Stovetop Bourbon Candied Yams

This stovetop candied yams recipe is next level! Tender, sweet yams are cooked in a buttery brown sugar sauce flavored with vanilla and smoky bourbon. This side dish is a must-have at any holiday gathering!

Table of Contents

1. Buttery Bourbon Candied Yams Made Simple
2. Ingredients for Stovetop Candied Yams
3. How to Make Bourbon Candied Yams on the Stovetop
4. Tips and Tricks for Making Stovetop Candied Yams
5. More Must-Have Holiday Sides from I Heart Recipes
6. Stovetop Bourbon Candied Yams Recipe

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Hey y’all! With the holidays right around the corner, you know what time it is! Holiday recipes are my bread and butter (in addition to Southern and Soul Food staples, that is!). From holiday side dishes to easy mains and simple, sweet desserts, I Heart Recipes has y’all covered for the whole holiday menu.

By now, you all know how much I love candied yams–they’re a must-have side dish on my holiday table. I’ve shared several candied yams recipes here on my blog, including my candied yams with marshmallows, a Southern candied yams recipe, and even a slow cooker candied yams recipe. This one, however, is my only stovetop candied yams recipe, and I must say, it’s a good one!

Buttery Bourbon Candied Yams Made Simple

This stovetop candied yams recipe is similar to other candied yams recipes I’ve shared before. However, in this recipe, I use bourbon. It adds a subtle smoky flavor that balances perfectly with the buttery brown sugar and vanilla syrup that forms while the yams cook. If you aren’t down with using alcohol in recipes, you can absolutely leave it out! You’ll still get that classic candied yam flavor.

Stovetop candied yams are the perfect solution when you’re running low on oven space during holiday cooking. All you need is a large pot, one single burner, and less than an hour of cooking time. You can also easily double or triple the recipe, and even make it ahead of time – it’s just as easy to reheat these candied yams as it is to make them!

Ingredients for Stovetop Candied Yams

You only need a few simple ingredients to make this stovetop bourbon candied yams recipe, so pack up and let’s head to the grocery store! Below is a list of ingredients you’ll need. Be sure to print out the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredient measurements.

• Fresh Yams: in most (American) grocery stores, yams are the same as sweet potatoes, so that’s what you’ll want to look for.
• Salted Butter: you can use unsalted if it’s what you have on hand, but then I’d recommend adding a teaspoon of salt in with the spices.
• Vanilla Extract: adds a nice warm flavor that pairs perfectly with the warm spices and smoky bourbon.
• Brown Sugar & White Sugar: we use both kinds of sugar to make the buttery syrup the yams cook down in.
• Bourbon Whiskey: adds a warm, woody, earthy flavor that’s so subtle, but works so well with the sweetness of these candied yams.
• Corn Syrup: helps to sweeten and thicken the syrup. If you don’t want to use this ingredient, maple syrup is a great substitute.
• Spices: I use ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.

Canned Yams vs. Fresh: Which Should I Use for Stovetop Candied Yams?

While I totally get the convenience of canned yams, they’re NOT the best option for this recipe. Canned yams are pre-cooked and come canned in a sugary syrup. Cooking them longer will turn them to mush, and the canned syrup will clash with our buttery homemade brown sugar syrup. Canned sweet potatoes are better for recipes like sweet potato casserole or sweet potato pie.

How to Make Bourbon Candied Yams on the Stovetop

Okay, friends. Let’s talk about how to make these easy stovetop bourbon candied yams. Watch my video tutorial below to see exactly how I make this perfect side dish – you’ll see just how easy it really is! Don’t forget to subscribe to I Heart Recipes on YouTube, and check out more of my holiday recipe videos here.

Stovetop Bourbon Candied Yams Directions

1. Wash, peel, and chop your yams (or sweet potatoes). Cut them up into cubes or rounds, whichever shape you prefer – just try to keep them all a uniform size so they cook evenly.
2. Toss the chopped yams into a large pot or Dutch oven.
3. Next, add the butter, white and brown sugar, vanilla, bourbon, corn syrup, and spices. Stir everything together.
4. Cook the yams over medium heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until a syrup forms in the pot.
5. Reduce the heat to low and continue cooking the candied yams until they’re fork-tender – about 20 more minutes.
6. Remove the candied yams from the heat and let them cool. The liquid will begin to thicken into a smooth, buttery sauce.

There you have it, friends – easy stovetop candied yams in less than an hour. These are a must-have at your holiday meal. The sweet syrup, tender yams, and hint of smoky bourbon make my mouth water just thinking about it!

Tips and Tricks for Making Stovetop Candied Yams

Candied yams (or candied sweet potatoes, whatever y’all want to call ‘em) are one of those Thanksgiving classics that everyone has their own recipe for. Whether it’s different spices, the level of sweetness, or the use of bourbon versus no bourbon, it’s the perfect side dish. Let me share some Cousin Rosie tips to make your holiday cooking even easier.

• You can use your favorite brand of bourbon whiskey for this recipe. And of course, you don’t have to buy a whole bottle. One of those little shooters is plenty!
• Other than the bourbon, you don’t need to add any additional liquid to the pot. The yams will make their own liquid as they cook down.
• You can add toppings if you’d like. Try crushed pecans or chopped bacon (bourbon bacon candied yams?! Sounds tooooo good!). Missing the marshmallows? Toss some mini marshmallows in and place a lid on the pot while the yams cool. They’ll melt from the residual heat.
• You can double or triple the recipe, just make sure you have a pot large enough to accommodate all those yams!
• Leftover candied yams can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.

How do I reheat leftovers or made-ahead candied yams?

To reheat, simply put the candied yams in a pot and cook them over medium-low heat until heated through. The syrup should loosen up on its own, but if it’s too thick, add a splash of water to thin it out.

Can I make bourbon candied yams in the slow cooker or oven instead?

Yes! I love this recipe because it frees up precious oven space during the busy holiday cooking season. But you can absolutely make this same recipe in other ways. Follow the recipe as directed, then follow these cooking times:

• For baked candied yams, bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.
• For slow cooker candied yams, set the slow cooker to low and cook for 3 to 4 hours.
• For instant pot candied yams, cook on the normal setting for 15 minutes.

My candied yams sauce is too runny; how can I fix this?

If your brown sugar sauce doesn’t thicken as the candied yams cool, cornstarch is a quick fix. Make a cornstarch slurry by mixing ~1 tbsp of cornstarch with a splash of cool water. Then put the candied yams back on the heat and stir in the cornstarch until the sauce thickens.

More Must-Have Holiday Sides from I Heart Recipes

Stovetop candied yams are just the beginning of my holiday spread, cousins. What else should y’all make? Here are my recommendations!

• Southern Vegetarian Mixed Greens
• Homemade Stuffing with French Bread
• Baked Macaroni and Cheese Casserole
• Green Bean Casserole
• Homemade Sweet Potato Muffins
• Roasted Maple Glazed & Peppercorn Chai Carrots
• Creamed Corn
• Sweet Potato Cobbler

Don’t forget to tag and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, subscribe to I Heart Recipes on YouTube, and check out all my cookbooks for more holiday recipe inspiration!