By Becky Hardin
Published Oct 19, 2023
I absolutely love that this old-fashioned Candied Sweet Potatoes recipe only requires 3 ingredients, so it’s super easy to make! Slices of sweet potatoes are coated in a sweet and buttery glaze, then baked in the oven until soft and mouth-wateringly delicious. For my family, this classic sweet potato side dish is a must for the holidays!
What’s in This Candied Sweet Potatoes Recipe?
I’m a huge fan of simple recipes. I love that this side dish calls for only 3 basic ingredients to make candied sweet potatoes (plus a pinch of salt). It’s such an easy recipe, and sure to please everyone at the table. Even my two kids always go back for seconds.
- Sweet Potatoes: This vegetable is the star of this side dish.
- Butter: Use salted butter to make the “candy” mixture– it creates a rich and buttery sauce!
- Sugar: We prefer powdered sugar for the sauce because it’s light and doesn’t get grainy.
Variations
These easy candied sweet potatoes are such a simple recipe–you don’t need much to make them taste good! But if you like, you can add some other ingredients into the sauce, like vanilla extract , maple syrup, or orange zest. You can also sprinkle something on top before baking, like cinnamon (or nutmeg or allspice), chopped pecans, or fresh rosemary or thyme.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover candied sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven covered with foil for 20-30 minutes, or until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze these candy sweet potatoes in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
These baked candied sweet potatoes are a classic Thanksgiving side dish that pairs beautifully with Thanksgiving turkey , stuffing , homemade cranberry sauce , and the rest of your holiday favorites. Add a little bit of sweetness to your holiday table with these delicious sweet potatoes!
Notes from the Test Kitchen
I always boil the potatoes whole, then peel and slice after they’ve cooled.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 3 pounds sweet potatoes scrubbed
- ▢ ½ cup salted butter (1 stick)
- ▢ 1 cup powdered sugar
- ▢ Pinch kosher salt or flaked sea salt
Video
Instructions
- Boil sweet potatoes until fork-tender, 30-45 minutes depending upon their size. Drain and set aside until cool to the touch. 3 pounds sweet potatoes
- Preheat oven to 450 ° F and spray a 2-quart baking dish with nonstick spray. Peel the potatoes and cut into ½-inch thick slices. Place potato slices in one layer in the dish, slightly overlapping slices. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan then add sugar and salt. Whisk until ingredients are incorporated and smooth. Pour evenly over the potatoes. ½ cup salted butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, Pinch kosher salt
- Bake at 450 ° F for 25-30 minutes (they should be fully glazed and still shiny).
Equipment
- 2-Quart Baking Dish
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Candied Sweet Potatoes Step by Step
Boil and Slice the Sweet Potatoes: Boil 3 pounds of sweet potatoes until fork-tender, 30-45 minutes depending upon their size. Drain and set aside until cool to the touch. Preheat your oven to 450 ° F and spray a 2-quart baking dish. Peel potatoes and cut them into ½-inch thick slices. Place the potato slices in one layer in the dish, slightly overlapping slices. Set aside.
Make the Glaze: Melt ½ cup of salted butter in a small saucepan, then add 1 cup of powdered sugar and a pinch of kosher salt. Whisk until ingredients are incorporated and smooth. Pour evenly over the potatoes.
Bake the Sweet Potatoes: Bake at 450 ° F for 25-30 minutes (they should be fully glazed and still shiny).
Yams are a different type of potato, with white flesh and brown skin. However, sweet potatoes are often sold as “yams”, so in North America, you’ll likely end up with the same thing. That means candied yams are often the same thing as candied sweet potatoes.
Yes! Boiling these potatoes helps to soften them up and ensures they cook through fully once baked. Because they are layered in the pan, they need a little extra help to get soft all the way through.
Yes! You can boil sweet potatoes whole, with the skin still on. Peel and slice them after boiling, when they are softer and easier to handle.
Cut the sweet potatoes into ½-inch slices. This is the perfect thickness to make them soft and tender– thicker and they’d need to cook longer, thinner and they’ll get too mushy.
More Potato Recipes To Try
- Easy Mashed Potatoes
- Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole
- Home Fries
- Twice Baked Potatoes
- Fried Mashed Potato Balls
- Sweet Potato Chips
- Slow Cooker Potatoes (2 Ways)
Candied Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Equipment
- 2-Quart Baking Dish
Ingredients
- 3 pounds sweet potatoes scrubbed
- ½ cup salted butter (1 stick)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- Pinch kosher salt or flaked sea salt
Instructions
- Boil sweet potatoes until fork-tender, 30-45 minutes depending upon their size. Drain and set aside until cool to the touch. 3 pounds sweet potatoes
- Preheat oven to 450 ° F and spray a 2-quart baking dish with nonstick spray. Peel the potatoes and cut into ½-inch thick slices. Place potato slices in one layer in the dish, slightly overlapping slices. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan then add sugar and salt. Whisk until ingredients are incorporated and smooth. Pour evenly over the potatoes. ½ cup salted butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, Pinch kosher salt
- Bake at 450 ° F for 25-30 minutes (they should be fully glazed and still shiny).
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
