Forever my favorite Thanksgiving side dish, these classic candied sweet potatoes make an appearance on our holiday table every year. (I’m surprised I haven’t shared the recipe with you before– these are the best!) In fact, we love them so much that we don’t limit this recipe to only once per year. I love these for Christmas, Easter, or a random Sunday night throughout the year. They’re full of flavor and as far as Thanksgiving side dishes go, they’re REALLY easy.
Let me quickly break down the steps before leaving you with the recipe.
These sweet potatoes would be nothing without the magical sauce. A recipe that we’ve been tweaking and perfecting over the years, the combination of ingredients is perfection.
The sauce thins out as it bakes due to the water content in the potatoes, but quickly thickens as it cools. Thick or thin, you’ll want to slurp up this sauce with a straw. Plus, it tastes fantastic with those other Thanksgiving dishes on your plate too! ?
When I made these candied sweet potatoes earlier this month, I added orange zest to the sauce. This is totally optional, but it added an element of FRESH to the entire dish. Likewise, adding chopped fresh or dried rosemary after the dish bakes is equally refreshing. And to balance out the sweet, I love a sprinkle of sea salt all over the top.
.tasty-recipes-image {
float: right; }
.tasty-recipes-yield-scale {
border: 1px solid #979599;
border-radius: 2px;
color: #979599;
margin-left: 3px;
padding: 0 4px;
font-size: 0.7rem; }
.tasty-recipes-scale-container {
float: right;
padding: 0 0 1rem; }
.tasty-recipes-scale-container .tasty-recipes-scale-label {
text-transform: uppercase;
font-size: 0.6rem;
color: #979599; }
.tasty-recipes-scale-container button {
background: transparent;
border: 1px solid #979599;
border-radius: 2px;
color: #979599;
margin-left: 5px;
padding: 2px 4px; }
.tasty-recipes-scale-container button.tasty-recipes-scale-button-active {
color: #353547;
border-color: #353547; }
.tasty-recipes-scale-container button:focus {
outline: none; }
.tasty-recipes-print-button {
background-color: #666677;
display: inline-block;
padding-left: 1em;
padding-right: 1em;
padding-top: 0.5em;
padding-bottom: 0.5em;
text-decoration: none; }
a.tasty-recipes-print-button {
color: #fff; }
a.tasty-recipes-print-button:hover {
color: #fff; }
.tasty-recipes-equipment {
display: -webkit-box;
display: flex;
flex-wrap: wrap;
-webkit-box-pack: space-evenly;
justify-content: space-evenly; }
.tasty-recipes-equipment > h3 {
-webkit-box-flex: 0;
flex: 0 0 100%; }
.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card {
-webkit-box-flex: 0;
flex: 0 0 50%;
padding: 1.5rem 1rem;
text-align: center; }
@media screen and (min-width: 500px) {
.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card {
-webkit-box-flex: 0;
flex: 0 0 33%; } }
.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card p {
font-weight: bold;
font-size: 1em;
margin-bottom: 0; }
.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card p a {
color: initial; }
.tasty-recipes-equipment .tasty-link-card span {
font-size: 0.9em; }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-10 {
-webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 10% 0%, 10% 100%, 0% 100%);
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 10% 0%, 10% 100%, 0% 100%); }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-20 {
-webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 20% 0%, 20% 100%, 0% 100%);
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 20% 0%, 20% 100%, 0% 100%); }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-30 {
-webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 30% 0%, 30% 100%, 0% 100%);
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 30% 0%, 30% 100%, 0% 100%); }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-40 {
-webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 40% 0%, 40% 100%, 0% 100%);
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 40% 0%, 40% 100%, 0% 100%); }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-50 {
-webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 50% 0%, 50% 100%, 0% 100%);
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 50% 0%, 50% 100%, 0% 100%); }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-60 {
-webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 60% 0%, 60% 100%, 0% 100%);
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 60% 0%, 60% 100%, 0% 100%); }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-70 {
-webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 70% 0%, 70% 100%, 0% 100%);
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 70% 0%, 70% 100%, 0% 100%); }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-80 {
-webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 80% 0%, 80% 100%, 0% 100%);
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 80% 0%, 80% 100%, 0% 100%); }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-90 {
-webkit-clip-path: polygon(0 0, 90% 0%, 90% 100%, 0% 100%);
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 90% 0%, 90% 100%, 0% 100%); }
.tasty-recipes-nutrition ul {
list-style-type: none;
margin: 0;
padding: 0; }
.tasty-recipes-nutrition ul:after {
display: block;
content: ‘ ‘;
clear: both; }
.tasty-recipes-nutrition li {
float: left;
margin-right: 1em; }
.tasty-recipes-plug {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 1em;
display: -webkit-box;
display: flex;
-webkit-box-align: center;
align-items: center;
-webkit-box-pack: center;
justify-content: center; }
.tasty-recipes-plug a {
text-decoration: none;
box-shadow: none; }
.tasty-recipes-plug a img {
width: 150px;
height: auto;
margin: 5px 0 0 8px;
display: inline-block; }
@media print {
.tasty-recipes-no-print,
.tasty-recipes-no-print * {
