Description
This Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes recipe features tender sweet potato rounds simmered in a rich, buttery brown sugar glaze seasoned with cinnamon and nutmeg. Perfect as a comforting side dish for holiday meals or year-round enjoyment, these sweet potatoes are easy to prepare and deliver traditional Southern flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potatoes
- 4 medium sweet potatoes
Glaze
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare Sweet Potatoes: Peel the sweet potatoes and slice them into rounds of about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick to ensure even cooking.
- Melt Butter: In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat, ensuring it does not brown but fully liquefies to create the base of the glaze.
- Create Glaze: Add the brown sugar, water, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to the melted butter and stir well until the sugar is dissolved and ingredients are combined into a syrup.
- Add Sweet Potatoes: Place the sliced sweet potatoes into the pot with the glaze mixture. Stir gently to coat all pieces evenly.
- Bring to Boil: Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a gentle boil, allowing the sweet potatoes to start cooking in the syrup.
- Simmer Covered: Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and let the sweet potatoes simmer for 30 to 40 minutes until they become tender when pierced with a fork.
- Thicken Glaze: Remove the lid and cook uncovered for an additional 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the glaze to thicken and coat the sweet potatoes beautifully.
- Serve: Transfer the candied sweet potatoes to a serving dish and serve warm to enjoy the full richness of the flavors.
Notes
- Use medium-sized sweet potatoes to ensure even cooking.
- Adjust cinnamon and nutmeg according to taste preferences.
- Be careful not to overcook the sweet potatoes to avoid them turning mushy.
- The glaze can be thickened further by cooking uncovered longer if desired.
- These sweet potatoes can be reheated gently on the stovetop or in the oven.
- For a gluten-free dish, verify that the brown sugar has no additives containing gluten.
