These Stovetop Candied Sweet Potatoes are a classic side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holiday meals. The delicious sweet potatoes are cooked until tender in a buttery cinnamon sauce. You can't go wrong.
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Candied Sweet Potatoes
What I absolutely love about this candied sweet potato recipe is how its magic lies in the simplest of ingredients. We're talking just sweet potatoes, butter, rich brown sugar with corn syrup, and a touch of cinnamon. But when they all come together in the pan, they transform into something truly special—a side dish that’s the very definition of cozy and comforting. The tender sweet potatoes soak up that incredible sweet glaze, creating a flavor that just feels like a warm hug.
And the best part? You can whip up this little piece of Southern tradition entirely on your stovetop. While everyone else is scrambling for oven space for their holiday feast, you’ll have this classic, beloved dish simmering away without any stress. It’s that perfect sweet and savory element that effortlessly complements your main course, making it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser on your holiday table. It’s a staple for a reason, and this method makes it so easy to bring that beloved flavor to your feast.
Pro Tip
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.
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
How to make Candied Sweet Potatoes
For the ingredients, you can use with light or dark brown sugar. Also you can use light or dark corn syrup.
If you want to use regular white sugar, make sure to add one tablespoon of molasses to the mixture.
Although cinnamon is what gives this dish an absolutely amazing smell as it cooks, you can omit or substitute with a touch of cloves or orange zest.
- 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.
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.
- The cinnamon sauce may be on the thin side when you remove it from the heat, but it will thicken up as it cools.
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.
Yes, you should peel sweet potatoes before boiling them. Otherwise, the skin can be a little tough.
Store leftover sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
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. In fact 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.
To add more flavor to your cinnamon syrup, you can stir in a dash of vanilla extract, a pinch of nutmeg or pumpkin spice, some orange zest or juice. 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.
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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.
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