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    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    Southern Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

    November 24, 2021 by Kelly 22 Comments

    Silky smooth and perfectly spiced, this Southern Sweet Potato Pie recipe is made with simple ingredients. A delicious, Southern favorite perfect for fall and Thanksgiving!

    slices of sweet potato pies on plates with wihipped cream this recipe!

    Jump to Section

    • The BEST Sweet Potato Pie Recipe
    • Sweet Potato Pie vs. Pumpkin Pie
    • Ingredients in Sweet Potato Pie
    • How to make Sweet Potato Pie
    • DIY Pie Crust Shield
    • Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pie
    • How to Refrigerate Sweet Potato Pie
    • How to Freeze Sweet Potato Pie
    • How to Reheat Sweet Potato Pie
    • Sweet Potato Pie FAQs
    • Southern Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

    The BEST Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

    • Baking the sweet potatoes deepens and intensifies their sweet flavor
    • Browning the butter adds a rich, caramely flavor (optional, but so good!)
    • Mixing the filling in a food processor gives the pie a silky smooth, velvety texture
    • Prebaking the flaky, buttery crust keeps it crisp, never soggy
    • Perfect for holidays! Easy to make ahead of time.
    slice of sweet potato pies with wihipped cream

    Sweet Potato Pie vs. Pumpkin Pie

    Think of Sweet Potato Pie as Pumpkin Pie’s Southern cousin. While Sweet Potato Pie and Pumpkin Pie are usually made the same way – puree, eggs, sugar, evaporated milk, and warm spices – sweet potato pie has a more creamy, luscious texture and, in my opinion, a better taste.

    Imagine eating a spoonful of canned pumpkin puree and comparing it to eating a spoonful of mashed sweet potatoes. Yup. It’s easy to see why Sweet Potato Pie is superior. It tastes better.

    I prefer the texture of Sweet Potato Pie as well. It’s creamier, lighter in texture, and silky smooth, while pumpkin pie can feel damp and watery.

    slices of sweet potato pies with wihipped cream

    Ingredients in Sweet Potato Pie

    • 9-inch pie crust – Homemade or store-bought
    • Sweet Potatoes – baking the sweet potatoes deepens their sweet flavor, plus the potatoes don’t get water-logged
    • Evaporated Milk – adds more of a rich, caramelized flavor than milk or cream
    • Light brown sugar
    • Butter – for rich buttery flavor. As an optional step and for more flavor you can opt to brown the butter first
    • Eggs – binds the mixture and gives it its custard texture
    • Spices – Cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger
    • Vanilla
    ingredients in sweet potato pie

    How to make Sweet Potato Pie

    How to prepare the sweet potatoes:

    • You’ll need 2 cups of mashed sweet potatoes. The best way to cook the potatoes is to prick them with a fork, wrap them in aluminum foil, and bake for about an hour until they’re very tender.
    • You can also microwave them. Prick with a fork, then place on a dish and microwave until soft. When the middle is squeezed, it should be very soft. Smaller sweet potatoes take about 8 minutes, large sweet potatoes will take a little longer.
    • When the potatoes are tender, remove from the oven, open the foil, and let cool. Peel the skins off, mash with a fork, and measure out 2 cups. Or just measure out 480 grams and no need to mash.  

    Pie crust for sweet potato pie:

    • You can use a homemade or store-bought pie crust. Baked or unbaked. (A graham cracker crust, although not traditional, would also be delicious.)  
    • For a homemade crust, check out my all-butter, flaky pie crust with step-by-step photos.
    • Place the unbaked pie crust in the freezer while you prepare the filling, it will help to hold its shape better.
    • As an optional step, you can prebake the crust to prevent sogginess. Follow the directions in my Flaky Pie Crust post.

    Make the sweet potato filling:

    • It’s totally optional, but for more caramely flavor, you can brown the butter for more caramely flavor. It’s an added step but it only takes a few minutes. Check out how to do it here.
    • Combine the sweet potato filling ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and puree until very smooth.
    • Tap the bowl on the counter a few times and stir with a spoon to release any air bubbles trapped in the filling.
    sweet potato pie step by step photos

    Assemble and bake the pie:

    Pour the filling into the prepared crust and set on a baking sheet.

    Bake the pie for 10 minutes at 375 degrees F, then reduce the heat to 325 degrees F and continue baking until cooked through; about 50 minutes. The center should jiggle slightly when you shake it.

