Slow Cooker Crockpot Candied Sweet Potatoes (Soul Food Yams)
Candied sweet potatoes and yams are a timeless dish that adds a touch of sweetness to any meal. Whether you're planning a holiday dinner or a cozy family gathering, this recipe makes it easy to prepare a delicious side with minimal effort. By using a slow cooker, you can achieve tender, flavorful Southern soul food sweet potatoes coated in a rich, buttery glaze without needing to spend hours in the kitchen.
Servings 5 servings
Calories 209kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes Washed and Peeled. This was 2 large sweet potatoes for me. Weigh for accuracy.
- ¾ cup water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch See notes.
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup dark brown sugar or sweetener
- ¾ cup white sugar or sweetener
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract I use pure vanilla, not imitation.
Instructions
- Peel and slice the sweet potatoes into rounds about ½ to 1 inch thick. You can also slice them into ½ to 1 inch cubes.
- Combine the water and cornstarch in a bowl. Stir.
- Add all of the ingredients (including the cornstarch water slurry) to the slow cooker.
- Cover and slow cook on High for 3-4 hours or Low for 6-8 hours. Stir the sweet potatoes halfway through the cooking process. This recipe does not use a lot of water because you want a thick glaze for the sweet potatoes. Because of this, you will need to give them a stir to ensure the sweet potatoes on the bottom don't cook faster than the ones on the top.
- Cool before serving. Allow the glaze to thicken. See notes for how to thicken the sauce if necessary. Taste the glaze repeatedly. Add more sugar/sweetener or spices to suit your taste.
Notes
- If making candied sweet potatoes for the first time, you may want to test out your desired level of sweetness. You can start with half of the recommended servings above. From there, continue to build and taste repeatedly until the dish suits your needs.
- You can omit any of the spices in this recipe, make it suit your taste.
- Watch your sweet potatoes closely. Every slow cooker will cook at varying speeds. You may need more or less time. If you cook them too long the sweet potatoes will fall apart.
- If your sauce is thin and runny you can thicken it with additional cornstarch and water. After the sweet potatoes have cooked, examine the sauce. If it isn't thick enough start with ½ tablespoon of cornstarch and ½ tablespoon of water, combine in a bowl first and then add it to the sweet potatoes mixture. Repeat if the sauce still needs additional thickening.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 19g