Kidsumers

Enjoy These Candied Yams for Thanksgiving Dinner

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Sheri

If there’s anything I can count on in this world, it’s my son asking this question when coming home for a family dinner: “Will there be candied yams for Thanksgiving?”

I get the distinct impression that he doesn’t make the trip home to visit his family, but only for the candied yams. If I dare answer “no” to this question, I doubt he would come to visit. Of course, they are a family tradition and a favourite dish of mine as well, so obviously we are having candied yams for Thanksgiving.

This recipe is the most read post on this blog and my most pinned post on Pinterest. Many people have made it and taken the time to write me and tell me how much they enjoyed it. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to know that one of my family dishes is now a part of so many other families. Please let me know if you try it!

Ingredients:

  • 6 large sweet potatoes
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 a bag of mini marshmallows
candied yams for thanksgiving

Instructions:

Peel your sweet potatoes and cut them into cubes. Boil your sweet potatoes until they are soft.

Peel your sweet potatoes

Chop the sweet potatoes

Add the butter, cinnamon and brown sugar to the yams, and mash them until smooth. Put the mashed mixture into a casserole dish. In the past I have used the Swerve brown sugar substitute and they tasted just as wonderful, if you are looking for less sugar.

mash the yams

candied yams before the mashmallows

Cover the sweet potatoes with the mini marshmallows and bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until the marshmallows are browned. Do not cover the dish or your marshmallows will liquify.

candied yams with marshmallows

It is my sincere hope your family enjoys these candied yams as much as mine does! We have even made them with halal marshmallows and they were as good as ever. Play with the recipe to create the dish that is best for you and your loved ones. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Comments

45 responses to “Enjoy These Candied Yams for Thanksgiving Dinner”

  1. Laurie Avatar
    Laurie

    Love yams, and I can usually only find them this time of the year….these look delicious.

    Reply
  2. Colleen Avatar
    Colleen

    Looks yummy. I’m so getting into the fall spirit, even here in S. Florida, the weather is so pretty right now.

    Reply
  3. Lisa @ljenator Avatar
    Lisa @ljenator

    Soooo hungry right now!!!!

    Reply
  4. TerriAnn Avatar
    TerriAnn

    OOH, just the way I like them 🙂 I’m really the only one in my house that likes these so I make it and then freeze it in baggies. That way I can just pop it in the microwave when I get a sweet craving!

    Reply
  5. Kasandria Reasoner Avatar
    Kasandria Reasoner

    Ohhh I can’t wait for Thanksgiving!
    Kas

    Reply
  6. Glenda Avatar
    Glenda

    Thanks for sharing as my husband Loves Yams and asked for them for Christmas so now I knowhow to make them. The next thing I have to find a reciepe for is dressing or stuffing.

    Reply
    1. Sam Avatar
      Sam

      If you like “fruity” stuffing, I have a recipe here

      Reply
  7. Louise Avatar
    Louise

    OH wow you made that look so good

    Reply
  8. Chelsea Avatar
    Chelsea

    I made this for a christmas party and everyone lived them. Neither my husband or I care for candied yams but we lived this! It was an easy recipe. I really went out on a limb though making these since I’ve never made yams before. Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Sheri Avatar
      Sheri

      I’m glad you liked them. I think it’s the cinnamon that changes the flavour slightly and makes them so good!

      Reply
  9. Shauna Lewis Avatar
    Shauna Lewis

    Just came across this recipe and I’m going to try it this year! Can I make this the night ahead and bake it before dinner on thanksgiving? I work that morning and trying to find dishes to make it easier on me that day! Thanks!!

    Reply
  10. Amy Fulton Avatar
    Amy Fulton

    Thanks for this recipe. My college-aged daughter has asked me for the first time EVER to make Candied Yams this year. I’ve never had them or made them, so I went looking for the recipe on Pinterest. Came across yours and I’m definitely going to use it Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Sheri Avatar
      Sheri

      I hope you like them!

      Reply
  11. Jennifer Avatar
    Jennifer

    I made some candied yams a couple of weeks ago from another site, but there wasn’t any way to comment on there and I was just wondering if anyone would help me out with what went wrong? They tasted delicious but they looked terrible. I wasn’t told to mash them, but leave them in pieces. It was very liquid-y when I was done and the marshmallows actually melted so it just looked like potatoes in a brown liquid. I’m definitely going to give this recipe a try! Just wanted some feedback,

    Reply
    1. Liz Avatar
      Liz

      Jennifer, having not seen the other recipe, this is just a guess… but I’m found that boiling my sweet potatoes can make them more mushy then if I just bake them in the oven. So for mashed sweet potatoes, it’s not big deal, but if you just diced them, I would think a lot of the liquid from boiling them ran out of the potatoes and made it runny. AND Marshmallows can melt fast, especially at high heat, so you really just have to watch them. Sometime putting them on the last part of cooking can be best if your recipe calls for a long cook time at a higher heat. Hope that helped!

      Reply
      1. Jennifer Avatar
        Jennifer

        Thank you so much for replying! I wil definitely try the tips!

