Easy Candied Sweet Potatoes – SHK

Skip the can this holiday season! These Easy Candied Sweet Potatoes are buttery, caramelized, and perfectly tender — a cozy, family-friendly side dish made with brown sugar, maple syrup, and warm spices. Perfect for holiday dinners or weeknight comfort meals!

A Classic Holiday Side Dish

Every Thanksgiving dinner I was served growing up included candied yams. Prepared in the traditional (and to my mind, baffling) method. Canned sweet potatoes dumped in a baking dish and topped with mini marshmallows. I took one tentative bite and declared that I did not like sweet potatoes and swore an oath to never again partake of those overly sweet, soft, offensive tubers.

Thankfully, I was reintroduced to sweet potatoes in my early adulthood and they quickly became one of my very favorite foods.

But I still stand by my early childhood declaration that yams in a can have no place on a holiday table.

When it comes to holiday sides dishes, candied sweet potatoes are hard to beat. This easy version turns simple ingredients — butter, brown sugar, and a hint of maple syrup — into a glossy, caramel-like sauce that coats every slice of tender sweet potato. The result is a warm, comforting dish that’s sweet (but not too sweet), beautifully spiced, and guaranteed to make your kitchen smell incredible.

These Easy Candied Sweet Potatoes are the perfect mix of nostalgia and practicality. They deliver all the cozy holiday flavor you love without the hassle — no boiling, no pre-cooking, just slice, pour, and bake. The oven does all the work, creating perfectly caramelized edges and a thick, syrupy glaze that feels indulgent but comes together with real, simple ingredients.

Whether you’re making them for Thanksgiving, Sunday dinner, or as a way to sweeten up a weeknight meal, these sweet potatoes are a crowd-pleaser for all ages. Add toasted pecans for crunch, a little orange zest for brightness, or mini marshmallows for that irresistible classic touch. However you serve them, this is one of those dishes that disappears fast and makes everyone ask for seconds.

Why We Love This Recipe:

Perfectly sweet, buttery, and caramelized.

Naturally rich in fiber and vitamins.

Ideal for holidays or cozy family dinners.

Kid-approved flavor and texture — tastes like dessert but counts as a veggie!

Substitutions & Variations:

Butter: Substitute coconut oil or vegan butter for a dairy-free version.

Sweetener: Replace maple syrup with honey or molasses for a richer flavor.

Nuts: Try walnuts or almonds instead of pecans, or omit entirely for a nut-free dish.

Spices: Add cardamom or allspice for a fun twist, or reduce cinnamon for a milder flavor.

Topping: For a classic holiday finish, top with marshmallows; for everyday meals, skip them for a lighter version.

Tips for Success:

• Slice evenly: Uniform rounds help everything cook at the same rate.
• Don’t skip the rest time: Letting the dish sit allows the syrup to thicken and cling beautifully to the potatoes.
• Use real maple syrup: It adds depth and balances the sweetness of the brown sugar.
• Add texture: Toast pecans separately before topping for an extra crunch.
• Watch the broiler: Marshmallows toast quickly — it only takes seconds to go from golden to burnt!

Make Ahead & Storage:

• Make Ahead: Assemble the dish (through step 5) up to one day in advance, cover tightly, and refrigerate. Bake just before serving.
• Store Leftovers: Cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Reheat: Warm in a 350°F oven until heated through, or microwave individual portions.

More Tasty Sweet Potato Recipes:

These Easy Candied Sweet Potatoes are sweet enough to make kids happy, wholesome enough for parents to approve, and easy enough for weeknight cooking. The natural sweetness of the potatoes means you don’t need tons of added sugar, and the combination of warm spices and buttery syrup makes every bite taste like a cozy fall hug. It’s feel-good comfort food — nourishing, nostalgic, and completely delicious.