Holiday Yams

mygnsac
mygnsac Posts: 13,413 Member
edited November 2024 in Recipes
I love my sweet potatoes and yams baked or roasted plain, but I usually make this not-so-healthy version for the holidays. I've converted former yam-haters with this recipe:

Ingredients
  • 4 to 6 medium-sized yams
  • ½ to 1 cup dark brown sugar
  • ¼ cup butter
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 can pineapple rings (unsweetened). Drain and reserve the pineapple juice.
  • Large marshmallows (one for each pineapple ring used)
  • Optional - Halved maraschino cherries (one for each marshmallow used)

Directions
Boil the yams until fork-tender. Drain and peel the yams and place in a large mixing bowl. While the yams are still warm, add brown sugar (about ½ cup), margarine and about ½ of the reserved pineapple juice. Mash the ingredients together until the texture is smooth. Mix in additional brown sugar and/or pineapple juice to suit your taste. Stir in the chopped walnuts and pour the mixture into a baking dish. Arrange the pineapple rings over the top of the mixture and place a marshmallow in the middle of each pineapple ring. For a more festive look, place a halved maraschino cherry on top of each marshmallow. Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes (just until the marshmallows start to brown). Serves 6 to 8.

Do you have a favorite holiday yams recipe to share (healthy or otherwise)?

Replies

  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    argh, I'm at work and all my cookbooks and recipe notations are at home! I have one that has like a crumbly topping, lots of cinnamon, brown sugar, butter. You can do it healthy or unhealthy lol. If it's for home, I do it healthy, cut back the sugar, use a little coconut oil, and make the topping with oats. If I'm bringing it to a potluck or whatever, unhealthy version it is! XD I always add spices the original recipe doesn't call for like cloves, ginger, nutmeg, allspice along with the cinnamon.
  • megancascindria2021
    megancascindria2021 Posts: 1 Member
    Why would you post something so unhealthy here? Saboteur.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    I prefer the natural sweetness of yams/sweet potatoes. I cut them up, toss in oil, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper and then bake until they caramelize.
  • mygnsac
    mygnsac Posts: 13,413 Member
    gothchiq wrote: »
    argh, I'm at work and all my cookbooks and recipe notations are at home! I have one that has like a crumbly topping, lots of cinnamon, brown sugar, butter. You can do it healthy or unhealthy lol. If it's for home, I do it healthy, cut back the sugar, use a little coconut oil, and make the topping with oats. If I'm bringing it to a potluck or whatever, unhealthy version it is! XD I always add spices the original recipe doesn't call for like cloves, ginger, nutmeg, allspice along with the cinnamon.

    I'm the same way. Healthy at home, not-so-healthy away from home. With this kind of stuff I figure it's once a year, so go whole hog. It's just me and my Dad at home, so we usually go out to a restaurant for Thanksgiving. I'll be making these yams for a Thanksgiving potluck at work though.
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    We make a casserole of mashed, baked sweet potato topped with brown sugar, a load of butter, and enough toasted, chopped pecans to cover the surface. The topping becomes almost crunchy, but not quite a toffee.

    Everyone who's ever tasted it (except me) loves it.

    I don't have the recipe in front of me, either, or I'd post it.

    Personally, I find sweet potatoes cloying and only like them well salted. Butter optional.
  • mygnsac
    mygnsac Posts: 13,413 Member
    edited November 2014
    This batch turned out ugly, and I was out of marichino cherries to put on top of the marshmallows, but it's good enough for the potluck at work tomorrow. Tastes yummy.

    3fbucwgncer3.jpg
  • Kate7294
    Kate7294 Posts: 783 Member
    auddii wrote: »
    I prefer the natural sweetness of yams/sweet potatoes. I cut them up, toss in oil, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper and then bake until they caramelize.

    Yum what temperature and how long do they usually take?

    I love sweet potatoes though don't care for pineapple in mine. :) I usually make the one above with the crunchy coating of nuts, butter, flour, and brown sugar. LOL. Then add a few marshmellows to my husband's side.
  • mygnsac
    mygnsac Posts: 13,413 Member
    edited November 2014
    .



  • AniLandSmiles
    AniLandSmiles Posts: 89 Member
    Holy yams, this looks AMAZING!!!
  • mygnsac
    mygnsac Posts: 13,413 Member
    .

  • mygnsac
    mygnsac Posts: 13,413 Member
    AniLandSmiles wrote: »
    Holy yams, this looks AMAZING!!!

    They were a big hit at the office potluck this week. If it were just for me, I'd just eat plain yams or sweet potatoes, but for a crowd the ramped up version always goes over well. They are super yummy though.

  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    http://www.skinnytaste.com/2014/10/maple-roasted-butternut-squash.html

    This would work equally well with yams. I did not bother covering the squash with foil. I like a bit of roasted bits.
  • acheben
    acheben Posts: 476 Member
    Here is our family favorite yam dish for Thanksgiving and Christmas:

    Yam and Cranberry Casserole

    Ingredients:
    1 40oz can yams, drained
    1 12oz pkg fresh, whole cranberries
    1-¼ cup sugar
    ½ cup pecan halves
    ¼ cup brandy
    ¾ tsp ground cinnamon
    ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
    ⅛ tsp ground mace

    Directions:
    Combine everything but the yams and bake uncovered at 375F for 30min. Add yams and bake for another 15min.
  • mygnsac
    mygnsac Posts: 13,413 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    http://www.skinnytaste.com/2014/10/maple-roasted-butternut-squash.html

    This would work equally well with yams. I did not bother covering the squash with foil. I like a bit of roasted bits.

    Yes, please! I usually just roast my butternut squash with a little EVOO and garlic salt, but this sweeter version would be a nice change.

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