Sweet potato pie is my favorite cozy dessert this season. It’s nostalgic, buttery, warmly spiced, silky, and sweet-but-not-too-sweet. Let me show you how to make this dessert.
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Sweet Potato Pie Recipe
Sweet potato pie is a classic Southern dessert with a creamy custard filling. It’s made from mashed sweet potatoes, butter, sugar, eggs, milk, and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
I love baking the sweet potatoes instead of boiling them because roasting concentrates their natural sweetness and keeps the filling lush, not watery. Once blended smooth and poured into a flaky crust, the pie bakes until it’s set at the edges with a gentle jiggle in the center.
Sweet potato pie is all about texture and balance: silky filling, tender crumb, and just enough spice to highlight the earthiness of the potatoes. This pie can be served slightly warm or fully chilled. You can top it with toppings like whipped cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce without losing its character.
The pie can also be enjoyed with classic dessert pairings, such as vanilla ice cream, cinnamon whipped cream, a dusting of powdered sugar, or a spoonful of marshmallow fluff for a playful finish.
This sweet potato pie pairs well with hot coffee, chai latte, or espresso. For evening gatherings, try dessert wines like Moscato or a small pour of bourbon, which complements the caramel notes.
At holiday tables, you can serve the pie alongside pecan pie, apple pie, or chess pie for a Southern-style dessert spread. It also complements savory mains like roast turkey or glazed ham and cozy sides such as collard greens and cornbread when served as the finale.
Here’s how to make the sweet potato pie:
Sweet Potato Pie
Nutrition
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes about 1 ½ pounds
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup evaporated milk
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 1 pre-made pie crust or homemade if you prefer
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Wash the sweet potatoes thoroughly and prick them with a fork. Bake them on a baking sheet for about 45 minutes, or until tender (you can test by inserting a fork into the center).
- Let them cool slightly before peeling off the skin and mashing them until smooth.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the mashed sweet potatoes, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Stir until well combined.
- Add the eggs, vanilla extract, evaporated milk, and whole milk to the mixture. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Pour the sweet potato mixture into the pre-made pie crust and spread it out evenly.
- Bake the pie in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the filling is set and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the pie to cool before slicing and serving.
Notes
- For a smoother texture, you can blend the sweet potato filling using a hand blender or food processor.
- If you prefer a sweeter pie, adjust the sugar to your taste.
- Substitute the evaporated milk with coconut milk or almond milk and use a dairy-free pie crust for a dairy-free version.
SIMILAR RECIPES:
Variations
Here are some popular variations of this sweet potato pie:
- Brown Sugar and Buttermilk Pie includes dark brown sugar for deeper molasses notes and buttermilk for a subtle tang and extra tenderness.
- Maple-Pecan Topped Pie adds a maple syrup, sweetened pecan layer or crumble on top for crunch and a caramelized finish.
- Gingerbread-Spiced Version incorporates ginger, cloves, and allspice for a holiday-forward flavor with a gentle warmth.
- Citrus-Kissed Pie folds in orange zest or a splash of lemon extract to brighten the filling and balance sweetness.
- Coconut Cream Sweet Potato Pie mixes in coconut milk and shredded coconut for a tropical, ultra-silky twist.
- Bourbon Vanilla Pie stirs in a tablespoon of bourbon and extra vanilla for depth, pairing beautifully with whipped cream.
- Marshmallow-Topped Pie finishes with a marshmallow layer or toasted mini marshmallows for a nostalgic sweet finish.
- Gluten-Free Pie uses an almond flour or oat-based crust while keeping the filling naturally gluten-free.
- Dairy-Free Pie swaps butter for vegan butter and milk for coconut or oat milk for a creamy, custard-like texture.