Candied Yams with Orange & Cardamom
Ok but really, who doesn’t love candied yams?? I think there’s something so comforting about candied yams or a delicious sweet potato casserole (you know, like the one with marshmallows on top?). Packed with sugary goodness, I mean what’s not to love? Ok, ok, so it’s not exactly a health food… But these are not your grandmother’s candied yams. These are slightly lightened up with a little less sugar and a little less butter. And then the addition of cardamom and a splash of fresh orange juice sends this classic favorite to sophisticated new heights.
They may sound and taste fancy, but these orange cardamom candied yams are E-A-S-Y! And they’re sure to impress the next time you’re entertaining or charged with bringing a delicious side dish. It’s a great side for your Thanksgiving or Easter table.
Orange Cardamom Candied Yams come together in 3 easy steps:
- Pre-bake the yams. Just give them a good scrub, wrap them in foil, and bake on a baking sheet for an hour.
- Make the glaze. Just a few ingredients for about 4 minutes in a saucepan and you’re ready to go.
- Assemble and bake. Arrange the sweet potatoes, pour on the glaze, and bake. That’s literally it!
So what exactly is cardamom? Maybe you’ve had it before, maybe you haven’t. It’s very aromatic and a unique flavor, almost floral in nature. You may know it from it’s use in Chai tea. It adds a lot of complexity to your dish, and it pairs beautifully with orange–but a little goes a long way.
Looking for other inspiration for your Easter Table? These are some of my favorites:
And my favorite Thanksgiving dessert:
Apple Crumb Pie with Pear and Cranberry
Orange Cardamom Candied Yams
Ingredients
- 3-3.5 lbs yams about 5-6 medium yams
- 1/2 orange, juiced
- 1/4 tsp orange zest
- 1/4 tsp cardamom
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2.5 Tbs butter
Instructions
Bake the yams
- Wash all the yams and pierce them with a fork in 3-4 places.
- Wrap the yams in foil and place them on a baking sheet.
- Bake at 400°F for 1 hr – 1 hr 10 minutes, until yams are soft.
- Remove the yams and let cool slightly. After 5 minutes, Carefully open the foil to release steam.
Make the Orange Caradamom Glaze
- In a small saucepan, combine the remaining ingrients.
- Heat the saucepan over medium-low heat until the butter is melted and the sugar dissolves.
Assemble & Bake
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Get out a 9" x 13" baking dish.
- Remove the skins from the yams. Careful, yams may still be hot!
- Cut the yams into 1/2" slices and arrange in the bottom of the 9" x 13" baking dish.
- Once all the yams are in the baking dish, carefully pour the orange cardamom glaze evenly over the top.
- Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, until hot and bubbly. Remove from oven, cool 5 minutes, and serve.