display: none !important; } }
.tasty-recipes {
margin-bottom: 4em;
max-width: 700px;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
}
.tasty-recipes.tasty-recipes-has-plug {
margin-bottom: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-plug {
margin-bottom: 4em;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-button {
display: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-image-shim {
height: 69.5px;
clear: both;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header {
background-color: #f9f9f9;
padding-top: 2em;
padding-left: 2em;
padding-right: 2em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header.tasty-recipes-has-image {
padding-top: 0px;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-image {
float: none;
margin-bottom: 1em;
}
@media only screen and (min-width: 730px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-image {
float: left;
margin-right: 16px;
}
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-image img {
float: none;
height: 150px;
width: 150px;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-header-content {
min-height: 215px;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header h2 {
margin-bottom: 0;
margin-top: 0;
padding-top: 0;
padding-bottom: 0;
clear: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header hr {
border: 1px solid #eee;
background-color: #eee;
margin-bottom: 0;
margin-top: 1em;
margin-right: -2em;
margin-left: -2em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-outer {
width: 100%;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-outer a {
text-decoration: none;
border: none;
display: inherit;
box-shadow: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-outer a:hover {
text-decoration: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-stars {
font-size: 18px;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-stars span {
margin-right: 2px;
margin-left: 2px;
color: #aaaaaa;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-stars span:first-child {
margin-left: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-label {
color: #B7BBC6;
font-size: .6875em;
margin-top: 1em;
position: absolute;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-stars .post-ratings {
font-size: 10px;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-stars .post-ratings .tasty-recipes-cf-ratings-label {
margin-top: 0;
line-height: 1;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details {
margin-top: 1.5em;
color: #606060;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details ul {
list-style-type: none;
margin: 0;
padding-left: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details ul li {
display: inline-block;
margin-left: 0;
padding-left: 0;
margin-right: .5em;
margin-bottom: 0;
font-size: 1em;
line-height: 1.8em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details .detail-icon {
height: 1em;
margin-top: .4em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details ul li {
font-size: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details .tasty-recipes-label {
margin-right: .125em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details .detail-icon {
vertical-align: top;
margin-right: .2em;
}
@media only screen and (min-width: 730px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details {
padding-left: 166px;
}
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content {
padding-top: 0.1em;
background: #f9f9f9;
color: #606060;
clear: both;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons {
margin-top: 1.25em;
margin-bottom: 1.25em;
width: 100%;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons:after {
content: ” “;
display: block;
clear: both;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-button-wrap {
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons a {
text-transform: uppercase;
text-align: center;
display: block;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
font-size: 1em;
line-height: 1.375em;
font-weight: bold;
padding-top: 7px;
padding-bottom: 7px;
margin-top: 0;
border: 1px solid #aaaaaa;;
border-radius: 0;
text-decoration: none;
color: #aaaaaa;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons .button:hover {
background-color: #f9f9f9;
border: 3px solid #aaaaaa;
color: #aaaaaa;
opacity: 1;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content a img {
box-shadow: none;
-webkit-box-shadow: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons a:hover {
background-color: #979599;
text-decoration: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons img {
vertical-align: top;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons img.svg-print,
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons img.svg-pinterest {
height: 1.25em;
margin-right: .375em;
margin-bottom: 0;
background: none;
display: inline-block;
box-shadow: none;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 730px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-button-wrap {
width: 100%;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-button-wrap:nth-child(2) {
padding-top: 1em;
}
}
@media only screen and (min-width: 450px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons {
width: 100%;
float: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-button-wrap:first-child {
width: 50%;
padding-right: 5px;
float: left;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-button-wrap:last-child {
width: 50%;
padding-left: 5px;
float: right;
padding-top: 0;
}
}
@media only screen and (min-width: 730px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-buttons {
padding-left: 166px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.tasty-recipes-header-content {
position: relative;
}
.tasty-recipes-header-content .tasty-recipes-rating-outer {
position: absolute;
top: 155px;
