Southern Candied Yams (2024)

Southern Candied Yams with Marshmallows and Pecans are for those that can’t decide between marshmallows or pecans. Sticky, sweet baked yams are topped with mini marshmallows and pecans for a crunchy, toasty, sweet topping you just can’t resist.

Southern Candied Yams

Memories of Thanksgiving when I was growing up always had a casserole dish stuffed to the brim with toasted marshmallows. It wasn’t until you dug a spoon into it that you even knew what was beneath that toasty cloud of sweetness. For all we knew, it could have been s’mores dip!

But, sure enough, when you pulled that spoon out of the dish it was loaded with gooey, sticky yams coated in a thick blanket of toasted marshmallow. For some, it was heaven….for me…..much too sweet. I still shun that overly sweet candied yam casserole but that doesn’t mean I skip the yams completely.

I created a much less cloyingly sweet Southern Candied Yam recipe that’s super simple and not made from canned yams at all. That’s what was used for that super sweet yam casserole I remember from years ago so I knew that fresh yams needed to happen in my revamped version of this holiday side dish.

In addition to fresh yams, I still love the marshmallow but a hint of them in the form of mini marshmallows….just a smattering….would totally do the trick. BUT, I also wanted some crunch to add much needed texture to the soft yams…plus, why not? Right?

What are Candied Yams

This Southern Candied Yam recipe is just what you need when your guests are both team marshmallow and team pecan. I know I’m undecided so it just seems fitting to top your baked yams with both.

A classic holiday side dish, these homemade Candied Yams are made from scratch and are super easy to whip up. The yams are baked in a syrupy sauce and then topped with mini marshmallows and chopped pecans at the end of cooking.

How To Make Candied Yams

Easy Candied Yams come together pretty easily, the most time spent will be on peeling and slicing the potatoes. If you have a mandoline, it will cut your prep time in half. If you don’t own a mandoline or you lost the slicing blade, like I did, you can just cut your potatoes into rounds approximately 1/2 inch thick with a sharp chef’s knife.

Here’s how to make candied yams from scratch:

1. Peel and slice your yams into 1/2 inch rounds. Stack and arrange in a baking dish coated with cooking spray. (I used a 2 quart baking dish for this recipe)
2. In a small saucepan, melt the butter, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and orange juice.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil and remove from the heat, stir to combine.
4. Pour the syrup mixture over the yams and toss to coat a little bit. (Your yams will not be completely coated, this will happen in the oven.)
5. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
6. Uncover the casserole and toss the yams to coat in the sauce. Cover and return to the oven for another 30 minutes.
7. Uncover the yams and toss to coat in the sauce again.
8. Top with the marshmallows and pecans. Return to the oven and bake the yams for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the marshmallows are golden brown.
9. Remove the yams from the oven and serve immediately.

Difference Between Yams and Sweet Potatoes

Contrary to popular believe, yams and sweet potatoes are not the same thing. Real yams are an entirely different root vegetable with starchy, bland flesh and thick, bumpy skin that’s similar in appearance to tree bark.

Sweet Potatoes, on the other hand, have a dark, reddish brown skin that’s thinner and a little smoother. While there are several versions of sweet potatoes at the grocery store, the most commonly found sweet potato is the orange sweet potato. A lot of people will say these are yams, but, technically…real yams are hard to find in the United States.

You can also find white sweet potatoes which are less sweet than the orange but you can totally use them interchangeably.

BUT, most likely, the yams you buy at the grocery store in the US are, actually, sweet potatoes. But at least you know the difference now. 🙂

See Also

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What To Serve With Them

We love to serve these candied yams at Thanksgiving alongside our favorite turkey recipe but you can also serve them with this easy Spiral Ham recipe!

You can also serve them for a Sunday dinner with this extra special Prime Rib Beef Roast or this Beef Tenderloin Roast.

More Easy Holiday Side Dish Ideas

• This super easy Sweet Potato Casserole is sinfully amazing!
• The BEST EVER Mashed Potatoes are sure to be a hit.
• Green Beans Almondine are a classic that’s ready in a flash.
• Got a spare yam? Make these Stuffed Sweet Potatoes….because it’s really just a sweet potato anyway.

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