These Candied Sweet Potatoes are a delicious departure from the classic sweet potato casserole, so much easier, and feature a streusel-like crumble topping!
Sweet Potatoes are an absolute must on our Thanksgiving menu. And while my traditional Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Praline Topping or my Ultimate Sweet Potato Casserole is what we have most often, sometimes we want something a little different – and perhaps something a little easier to make as well.
That’s why I love these Candied Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar and Pecans. The streusel-like crumble topping with brown sugar and pecans makes this dish a little different than the traditional candied sweet potato casserole recipe you’re probably used to seeing. And, it’s my favorite part!
They’re perfect for a special occasion like Thanksgiving but easy enough to throw together on a weeknight – if you’ve got a little time. Y’all enjoy!
What makes these candied sweet potatoes so easy?
I love how easy this recipe is. There’s no cooking and no mashing the sweet potatoes like in the traditional recipe. No need to dirty a bowl and a fork, hand mixer, or potato masher while you mash your afternoon away!
You simply peel, slice, and bake the sweet potatoes in a thick and rich brown sugar sauce. Then, you top them with even more brown sugar and chopped pecans. The flavors are so delicious!
Are yams and sweet potatoes the same thing?
Sweet potatoes and yams are often confused, but they’re not the same thing. In the US, we sometimes use these terms interchangeably, and even some stores label sweet potatoes as yams. The truth is that yams and sweet potatoes are different.
Yams are native to Africa, have rough, dark skin, and are starchy, not sweet. Sweet potatoes, on the other hand, originate from South America and come in various varieties, with the orange-fleshed ones being the sweetest. Additionally, they belong to different plant families: yams are part of the lily family, while sweet potatoes are members of the morning glory family.
So there you have it… although they equally taste delicious in my opinion, yams and sweet potatoes are very different.
If you’ve got a few minutes to hang around and visit with me, scroll below this recipe to enjoy a story about buying a new house from when this post was originally published in November 2013…
Recipe Card
Candied Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar and Pecans
Ingredients
- 3 pounds medium sweet potatoes
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the topping:
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375° F. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Wash and peel the sweet potatoes. Slice them into 1/4 inch slices and place them in the baking dish.
- In a medium-sized pot, combine the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and salt. Heat over medium until just boiling. Remove from the heat and pour over the sweet potatoes. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are tender.
- To make the topping, stir together the melted butter, brown sugar, flour, and pecans.
- Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven and remove the foil. Sprinkle the topping mixture over the potatoes and cook for an additional 15 minutes.
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
November 13, 2013 – You know, things have a funny way of working out. Well, let me say that another way. It sure is funny when you think you’ve set one path and God has set you another. Yep, that’s more like it. And the truth is, I bet the big man upstairs is chuckling a little right now. You see, about 18 months ago, we set out to sell our house and find a new one with a bit more room. After listing our home, we started searching for another one. After looking at an endless number of homes, we decided that building might be the best option for us so that we could get exactly what we wanted. (I’ll admit I was being a bit particular about the kitchen – but for good reason, I suppose.)
We found a gorgeous corner lot in the neighborhood we had always dreamed of raising our little boy in, but when we called the realtor, there was a contract on the property. We took that as a little nudge from God saying that maybe buying was the best option. So again, we set out to buy an existing home. Another comprehensive search over the course of several months ended up fruitless. Okay, so maybe we were supposed to build, we decide. So we go back to our favorite neighborhood and buy the very last lot in the neighborhood – which just so happened to be next to the original corner lot that we liked so much.
Fast forward a few months. We have a lot, a builder, and a beautiful set of customized plans. We’re ready to build our dream home. That is until we hit a brick wall – and unfortunately, it wasn’t a brick wall of our new dream home.
If you’re not familiar with the building process, here’s a run down of what happened. Before the lender gives you the loan, they order an appraisal of the property based on the plans. Many lenders will only loan you a certain percentage of that assessed value to build. Well, because of the slow construction market in our area, our plans appraised well below what we felt they should have and well below the actual cost to build. See the brick wall I’m talking about here? I’m not sure about you all, but there’s not an extra hundred thousand dollars hanging around the bank accounts in this family.
So, again, frustrated and exhausted, we go back to the drawing board. During a conversation with Heather late one night, we decided to turn it over to God and let Him handle it. Anytime I’ve faced decisions that I just couldn’t make, I’ve gone back to the words of my mother… “When you can’t decide what to do, don’t do anything at all.”
