If you’re craving a classic soul food side that brings warmth, sweetness, and a touch of nostalgia to your table, you’re going to adore this Southern Candied Yams (Soul Food Recipe!) Recipe. I absolutely love how these yams turn out tender and dripping in a rich, buttery, spiced syrup — they’re perfection on every holiday plate. Whether it’s your first attempt or you’ve made candied yams before, this recipe is foolproof and will quickly become a family favorite. Let me walk you through everything I’ve learned, including tips to get that perfect glaze and tricks that make serving a breeze.

❤️

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Deep, Authentic Flavor: The blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and vanilla makes these yams wonderfully soulful and unforgettable.
Simple Yet Impressive: With just a handful of ingredients, you get a show-stopping dish that looks and tastes like it took hours.
Perfect Texture: The yams come out tender and juicy — not mushy or dry — thanks to the careful baking process.
Make-Ahead Friendly: Ideal for holidays or weeknight meals, you can prep in advance and still enjoy fresh tasting yams.

A close-up of a white rectangular dish filled with a layered baked dish of sliced sweet potatoes. The slices are thick and round, showing a burnt orange color with a glossy, syrupy brown sauce covering them. The edges of the dish show some caramelized sauce residue. The sweet potato slices overlap slightly, and the sauce bubbles gently around them. The dish sits on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients You’ll Need

Each ingredient in this Southern Candied Yams (Soul Food Recipe!) Recipe plays a role in creating that perfect balance of sweetness and spice. I recommend using fresh ground spices if you can — it really elevates the flavor.

Sweet potatoes: Go for firm, medium-sized ones. I like longer and thinner yams as they slice more evenly.
Unsalted butter: Makes the syrup rich and silky; using unsalted lets you control the saltiness.
Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness without overpowering, I usually go with white sugar for the base.
Dark brown sugar: Adds depth and a molasses-like richness that makes this dish truly soulful.
Ground cinnamon: This is the star spice, providing that warm, comforting aroma.
Ground ginger: Lends a subtle kick that balances the sweetness.
Ground nutmeg: Adds complexity and a slightly nutty flavor.
Salt: Essential to bring out all the sweetness and spice.
Ground cloves: Use sparingly; just a pinch goes a long way to adding warmth.
Vanilla extract: A little splash brightens the whole dish and rounds out the sugar’s richness.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love making this Southern Candied Yams (Soul Food Recipe!) Recipe my own depending on the season or my mood. Don’t hesitate to tweak the spices or sweetness to suit your family’s taste — it’s your kitchen, after all!

Spicy Kick: Sometimes, I add a pinch of cayenne or smoked paprika for a subtle heat. It surprisingly pairs well with the sweet and warm spices.
Orange Zest: Adding a teaspoon of orange zest to the syrup brightens the whole dish—a trick I picked up making holiday versions.
Maple Syrup Swap: I’ve replaced some or all of the sugar with pure maple syrup for a different but deliciously natural sweetness.
Vegan Version: Swap butter for coconut oil and skip the vanilla extract if you want a dairy-free version; it still cooks beautifully.

How to Make Southern Candied Yams (Soul Food Recipe!) Recipe

Step 1: Prep and Butter Up Your Pan

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. While it warms, grab a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and give it a good buttering. I always slice my butter into small squares first—it melts evenly, making greasing easier and quicker.

Step 2: Slice and Layer the Sweet Potatoes

Wash, peel, and slice your sweet potatoes into half-inch thick rounds. The thickness matters for even baking—too thick and the insides stay firm; too thin and they might get mushy. Once sliced, layer them evenly in your buttered dish. Don’t just dump ‘em in; a neat layer helps them cook through nicely.

Step 3: Craft the Magical Syrup

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter along with granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Stir continuously until the butter has just melted and the ingredients blend — don’t let the sugar fully dissolve, it makes the syrup wonderfully thick and sticky in just the right way. Stir in your vanilla extract and then remove from the heat. This syrup is where all the magic happens!

Step 4: Pour, Coat, and Cover

Pour that luscious syrup all over the sweet potatoes in your baking dish. Now, here’s a trick I learned — use a wooden spoon or even your clean hands to gently stir and coat all the sweet potato pieces in syrup. It takes a little muscle, but trust me, coating every slice avoids dry spots or clumps later. Cover the dish tightly with foil before popping it into the oven.

