Patti LaBelle's Candied Sweet Potatoes: A Soul Food Classic Recipe

I think it's no secret to many that  Patti LaBelle is a true icon. A hitmaker in the studio, the celebrated artist is one who we couldn't imagine our lives without. And, after you've tasted any number of Patti's recipes, you'll feel that you can't live without those either.

While I'm a bit biased in how I feel about Patti due to my grandmother 's love for her during my childhood, it wasn't until I recently got into making Patti's recipes that I realized just how much she would influence me now.

When I came across a delicious-looking recipe for her candied sweet potatoes , I knew it needed to be the next recipe I tried. So after grabbing the ingredients that weren't already in my kitchen , that's exactly what I did.

Get the recipe: Patti LaBelle's Candied Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients for Pattie LaBelle's Candied Sweet Potatoes

For this dish, you'll need to gather the following ingredients:

• 2 extra-large sweet potatoes

• Agave

• Honey

• Brown sugar

• Nutmeg

• Zest of a lemon

• Kosher salt

• Unsalted butter

How To Make Patti LaBelle's Candied Sweet Potatoes

Begin by preheating the oven to 375°. After cleaning, peeling and slicing both of your sweet potatoes, arrange a layer in the bottom of an 8 x 8-inch baking pan.

Evenly distribute half of the agave, honey, brown sugar , nutmeg and lemon zest over the sweet potatoes and add a pinch of salt. Repeat the process with a second layer and the remaining ingredients before distributing small butter dots across the pan.

Place in the preheated oven and bake until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, about 25 minutes.

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What I Thought of Patti LaBelle's Candied Sweet Potatoes

Patti LaBelle's candied sweet potatoes are a symphony of flavors that perfectly balance sweetness and warmth on the palate. Not only did this incredible side dish satisfy my sweet tooth, but it also captured the essence of soul food in each bite: comforting, hearty and rich in tradition and taste.

Patti's candied sweet potatoes have a timeless quality, bridging generations and bringing families together over a shared appreciation for good food. Like many of her other recipes—such as her mac and cheese , which has become one of my favorites—this recipe will be hanging around my kitchen for a long time. And now, I've come to the conclusion there's no such thing as a bad Patti recipe.

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Tips for Making Patti LaBelle's Candied Sweet Potatoes

Keep an eye on the oven.Though the recipe notes that these sweet potatoes need to bake for 25 minutes, I found myself needing to place mine back in the oven for another 10 to 15 minutes. Since every oven is different, you'll want to keep an eye on yours as they bake.

Related: How Many Sweet Potatoes Per Person? An Easy Way To Calculate

This story was originally published by Parade on Nov 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the Food & Drink section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.