Crock Pot Candied Sweet Potatoes
Make these Crock Pot Candied Sweet Potatoes and free up some oven space. Cooking Thanksgiving dinner side dish recipes in one or more crock pots will help keep the house cooler and save that much-needed oven space for the Thanksgiving Day turkey, side dish recipes and dessert recipes that have to be cooked in the oven.
This crock pot recipe is my version of a Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes recipe that I have been making for years. Crock Pot Candied Sweet Potatoes is a Thanksgiving side dish recipe that I can not live without on Thanksgiving day.
I have cheated a few times over years and made frozen candied sweet potatoes. There is no comparison.
Making homemade candied sweet potatoes is so much better than any frozen candied sweet potatoes I have ever tried. That also goes for using canned yams or sweet potatoes instead of fresh sweet potatoes.
When you use the canned sweet potatoes they are way too soft to begin with and turn out mushy and don’t hold their shape like fresh sweet potatoes do. The texture is never the same and the flavor of fresh sweet potatoes is so much better.
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The hardest part to this Crock Pot Candied Sweet Potatoes recipe is peeling the fresh sweet potatoes. It is a little time consuming, but a sharp paring knife will get the job done quickly.
I tried using a vegetable peeler, but it was awkward to hold the bigger sweet potatoes and use the peeler. It was much easier to use a paring knife than the vegetable peeler.
I cooked these Crock Pot Candied Sweet Potatoes in my 6 qt crock pot slow cooker. There was plenty of room left in the crock pot so if you need to double the candied sweet potatoes recipe to feed a large crowd you could easily double the recipe.
I like to serve most of my crock pot recipes right from the crock pot. It makes my life so much easier but for the holidays setting a pretty table is more important.
Keep the candied sweet potatoes warm in the crock pot until its time to serve dinner. Than carefully transfer the candied sweet potatoes to a 3 quart or 6 quart casserole dish so you can serve them from the table.
Watch the How To Make Crock Pot Candied Sweet Potatoes Video Here
How to make Crock Pot Candied Sweet Potatoes
- 3 pounds fresh sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch thick slices
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/2-3/4 bag of mini marshmallows
- Place all the ingredients except the sweet potatoes and marshmallows into a medium saucepan.
- Heat the syrup to boiling, stirring occasionally. Once the syrup starts to boil cook for 3 minutes.
- Remove pot from the heat.
- Place half the sweet potatoes into the bottom of a 4-quart crock pot.
- Pour half the syrup over the sweet potatoes.
- Layer the remaining sweet potato slices in the crock pot.
- Pour remaining syrup over the sweet potato slices.
- Fold a triple layer of paper towels and place over the top of the crock pot.
- Place lid on crock pot and cook on high for 2-3 hours or until fork tender.
- Once the sweet potatoes are fork tender spread the mini marshmallows over the top of the sweet potato slices.
- Replace lid and turn crock pot on warm.
- Serve once marshmallows are melted.
- Sprinkle some ground cinnamon over the marshmallows if desired.
- Keep warm if not serving immediately.
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PinDescription
Easy Southern Style Candied Sweet Potatoes recipe made in a crock pot slow cooker is a family favorite holiday side dish recipe. Fresh sweet potatoes dripping in a sweet cinnamon sauce covered in marshmallow is the best holiday sweet potato recipe you’ll ever make.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds fresh sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch thick slices
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/2-3/4 bag of mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients except the sweet potatoes and mini marshmallows into a medium saucepan.
- Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Once the syrup starts to boil cook for 3 minutes.
- Remove pot from the heat.
- Place half the sweet potatoes into the bottom of a 4-quart crock pot.
- Pour half the syrup over the sweet potatoes.
- Layer the remaining sweet potato slices in the crock pot.
- Pour remaining syrup over the sweet potato slices.
- Fold a triple layer of paper towels and place over the top of the crock pot.
- Place lid on crock pot and cook on high for 2-3 hours or until fork tender.
- Once the sweet potatoes are fork tender spread the mini marshmallows over the top of the sweet potato slices.
- Replace lid and turn crock pot on warm.
- Serve once marshmallows are melted.
- Sprinkle some ground cinnamon over the marshmallows if desired.
- Keep warm if not serving immediately.
