Black Folks Soul Food Candied Yams On The Stove

Sweet, tender, melt-in-your-mouth magic… That’s what a pan of Black folks’ soul food candied yams really is! Not just a side dish, but a whole story simmering in cinnamon, butter, and brown sugar. A recipe that feels like Grandma humming in the kitchen, like Sunday dinners that ran late because the laughter was too good to leave. Like holidays where the yams showed up dressed to impress. Glossy, caramelized, and carrying all the love our families poured into every pot.

This recipe is crafted by Shaunda Necole of The Soul Food Pot®, your go-to expert and author for modern Southern soul food cuisine, and a trusted resource celebrated for honoring Black culinary traditions and reimagining them with ease for today’s kitchen. Around here, we don’t just make yams. We candy them with legacy, love, and a whole lot of soulful shine!

What are soul food candied yams?

Soul food candied yams are tender, sweet potatoes slow-cooked in a buttery, brown-sugar glaze seasoned with warm spices. But what sets the Black folks’ version apart is the soul we pour into every step!

Instead of simply sweetening the potatoes, we candy them, layering cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and that silky melted butter until the yams are glossy, caramelized, and dripping with Southern “flava.” No flavor-profile shortcuts. No marshmallows (not until the flavors are sealed!). Just generations of Black home-kitchen wisdom, holiday tradition, and that unmistakable soulful shine that turns a humble sweet potato into the star of the table.

Should you use sweet potatoes or yams?

For this recipe, I use the terms “sweet potatoes” and “yams” interchangeably, just like generations of Black families have done. But let’s be clear: sweet potatoes and true yams are not the same in texture or taste, and they shouldn’t be swapped one for the other.

In the US, what we buy and cook as “yams” are almost always sweet potatoes — the orange-fleshed, naturally sweet beauties that caramelize perfectly in a soul food candied yams glaze. And even though we use sweet potatoes, African Americans have long called this dish candied “yams,” honoring the name, tradition, and cultural lineage that shaped it.

Ingredients

Soul food candied yams start with simple, powerful ingredients that work together to create that classic Southern caramelized shine. You’ll need orange-fleshed sweet potatoes: Jewel, Beauregard, or Garnet because they cook down silky, tender, and perfect for soaking up all that buttery brown-sugar goodness. Butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and a splash of maple syrup come together to form the rich, glossy syrup that makes these yams truly candied.

Then come the warm spices:  cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, wrapping the dish in those cozy, soulful holiday notes. But my secret weapon? Ground ginger, adding a subtle kick and depth that takes the flavor from delicious to unforgettable! Finish with vanilla for balance, and if you’re feeling extra traditional, a sprinkle of mini marshmallows on top for that soft, sweet, melt-in-your-mouth finish!

How to make soul food candied yams on the stovetop

At a glance: This is a one-pot, stovetop slow-simmered Southern classic. Tender sweet potatoes bathed in a buttery, caramelized glaze until they’re melt-in-your-mouth perfect.

1. Prep the sweet potatoes: Wash, peel, slice into thick rounds, and soak briefly to prevent browning.
2. Make the syrup: Melt butter, then stir in the sugars, spices, vanilla, and ginger to form a rich, glossy glaze.
3. Simmer the yams: Add potatoes to a pot, pour the syrup over top, and cook on medium-high heat until tender and candied.
4. Finish with flair (optional): Add mini marshmallows on top for a soft, sweet finishing touch.

Old-school soul food cooks each have their own yam-cutting style, from rounds to lengthwise strips or chunky wedges. And truth be told, there’s no wrong way to slice a sweet potato when you’re cooking with love! 

🥄 Shaunda says: My pro tip? If you prefer beautiful, even rounds like I do, pick rounder sweet potatoes at the store. If you’re going for those long, elegant lengthwise cuts, choose the more slender ones. Let the shape guide the slice, and your yams will cook up tender and picture-perfect every time!

🎙 Listen to the recipe on The Soul Food Pod episode: Black Folks Southern Candied Yams

✨ Shaunda’s Soul Food Sense: tips, truths & traditions

A few lessons, memories, and must-knows from my kitchen to yours.

Need a different method beyond the classic?

No worries, these yams got range! Make baked candied yams with my oven version. 

Short on time? Use my canned candied yams recipe for a quick shortcut, or go full modern soul food and let the Instant Pot “candy” your yams in just 5 minutes!

How to avoid runny candied yams

Runny candied yams usually mean there’s simply too much liquid in your syrup. You want to keep the glaze rich and buttery (not watery) so it can cling to every slice. If you’ve added a little more liquid than planned, stir in a few tablespoons of cornstarch to help tighten and thicken the syrup back into that smooth, glossy caramel coating soul food yams are known for, without losing any of the flavor or soul!

Make ahead tips

Yes, you can absolutely prep these yams ahead with just a little planning that goes a long way! Peel and slice the sweet potatoes, then keep them submerged in water in an airtight container to prevent browning. Store your cinnamon-sugar butter syrup separately in the fridge.

Within 48 hours, simply drain the sweet potatoes, pour on the syrup, and let the magic happen on the stove!

Can you freeze candied yams?

Yes, these soulful yams freeze beautifully! Store leftovers in their syrupy goodness in the fridge for up to three days, then freeze once cooled in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 90 days. When you’re ready for another taste of home, thaw gently on the stovetop over low heat until warmed through and glossy again.

❤️ Serve it like a Southerner… 

So every bite is served with history, heart, and a whole lotta soul!

Toppings for stovetop candied yams

Candied yam toppings can swing from classic Black soul food tradition to broader Southern-style twists, with each onebringing its own personality to the pot. In most African American kitchens, miniature marshmallows are the star: that soft, gooey crown that melts into the syrup and gives candied yams their iconic holiday glow.

• Miniature marshmallows – The traditional Black folks’ finishing touch, adding a sweet, cloud-like layer over the silky, caramelized yams.
• Raisins – A non–African American, sometimes Southern variation that adds chewy pops of sweetness… though soul food yams are already perfect without extra texture.
• Walnuts or pecans – A Southern-leaning option that brings an earthy crunch to balance the smooth, syrupy yams.
• Pecan praline – A gourmet-style topping that turns your candied yams into a show-stopping, dessert-level treat.

What to serve with soul food candied yams?

Candied yams shine brightest beside a soul food feast! Black folks often pair them with holiday mains like a Southern turkey recipe, smoked turkey legs, or a pineapple-glazed ham. All perfect partners for that sweet, syrupy goodness. And listen… for a true soul food Thanksgiving spread, here’s a  non-negotiable: you must serve candied yams with soul food collard greens!

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