Stove Top Candied Sweet Potatoes

These Candied Sweet Potatoes are sweet, tender, and coated in a caramelized, sweet as candy glaze. Sliced sweet potatoes are slow cooked on the stove top in a mixture of sugar, brown sugar, butter, maple extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg. You and your guests will love this sweet, rich, and indulgent Thanksgiving side dish.

A touch of maple extract ties all the flavors together and perfectly balances sweet and savory. The result is tender, sweet, and cinnamon kissed sweet potatoes that will leave everyone at your Thanksgiving table craving for more.

Cooking sweet potatoes on the stove allows you to caramelize them directly in the sugary syrup, creating a beautiful, delicious, glossy glaze that coats each piece. It also means you free up oven space for that Southern Cornbread Dressing!

Why You'll Love These Sweet Potatoes

Stove top candied sweet potatoes have been cherished for generations for good reason! The natural sweetness of sweet potatoes combined with the richness of butter, the sweet notes of both white and brown sugar, and a hint of warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

With this casserole being so rich and sweet, sometimes I wonder, is this a side dish or a dessert? Then when I eat them, I really don't care about what category they're in 🙂 Sweet potatoes are my favorite holiday vegetable, and if you're here, they're probably yours, too!

Ingredients for Candied Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes - the star of the show! To help with the slicing, try to pick out the smaller, longer sweet potatoes instead of the larger, thicker ones. If you buy a 3-lb bag of sweet potatoes, they tend to be the smaller, longer type.

Butter - adds richness and flavor yes, but also creates the distinctive caramelization of the syrup that coats the sweet potatoes. You will use 2 sticks of butter to create the perfect buttery, sweet syrup that the sweet potatoes will cook in.

Sugar - with both white sugar and brown sugar, add even more sweetness to the dish and create a glossy, candy-like coating.

Cinnamon and nutmeg - these spices bring warmth and depth to the dish; if you're not a nutmeg fan, just leave it out. But the cinnamon is a must!

Maple extract - I really like to use maple extract for its subtle flavor. I also use it in my White Chocolate and Raspberry Muffins and my Biscoff Blondies recipes. I'm in love with the flavor it adds!

Ingredient Substitutions and Additions

• You can use vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste instead of maple extract for a different twist.
• While sweet potatoes and yams are different, they can often be used interchangeably in recipes like this.
• Instead of cinnamon and nutmeg, use allspice. Allspice has warm, earthy notes with a hint of cloves and cinnamon.
• Adding chopped pecans or marshmallows on top before serving can add extra flavor and texture.
• Grated orange zest can brighten up the sweetness and add a citrusy aroma.
• For a surprising twist, a pinch of chili powder can add a hint of heat to balance the sweetness.

How to Make Stove Top Candied Sweet Potatoes

Please follow the recipe card for the best results.

Step 1 - melt the butter in a large, deep skillet. Stir in both sugars, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Step 2 - add the sliced and peeled sweet potatoes. Stir to coat all the sweet potato slices.

Step 3 - bring mixture to a boil, cover, lower heat, and simmer until the sweet potatoes are soft and tender.

Step 4 - remove from the heat and gently stir in the maple extract.

More Sweet Potato Recipes

Sweet Potato Cornbread - hot sweet potato cornbread is topped with butter and honey! A southern cornbread experience you must try!

Southern Sweet Potato Casserole - creamy mashed sweet potatoes are topped with pecan praline topping! The topping reminds me of my little Cajun grandmother's pralines.