Notes
This recipe is best made with fresh sweet potatoes. Canned sweet potatoes or yams will not work since they are already cooked they will turn into a pile of mush.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 454
If you like this Crock Pot Candied Sweet Potatoes recipe head over to my Crock Pot Recipe page where you will find 160+ Crock Pot Recipes.
Linking up with the Recipes That Crock Linky Party!
Trisha @ Home Sweet Homemade says
Looks yummy! I love dishes that free up oven space! Pinned! Visiting via Whats Cookin Wednesdays blog hop!
Arlene Mobley says
Have a Happy Thanksgiving Trisha and thank you for stopping by!
Liz says
Can this be made and put in the fridge besides the marshmallows?
Arlene Mobley says
Liz yes you can make this ahead of time then add the marshmallows once it has heated up enough to melt them.
Jaci Kulish says
This recipe looks great! I wanted to make a candied sweet potato casserole using fresh sweet potatoes but it takes a while to candy them! This is perfect, I won’t have to stand over my stove on an already busy day!
★★★★★
Arlene Mobley says
Jaci
So glad you found my recipe. Thanks for stopping by. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Jessica says
Are you supposed to put the marshmallows in with everything in step 1?
Arlene Mobley says
Jessica
No the marshmallows go on the top at the end of the cooking time.
Amanda says
I made this mistake last year— step 1 says all ingredients except sweet potatoes— you might want to correct that step— mine were like a soup bc there was soooooo much liquid, but they still tasted great!
Arlene Mobley says
Amanda not sure what you mean when you say I should correct the step. You should be cooking the syrup in a pot on the stove without the sweet potatoes so the sauce thickens up. You then place the sweet potatoes in the slow cooker and pour the thickened sauce over them. The sweet potatoes cook in the sauce in the slow cooker. Sorry if you didn’t understand the directions.
Violet says
Should the crockpot be on high or low?!
Arlene Mobley says
Violet
High temp for the cooking time. Then reduce the heat to warm or low, depending on your crock pot and add the marshmallows on top. Serve once the marshmallows have melted.
Madge Hribar says
maybe i’m missing it in the instructions…cook on high or low? making these today – so i’ll start on high and keep on eye on the potatoes…thanks!
Arlene Mobley says
Madge
So sorry the cooking temp is high.
Erlene says
We don’t usually make candied sweet potatoes, but this looks really good and may have to give it a try.
Sharyl Connor says
Can this candied sweet potatoes recipe be made on stove top? Thank You.
Arlene Mobley says
Sharyl
Yes it can. You would cook the syrup ingredients on the stove and pour over the cooked sweet potatoes that have been placed in a baking dish. Bake for about 30-40 minutes. Top with marshmallows 2 minutes before removing from the oven.
Melissa says
What does the paper towels do? Do you leave them in the crockpot while cooking the sweet potatoes?
Arlene Mobley says
Hi Melissa
I lay the paper towels over the top and trap them with the lid. They absorbed the condensation that forms on the inside of the lid while cooking. This way it doesn’t fall into the crock pot and make it watery.
Cate says
What purpose does the paper towel serve?
★★★★★
Arlene Mobley says
It absorbs the condensation that forms on the lid. It prevents the sauce from getting thinned out from the extra water.
Emily says
Soonds/looks delicious! Can this recipe be doubled easily? Cooking for a group of about 15 this Thanksgiving. Thanks!
Arlene Mobley says
Emily
Yes it can be doubled. You’ll need a bigger crock pot and a couple more hours for cooking. Enjoy and have a great holiday!
Michelle says
Can you use more butter and omit the corn syrup?
Arlene Mobley says
Hi Michelle
No, I’m sorry you can’t omit the corn syrup and replace with butter. The corn syrup is what makes the sauce thick and cling to the sweet potato pieces. You could use granulated sugar to make a heavy simple syrup and use that in place of the corn syrup. I’ve never tried this with this recipe but I’ve made a simple syrup with 1 cup water and 1 cup of granulated sugar. Cook on medium until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to medium high and bring to a boil. Allow the syrup to boil until it thickens like corn syrup. Remove from heat and cool. Keep in mind that once the heavy syrup cools it will get thicker. Let me know how it turns out if you try it. I’ll be making this recipe myself on Thanksgiving. If I have time I’ll try it myself. Happy holidays!
Chris says
Do you think real maple syrup would work as a substitute for the corn syrup?
