Sweet Potato Pie Recipe: Classic Southern Dessert for Every Occasion

Sweet Potato Pie Recipe: Classic Southern Dessert for Every Occasion

Sweet potato pie is a classic southern dessert and a mainstay of African American food. It’s enjoyed year-round at bakeries, cafes, and restaurants, as well as during family get-togethers. Made with pureed sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, and spices, this classic custard pie recipe is among the simplest to prepare using sweet potatoes. Its rich flavor and vivid orange tint bring a festive touch reminiscent of the holidays, just like its close relative pumpkin pie.

Pumpkin VS Sweet potato pie

Pies made with sweet potatoes and pumpkin share many similarities, but they also differ greatly. Both are custard pies made with eggs, milk, sugar, spices, and a purée of vegetables (or fruit, in the case of pumpkin). But pumpkin pies, which are usually eaten at Christmas and Thanksgiving, are usually heavier and more intensely spiced. Conversely, sweet potato pies typically require less sugar and spice and have a sweeter, fluffier texture and flavor. Both pies are delicious, but now is the ideal time to try a sweet potato dish if you haven’t already.

Ingredients required for sweet potato Pie

• Sweet potatoes: You will need around 1-1/2 pounds of fresh sweet potatoes for this recipe, diced and skinned for ease of boiling. To get the beautiful color of the pie, use smooth sweet potatoes with reddish skin and bright orange flesh. If you can’t find fresh sweet potatoes, you can substitute canned sweet potatoes or bake them whole.
• Butter: Butter is a must-have since it improves the pie’s flavor and texture! Let it come to room temperature before blending it more smoothly into the pie filling. These are our top picks for the greatest brands of butter that are currently on the market.
• Spices: Nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla are traditional sweet potato pie spices. Cinnamon and nutmeg add just the proper amount of spiciness to lift the whole flavor, while vanilla intensifies the flavor.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar preserves the moisture content of the filling while also adding sweetness and softness. You can use either light or dark brown sugar in place of the granulated sugar for a deeper, caramelized flavor. Remember that pie will look darker if you use brown sugar.
• Evaporated milk: While recipes for sweet potato and pumpkin pie sometimes call for dairy items like heavy cream or whole milk, we suggest using evaporated milk in this recipe. Its texture is thicker and creamier as a result of the lower water content.
• Eggs:  In traditional custard pies, eggs are a necessary ingredient for joining the recipe together, and room temperature eggs help them blend in better. Eggs at room temperature mix more easily than those that are cold and thicker.
• Pie dough: A classic flaky pastry, either homemade or purchased frozen or chilled, is required for this pie. Our tried-and-true butter pie pastry recipe makes a delicious crust.

Steps to make Sweet potato pie

1. Prepare the pie crust

Set oven temperature to 425°F. Roll out your pie dough to a circle that is 1/8 inch thick on a lightly floured surface, then carefully transfer it to a 9-inch pie pan. After cutting the crust to a length of 1/2 inch above the plate’s rim, flute the edge. While you make the filling, place the plated pie dough in the refrigerator.

Tip: One eighth of an inch is roughly the same thickness as two quarters piled on top of one another when rolling out your pie crust.

2. Prepare the sweet potatoes

To make the sweet potatoes, just put them in a medium saucepan with enough water to cover them, and cook them quickly and effortlessly. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 13 to 15 minutes, or until tender.

Tip: If you want to use roasted sweet potatoes, wash and pierce two to three of the sweet potatoes using a fork. Arrange the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and bake for 45 to 50 minutes at 400º, or until they are soft. Once they’re cold enough to handle, peel the skin and scoop out the sweet potato meat into a big mixing bowl.

3. Mash the potatoes

After cooking, rinse the sweet potatoes and put them back in the pan. The optimum moment to mash them for maximum smoothness is while they’re still warm. Let the sweet potatoes cool to room temperature after mashing.

4. Make the filling

In a bowl, cream the butter and sugar with a hand or stand mixer. Add the eggs and stir thoroughly. Add two cups of mashed sweet potatoes, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg and salt. Once the ingredients are well combined, put them to the crust.

Tip: Do you have any leftover sweet potato mash? Use them for fried sweet potato pies or these little sweet potato pies, among other sweets.

5. Bake the Pie

After 15 minutes of baking, lower the oven temperature to 350°. Bake the pie for 35 to 40 minutes, or until it’s set and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Place the pie on a wire rack to cool. Garnish pie portions with whipped cream, if preferred.

Variations

Even just on its own, this sweet potato pie is incredibly gratifying. However, adding a topping can truly make this dish even better.

• Add something creamy to the top: Try some homemade whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
• Add texture: Add candied pecans or other sugar-coated nuts for a little crunch and an additional sweetness pop.

How to store sweet potato pie?

Since sweet potato pie is a custard pie, it needs to be refrigerated. Allow the pie to cool entirely for two to four hours after baking. To store the pie in the refrigerator for up to four days, loosely cover it with aluminium foil.

Can sweet potato pie be frozen?

Sweet potato pie can also be frozen, though the texture may somewhat change. Let your pie cool completely before tightly wrapping it in many layers of plastic wrap to freeze it. Next, put it in an airtight freezer-safe container or cover it with foil. The pie can then be frozen for a maximum of three months. Put the pie in the fridge for the entire night to defrost it out.

How Sweet Potato Pie Is Reheated?

Pies that are being reheated direct from the freezer should be placed on a baking sheet, any frost removed, and heated to 300° for 40 to 50 minutes. In case your frozen sweet potato pie has thawed in the fridge, transfer it to a baking sheet and bake it at 300° for around half an hour. To check if the pie has warmed through in either scenario, stick a knife tip into the center of the pie.

Tips for Sweet Potato Pie

How do you make pie crust from scratch?

To prepare a homemade pie crust, combine 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 cup all-purpose flour in a bowl; mix in 1/3 cup shortening until crumbly. Add a half-teaspoon of white vinegar and sprinkle. Add two to three tablespoons of 2% milk gradually, stirring with a fork until a ball forms. After that, cover with plastic wrap and chill for half an hour. Roll out your crust however you choose.

Is it possible to make this recipe with canned sweet potatoes?

Yes, this recipe works well with sweet potatoes. Just be careful that the sweet potatoes are completely drained before mashing. When cooking any kind of custard pie, more moisture is not your friend.

Is sweet potato pie possible to prepare ahead?

Yes, it is possible to prepare sweet potato pie in advance. It’s even better if you make the pie for a major food occasion like Thanksgiving. You can then use the oven for baking on the day of the event.