to coat them in the glaze.
Bake until tender: Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Carefully remove the foil, spoon the glaze over the sweet potatoes, and bake uncovered for another 15–25 minutes, until fork-tender and glazed.
Rest and serve: Remove the dish from the oven and let the candied yams rest for 5 minutes. Spoon the thickened glaze over the top and serve warm.

Notes

Choose firm sweet potatoes and slice them evenly so they cook at the same rate.
Cover the dish during the first part of baking to help the sweet potatoes soften.
Remove the foil for the final baking period to thicken and caramelize the glaze.
Check tenderness with a fork before removing the dish from the oven.
Adjust the brown sugar and cinnamon to suit your taste.
For extra texture, sprinkle chopped pecans over the yams just before serving.

Storage: Refrigerate cooled leftovers in an airtight container for 3–4 days. Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 2–3 months for best quality.

Reheating: Warm in a covered oven-safe dish at 325°F (165°C) until heated through, or microwave individual portions in short intervals. Reheat leftovers to 165°F (74°C).

Serving Suggestions: Serve with roasted turkey, baked ham, roast chicken, green beans, or other holiday side dishes.

Allergen Note: This recipe contains dairy from butter. Check ingredient labels if serving guests with food allergies.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 330 kcal
Total Fat: 9 g
Saturated Fat: 5 g
Cholesterol: 20 mg
Sodium: 190 mg
Total Carbohydrates: 61 g
Dietary Fiber: 7 g
Total Sugars: 31 g
Protein: 3 g

Note: These are estimated values per serving, based on 4 servings and including the optional maple syrup. Actual nutrition may vary depending on the ingredients and portions used.