    Check the pie during baking. If the crust is browning too quickly, place a pie crust shield on the edges and continue baking as directed. When the pie is ready, remove, and let cool completely.

    sweet potato pie

    DIY Pie Crust Shield

    To make your own DIY pie crust shield:

    1. take a square of aluminum foil
    2. fold it into fourths
    3. cut a round shape from the bottom right corner to the upper left corner
    4. cut another round shape in the bottom left corner
    5. unfold into a ring shape
    6. fold up the outer edges
    7. place over the pie crust

    Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pie

    Since the sweet potato filling is naturally gluten free, all you need to worry about is the crust. You have several options:

    • Make the crust with gluten-free flour such as Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour or King Arthur Measure for Measure Flour
    • A pre-made gluten free crust,
    • a cookie crumb crust made with gluten-free cookie crumbs
    slices of sweet potato pies on plates with wihipped cream

    How to Refrigerate Sweet Potato Pie

    Because Sweet potato pie contains milk and eggs, it should be stored in the refrigerator. After baking your pie, let it cool completely, about 2 hours. Cover the pie with plastic wrap or aluminum foil before refrigerating for up to 3 days.

    How to Freeze Sweet Potato Pie

    Sweet potato pie can be frozen for up to three months, however, the texture may change slightly. Once the pie has cooled completely, wrap it tightly in a few layers of plastic wrap, then wrap again in aluminum foil or place in a plastic freezer bag.

    How to Reheat Sweet Potato Pie

    Thaw the pie in the refrigerator overnight. Place on a baking sheet, and warm in a 300°F oven until warmed through, about 30 minutes. Keep the crust covered so it doesn’t over brown.

    To reheat straight from the freezer, heat for about 50 minutes.

    Sweet Potato Pie FAQs

    How long does Sweet Potato Pie last?

    • Sweet Potato Pie can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

    Do I have to prebake the pie crust?

    Prebaking the pie crust is optional, but it does make for a crispier, less soggy pie crust.

    slices of sweet potato pies on plates with wihipped cream
    Print
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    slices of sweet potato pies with wihipped cream

    Southern Sweet Potato Pie Recipe


    ★★★★★

    5 from 4 reviews

    • Author: Kelly
    • Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Silky smooth and perfectly spiced, this Southern Sweet Potato Pie recipe is made with simple ingredients. A delicious, Southern dessert perfect for fall and Thanksgiving!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 9-inch pie crust (homemade or store-bought, baked or unbaked)
    • 2 cups (480g) mashed sweet potatoes (from 1 ½ lbs fresh, about 3 medium)
    • 6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, melted or browned
    • 1 cup evaporated milk (240g)
    • ¾ cup (150g) packed light brown sugar
    • 2 large eggs, room temperature
    • ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla

    Instructions

    Bake the sweet potatoes:

    1. You’ll need 2 cups of mashed sweet potatoes.
    2. Prick the sweet potatoes with a fork, wrap them in aluminum foil, and bake for about an hour until they’re very tender.
    3. When the potatoes are tender, remove from the oven, open the foil, and let cool. Peel the skins off, mash with a fork, and measure out 2 cups. Or just measure out 480 grams and no need to mash them.

    Make the sweet potato filling:

    1. Combine the sweet potato filling ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and puree until very smooth.
    2. Tap the bowl on the counter a few times and stir with a spoon to release any air bubbles trapped in the filling.

    Assemble the pie:

    1. Pour the filling into the prepared crust and set on a baking sheet.

    Bake:

    Bake the pie for 10 minutes at 375 degrees F, then reduce the heat to 325 degrees F and continue baking until cooked through; about 50 minutes. The center should jiggle slightly when you shake it.

    Check the pie during baking. If the crust is browning too quickly, place a pie crust shield on the edges and continue baking as directed. When the pie is ready, remove, and let cool completely.

    Equipment

    Image of food processor

    food processor

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    Image of pie crust shield

    pie crust shield

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    Notes

    You can also microwave the sweet potatoes. Prick with a fork, then place on a dish and microwave until soft. When the middle is squeezed, it should be very soft. Smaller sweet potatoes take about 8 minutes, large sweet potatoes will take a little longer.

    If using an unbaked pie crust, place in the freezer while you prepare the filling, it will help to hold its shape better.

    As an optional step, you can prebake the crust to prevent sogginess. Follow the directions in my Flaky Pie Crust post.

