Easy Candied Sweet Potatoes

This recipe for candied sweet potatoes is an easy, one-pan wonder. It’s a delicious side dish and perfect for feeding a crowd.

Ingredients

Full recipe + amounts can be found in the recipe card below. 

• Sweet potatoes. This recipe can be made with yams and even butternut squash too.
• Butter. 
• Brown sugar. I used soft brown sugar but Demerara, Muscavado, etc. will all work.
• Cinnamon. I used both ground cinnamon and cinnamon sticks.
• Lemon juice.
• Salt. 

How to make candied sweet potatoes

1. Prep: Peel the sweet potatoes and slice into ½cm / ¼in slices. In a deep pan, add the brown sugar, water, cinnamon, lemon juice and salt. Layer the sweet potatoes on top then dot with the butter and add cinnamon sticks (optional).
2. Cook: Place the pan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Cover and allow to cook for 20 minutes, glazing the sweet potatoes every 5 minutes until they are cooked through and glossy and the sauce has reduced into a caramel.
3. Serve: Once cooked, glaze the potatoes one final time then serve.

Can I make candied sweet potatoes in advance?

This dish can be assembled and kept covered in the fridge for up to a day in advance. Cooked sweet potatoes can be kept at room temperature for up to 6 hours and reheated just before serving.

Sweet potato recipes

1. Baked sweet potatoes with whipped honey butter
2. Maple butter mashed sweet potatoes
3. Curry roasted sweet potato