🍠 Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes – Old-Fashioned, Sticky, Buttery & Absolutely Irresistible! 🍠
If you’ve never made candied sweet potatoes the Southern way, get ready to fall in love with one of the coziest, most comforting side dishes of all time. These melt-in-your-mouth sweet potatoes are simmered slowly in a rich, glossy butter-sugar syrup until every slice is tender, caramelized, and coated in that signature golden glaze. This is the kind of recipe your grandmother probably made — simple ingredients, slow cooking, and unbelievable flavor. Perfect for holidays, Sunday dinners, or anytime you want true Southern comfort on your table.
✨ What makes this recipe special?
It uses real butter, granulated sugar, and a low-and-slow cooking process so the potatoes absorb all that sweetness and turn into soft, candy-like bites. No oven, no baking — just an old-school stovetop method that fills your home with the smell of warm cinnamon, butter, and caramel.
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Ingredients:
• 4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into ½-inch rounds
• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar (optional but highly recommended for richer flavor)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• ¼ cup water (only if needed)
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Instructions (Stovetop, Southern Style):
1️⃣ Prep the sweet potatoes
Peel your sweet potatoes and slice into thick ½-inch rounds. You want them chunky enough to hold their shape while cooking.
2️⃣ Layer the potatoes
Place all sliced sweet potatoes in a large, heavy pot or deep skillet. Do not pre-cook them — they soften as they candy.
3️⃣ Add the butter and sugars
Sprinkle both granulated sugar and brown sugar evenly over the potatoes. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and dot the top with pieces of butter.
4️⃣ Start cooking (no stirring!)
Turn the heat to medium-low. As the butter melts, it will combine with the sugar to form the syrup.
👉 Important: don’t stir during the first 20 minutes — stirring too early breaks the potatoes.
5️⃣ Simmer slowly
Let the potatoes cook uncovered for about 45–60 minutes, gently spooning syrup over the top every 10–15 minutes.
They will soften, caramelize, and absorb the glaze.
6️⃣ Add vanilla at the end
When the syrup is thick, glossy, and reduced, drizzle in the vanilla extract and cook 2 more minutes.
7️⃣ Serve warm and enjoy
Your candied sweet potatoes should be tender but not mushy, with a deep caramel color and a sticky, buttery coating.
⭐ Tips for Perfect Candied Sweet Potatoes:
• Use orange-flesh sweet potatoes for best texture and sweetness.
• Don’t rush the cooking — the syrup thickens slowly.
• If the syrup seems too thick, add 1–2 tablespoons of water.
• For extra shine and depth, add 1 tablespoon maple syrup or a splash of orange juice.
• They taste even better the next day!
❤️ Why Everyone Loves This Recipe
This dish brings out pure Southern nostalgia — warm spices, silky texture, and that sweet buttery glaze that makes every bite feel like a hug. Serve it with ham, turkey, fried chicken, or even on its own as a cozy dessert. Once you try it, you’ll understand why this recipe has been passed down for generations.
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