Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Sometimes, a simple side dish is the yummiest part of the meal, especially when it comes to holiday sides. From Easter side dishes to Christmas side dishes to traditional Thanksgiving recipes, glazed sweet potatoes are one of those side dishes that will easily steal the show! But don’t just reserve them for holidays. Glazed sweet potatoes are quick to make, with only a handful of easy-to-find ingredients, and they make a great rotation item on year-round dinner menus.

For these maple-glazed sweet potatoes, you’ll first boil the sweet potatoes, then bake them in a delicious glaze made from butter, brown sugar and a little bit of spice. For the best version, use sweet potatoes rather than yams. Often confused in the grocery store, sweet potatoes have orange flesh and are sweeter and creamier, giving them the best texture and sweetness for this dish.

Glazed Sweet Potatoes Ingredients

• Sweet potatoes: Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet and creamy. Use fresh sweet potatoes if you can. If using canned sweet potatoes, make sure they’re not already in syrup, or the dish will be too sweet.
• Butter: Use salted or unsalted butter for the glaze. You can easily make this recipe vegan by substituting margarine or vegan butter.
• Maple syrup: I love to cook with maple syrup. It’s a delicious sweetener that helps thicken sauces and dressings. But use real maple syrup instead of pancake syrup—maple syrup doesn’t contain artificial ingredients or sweeteners.
• Brown sugar: Brown sugar adds to the deep amber color of the sauce and helps it caramelize. Use light or dark brown sugar; dark brown sugar will add more molasses flavor.
• Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a beloved spice for a reason. Use your favorite type of cinnamon to round out the dish.

Directions

Step 1: Boil sweet potatoes

If using fresh sweet potatoes, place whole sweet potatoes in a large pot or Dutch oven, and cover with water. Bring the sweet potatoes to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover and cook for 25 to 40 minutes or until tender. Drain the sweet potatoes, and let them cool slightly. Peel the sweet potatoes, and cut them into chunks.

Editor’s Tip: If using canned sweet potatoes, open and drain them, and move right to Step 2.

Step 2: Make the glaze

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place sweet potatoes in a 2-quart baking dish. In a small saucepan, combine the butter, maple syrup, brown sugar and cinnamon. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Once it’s bubbling fully, remove from heat, and pour over potatoes.

Editor’s Tip: I love to add a tiny pinch of salt and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to the saucepan to brighten the glaze.

Step 3: Bake the sweet potatoes

Bake the sweet potatoes, uncovered, for 30 to 40 minutes or until they’re heated through.

Editor’s Tip: Your glazed sweet potatoes should have a thickened, bubbly glaze when they’re done cooking.

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Glazed Sweet Potatoes Variations

• Use other root vegetables: Try this recipe with other vegetables, such as winter squash, carrots, yams, parsnips or celery root.
• Add other spices: Change the spices to take this recipe on a global tour. Some chili pepper would be a lovely, zingy addition. Add cardamom for a floral addition, or star anise, cloves or other baking spices for additional depth of flavor.
• Add some citrus: The juice and zest of lemons or oranges add a bit of brightness to these sweet potatoes.

How to Store Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Leftover glazed sweet potatoes can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Reheat in the microwave or the oven until warmed through, adding a touch of water if needed to thin out the glaze.

Can you make glazed sweet potatoes ahead of time?

Glazed sweet potatoes are a great make-ahead dish. You can make the fully composed dish a few days before serving and store it in the refrigerator. The flavors will continue to meld as they sit, and since the sweet potatoes are so soft, it won’t affect the texture at all.

Or cook, peel and cut the sweet potatoes as in Step 1, then make the glaze, and bake them the day you serve them. The cooked plain sweet potatoes, peeled or unpeeled, will be good in the fridge for three to five days.

Glazed Sweet Potatoes Tips

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Do you need to boil sweet potatoes before baking?

You don’t always need to boil sweet potatoes before baking, but for this recipe, boiling them first jumpstarts the time it takes to get that perfectly creamy texture. You can also roast whole baked potatoes, peel and cut them, then bake the chunks with the glaze.

What do you serve with glazed sweet potatoes?

Glazed sweet potatoes go well with classic holiday recipes like glazed ham or seasoned roast turkey. They’re also great with pork chop recipes or seared sausages, not to mention other favorite side dishes like green bean casserole and creamy mashed potatoes.