Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes Yams with Marshmallows Recipe
This Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes recipe features tender sweet potatoes baked in a rich, spiced brown sugar glaze and topped with gooey melted marshmallows. Perfect as a comforting holiday side dish, it combines warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves with a buttery, caramelized sauce for a nostalgic and sweet flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potatoes
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/2–1 inch pieces
Glaze
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar or sweetener
- 3/4 cup white sugar or sweetener
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup water
Topping
- 2–3 cups marshmallows
Other
- Foil for covering the baking dish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the sweet potatoes.
- Melt Butter and Combine Sugars: In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the unsalted butter. Once melted, add the brown sugar, white sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt. Stir continuously to ensure the sugars dissolve without burning.
- Add Vanilla Extract: After the sugars have melted, stir in the vanilla extract. This will cause the glaze to thicken slightly.
- Caramelize the Glaze: Pour in the water and continue stirring the mixture until the glaze begins to caramelize and thicken further, creating a rich sauce.
- Prepare Sweet Potatoes in Baking Dish: Place the peeled and sliced sweet potatoes evenly into a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Pour Glaze Over Sweet Potatoes: Evenly pour the candied glaze mixture over the sweet potatoes to coat them well.
- Cover and Bake: Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, allowing the sweet potatoes to soften and absorb the flavors.
- Uncover and Add Marshmallows: Remove the foil and gently stir and baste the sweet potatoes to fully coat them with the glaze. Then, sprinkle 2-3 cups of marshmallows over the top evenly.
- Bake Again Until Marshmallows Melt: Return the uncovered baking dish to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the marshmallows have melted and the topping is bubbly and lightly browned.
- Rest Before Serving: Remove from oven and allow the sweet potatoes to sit for 15 minutes before stirring and serving. This resting time lets the glaze thicken for a luscious finish.
Notes
- Use either brown and white sugar or your preferred sweeteners to adjust sweetness as desired.
- Ensure not to overcook the glaze on the stovetop to prevent burning.
- Use fresh spices for best flavor impact.
- If you prefer less sweetness, reduce marshmallows or omit completely.
- Letting the dish rest after baking thickens the glaze and enhances flavors.
Keywords: Southern candied sweet potatoes, sweet potato casserole, holiday side dish, marshmallow sweet potatoes, baked yams, spiced sweet potatoes
