Sweet Potato Candied Bake with Marshmallows Recipe
This classic Southern recipe features candied sweet potatoes baked to perfection with a sticky, spiced sugar glaze and topped with melted marshmallows for a rich, comforting side dish perfect for holidays or special dinners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients
Sweet Potatoes
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes (about 2 large), washed, peeled, and sliced into ½-1 inch pieces
Candied Glaze
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup brown sugar or sweetener
- ¾ cup white sugar or sweetener
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ cup water
Topping
- 2-3 cups marshmallows
- Foil for covering
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) to prepare for baking the sweet potatoes.
- Prepare Glaze: Heat a saucepan over medium-high heat and add the unsalted butter. Once melted, stir in the white sugar, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Keep stirring to melt the sugars completely into a smooth glaze, but avoid overcooking.
- Add Vanilla and Water: Stir in the vanilla extract until the glaze thickens slightly. Then pour in the water and continue stirring until the mixture caramelizes, forming a rich syrup.
- Arrange Sweet Potatoes: Place the sliced sweet potatoes evenly in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Apply Glaze: Pour the warm candied glaze over the sweet potatoes, ensuring they are coated thoroughly.
- Cover and Bake: Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes to cook the sweet potatoes and allow them to absorb the glaze.
- Baste and Add Marshmallows: Remove the foil and stir the sweet potatoes gently to coat them well with the glaze. Sprinkle marshmallows evenly over the top.
- Bake Uncovered: Return the dish to the oven without foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the marshmallows have melted and the topping is bubbly and golden.
- Cool and Serve: Let the candied sweet potatoes sit for 15 minutes before serving. This rest time helps the glaze thicken and set for perfect texture.
Notes
- Use fresh sweet potatoes for the best texture and flavor.
- Adjust the amount of marshmallows to your preference for sweetness and topping coverage.
- Covering the dish during the initial baking keeps the sweet potatoes moist and tender.
- Allowing the dish to rest after baking allows the glaze to thicken and enhances the overall taste and texture.
- You can substitute brown sugar with coconut sugar or other sweeteners but adjust caramelization times accordingly.
