Thanksgiving Candied Sweet Potatoes

My dream is to become a farmer. Just a Bohemian guy pulling up his own sweet potatoes for dinner.

Lenny Kravitz

 

Every family has a specific method for preparing sweet potatoes — especially for Thanksgiving feasts. Some are baked, some are roasted, some are whipped, some are fried, some have pecans, and some even turn into soup.

At our house, sweet potatoes are candied with butter and sugar and topped with toasted marshmallows. Get ready to fall in love with this festive dish!

 

 

Not only are these delicious, they are incredibly easy to make.

In fact, the most difficult thing about sharing them with you is trying to write down specific measurements.

 

Perfect Candied Sweet Potatoes for your Thanksgiving Feast

 

I’m usually making giant-sized pans of them for Thanksgiving, so I know they're ideal for a big crowd. But I’ve also tested this recipe for normal-sized portions, and I’m excited to say that a small dish works perfectly, too.

Knowing that I usually toss in some brown sugar, sprinkle on a bit of white sugar, dollop on a few pats of butter, dump a ton of marshmallows on top, and call it good, feel free to play around with the portions and cooking time to find the perfect fit for your family.

You can NOT mess this one up, so just have fun!

 

Candied Sweet Potato Ingredients

 

• 3-4 Sweet Potatoes: One of the most affordable vegetables in the produce section, look for medium-sized potatoes that are shaped so that they're not too tricky to peel.
• 1/8 cup Sugar: Adds flavor and works as a thickening agent for the glaze.
• 1/2 cup Brown Sugar: Any "darkness" of brown sugar works well.
• 1/4 cup Butter: I prefer to use salted stick butter.
• Mini Marshmallows: The minis melt faster so you have better control over how much they brown, but you can use regular-sized marshmallows in a pinch.

 

How to Make Candied Sweet Potatoes

 

1. Peel and slice the sweet potatoes about 1/4-inch thick.
2. Microwave the potatoes, covered, in 3 tablespoons of water for 5 minutes to allow the steam to begin softening them.
3. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
4. Place the potatoes in the baking dish.
5. Top with sugar, brown sugar, and butter.
6. Cover and bake at 425º F for 45-50 minutes, or until potatoes are soft.
7. Turn oven up to the Broil setting.
8. Cover potatoes with marshmallows.
9. Place under the broiler for 3-5 minutes to toast the marshmallows, keeping a close eye on them as they will go from “raw” to burnt very quickly.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Candied Sweet Potatoes faq

 

Here are a for tips and tricks for making Candied Sweet Potatoes while juggling other Thanksgiving recipes and chores...

 

Can I prep the potatoes ahead of time?

Absolutely! Peel and slice the sweet potatoes up to a day in advance. Store them in an air-tight container filled with enough water to cover the slices. I also sprinkle about a teaspoon of Fruit Fresh over the bowl before snapping on the lid and putting the bowl in the refrigerator until I'm ready to bake them. At that time, drain the water, add fresh water as instructed in Step 2, and proceed as written above.

 

 

Can I bake the potatoes earlier in the day?

Oven space is a premium at my house on Thanksgiving day! To make the most of my cooking time, I bake my Candied Sweet Potatoes mid-morning but stop after Step 6 above. When they're soft, I set them on a cooling rack with a piece of foil lightly secured so that steam can still escape. About ten minutes before we're ready to eat, I resume preparing the Candied Sweet Potatoes at Step 7. Just remember to set a timer so you don't get busy setting out the other final piece of your Thanksgiving feast and burn the marshmallows.

 

Are Candied Sweet Potatoes leftovers worth saving?

Uhmmm, YES!! Candied Sweet Potatoes might be even better on Day 2. The glaze and melted marshmallows fuse together to create a taste of heaven, and the sweet potatoes fall apart to the point they are almost mashed. In fact, I highly recommend whisking them and smoothing the mixture into a casserole dish. Add a few more mini marshmallows, a dash of cinnamon, and about 1/3 cup of chopped walnuts scattered on top. Heat in a 350ºF oven for 8–10 minutes or until the walnuts are toasted and the center of the dish is hot.

 

More Thanksgiving Feast Favorites

 

Looking for other recipes to WOW your family this holiday season? Here are a few of our family favorites from our kitchen to yours!

• A Big Batch of Nanny's Tea Cakes
• Sweetheart Salad
• Incredible Challah Bread

I know your family is going to devour these!

With love and hugs,