So that’s exactly what we did about a month ago. In my prayers that night, I just asked God to take over… and he did.
This past weekend we moved into a beautiful home. It’s brand new and as close to perfection as anything I’ve seen. You know what the best part is? It’s on that corner lot that we set out to buy over a year ago. Unbelievable, right?? Yep, the guy who bought the lot originally built a house that he was never able to move into because his job transferred him before they finished it.
So we were able to get a great house, at an amazing price, in the perfect neighborhood. Yep, it sure is funny how things turn out when you turn them over to God. You should try it sometimes. ????
Trish
Hi! I just wanted to share how much my family loves this recipe that I made for Thanksgiving a few years back. They were absolutely hooked! So much so that they requested it for Christmas as well. Now, it’s become a beloved tradition, and I’m always asked to make it for both gatherings every year! Thank you so much for sharing this delicious recipe!
Hey Trish! I’m so glad to hear that your family loves the recipe and that it’s become a tradition for your holiday gatherings. That’s exactly what I hope for!
Barbara Krakowski
Made a double batch. I wanted left overs, but there weren’t any. Will definitely make this again.
That’s quite the compliment! So glad y’all enjoyed it!
Tasha
I have made these the last 3 years! They are amazing. Definitely my favorite sweet potatoes!
Awesome! Thanks, Tasha!
Marilyn Hartley
When I read your story & then took your mom’s advice, it brought me back to memories of my mom. She said, if you want to make God laugh, make a plan! Our moms were so much alike! Thank you for sharing & Congratulations on your new house! ❤ 🙏🏼
Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing that sweet memory of your mom! It sounds like our moms truly would have gotten along. I love that saying—it’s so true! I’m so glad my story resonated with you.
Pebbles
Can I make this the night before then reheat next day in the microwave? It’s for work and we’re not allowed to bring foil or glass containers 🙁
Yes, I think that should work. Just keep in mind the topping will lose its crunchiness in the process, though.
Denise Walker
God is good. All the time.
Yes ma’am! That he is!
Ayesha Arrine
If I were to make this the day before, should i bake it and then refrigerate? Or bake all together the next day?
My preferred method would be to assemble without the topping, refrigerate, then add the topping and bake the next day. You can go ahead and make the topping the day before, just don’t put it on until ready to bake. Just keep in mind you’ll want to allow the dish to come to room temp before adding it to the hot oven.
Joanne
made it for thanksgivng – so easy and husband loved it – thank you Stacey
Glad to hear it!
Carye Krull
Amazing!! Made for Thanksgiving and even the people that are sweet potato haters loved it!
Love this!
Maria
The most perfect sweet potato recipe. My guests loved it so it’s the beginning of a new tradition, thank you!
That put a huge smile on my face!
Nicole
I mad this last year for thanksgiving and it was a huge winner. Even the guests that are incredibly picky went back for seconds! I’m making it again as my dish to pass. I was able to play around with some of the ingredients because I have terrible food allergies. I just changed the butter to coconut oil and the flour to cassava flour. You can barely tell the difference.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing that, Nicole! Glad you enjoyed it!
Deborah
If I want to start this recipe a day early, Could I bake, then refrigerate, adding the topping when I reheat Thanksgiving?
Thanks…
You certainly can!
Rob
I received a 1 lb bag of half pecans yesterday, and I had a 1/2 lb half pecans from last year. So, looking for some good recipes. Found this and will be making for Thanksgiving, probably doubling or tripling the pecans. I love candied sweet potatoes, and this addition of pecans sounds great. I have always added a can of crushed pineapple to my candied sweet potatoes in past years. What do you think?
I think adding the pineapple sounds great! I have tons of recipes that use pecans, so you should be able to find lots of fun ways to use those! Enjoy!
Susan Sylvester
What about adding mini marshmallows at the end???
I think it sounds delicious!
Sharon Fair
Absolutely delicious and very easy to make. We enjoyed it tonight! Your cookbook is my go-to all the time. Thank you so much for sharing good tips and awesome recipes with us.
Thank you, Sharon!!
Rob
Stacey,
I’ve been making and enjoying your recipes for awhile now and I want to say, I appreciate you so very much. The recipes you bring us are delicious, comforting, and affordable. Had your baked spaghetti tonight and will be doing these amazing sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving!
