These Stovetop Candied Sweet Potatoes are a classic side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any other holiday meal. The delicious sweet potatoes are cooked until tender in a buttery cinnamon sauce. You can't go wrong.
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❤️ Why You'll Love It
- They're made with simple ingredients like sweet potatoes, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon which combine to create a tasty and comforting side dish.
- The sweet potatoes are cooked until tender and then coated in a sweet glaze that makes the perfect side dish for your holiday meals.
- Plus, they are made on the stovetop so you don't have to worry about taking up some oven space for your holiday meal.
Candied sweet potatoes are a staple in the Southern cuisine. Not only are they a favorite of many, but their sweet and savory flavor can pair perfectly with your holiday meal.
📝 Ingredients
Note: This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
🥄 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The detailed instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil on high heat.
- Carefully add sweet potato slices, reduce heat to medium-high, and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes, drain well.
- In a large skillet over medium heat melt butter then add brown sugar, Karo, ground cinnamon, and salt. Stir to combine until it starts to bubble.
- Add in sweet potatoes and mix well, reduce heat to low, and continue to simmer for 1 to 1 ½ hours basting gently every 15 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.
👍 Amira's Tips
- Try to slice or dice your sweet potatoes into similar sliced pieces so that they cook at the same rate.
- When you are boiling your sweet potatoes make sure that the water covers them by at least one inch.
- You can substitute white sugar for brown sugar if you do not have it. Make sure to add 1 tablespoon molasses, you can also use grape, carob or date molasses. I do not recommend using maple syrup.
- It does take a while for the sweet potatoes to get perfectly caramelized. So, be patient and don't rush them. It's worth the effort and time.
- The cinnamon sauce may be on the thin side when you remove it from the heat, but it will thicken up as it cools.
🧺 Storage
Store leftover sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
⌛ Make Ahead
One great thing about this recipe is that these potatoes taste even better the next day. So feel free to make them a day in advance.
🍽️ Serve With
- This delicious candied sweet potatoes pairs so well with just about any meal. However, if you ask me nothing pairs better with sweet potatoes than a juicy Roasted Turkey and some homemade Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes. You can't go wrong with this hearty meal.
- Honey cranberry sauce is another great recipe for your holiday table.
- If you need more Thanksgiving side dishes, forget the marshmallow topping and make this sweet potato crunch or this Cracker Barrel sweet potato.
👩🍳 Variations
- To add more flavor to your cinnamon syrup you can stir in a dash of vanilla extract when you remove them from the heat.
- Add some warm spices like nutmeg, cloves or even pumpkin pie spices for extra flavor.
- Need more flavor to your candied sweet potatoes? Add some orange juice to the sauce for a change of flavor.
- Add a hint of crunch to your potatoes by adding some chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts when they are finished cooking.
- Top with some mini marshmallows if you like and pop under the broiler.
💬 FAQs
The main difference between sweet potatoes and yams is that sweet potatoes are typically orange-fleshed root vegetables while yams tend to be starchier and white- or light-colored.
To reheat candied potatoes, place them in a preheated 350°F oven for about 15 minutes or until heated through. Alternatively, you can microwave them for 1-2 minutes.
Yes, you should peel sweet potatoes before boiling them. Otherwise, the skin can be a little tough.
📣 Related Recipes
- Are you looking for a more traditional casserole recipe? If so, give this Sweet Potato Crunch Casserole recipe a try!
- Need a quick and easy side dish? Whip up these Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer for a quick meal that your whole family will enjoy.
- These Sweet Potato Cookies are soft and fluffy and will look great on your dessert table.
- This Whipped Sweet Potatoes side dish will bring warmth and comfort to your Thanksgiving table in a new way.
- A delicious and easy Cracker Barrel Sweet Potato recipe creamy rich and pleasantly perfumed with orange. Topped with a buttery nutty candy like layer this recipe is a delightful addition to your holiday party.
- Want to perfect your sweet potato recipes this season? Check out this guide on how to cook sweet potatoes to perfection.
More Side Dishes
- This Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe is the quickest and easiest way to get mashed potatoes on the table. Less than 30 minutes, no drain and no peel recipe, it can't get any easier than that!
- This simple Sauce for Butternut Squash Ravioli is fragrant, buttery and comes together in less than 20 minutes for delicious meatless dinner or side dish.
What do you think? Aren't these candied sweet potatoes yummy? Leave me a comment below and tell me have you tried them and what do you think. Thank you.
🥣 Equipment
- large pot
- large skillet
Candied Sweet potato (Stove top)
Ingredients
- 3 pounds sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch rounds
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar dark is preferred
- 1 ½ cup cup Karo light corn syrup
- A pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil on high heat.
- Carefully add sweet potatoes, reduce heat to medium high and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes, drain well.
- In a large skillet over medium heat melt butter then add brown sugar, Karo, cinnamon and salt. Stir to combine until it starts to bubble.
- Add in sweet potatoes and mix well, reduce heat to low and continue to simmer for 1 to 1 ½ hours basting gently every 15 minutes.
Notes
- Make sure you have enough water so the sweet potatoes are covered by at least 1 inch of water.
- The sauce will thicken as it cools down.
- This is a long process until you get nicely caramelized sweet potato so give it time and do not rush
- Please check the nutrition disclaimer policy.
Nutrition
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