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A classic Southern Sweet Potato Pie with buttery crust and silky filling – perfect for your holiday dessert table! 🧡
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Pin ItSouthern Sweet Potato Pie Recipe
This Southern Sweet Potato Pie recipe is the ultimate comfort dessert, perfect for holidays or any time you crave something sweet and cozy. Made with creamy mashed sweet potatoes, warm spices, and a buttery crust, it’s simple, flavorful, and always a crowd-pleaser.
Whether you’re looking for sweet potato pie ideas for Thanksgiving or just want to know how to make sweet potato pie from scratch, this recipe is an easy classic you’ll come back to again and again.
If you love traditional Southern desserts, this easy sweet potato pie recipe is one to keep in your rotation. The combination of creamy texture and aromatic spices makes it a must-have for every holiday table.
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s made with simple, pantry-friendly ingredients.
- Perfect for beginners – no fancy equipment needed.
- Rich, creamy, and full of warm spice flavor.
- This Southern sweet potato pie recipe can be made ahead for holidays or gatherings.
🛒 Ingredients & Substitutions
- pie crust – use a homemade pie crust or store-bought
- sweet potatoes – substitute with canned yams, drained and mashed
- unsalted butter – substitute with margarine if needed
- granulated sugar – use brown sugar for a richer flavor
- evaporated milk or half-and-half – substitute with whole milk for a lighter texture
- vanilla extract – no substitute recommended
- ground cinnamon and nutmeg – replace with pumpkin pie spice if preferred
- salt – enhances flavor, do not omit
- whipped cream – optional topping. Store-bought or homemade sweetened whipped cream. Spiced Whipped Cream is a fantastic topping, too!
✨ Variations
- Brown sugar twist: Substitute half the granulated sugar with brown sugar for a deeper flavor.
- Maple pie: Add 1 tablespoon of maple syrup to the filling for a rich fall touch.
- Nutty topping: Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over the pie before baking.
- Mini pies: Divide the filling among mini crusts for individual servings.
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🔥 Tips
- Bake or roast sweet potatoes instead of boiling them for a richer flavor.
- For an ultra-smooth texture, use a food processor to puree the sweet potatoes.
- Allow the pie to cool completely before slicing for clean cuts.
- This easy sweet potato pie recipe can be made a day ahead and chilled overnight.
❓ FAQs
Yes, just drain them well and mash until smooth before using.
Definitely. Freshly baked or roasted sweet potatoes give the pie a deeper, more authentic flavor.
It’s ready when a knife or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Absolutely. This Southern sweet potato pie recipe can be made 1-2 days in advance. Store it covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
No. For this easy sweet potato pie recipe, the crust bakes perfectly with the filling – no pre-baking needed.
It likely wasn’t baked long enough. Continue baking until the center is set and only slightly jiggles when moved.
Wrap the edges with foil before baking, or use a pie crust shield to protect them from over-browning.
Yes. Pour the filling into a greased pie dish and bake as directed. The result is a creamy, custard-like dessert.
Yes, since the pie contains eggs and dairy, it must be refrigerated once cooled.
🍽️ Other Recipes You May Enjoy
Sweet Potato Pie
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Equipment
- 9-inch pie plate
- mixing bowl (large)
- whisk or hand mixer
- foil (for crust edges)
Ingredients
- 1 9-inch unbaked pie crust
- 2 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes, (about 1 ½ pounds)
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, slightly beaten
- ¾ cup evaporated milk , or half-and-half
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- whipped cream, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Roll out pie crust and fit it into a 9-inch pie plate.1 9-inch unbaked pie crust
- In a large bowl, whisk together sweet potatoes, melted butter, sugar, eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until smooth.2 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes, ⅓ cup unsalted butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, ¾ cup evaporated milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Pour the filling into the unbaked pie crust.
- Wrap the edges of the crust with foil to prevent over-browning.
- Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow the pie to cool before serving. Top with whipped cream, if desired.whipped cream
Notes
🥡 STORAGE
- Store the cooled pie covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Keep loosely covered with plastic wrap or foil to prevent drying out.
♨️ REHEATING
- Warm individual slices in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds.
- To reheat the entire pie, place it in a 300°F oven for 10-15 minutes.
❄️ FREEZING
- Wrap the cooled pie tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil.
- Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
💡 TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS
- Use roasted or baked sweet potatoes for the best flavor and texture.
- For a smoother filling, puree the sweet potatoes in a food processor.
- Prevent cracks by not overbaking – the center should be just set when removed.
🍳 ALTERNATE COOKING METHODS
- Mini pies: Divide the filling into mini crusts and bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Air fryer: Bake at 320°F for about 35-40 minutes in a 7-inch pie pan (check halfway through).
♻️ LEFTOVERS
- Enjoy cold or slightly warmed with whipped cream.
- Use leftover pie as a sweet breakfast treat or crumble it into a parfait.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