I read your home journey right when I needed it ..God is an amazing Father. Praying for miracles myself right now and I’m taking your mama’s advice. God bless you and your family.
Thanks so much, Rob! I appreciate you being here!
CHESTA
LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you!
Doris
I’m gonna make your sweet pot. recipe with the pecans . Yes, God is the answer to the most futile of prayers. I pray you and family have wonderful memories in your new home. Blessings to you Stacey!
I hope you’ll enjoy it, Doris!
Doris
I am sure we will . Every Thanksgiving year I try to switch out some recipes and take a leap of faith. I am positive this will be wonderful! Your chocolate chess pie looked interesting as well. Decisions, decisions. LOL!
Sharon
I’ve made this and will be preparing again for tonight. Absolutely delicious!
Hope you’ll enjoy it just as much this go-round!
Nicole Allen
I have a ton of food allergies and this was so easy to shift a smidge so I could make and eat this for thanksgiving. It was so amazingly easy to make and if you’re someone who cooks, you’ll have all the ingredients in your pantry.
Thanks, Nicole! I’m so glad to hear you were able to easily adapt the recipe. Enjoy!
Christy
Stacey,
I made these for Christmas last year. I was informed by the ENTIRE household (which is a rarity) that I can NEVER make another type of Sweet potato dish. It was fabulous! Thanks for the recipe!
Regards,
Christy
So glad EVERYONE enjoyed it!
Suzanne Kingsley
Stacey, I made this dessert for Thanksgiving and it was a big hit. But I changed up one thing that I think you should know. I added about a 1/4 cup of Bourbon to it and boy did that make it out of this world. It was the easiest recipe for sweet potatoes that I’ve ever done. Thanks a million!!!!
Wonderful! The bourbon sounds like a delicious edition! Thanks for sharing!
Trish
Looks delish! I was wondering if you’ve tried it in the InstantPot? If so, how did/would you adjust the recipe?
I’ve not ever tried that.
James Beatty
I have to ask, where did you get those plates, they’re gorgeous!
I’m honestly not sure, James. I’ve got so much stuff I just can’t remember where it all came from.
Jane Comfort
My boyfriend is an amazing cook. But this Thanksgiving I wanted to make a contribution to his family’s dinner. I found this recipe and decided “I can do that!” So not only was this recipe an over the top hit with everyone at Thanksgiving, the family is asking that I prepare this for Christmas!! Whoo-Hoo!!!
Awesome! I’m so glad you got to impress everyone with your mad culinary skills!!! 🙂
Charleen
This recipe is FABULOUS.so easy and DELICIOUS.I just need to slice my potatoes thicker. Think I will double this the next time. Sweet potatoes rock
Thanks so much, Charleen! Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Andi
I really enjoyed this recipe. It was a little different and much easier to make than the usual mashed potatoes version. The spices were a wonderful addition – I will definitely make this again. Thank you, Stacey!
Awesome! So glad to hear you enjoyed it!
M Tichenor
Excellent recipe! It was perfect made with my homegrown Beauregard sweets. I did make a couple of alterations, which may not suit everyone, but were a real hit around here: I added black walnuts with the pecans in equal measure, and a shot of Maker’s Mark bourbon to the glaze mix. Thanks!
Sounds amazing! So glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Kelly
I have a quick question. Can these be made ahead of time? Then warmed up and the topping done on TG day?
Absolutely!
Jenny
Hello!
This sounds delicious! I would like to make it for Thursday but there’s no way I’m going back to the store. I do not have ginger and I only have chopped walnuts. Do you think it would still turn out ok?
I totally get not wanting to go back to the store!! Yep, it should work just fine without the ginger and walnuts will work as well.
Sadina
Thinking about trying this for the upcoming holidays. I was wondering if adding marshmallows to it, like a traditional casserole, would be good. What are your thoughts?
Oh yeah, I think you could absolutely add the marshmallows to this one.
Niky
I love this story so much. I’ve experienced similar things in my life. It always seems to work out when you turn it over to God. 🙂
Congrats on the house!
-Niky @ The House on Silverado
Thanks so much, Niky!
Susan W Hines
Thank you so much for that inspiring story, and congratulations on your new home! I read your blog every day and enjoy your stories AND great recipes. Thanks for the great idea with the yams! I’m going to make them this week.