width: 150px;
text-align: center;
}
.tasty-recipes-header-content .tasty-recipes-rating-label {
display: block;
position: static;
margin-top: 0;
}
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content h3 {
color: initial;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content h4 {
font-size: 1em;
padding-top: 0;
margin-bottom: 1.5em;
margin-top: 1.5em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content hr {
background-color: #eee;
border: 1px solid #eee;
margin-top: 1em;
margin-bottom: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-description,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-keywords {
padding-left: 2em;
padding-right: 2em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-description p {
margin-bottom: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ul,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ul {
list-style-type: none;
margin-left: 0;
margin-bottom: 1.5em;
padding: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ul li,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ul li {
margin-bottom: .625em;
list-style-type: none;
position: relative;
margin-left: 2.5em;
line-height: 1.46;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ul li:before,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ul li:before {
background-color: #aaaaaa;
-webkit-border-radius: 50%;
-moz-border-radius: 50%;
border-radius: 50%;
height: .5em;
width: .5em;
display: block;
content: ” “;
left: -1.25em;
top: .375em;
position: absolute;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ol,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ol {
counter-reset:li;
margin-left: 0;
padding: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ol > li,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ol > li {
list-style-type: none;
position: relative;
margin-bottom: 1em;
margin-left: 2.5em;
line-height: 1.46;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ol > li:before,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ol > li:before {
content:counter(li);
counter-increment: li;
position: absolute;
background-color: #aaaaaa;
-webkit-border-radius: 50%;
-moz-border-radius: 50%;
border-radius: 50%;
height: 1.45em;
width: 1.45em;
color: #FFF;
left: -1.25em;
transform: translateX(-50%);
line-height: 1.5em;
font-size: .6875em;
text-align: center;
top: .1875em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients li li,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions li li {
margin-top: 0.625em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients li ul,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients li ol,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions li ul,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions li ol {
margin-bottom: 0;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 520px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ol,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ol {
margin-left: 0;
}
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-equipment {
padding-left: 2em;
padding-right: 2em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipe-video-embed ~ .tasty-recipes-equipment {
padding-top: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-nutrition {
padding-bottom: 1.25em;
padding-left: 2em;
padding-right: 2em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ol {
counter-reset:li;
margin-left: 0;
padding: 0;
margin-bottom: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ul {
margin-left: 0;
padding: 0;
margin-bottom: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes p,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ul li,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ol li {
padding-left: 1.5625em;
padding-right: 1.5625em;
padding-top: 1.25em;
padding-bottom: 1.25em;
position: relative;
margin-bottom: 1.5em;
list-style-type: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes p,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ul li,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ol li {
padding-left: 2.5em;
margin-left: 0;
margin-bottom: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes p:before,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ul li:before {
content: “i”;
display: block;
background-color: #aaaaaa;
-webkit-border-radius: 50%;
-moz-border-radius: 50%;
border-radius: 50%;
height: 1.3em;
width: 1.3em;
font-size: .75em;
line-height: 1.3em;
text-align: center;
color: #FFF;
position: absolute;
left: 1.167em;
top: 2.1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ol > li:before {
content:counter(li);
counter-increment: li;
position: absolute;
background-color: #aaaaaa;
-webkit-border-radius: 50%;
-moz-border-radius: 50%;
border-radius: 50%;
height: 1.45em;
width: 1.45em;
color: #FFF;
left: 2em;
transform: translateX(-50%);
line-height: 1.5em;
font-size: .6875em;
text-align: center;
top: 2.3em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes p:last-child {
margin-bottom: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-keywords {
margin-top: 1em;
margin-bottom: 1em;
color: #aaaaaa;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-keywords p {
margin-bottom: 0;
font-size: 0.7em;
}
.tasty-recipes-nutrifox {
text-align: center;
margin: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-nutrifox iframe {
width: 100%;
display: block;
margin: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-nutrition ul li {
float: none;
line-height: 2em;
list-style-type: none;
margin-left: 0;
padding-left: 0.833em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer {
background-color: #fff;
padding-top: 1.5625em;
padding-bottom: 1.25em;
padding-left: 2.5em;
padding-right: 2.5em;
text-align: center;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer .tasty-recipes-footer-content {
