If you want to take traditional candied sweet potatoes up a flavor notch, then you’ve got to try Orange Candied Sweet Potatoes.
Orange candied sweet potatoes get they’re abundance of citrus flavor from orange juice and orange zest!
And they’re incredibly easy to make.
Simply make a rich syrup with orange juice, grated orange peel, brown sugar, butter and a few spices. Then pour it over sliced sweet potatoes and bake it in the oven. It’s that easy!
You’re family is sure to love this oh-so-sweet vegetable side dish as much as mine.
Why You’ll Love this Candied Sweet Potato Recipe
Candied Sweet Potatoes with Orange Juice is inexpensive to make. But they’re so good you’ll want seconds.
All you need to make this side dish is fresh sweet potatoes, some orange juice, brown sugar and a few other items you probably already have in your kitchen.
This sweet potato side dish is easily prepared ahead of time. You can prepare the sauce ahead of time and then pour it over the sweet potatoes when you’re ready to bake it.
Or you can partially cook the entire dish and then finish it in the oven for the remaining time just before serving.
Candied sweet potatoes can be made in the oven or stovetop. Preparing a holiday meal requires some choreography skills when it comes to making all the food.
That’s why it’s a real plus that this side dish can be made in a heavy pan on the stove or baked in the oven.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Sweet Potatoes (peeled and sliced)
- Orange Juice
- Grated Orange Peel
- Brown Sugar
- Cornstarch
- Salt
- Ground Cinnamon
- Ground Nutmeg
- Butter
Sweet Potatoes: Use fresh sweet potatoes if you can. They caramelize nicely and bake up to the perfect tenderness.
You can use canned sweet potatoes (40 oz) in a pinch. Just make sure they’re sugar-free and not in syrup.
Orange Juice & Orange Peel: Orange juice and freshly grated orange zest are must-use ingredients for this old-fashioned orange candied sweet potato recipe. They bring an element of flavor and brightness to the dish.
Brown Sugar: You can use light or dark. Some recipes even use granulated white sugar. I like the hint of molasses flavor the brown sugar provides.
Cornstarch: Cornstarch keeps the candied sweet potatoes from being too watery, so don’t skip it. It thickens the brown sugar, butter and orange juice into a gooey sauce.
How to Make Orange Candied Sweet Potatoes
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. To the melted butter, add orange juice, brown sugar, grated orange peel, cornstarch, salt and spices. Bring to a boil, then simmer until thickened.
- While the orange sauce is cooking, peel the sweet potatoes and cut into 1/4″ slices. Lay them flat into a greased (or buttered) 13×9″ baking dish.
- Pour the sauce evenly over the sweet potatoes, making sure that every sweet potato slice is coated.
- Bake covered in foil in a 350°F oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil, gently stir the sweet potatoes in the sauce, and return to the oven uncovered for an additional 35 minutes until caramelized and fork-tender.
- Let the orange candied sweet potatoes sit for 10 minutes before serving. The sauce will thicken further as the dish cools. Sprinkle with more cinnamon and nutmeg (optional).
How to Prepare Candied Sweet Potatoes Ahead of Time
When I’m planning a big family meal like Thanksgiving, I like to get as much prep done ahead of time as possible.
This way my time on the holidays can be spent mingling with family and friends!
Enter…my favorite sweet potatoes with orange juice side dish. There are two ways you can make it ahead of time.
Make the orange juice syrup the day before.
The first option is to make the syrupy orange sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. Then when you’re ready to assemble the dish, just pour it over the sliced sweet potatoes and pop it in the oven.
Partially bake the orange candied sweet potatoes in advance.
The second option is to make the candied sweet potatoes as directed, except remove them from the oven halfway through. Cool and refrigerate.
Then when you’re ready to finish baking them, remove the dish from the refrigerator for 30 minutes and then bake in the oven for the remaining cooking time. Easy peasy!
Tips for Making the Best Candied Sweet Potatoes with Orange Juice
- Orange zest from fresh oranges is a must! It adds a huge citrusy punch to the sauce. Pick juicy oranges with a thin skin and only grate the orange-colored part of the peel. The pith (the white part) is bitter.
- Don’t skip the cornstarch. It’s what turns the sauce into a thick syrup that clings to the sweet potatoes.
- Bake the candied sweet potatoes uncovered for part of the time. This way they get a nice caramelized texture.
- For a little crunch, sprinkle some chopped pecans on top of the potatoes during the last 2 minutes of baking.
The Difference Between Yams & Sweet Potatoes
In the U.S. we use the words yam and sweet potato interchangeably, but they are not the same vegetable at all.
In fact, candied yams are almost always candied sweet potatoes since yams are harder to come by.
Sweet potatoes are sweeter, darker and more tender when cooked. Yams are more starchy like a baked potato.
Southern Living magazine takes a detailed look at the many ways yams differ from sweet potatoes, if you want to know more.
Orange Candied Sweet Potatoes
This Orange Candied Sweet Potatoes recipe features the most delicious orange juice and brown sugar syrup. The sweet potatoes are baked in the oven until tender and a little caramelized. This side dish is easy to make and perfect for Thanksgiving dinner or anytime.
Ingredients
- 6 medium sweet potatoes (3 pounds)
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 1/2 cups orange juice
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons orange peel, grated
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add orange juice, brown sugar, cornstarch, salt, orange peel, cinnamon and nutmeg. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer until thickened (about 10 minutes).
- While the sauce is cooking, peel the sweet potatoes and cut into 1/4" slices. Lay them into a greased (or buttered) 13x9" baking dish.
- Pour the sauce over the sweet potatoes, making sure that every sweet potato is covered.
- Bake covered in oven for 25 minutes. Remove the cover, stir the sweet potatoes and return to oven for an additional 35 minutes, until caramelized and fork-tender. Stir several times to coat all the potatoes if necessary.
- Remove from oven and let the orange candied sweet potatoes sit for 10 minutes before serving. The sauce will thicken further as the dish cools. Sprinkle with additional cinnamon, if desired.
Notes
- You may substitute fresh sweet potatoes with 32 ounces canned yams or sweet potatoes.
- Orange candied sweet potatoes can be prepared entirely on the stove. Use a heavy pan and cover it with a lid while cooking. Be sure to stir the orange sauce over the sweet potatoes periodically.
- This candied sweet potato recipe does not have marshmallows since it's already sweet enough from the orange juice and brown sugar. You can add some marshmallows during the last 10 minutes of baking, if desired.
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