If you’ve been searching for a comforting, soul-satisfying dish that truly captures the essence of Southern cooking, look no further than this Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes Recipe. This dish offers a perfect balance of sweet, buttery, and warmly spiced flavors, all wrapped around tender, luscious sweet potatoes. Whether you’re making this for a holiday feast, family dinner, or just a cozy night in, these candied sweet potatoes bring a touch of Southern tradition and a whole lot of heart to your table.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients are wonderfully simple but essential for creating that iconic Southern charm in your candied sweet potatoes. Each one plays a special role, from bringing sweetness and warmth to enhancing texture and depth.
- White sugar: Provides the perfect sweetness and caramelizes beautifully to form a luscious glaze.
- Ground cinnamon: Adds a cozy, aromatic spice that complements the sweet potatoes’ natural flavor.
- Ground nutmeg: Brings a subtle warm earthiness that rounds out the spice profile.
- Salt: Just a pinch highlights the sweetness and balances the flavors.
- Butter: Creates a rich, velvety coating that helps the sugar mixture cling to the potatoes and deepens the overall taste.
- Sweet potatoes: The star of the dish, peeled and sliced for that tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Vanilla extract: Adds a fragrant, sweet finish that elevates the entire dish with a subtle complexity.
How to Make Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Step 1: Combine the Spices and Sugar
Start by mixing the white sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. This spice-sugar blend is what creates the signature candied coating, marrying sweetness with a balanced hint of spice that brings the dish alive.
Step 2: Melt Butter and Coat Sweet Potatoes
Melt the butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Once melted, add your sliced sweet potatoes and stir well to coat each piece in that rich, buttery goodness. This step ensures every bite gets that smooth, indulgent flavor.
Step 3: Add the Sugar Mixture
Sprinkle the sugar and spice blend evenly over the sweet potatoes and stir to combine. The sugars will start to dissolve and mingle with the butter, setting the stage for that incredible candied glaze.
Step 4: Low and Slow Cooking
Cover the skillet and reduce the heat to low. This gentle, slow cooking process allows the sweet potatoes to absorb all those beautiful flavors while the sugars caramelize to a deep golden color. Be sure to stir every now and then, so nothing sticks or burns.
Step 5: Cook Until Tender and Candied
Keep cooking for about an hour, stirring occasionally, until the sauce darkens into a rich syrup and the sweet potatoes are tender with slightly crisped edges. This slow caramelization is the secret to achieving that perfect Southern candied texture.
Step 6: Stir in Vanilla and Serve
Finally, stir in the vanilla extract for a fragrant finish that complements the warm spices and sweet glaze. Serve the Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes Recipe warm, and get ready for some happy faces around your table.
How to Serve Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Garnishes
Garnishing is a lovely touch that elevates the dish visually and enhances flavor. Try sprinkling chopped pecans or toasted walnuts on top for added crunch and nuttiness, or a few fresh thyme leaves for a subtle herbal contrast.
Side Dishes
Southern candied sweet potatoes pair beautifully with traditional Southern mains like glazed ham, fried chicken, or roasted turkey. They also complement green beans or collard greens, making any meal feel like a complete comfort-food celebration.
Creative Ways to Present
Do you want to impress your guests? Serve these sweet potatoes in a beautiful baking dish right from the stove or transfer them into individual ramekins for a charming presentation. You can even layer them with marshmallows on top and broil briefly for a sweet, toasted finish reminiscent of classic holiday casseroles.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have any Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes Recipe leftovers (and trust me, there might be!), store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They’ll stay fresh and flavorful for up to four days, perfect for a quick reheat later in the week.
Freezing
You can freeze these candied sweet potatoes, but because of their syrupy nature, it’s best done for shorter periods—up to one month is ideal. Freeze in a freezer-safe container and thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheating
To reheat, gently warm the sweet potatoes in a skillet over low heat or in the microwave, stirring occasionally to restore their glossy candied charm. Avoid high heat to prevent the sugars from burning or becoming grainy.
FAQs
Can I use brown sugar instead of white sugar?
Absolutely! Brown sugar will add a deeper, molasses-like flavor to your Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes Recipe, making it even richer. Just keep an eye on the cooking time as brown sugar caramelizes differently.
What type of sweet potatoes work best?
Use firm, orange-fleshed sweet potatoes for this recipe. They hold their shape well during the long cooking time and develop a beautiful sweetness that’s integral to the dish.
Can I make this recipe vegan?
Yes, you can swap out butter for a plant-based margarine or coconut oil. The flavor profile might shift slightly, but the dish will remain delicious and maintain its signature sweetness.
Is it necessary to peel the sweet potatoes?
Peeling is traditional for this recipe to achieve a smooth, tender texture, but you can leave the skin on if you prefer more texture and added nutrients. Just make sure to wash them thoroughly.
How do I avoid the potatoes turning mushy?
Cooking low and slow while stirring occasionally is key. Avoid stirring too frequently, and check the doneness starting at 50 minutes to ensure the potatoes hold their shape while becoming tender.
Final Thoughts
Making this Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes Recipe is like welcoming a warm hug from the South into your kitchen. It’s an easy-to-make, utterly delicious dish that transforms humble sweet potatoes into a centerpiece worthy of any celebration or simple weeknight comfort. I can’t wait for you to give it a try and see just how magical these southern flavors can be!
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Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern American
Description
Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes are a classic, comforting side dish featuring tender sweet potato slices coated in a rich buttery cinnamon and nutmeg sugar sauce. Slow-cooked in a skillet until caramelized and tender, these sweet potatoes offer a perfect balance of sweetness and spice for holiday meals or cozy family dinners.
Ingredients
Sweet Potatoes
- 6 sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced
Spice Mixture
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 pinch salt
Other Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the spice mixture: In a small bowl, combine the white sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. This mixture will provide the warm, sweet, and slightly spiced flavor that characterizes the dish.
- Melt butter and coat sweet potatoes: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the peeled and sliced sweet potatoes to the skillet, stirring gently to coat them evenly with the melted butter.
- Add the sugar mixture: Sprinkle the prepared sugar and spice blend evenly over the sweet potatoes in the skillet. Stir gently to mix the sugar mixture with the sweet potatoes and butter.
- Cover and reduce heat: Cover the skillet with a lid to trap steam and reduce the heat to low. This slow cooking allows the sweet potatoes to absorb the flavors and the sugar to caramelize properly.
- Cook until candied: Cook the sweet potatoes for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Continue cooking until the sauce turns dark and thickens, coating the sweet potatoes with a glossy, candied glaze. The potatoes should be tender in the center but retain a slightly firm texture around the edges.
- Finish with vanilla and serve: Stir in the tablespoon of vanilla extract to add depth and aroma to the dish. Serve the candied sweet potatoes warm as a delicious side dish.
Notes
- Use firm but ripe sweet potatoes for best texture and flavor.
- Stir occasionally during cooking to prevent the sugar mixture from burning on the bottom of the skillet.
- Adjust the amount of sugar if you prefer a less sweet dish.
- For extra flavor, a splash of orange juice or zest can be added before cooking.
- This dish can be made ahead and gently reheated before serving.