Step 5: Bake, Toss, and Finish Baking

Bake your covered yams for 40 minutes, then carefully take off the foil and toss everything gently to rotate the yams. This step helps every piece soak up that syrupy goodness evenly. Put the dish back uncovered and bake for another 30 to 40 minutes until the yams are fork-tender and the cooking liquid thickens into a rich glaze. You’ll know it’s ready when the potatoes are soft but still hold their shape beautifully.

Step 6: Cool and Serve Up!

Once out of the oven, let your Southern Candied Yams cool for about 10 minutes to thicken the syrup even more. Use a slotted spoon to serve and be generous with the extra syrup on top. This final touch seals the deal and will have your guests going back for seconds.

👨‍🍳

Pro Tips for Making Southern Candied Yams (Soul Food Recipe!) Recipe

Uniform Slicing: When I first tried this, uneven slices meant uneven cooking; using a mandoline slicer helped me get perfect thickness every time.
Do Not Fully Dissolve Sugar: Leaving the sugar a bit grainy in the syrup keeps the yams syrupy and sticky, avoiding a hard candy-like coating.
Gentle Tossing: Tossing halfway through saves you from dry edges and ensures every bite is coated and flavorful.
Avoid Over-Baking: I learned to test yams earlier than you think — they should be tender but not falling apart, which keeps them visually appealing and texturally perfect.

How to Serve Southern Candied Yams (Soul Food Recipe!) Recipe

A white oval bowl is filled with several thick slices of cooked sweet potatoes, each slice showing a shiny, glazed surface with a warm, brownish-orange color and a soft texture marked by specks of cinnamon or spice. The slices are stacked loosely, some overlapping others, and the glaze gives them a slightly sticky and glossy look. The bowl rests on an orange and white patterned cloth, and the background features a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

I usually keep garnishes simple — a sprinkle of toasted pecans adds a nice crunch and a pop of color. Sometimes, I add a little fresh chopped parsley or thyme for a subtle herbal note that contrasts the sweetness. But honestly, these yams can shine on their own with just a touch of extra syrup drizzled on top.

Side Dishes

My family goes crazy for these alongside classic fried chicken, collard greens, or cornbread. For a full soul food feast, add baked macaroni and cheese or black-eyed peas — the balance of flavors and textures always hits the spot.

Creative Ways to Present

For Thanksgiving or special occasions, I’ve served these yams in individual ramekins topped with mini marshmallows toasted under the broiler—delightful combo! Another fun idea is layering sliced yams like a casserole with a brown sugar-butter crumb topping for an elegant twist.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftovers are honestly one of the best parts! I store mine in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. The syrup thickens and flavors deepen overnight — it tastes even better the next day.

Freezing

I’ve frozen this recipe a couple of times with success. Just make sure to cool the yams completely before storing in a freezer-safe container. When thawed, the texture softens slightly but the flavor stays lovely – perfect for busy weeknights.

Reheating

Reheat gently in the oven at 325°F covered with foil, or zap in the microwave with a damp paper towel to keep moisture in. Stir halfway through reheating to redistribute the syrup and keep everything luscious.

FAQs

Can I use regular sweet potatoes instead of yams?

Absolutely! What many call “yams” in the U.S. are usually orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. This recipe works perfectly with either type; just adjust cooking time if the potatoes are very dense or thickly sliced.
Should I peel the sweet potatoes?

Yes, peeling helps create a smooth, tender texture and lets the syrup soak in better. If you like extra rustic yams, you can leave the skin on, but it will change the final texture.
Can I make Southern Candied Yams (Soul Food Recipe!) Recipe vegan?

Definitely! Substitute the butter with plant-based butter or coconut oil and make sure your sugar is vegan-friendly. The rest of the ingredients are naturally vegan.
How do I prevent the syrup from hardening?

The key is not to fully dissolve the sugar when cooking the syrup. Removing the pan from heat when the syrup is thick but still grainy keeps it syrupy as it bakes and cools.

Final Thoughts

Southern Candied Yams (Soul Food Recipe!) Recipe isn’t just a side dish to me — it’s a little bit of home, comfort, and tradition all rolled into one buttery, sweet, and perfectly spiced bite. I hope you give this recipe a try and find the same joy in making and sharing it that I’ve found over the years. It pairs beautifully with so many dishes and brings smiles to the table every time. Trust me, your family and friends will thank you!