S. Hines
Awww! That’s so sweet, Susan! Thank you!
Glenda
Stacey, thank you so much for everything you do and all the good gifts you give us. ????
Awww! Thanks, Glenda! I’m so blessed to be able to do what I do!
Teresa
AMEN!!!! Thank you for the wonderful story, I too have just turn things over to God, he will see ya through anything. I also love the sweet pot recipe.
God Bless you
Thanks so much, Teresa! You too, friend!!
Charleen
These sound so good. My mother used to make candied sweet pot but I never could get mine to turn out. I am very fond of baked sweet potatos,this recipe may be just the answer to my dilemma. I made your casserole last year,it was excellent. Love tour blog. Take care.
Thanks so much, Charleen! I hope you’ll enjoy these, too!
Chris
Can the candied sweet potatoes with pecans be made up the night before and then baked the next day?
Yep! I just wouldn’t put the topping on until right before you bake it.
sheryl BEBON
i have something similar to this but lost the recipe,it had pineapple bits mixed in and cherries with the pecan topping. do you think i can incorporate this recipe into something similar? can you help with some advice? or one of your fans could help.
I think you could certainly incorporate those extra ingredients into this! Hope it turns out great for you!
Lauren Feger
Would you bake them and then refrigerate overnight and then reheat with topping the next day?
You can certainly do that. I normally just mix everything together put it in the dish, then refrigerate. The next day, I put the unbaked casserole in the oven with the topping and bake through.
RJ
Seconded! That turning things over to God thing works every time. I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for that.
Every. Single. Time. But it’s tough to do it.
Dianne
My family loves this recipe so much that now I have to make it for Easter with the Ham as well as Thanksgiving with the Turkey! I just read your story and it is SUCH an inspiration. God Bless you and thank you for the wonderful recipe.
Thanks so much, Dianne! So glad to hear your family likes this one so much!
Sharon Lonsdale
Refreshing and encouraging! Thanks for being bold to share God.
Jillian
How many servings does this recipe yield?
It depends on there serving size. Probably 6 to 8.
C. Grant
Wow! I got on this site for the recipe but your testimony about your house situation was exactly what I needed to hear. Going through much the same situation and needed this confirmation to wait on God’s plan. Thanks for sharing.
Of course! Best of luck to you!
Marge Johnson
Confusing! Directions say to .pour the topping over the sweet potatoes and bake. Then it says to remove the sweet potatoes from the oven and remove the foil, THEN sprinkle the topping mixture over the potatoes and cook for an additional 15min. When do you add the nuts – just for the 15 minutes or during the 45 minutes.. When you bake for 45 minutes, you don’t mention the nuts ON LINE 3 BUT NEXT TIME YOU MENTION TOPPING YOU DO SAY NUTS,ALSO. Do I add them just during the 15 minutes? It SAYS topping but does not mention nuts when you bake. It seems to say two things.
I want to make these for Thanksgiving so please respond LOOKS DELICIOUS
Sorry for the confusion. You might want to scroll back up and just scan through the recipe again. There’s no mention of the topping until after you bake them for 45 minutes with the mixture of butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and salt (this is not the topping). Then you mix the topping (butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans) and sprinkle it over. Hope that helps! Happy Thanksgiving!
Eva
You were meant to have that lot! I have never figured out why you add sugar to already sweet potatoes, but will say they are yummy. I learned to bake all my sweet potatoes, something my grammy whose father grew them told my mother about a fungus that wasnt killed when the potatoes were boiled, so I never have trouble mashing mine, I am going to adjust this recipe with one I have for mashed with maple syrup and add the pecans and see how it comes out.
Rebekah
I made this recipe for Thanksgiving. It was delicious! I used canned sweet potatoes because there was no way I was going back out to the store. I expected that it wouldn’t be great because of the canned potatoes, and I generally just don’t care for candied sweet potatoes. But this was awesome! I just cut the initial cooking time to avoid the canned potatoes turning into mush. It was a total success! Thank you for this delicious recipe!
That’s awesome! I’m so glad they turned out great and that everyone enjoyed them! Way to improvise!
With Wings
Love, love, love sweet potatoes!!! Congratulations on y’alls new home!!! So happy for your family. God is good!!! I saw a sign in front of a church while traveling down one of our country roads. Just loved it!!! It read….”A Home Is A House With A Heart In It”
Isn’t that the truth!! Thanks so much!
