One of the dishes people love most during the holidays is this Canned Candied Yams with Marshmallows Recipe. While I admit that it’s essentially a dessert disguised as a vegetable side dish, it’s a nostalgic holiday classic that deserves a place at the table.
Thanksgiving recipes are all about tradition! And although sweet potato casserole has become a new family tradition (and another excuse to eat dessert as a vegetable dish:), I grew up on sweet potatoes from the can. My Grandma called them canned yams, and made this tasty recipe every Thanksgiving. Now, I carry on the tradition and make her candied yams the same way.
What is a yam?
In the U.S., the words “yam” and “sweet potato” are used pretty interchangeably–I know my grandma sure did! However, they are actually two totally different plants with very different histories. What we call “yams” in the U.S. are usually a type of sweet potato. In fact, the U.S.D.A. requires that any product labeled as a “yam” also has to have the words “sweet potato” on the label. If you are interested in learning more about the differences and the history of the plants, here’s a great starter article.
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How to Make Old Fashioned Canned Candied Yams With Marshmallows?
Description
Golden-browned marshmallows sit atop sweet candied yams, baked to perfection, in this classic holiday recipe. Who doesn’t love dessert disguised as a vegetable dish?;)
Ingredients
2 cans of canned yams, drained and sliced
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter, cut into pieces
2 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- First, drain the canned yams. If they are in large chunks, cut them into 1″ pieces or slices.
- Next, butter a 9″ x 12 ” glass baking dish and place the yams in the dish.
- Then sprinkle the yams with the sugar and salt, and dot the top with the pieces of butter.
- Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the oven and top the cooked yams with the mini-marshmallows. Spread them evenly.
- Lastly, return the pan to the oven to brown the marshmallows until they are a deep golden color, about 5 -7 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the oven and serve.
Notes
*You can use salted or unsalted butter, but we prefer the taste of salted butter in this recipe.
*You can also use large marshmallows for this recipe.
Canned Candied Yams With Marshmallows: TIPS
- After placing the yams in a baking dish, distribute butter pieces evenly over them.
- When it comes to sprinkling the sugar, I recommend using brown sugar. However, if all you have is white sugar, it will work, too.
- The recipe calls for 2½ cups of marshmallows, but you are free to add more if you prefer. After all, the golden-browned marshmallows on top of the canned yams really make the dish!
- Finally, besides being a favorite holiday dish, it’s also super practical. It is one of my easiest-to-make recipes and can also be prepared ahead of time and placed in the fridge until it’s time to cook.
Linking to…Gooseberry Patch
Yams | Sweet Potatoes: Nutrition Values & Other Facts
Sweet potatoes are usually orange but also found in other colors, such as white, red, pink, violet, yellow, and purple. However, orange fleshed sweet potatoes are the most marketed ones in the U.S.
- The nutrition facts for 100 grams of raw yams are:
- Calories: 86
- Water: 77%
- Protein: 1.6 grams
- Carbs: 20.1 grams
- Sugar: 4.2 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Fat: 0.1 grams
- The most abundant vitamins and minerals in yams are:
- Pro-vitamin AVitamin C
- Manganese
- Vitamin B6
- Potassium
- Vitamin B5
- Vitamin E
Other Thanksgiving Recipes
If you are looking for more holiday recipes, check our some of our Thanksgiving Recipe favorites!
Canned Candied Yams With Marshmallows FAQs
Yes, in the U.S., canned yams are likely sweet potatoes. True yams have a much more rough and bumpy skin, a starchier consistency, and usually have a white interior. True yams are also much less sweet than sweet potatoes.
Using sweet potatoes with marshmallows was first done by the marketing directors at Angelus Marshmallow in the early twentieth century. The aim was to promote marshmallows as one of the most versatile ingredients for cooking by publishing different recipes.
The canned sweet potatoes you get at supermarkets are already pre-cooked. That is why we recommend that you add them at the end of any recipe, as it will not take too long to cook completely.
Can You Eat Canned Yams Right Out Of The Can?
Yes, you can, but we recommend that you heat the yams before consuming them. These are delicious on their own, or you can serve them with some other main dishes or sides.
How Can I Thicken The Candied Yams Glaze?
You can make the glaze of candied yams thick by adding water and cornstarch. You can add two teaspoons of cornstarch and water and keep stirring to create a thick glaze. Be sure to cook it for ten minutes for the best results.
What Meat Goes Well With Candied Yams?
If you want to add something savory, you can serve meat with your candied yams. These include chicken, ham, turkey, and much more. You can also add a fish filet or juicy steak, as it will go perfectly well with candied yams, no matter what the occasion.
Are Candied Yams With Marshmallows Good For A Thanksgiving Dinner?
Yes, candied yams with marshmallows will be an excellent addition to your Thanksgiving table. The key is to have other dishes that will go well with this. That is why we recommend adding other savory items that will enhance the flavor of the yams, such as herbed stuffing, Brussels sprouts, and, of course, turkey!
Why Are Sweet Potatoes Also Called Yams?
Sweet potatoes are likely called yams because African slaves brought to the U.S. probably noticed their similarities to the tubers grown in West Africa, called yams. After that, yams became the norm, and people started using these terms interchangeably.
Are Candied Yams Healthy For You?
While sweet potatoes and yams are rich in vitamins and low in fat, adding the sugar and butter in this recipe detracts from their health benefits. This recipe is more of a treat to enjoy in moderation.
All in all, few holiday recipes are easier to make than this one! Feel free to share your thoughts on these candied yams in the comments section. I’d love to hear what your family thought about it.
7 Comments
Hi Liz! I wonder if Doug would prefer baked sweet potatoes made into this casserole? I use butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, eggs and milk, for the filling, and a praline mixture for the topping. It’s more like a dessert than a side, but we love here in the South! Happy Thanksgiving! Blessings from Bama!
That sounds yummy to me, but Doug doesn’t even like real sweet potatoes…he’s crazy! 🙂
How many servings is this?
Hi Barbara, the sweet potato casserole serves 6-8 people, depending on the portion size.
Happy Cooking!
~Liz
This recipe is for how many people approx? I want to make for like 8 people.
Hi Mari, depending on the portion size, it can easily feed 8 people.
Happy Cooking!
~Liz
How can I makea pecan tipping for this casserole