Candied Yams are the ultimate indulgent Thanksgiving side dish and taste just as the name suggests: candy! Just a few simple ingredients to make this side that will elevate your holiday meal.
Like our Thanksgiving Dressing, these Candied Yams have been a part of my family's Thanksgiving tradition since before I was born. They are a must for us at every Thanksgiving dinner. We don't do the classic marshmallow casserole!
These are a very rich side dish. The yams are simmered in a sauce that is essentially a homemade caramel until they predominately fall apart.
I like to finish the dish with a little salt to balance all of the sweetness (think salted caramel).
This recipe is so easy and definitely deserving of a place at the holiday table. They also go great alongside ham.
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Ingredients
- Canned yams
- Salted butter
- Dark brown sugar
- Sea salt
Make the Sauce
Drain the yams well. Reserve some of the liquid in case you need to add some back at the end.
Melt butter and sugar together and bring to a boil. Stir well. Add yams and return to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer.
Simmer the Yams
Cook until the mixture is reduced and thick, stirring occasionally and breaking up some of the bigger pieces of sweet potatoes.
This process requires some patience, as you want to really caramelize the yams. I usually simmer for around 25-30 minutes.
If the yams need more liquid, add the reserved liquid from the can to thin the mixture a bit.
Finish the Dish
To finish the yams, add a little salt - sea salt, kosher salt or table salt. The amount will depend on your preference. If you like salted caramel, you can bump up the salt.
I like to add just enough so it enhances the flavor of the yams and cuts the sweetness a bit.
Gluten Free Candied Yams
Yams are naturally gluten free. Check your packaging label for possible gluten contamination.
Looking for More Thanksgiving Recipes?
Check out these other recipes:
Herb Roasted Turkey Breast
Thanksgiving Dressing
Crash Hot Potatoes
Smashed Sweet Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes and Root Vegetables
Mashed Potato Layered Casserole
See all of my Thanksgiving recipes HERE.
📖 Recipe
Candied Yams
Ingredients
- 90 ounces canned yams (six 15-ouncs cans such as Bruce's brand, drained well)
- 24 tablespoons salted butter (3 sticks)
- 2 ¼ cups dark brown sugar
- salt (Kosher salt, sea salt or table salt, to taste)
Instructions
- Drain the yams well. Reserve some of the liquid in case you need to add some back at the end.
- Melt butter and sugar together and bring to a boil. Stir well.
- Add yams and return to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer.
- Cook until the mixture is reduced and thick, stirring occasionally and breaking up some of the bigger pieces of sweet potatoes.
- If the yams need more liquid, add the reserved liquid from the can to thin the mixture a bit.
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