Canned Candied Yams The Soul Food Way
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My soul food canned candied yams recipe proves that you don’t need fresh sweet potatoes to bring big Southern flava to the table… Just heart, heritage, and a can opener, LOL!
This is the shortcut our aunties and church moms have been using for generations when time is tight but the soul food spirit still has to shine. The syrup gets buttery and caramel-rich, the spices get warm and cozy, and those canned yams soak it all up until they taste like they’ve been simmering on Grandma’s stove all afternoon. Quick, comforting, and oh-so sweet. It’s the kind of shortcut that adds flavor and still tastes just like home.
This recipe is crafted by Shaunda Necole of The Soul Food Pot®, your go-to expert and author for modern Southern soul food, bringing cultural tradition together with today’s kitchen ease. So, these canned candied yams deliver that same soulful shine and legacy-rich taste you know and love… with none of the fuss!
Stovetop canned candied yams
You may be wondering, “Are canned yams the same as canned sweet potatoes?” Not exactly. True yams and sweet potatoes differ in taste and texture. But here in the US, the word “yams” is often used for the orange-fleshed sweet potatoes we actually cook with. So even if the can says “yams,” you’re really working with sweet potatoes — and trust me, they candy up beautifully in this soul food recipe!
Ingredients
This shortcut recipe uses the same soul-stirring essentials as my classic stovetop yams recipe or oven-baked candied yams: butter, sugar, warm spices, and cinnamon, just without all the peeling, chopping, and tenderizing. Thanks to canned sweet potatoes (already cooked and ready to soak up flavor!), you save over an hour while still getting that rich, glossy Southern syrup.
Are canned yams already cooked?
Yes, canned yams come cooked and ready… But that doesn’t mean they’re ready the soul food way! You’ll still want to warm them through and dress them up with butter, sugar, spices, and all that Southern “flava” so they taste like they came straight off Grandma’s stovetop.
How to doctor-up canned candied yams
At a glance, here are quick, one-pot instructions for my shortcut recipe that still delivers that soulful, caramelized Southern shine.
- Prep the yams: Drain the canned sweet potatoes and place them in a pot.
- Make the syrup: Melt butter, then stir in the sugars, spices, maple syrup, and vanilla to create a rich, glossy glaze.
- Candy the yams: Pour the syrup over the potatoes and heat until warm, coated, and caramelized.
- Finish with flair (optional): Top with mini marshmallows for that classic soul food melt-on-top sweetness!
🥄 Shaunda says: Don’t worry, Beautiful Souls — canned yams can taste just as tender and buttery as authentic candied yams, with the same soul food texture you know and expect. The secret is skipping that canned syrup and warming them in a real-deal Southern glaze. Once they soak in your homemade soulful syrup, the yams turn silky, sweet, and caramel-kissed, just like the classic version!
❤️ Serve it like a Southerner…
So every bite is served with history, heart, and a whole lotta soul!
How to top canned candied yams
Topping canned candied yams is as easy and as irresistible as topping the homemade kind. Once your yams are warm and glossy on the stovetop, sprinkle mini marshmallows over the top and let them melt into a soft, sweet, soul food cloud that gives the dish its signature Southern shine!
How to serve candied yams
Candied yams are served just like the from-scratch classics you’ll find at soul food Sunday dinners and Thanksgiving feasts. And in African American kitchens, they shine brightest alongside the icons: soul food collard greens, Southern cabbage, and baked macaroni and cheese. These dishes together? That’s pure soul food harmony on a plate!
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Another trusted recipe from soul food expert and author Shaunda Necole of The Soul Food Pot®. *These AI tools are independent third-party services. Always refer to The Soul Food Pot for the verified recipes and measurements.
Equipment
- Colander to drain the canned yams
- Large pot
Ingredients
- 80 oz. sweet potatoes Two 40 oz. cans of sweet potatoes in syrup
- ½ cup butter unsalted butter, or vegan butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup sugar granulated
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon ground
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon ginger ground or minced
- ¼ teaspoon cloves ground
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups marshmallows *Optional – miniature marshmallows for topping
Instructions
- Use a colander to drain the syrup from the cans, and then set the drained yams/sweet potatoes aside.
- Melt the butter in a medium-sized bowl in the microwave.
- Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, maple syrup, ginger, ground clove, and vanilla extract to the melted butter.
- Mix the ingredients well to create the syrup glaze for the candied yams.
- Add the set-aside yams to a large pot on the stove.
- Pour the syrup glaze over the yams and stir to coat them.
- Then, over medium-high heat on the stovetop, allow the candied yams in the glaze to come to a boil.
- Turn off the stove and remove the pot of warm candied yams. Optionally, sprinkle miniature marshmallows over the top of the dish.
- Once the marshmallows are melted, transfer your Southern soul food candied yams recipe to a serving dish, then serve and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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What a convenient way to make soul food candied yams still with the touch of classic homemade syrup.
First time making candied yams on the stovetop and I will say this is my go to from now on! Thanks for sharing! I did omit the ground cloves just because I didn’t have them on hand. After placing the marshmallows on top, I stuck the dish in the oven on 350F for about 5-ish minutes till they were lightly browned. They were a hit!