Candied Sweet Potatoes are delicious, and easy to make for dinner or a holiday feast! Soft, caramelized, & baked in an amazing sauce, you'll love 'em!
Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 2 quart baking dish with non-stick spray (sides and bottom).
Peel sweet potatoes , then cut each one into 1/2" thick round slices. Place slices in prepared dish. Sprinkle potatoes with salt, and then set dish aside.
MAKE SAUCE: Melt butter on low heat in a medium pan. Add water, maple syrup, brown sugar, orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger; stir to combine. Turn heat to medium. While stirring, bring sauce to a low boil. Once it begins boiling, remove spoon and let sauce boil for 2 minutes (without stirring). Remove pan from heat; stir in vanilla extract. Pour sauce over sweet potatoes. Toss gently, to coat slices well.
Bake, uncovered, in 375°F. oven for 20 minutes. Remove potatoes from oven, and gently stir, to keep them coated in sauce. Cover the dish with aluminum foil, and place dish back into oven. Bake for an additional 20 minutes; remove and stir again. Insert a butter knife into a slice to check for tenderness. If knife cannot be easily inserted and removed (like butter!), pop 'em back in the oven for another 5-10 minutes, then check again (mine took 45). They should be slightly caramelized on the outside, but creamy and soft on the inside! NOTE: If you are doubling the recipe (5-6 potatoes) and using a 9x13" baking dish, it may take up to an hour to bake all the sweet potatoes evenly. Just be sure to check on the tenderness after the 40 minute mark.
When done, remove pan from oven. Uncover pan; let cool for about 10 minutes before serving. To serve: Spoon a bit of sauce on top. Lightly sprinkle sweet potatoes with flaky sea salt (optional, but a good contrast to sweet sauce). Garnish with sprigs of fresh thyme or rosemary, if desired. Enjoy!
TIP: According to the original recipe author, this dish can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator. When ready to re-heat, cover dish with foil, and reheat in 350°F. oven for 25-30 minutes (or until fully heated through).
Candied Sweet Potatoes https://www.thegratefulgirlcooks.com/candied-sweet-potatoes/