Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes

Step 1

Place the sweet potatoes in a large pot and cover the potatoes with water

Step 2

Bring to a boil for about 20-25 minutes, you want the sweet potatoes to be partially cooked

Step 3

Drain them from the water and allow them to cool

Step 4

While the potatoes cool make your simple syrup

Step 5

Combine the sugar and water ,bring up to a boil and then slightly reduce the heat

Step 6

Stirring from time to time you want it to thicken and reduce , this will take 25-30 minutes

Step 7

When the syrup is thickened turn off the heat and stir in the vanilla

Step 8

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Step 9

Now by hand peel the skin off of the sweet potatoes

Step 10

Slice the sweet potatoes in long strips by slicing them in half length wise and then slice those halves in strips

Step 11

Place the strips in a casserole dish..I used a 4 quart dish but a 9x13 baking dish would work also

Step 12

Pour the simple syrup over the sweet potatoes

Step 13

Slice the cold butter into small squares and evenly place them over the sweet potatoes

Step 14

Mix the sugar and cinnamon together

Step 15

Poor the cinnamon and sugar mixture over the top of the sweet potatoes

Step 16

Bake uncovered for 25 minutes

Step 17

Turn off the oven and do not open the door

Step 18

Allow the sweet potatoes to set in the oven for one hour, if they sit for a little longer it's okay . The longer they sit the better they get