Candied Yams Toasted Pecans (Printable Version)

Tender yams baked with a buttery brown sugar glaze and topped with crunchy toasted pecans.

# What You'll Need:

→ Yams

01 - 2 medium yams (about 1 lb), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch rounds

→ Glaze

02 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
04 - 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
07 - 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

→ Topping

08 - 1/3 cup pecan halves
09 - 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil for toasting

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 1-quart baking dish and set aside.
02 - In a small skillet over medium heat, toast pecan halves with vegetable oil for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant. Transfer to a plate.
03 - Layer yam rounds evenly in the prepared baking dish.
04 - In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir until smooth and just beginning to bubble.
05 - Pour glaze evenly over yams and gently toss to coat thoroughly.
06 - Cover baking dish tightly with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
07 - Remove foil, gently toss yams, and bake uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes until yams are tender and glaze has thickened.
08 - Sprinkle toasted pecans over yams immediately before serving.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The glaze gets thick and glossy while the yams stay tender, creating this perfect contrast that tastes way more impressive than the effort requires.
  • Toasted pecans add a nutty crunch that keeps every bite interesting, and the whole thing comes together in under an hour.
  • It works as a weeknight side just as well as it does on a holiday table, so you get to enjoy it more than once a year.
02 -
  • Don't skip toasting the pecans separately—raw pecans disappear into the sweetness, but toasted ones stay distinct and add texture that makes the whole dish sing.
  • The glaze thickens more as it cools, so if it looks a little loose when you pull it from the oven, trust the process and give it a few minutes before deciding you need to change anything.
03 -
  • Slice your yams to roughly the same thickness so they cook evenly—a sharp knife and steady hand make this job quick and pleasant.
  • If your glaze looks too thin after the covered baking, leaving the foil off for those final 15 minutes will let it reduce down and thicken beautifully.
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