        Reply
    2. Sheri Avatar
      Sheri

      I think you would have to mash them to avoid having a watery dish. The marshmallows will melt if left in too long, if microwaved or if you cover the dish to keep it hot and leave it for awhile. If I’m traveling with the dish, I wait and add the marshmallows when i get there and just put it in the oven for a few minutes when I get there.

      Reply
      1. Jennifer Avatar
        Jennifer

        Thank you! I will try these out this christmas!

        Reply
  12. Liz Avatar
    Liz

    Jennifer, having not seen the other recipe, this is just a guess… but I’m found that boiling my sweet potatoes can make them more mushy then if I just bake them in the oven. So for mashed sweet potatoes, it’s not big deal, but if you just diced them, I would think a lot of the liquid from boiling them ran out of the potatoes and made it runny. AND Marshmellows can melt fast, especially at high heat, so you really just have to watch them. Sometime putting them on the last part of cooking can be best if your recipe calls for a long cook time at a higher heat. Hope that helped!

    Reply
  13. Courtney Avatar
    Courtney

    What size casserole dish is this?

    Reply
    1. Sheri Avatar
      Sheri

      It is a 3 quart dish. I hope that helps!

      Reply
  14. Kristin Lahr Avatar
    Kristin Lahr

    I noticed someone asked if you could make the sweet potatoes the night before and just add the marshmallows right before they go in the oven, but it was never answered. Would it be OK to make them the night before?

    Reply
    1. Sheri Avatar
      Sheri

      Yes, I think it would be fine as long as you don’t put the marshmallows on until after the dish has completely reheated in the oven. Then add the marshmallows and just let them brown a bit.

      Reply
  15. Samantha Avatar
    Samantha

    I am a teenage girl whose family hasn’t ever done candied yams at Thanksgiving before! I love baking and cooking, and sweet potatoes are one of my favorite foods! So I searched for a recipe on pinterest and came across this one. Let me just say…it is MARVELOUS. All of my aunts and uncles at Thanksgiving dinner said they hated sweet potato casserole, but then when they tried this, they all swore they were converted!! I’d say that means these are pretty good! Yes, they were divine, and my favorite dish at the dinner. Thank you thank you thank you for this recipe!!!

    Reply
    1. Sheri Avatar
      Sheri

      I’m so glad you liked them! They are a family favourite here too.

      Reply
  16. Liz Avatar
    Liz

    Do you add water to the yams when you boil them? Is the cup of butter melted?

    Reply
    1. Sheri Avatar
      Sheri

      Hi Liz, yes you put the potatoes in water and boil them. The butter will melt while you mash it into the hot potatoes.

      Reply
      1. Liz Avatar
        Liz

        Thank you for replying!

        Reply
  17. sylvia Avatar
    sylvia

    Did this today for tomorrow’s dinner. ..I tasted just a spoonful and omg!!!! Delicious. .. can’t wait to add the marshmallows for tomorrow!

    Reply
    1. sylvia Avatar
      sylvia

      Just one question can I heat them in the microwave tomorrow and then throw them in the oven with marshmallow? ??

      Reply
  18. Emilia Avatar
    Emilia

    My grandchildren will love this. I am going to try this. I have never seen or heard about marshmallows with sweet potatoes

    Reply
  19. Jamie hall Avatar
    Jamie hall

    This is always at but at family gatherings

    Reply
  20. Linda Johnson Avatar
    Linda Johnson

    I boil my potatoes in water. The peel scrapes off with a fork. I use to fight with the pealing. I love potato casserole.

    Reply
  21. Dorothy Avatar
    Dorothy

    How many people does this serve?

    Reply
    1. Sheri Avatar
      Sheri

      This serves 8-10 people.

      Reply
  22. Stacey Avatar
    Stacey

    Hi.. One question with adding water to boil.. Do you just add water to cover all the peeled and sliced potatoes? Do you drain water after or mash them with water still in there? I’m confused on that part. Sorry. First time making them for a bit 25 person family dinner

    Reply
    1. Sheri Avatar
      Sheri

      Boil the water. Drain the water, then mash. Happy Thanksgiving!

      Reply
  23. Erendira Avatar
    Erendira

    Everyone absolutely loved this last night, Thank you Sheri!

    Reply
    1. Sheri Avatar
      Sheri

      I’m so glad! Thanks for letting me know.

      Reply
  24. Sommer Avatar
    Sommer

    Hi!

    Dark or light brown sugar?

    Reply
    1. Sheri Avatar
      Sheri

      Either one will work, but I prefer dark.

      Reply
  25. Julie Avatar
    Julie

    How many does this serve?

    Reply
    1. Sheri Avatar
      Sheri

      It serves 8-10 people.

      Reply
  26. Kari Avatar
    Kari

    Hi! If I’m making this the night before, how long and at what temp do I reheat it before adding the marshmallows to brown? Thank you! I’ve made this two years in a row, but this will be the first tine I try making it ahead!

    Reply
    1. Sheri Avatar
      Sheri

      Heat it at 350 for about 40 minutes, then add the marshmallows and leave it until they are browned (approximately 10 minutes). Alternatively, you can microwave them until they are hot and then put them in the oven with the marshmallows. I do this sometimes if I don’t have the oven space for a whole hour.

      Reply

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