Jackie@Syrup and Biscuits
Enjoy Thanksgiving in your new home, Stacey!
Thanks, friend!
Rosalie Neunlist
So true about turning it over to God. I enjoyed reading your story and am so happy you ended up in the place you wanted in the first place. God is good.
Thank you for the wonderful recipes. Everything looks so good.
I am new on here but I have looked at many of the recipes and it makes me very hungry.
Keep them coming.
Welcome, Rosaline! Thanks so much! Yes, God is SO good!
Virginia Carol Moore
I have a recipe almost like this except the name of mine is Praline Yams. Stacey, I love hearing about your life and about your recipes. Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much, Virginia!
Candice
I can’t wait to make this, sounds so yummy! Congratulations on your new home, God is so awesome!
Thanks, Candace! I hope you’ll enjoy this! Yes He is!
Nana
Congratulations on the new house. Enjoy it and let it be your home and not just a house. May it always be a refuge from harm and outside influences and may you and yours have many happy and healthy years there.
back to the recipe—just curious to know if pecans are as high priced at your place as they are here in Ohio. They are my favorite nut for baking and candies but they are about priced out of my budget these days.
Thanks, Nana! We intend to! They are increasing in price here, but can’t remember what I paid most recently for them. Isn’t everything getting so expensive!?!?
Tina
Great post! Blessings to you and your family in your new home. It is so exciting to see how God works when we step back and get out of the way!!
Amazing things happen when you let Him lead! Thanks, Tina!
Patti Moss
Delicious sweet potatoes, and more delicious yummy praline topping. I can hardly wait!
Stacy, your story gives the phrase “Let Go and Let God” a new depth! Congratulations on doing just that. Enjoy your new home and have a most blessed Thanksgiving.
Patti Moss
Yes it does! Thanks, Patti! Happy Thanksgiving!
Susan H.
AMEN!! I love this post. Now I want to see pictures of the new house and get a little home tour. So happy for you all. Love the recipe too. Sweet potatoes are my weakness. I have one baking in the oven as I type. Going to put a little butter and cinnamon sugar on it. Yum!!
Blessings for this holiday season,
Susan Hatcher
Thanks, Susan! I’ll be sure to give y’all a tour once things are settled. 🙂
Marion Reed
Wow – your tale of the home buying / building merry-go-round really hit the mark for me. Thank you for sharing!
I feel inspired to give waiting and prayer more time with a much lighter heart. I will also try to remember that our home was not even on the market when the potential purchase offer was made – so we can just remain in place. I believe that I have just wanted our own new home adventure to go at my self-imposed pace.
Blessing to you and your family this Thanksgiving.
It is such a difficult thing to do – letting go of control. It worked out to our benefit and I’m sure that it will to yours as well. God knows what is best for you and he will see you to it. Happy Thanksgiving to you also!
Naomi
You’re right about a lot of work peeling,cooking.mashing and more cooking.
Just got a basket of sweet potatoes from the market. Will be giving this a try tomorrow. Thanks so much. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
I hope you will enjoy this dish! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family as well!
Unhip Chick
Very inspiring and very true. I think that’s one of the hardest things to do–just turn it over to God and let him figure it all out. Congratulations on your new home!
As a self-professed control freak, I’ll agree! It’s hard to completely let go. But it was the best thing that I could have done. 🙂 Thanks!
Connie
Stacy…I made these yesterday and your post came today!! was craving sweet potatoes (yum) !! didn’t have any nuts to add.
Read your home buying story. . Amazing!!! My grandson story almost similar, just this week he and fiancé sold their home and is building near his G-Ma (me doing happy dance) They struggled with the idea and timing to sell over the last year and 1/2.. I told him in Gods time it will happen …prayers answered…And it happened for them !!
Also nothing more powerful when you realize the wisdom of our mothers and grandmothers when it slaps you up side your head and say ???? then start quoting them!!! ????
I’m going to try your biscuit recipe next… I have never had luck with biscuits or pie crust.
Many blessings to you and family!!
So much goodness in this comment, Connie! So glad to hear that they’ve had success in the search fo their perfect home and I know how excited you must be to have them close to you! Sure hope you’ll enjoy those biscuits!
Bill Gentry
Amen!
🙂