Arlene Mobley says
Chris
I’m sure maple syrup would taste amazing. I would test the recipe first if you are planning to serve this for guests. You could half the recipe. The corn syrup helps with the sauce slightly thickening. I’m not sure the maple syrup would thicken the same way. But if you don’t mind a thinner sauce I say go for it.
Miranda says
Light or dark brown sugar?
Arlene Mobley says
Miranda I used light corn syrup but dark would work also.
Russ says
Can you make this a day ahead?
Arlene Mobley says
Russ
Yes this could be made the day ahead and heated up.
Brittanny says
Is the syrup mixture suppose to cover the sweet potatoes? Like if it was a soup or something? Does that make sense?
Arlene Mobley says
Brittany
Sorry but I didn’t see your comment yesterday. The syrup doesn’t cover the sweet potatoes completely when you first put the ingredients in the crock pot. As it cooks the sweet potatoes shrink a bit and will be covered once they are done cooking.
Brittanny says
I was worried the whole time they were cooking but it turned out amazing. Total hit and I’m pretty sure I will be making this every thanksgiving. Thank you.
Arlene Mobley says
Brittany I’m so happy to hear the recipe was a success! You’re welcome!
Kiera says
perfect recipe and so easy! Made it for big group for t-giving and making again for a big crowd today! Bonus for (majority of the) cooking in crock pot – its too hot in south florida to have the oven on all day! Thank you!
Arlene Mobley says
Kiera
Merry Christmas! So glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe. I know what you mean. I am in Florida also. It has been way too hot for it to be Christmas.
kiki mutungi says
hi, i was wondering if i can omit the marshmallows from the recipe?
Arlene Mobley says
Yes you can.
Peggy says
If I double the recipe how long do I keep them in the crockpot on high?
Arlene Mobley says
Peggy the cooking time really depends on how big your slow cooker is. If the slow cooker is filled to the brim it is going to take at lot longer to heat up and cook. If it is a larger slow cooker and there is plenty of room left after all the ingredients are added it will cook faster. I would say at least 4-5 hours on high. If you boil the sweet potatoes until they are just fork tender before you add them to the slow cooker it will cut back on the cooking time. Just don’t pre-cook the sweet potatoes too long or they will turn to mush in the crock pot.
Peggy says
I doubled the recipe using a 6 qt slow cooker, cooked on high for 4 hours, then reduced the heat to warm. Any longer and they would have started to break in half when stirred. Even with doubling the recipe there was still plenty of room in my slow cooker that they could be stirred easily and cooked evenly. I was able to use a potato peeler without any issues. I also added a couple of teaspoons of (real) vanilla extract into the sauce. It was wonderful to be able to prepare them the day before, refrigerate right in the crock pot then just set it up and turn it on in the morning. It saved valuable oven space.
They were a big hit. Of all the food I made, I got the most compliments on them and everyone requested them on their take home plate. Thanks for the recipe.
★★★★★
Arlene Mobley says
Peggy
I’m so glad to hear the recipe was a huge success! Thanks!
Patricia B says
What a treasure of a find! This is my go to for now on. EVERY holiday and occasional Family Sunday Dinners. Thank you for sharing. I made only two change. I started these early in morning and cooked on low. Was perfect doneness by time 6 o’clock rolled around. And then sunce my crock is able to go under a broiler I browned my marshmallows and then put them back in the heating element of my crock pot to stay warm. I would like to say that people wanted to take left overs home but…..there weren’t any. And it was a double batch! Again thank you for sharing.
★★★★★
Arlene Mobley says
Patricia thank you so much for making my day. I know this is an awesome recipe because I have made it myself so many times but it is a joy when a reader makes it and enjoys it as much as I do. Have a wonderful holiday season!
Valorie says
These were the best yams ever. I made 3 lbs. in the crockpot just as the recipe was written and there was not one bite left over after dinner. They were a total hit. With all the sugar they are diabetes waiting to happen, but once a year I think I can take the chance and I will definitely make these again. Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Mary says
when you say this can be prepared ahead and started the next day, do you mean all put together but not cooked?
Arlene Mobley says
Hi Mary
Yes you can make the syrup and pour it over the sweet potato slices and refrigerated it until the next day. Keep in mind that because you will be starting with chilled sweet potatoes and the cold syrup it will take longer to cook. Enjoy and happy holidays!
★★★★★