    It’s totally optional, but you can brown the butter for a richer flavor. It’s an added step but it only takes a few minutes. Check out how to do it here.

    The pie can be served warm, room temperature, or refrigerated.

    • Prep Time: 20 minutes
    • Cook Time: 2 hours
    • Category: Dessert
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: sweet potato pie, pie, holiday, thanksgiving, dessert, southern

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    1. Cookie Monster

      November 24, 2021 at 5:12 pm

      Looks good. Happy Thanksgiving

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kelly

        November 24, 2021 at 11:09 pm

        Thanks Cookie Monster!

        Reply
    2. Rowan

      November 24, 2021 at 5:23 pm

      Perfect Thanksgiving deliciousness! Printing this iconic recipe to make at home all year-round. 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kelly

        November 24, 2021 at 11:09 pm

        Thanks so much!

        Reply
    3. Robert

      November 24, 2021 at 5:26 pm

      The texture on this pie is perfect!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kelly

        November 24, 2021 at 11:09 pm

        Thanks so much, Robert!

        Reply
    4. angiesrecipes

      November 24, 2021 at 10:40 pm

      This might be the one that I can trick my husband to eat some sweet potatoes..it looks so creamy and tempting!

      Reply
      • Kelly

        December 09, 2021 at 9:35 pm

        It's wonderful! Thanks so much, Angie!

        Reply
    5. EASYFOODSMITH

      November 26, 2021 at 12:43 am

      It looks perfect and so delicious.

      Reply
      • Kelly

        December 09, 2021 at 9:35 pm

        Thanks so much, Taruna!

        Reply
    6. Balvinder

      November 27, 2021 at 10:59 am

      What s great looking pie. Love sweet potato filling!

      Reply
      • Kelly

        December 09, 2021 at 9:34 pm

        Thanks so much, Balvinder!

        Reply
    7. Ron

      November 28, 2021 at 12:24 pm

      Kelly, growing up I enjoyed sweet potato pie long before tasting pumpkin pie. But, I've not had any for years and canned pumpkin, when you can find it here, is bloody expensive. Yams are not, so I will be making this pie come Christmas for our annual (except for the last two years) American Christmas gathering. I love the idea of baking the sweet potatoes...

      Reply
      • Kelly

        December 09, 2021 at 9:34 pm

        Sweet potato pie is an excellent alternative to pumpkin pie. Hope you have a wonderful gathering this year, Ron! Thanks so much!

        Reply
    8. mjskitchen

      November 29, 2021 at 7:08 pm

      Oh my goodness! Talk about the perfect sweet potato pie. The color and texture of this pie is incredible. Would have loved this on my holiday table.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kelly

        December 09, 2021 at 9:32 pm

        It's wonderful! Thanks so much, MJ!

        Reply
    9. John / Kitchen Riffs

      December 01, 2021 at 11:16 am

      LOVE sweet potato pie -- far superior to pumpkin (and we do like pumpkin!). In fact we made our version of this for Thanksgiving. Yours looks terrific -- have to try yours! Hope you had a terrific Thanksgiving.

      Reply
      • Kelly

        December 09, 2021 at 9:31 pm

        We also love pumpkin pie, John, but we love sweet potato pie even more! Thanks so much!

        Reply
    10. David Scott Allen

      December 06, 2021 at 1:21 pm

      27 years ago, a coworker gave me her family’s recipe for sweet potato pie, and I lost it. So glad to have yours now - looks perfect!

      Reply
      • Kelly

        December 09, 2021 at 9:47 pm

        Thanks so much, David!

        Reply
    11. Debbie

      October 06, 2022 at 12:39 pm

      Can I use tart shells instead of the 9” pie plate
      How many tarts would this make and what would be the baking time for the tarts

      Reply
      • Kelly

        October 06, 2022 at 7:28 pm

        Hi Debbie, Yes you could use tart shells. I'm not sure how many it would fill. The baking time would be less. To know when they are done, the centers should jiggle slightly when you shake them.

        Reply

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    Kelly Shaban

    Hi there! So nice to meet you! Welcome to my little corner of the internet. I’m so glad you're here! I’m Kelly, a homeschooling mother of five (and a CPA in a previous life). When I’m not teaching differential equations or Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation, you’ll find me in the kitchen, whipping up something good to eat for my hungry crew. Read More About Me

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