display: inline-block;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer img {
width: 65px;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer h3 {
font-size: 1.25em;
line-height: 2.25em;
margin-top: .5em;
margin-bottom: .125em;
padding: 0;
line-height: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer p {
margin-bottom: 0;
font-size: .75em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer p a {
text-decoration: underline;
box-shadow: none;
border-bottom: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer:after {
content: ” “;
display: block;
clear:both;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 520px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer h3 {
margin-top: .5em;
margin-bottom: .5em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer {
text-align: center;
}
}
@media only screen and (min-width: 520px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer img {
float: left;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer h3,
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer p {
margin-left: 90px;
clear: none;
text-align: left;
}
}
.clearfix:after {
clear: both;
content: ” “;
display: table;
}
/* Print view styles */
.tasty-recipes-print-view {
font-size: 11px;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-print-button {
display: inline-block;
}
.tasty-recipes-print {
padding:0;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes,
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content {
background: #fff;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes {
margin-top: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header {
background-color: inherit;
color: inherit;
padding-bottom: 0;
padding-left: 1em;
padding-right: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-image {
transform: none;
float: left;
margin-right: 16px;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-header-content {
min-height: 150px;
}
.tasty-recipes-print.tasty-recipes-has-image .tasty-recipes-entry-header h2 {
margin-top: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header h2 {
color: inherit;
margin-bottom: .5em;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header hr {
display: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-header-content .tasty-recipes-rating-outer {
position: initial;
text-align: left;
width: unset;
top: unset;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating-stars span {
color: #000;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details ul {
padding: 0;
clear: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details ul li {
line-height: 1.8em;
margin-bottom: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details .detail-icon {
display: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-source-link {
text-align: center;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ul li,
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ul li,
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ol li,
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ol li {
margin-bottom: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes p,
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ul li,
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ol li {
margin-top: 1rem;
padding-top: 0;
padding-bottom: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes p:before,
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ul li:before {
top: 0.1em;
}
Description
These perfect candied sweet potatoes are soft, buttery, extra saucy, caramelized, and sweet. I especially love this Thanksgiving side dish because you can prepare the elements of this recipe ahead of time AND purchase the ingredients in advance, too.
Ingredients
- 5–6 medium sweet potatoes (3–4 lbs)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick; 115g) unsalted butter
- 3 Tablespoons (45ml) water
- 1/4 cup (60ml) pure maple syrup
- 1 cup (200g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- optional: 2 teaspoons orange zest
- optional for garnish: chopped fresh or dried rosemary, sea salt
Instructions
- Peel then slice the sweet potatoes into 1/2 inch thick slices. Place in a greased 9×13 inch or other 3 quart baking dish. Sprinkle salt on top and toss to coat. I just use nonstick spray to grease.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (191°C).
- Make the sauce: Cut stick of butter in half. Combine butter, water, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger into a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir until the butter has melted. Stop stirring and bring to a gentle boil. Boil for 2 minutes without stirring. Remove sauce from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. (And orange zest, if using.)
- Pour sauce over potatoes and toss to coat.
- Bake for 1 hour, stopping and stirring the sweet potatoes every 20 minutes. After the first 20 minutes, I cover the dish with aluminum foil so the potatoes bake evenly.
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle with rosemary and sea salt (if using), then cool uncovered for 10 minutes before serving. The sauce thickens as it cools.
- Cover and store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Sauce will be thick after refrigeration, but thins out as you warm the leftovers up. Simply warm in the microwave.
Notes
- Make ahead tip: You can peel & slice the sweet potatoes 1 day ahead of time. Cover and store in the refrigerator overnight. You can prepare the sauce on the stove (step 3) 1-2 days ahead of time. Cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. Dish can be frozen up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator, then cover with aluminum foil and warm in a 350°F (177°C) oven for 25 minutes or until warm throughout.
Keywords: sweet potato, thanksgiving, side dish