This is the Greatest Sweet Potato Pie Recipe (2024)

Sweet potato pie is a southern dish that is a favorite in many African American households. It originated in the 16th century when the Europeans introduced pumpkin pie to West Africa. It then became a traditional African cuisine, although the culture adapted it using sweet potatoes and yams that were native to Africa.

The dessert finally came to America via the slaves.

Today, sweet potato pie is commonplace at many tables on Thanksgiving Day. Some even consider it the centerpiece as opposed to the turkey.

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The dessert can be made in a variety of ways. The recipe featured here is somewhat basic, but we have also provided a link to other sweet potato pie recipes, including a Pecan Streusel Sweet Potato Pie, a Cream Cheese Sweet Potato Pie, a Gourmet Sweet Potato Pie, and more.

Although it is standard to flavor sweet potato pies with cinnamon and nutmeg, some chefs get more adventurous adding a bit of bourbon, orange juice or orange zest.

Another nice thing about sweet potato pie is that it is a fairly healthy dessert. It is lower in calories than most other desserts and features the health benefits of sweet potato, which is known for being rich in Vitamin A and beta carotene as well as Vitamin C. All of these work together to reduce the risks of cancer and heart disease.

You can also further lower the calorie content by using egg whites instead of whole eggs and sugar substitutes in lieu of sugar.

This recipe for sweet potato pie is comfort food at its best. Made with delicious sweet potatoes, butter, and spices, the heavenly aroma of old-fashioned home cooking will fill your house as this pie bakes.

It can be served plain or with a dollop of whipped cream and is a must have for aholiday meal or any time you want to serve good home cooking!

Sweet Potato Pie

Ingredients:

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1/4 cup butter, softened
2 eggs, separated
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes*
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust (recipe here)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Beat until blended then add egg yolks and beat.

3. Stir in sweet potatoes, vanilla, milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger.

4. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites. When foamy, slowly add 1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff. Fold into the sweet potato mixture.

5. Place in pie crust, bake about 40 minutes until firm. Serve with whipped cream.

*How to pick a good sweet potato: Sweet potatoes don't keep as well as white potatoes, so purchase within a week or two of needing them. Never refrigerate them raw. Look for firm, unblemished sweet potatoes with no soft spots or bruises.

Tips for Baking a Great Sweet Potato Pie

If you're going to be serving this sweet potato pie at a gathering or similar event, you'll want it to be as good as it can be. Check out these tips to help you make the perfect sweet potato pie:

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Make a “practice pie” first. By making a sweet potato pie for yourself and your family first, you'll be able to try out our recipe and learn how to make it. You'll get any mistakes out of the way on a pie that you won't be using to impress anyone. This will give you more confidence once you get to making the pie that will actually be served to those outside of your household.

Keep track of temperature. A pie that doesn't cook hot enough or that cooks too hot won't turn out right. If you follow our instructions carefully, your pie should turn out just fine. However, it doesn't hurt to check the temperature of your pie before taking it out of the oven. You'll want it to be at an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, or 91 degrees Celsius.

Don't cut corners. It can be tempting to cut corners when you're low on time or you just want to get your pie finished. We don't recommend this! Cutting corners will turn into mistakes, and mistakes make for a bad pie. Take your time and follow each step in this recipe as it's written. Once you've made the pie a couple of times, then you can start making substitutions or omissions if you want.

Don't worry too much! Worrying is a normal part of making something for someone else. However, it's important that you don't worry too much. All you can do is your best; if your sweet potato pie doesn't turn out perfect, then learn from whatever mistakes you made and go on. There's no use beating yourself up over it or feeling especially embarrassed.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©msheldrake/Shutterstock.com.

This is the Greatest Sweet Potato Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does sweet potato pie contain? ›

Made with pureed sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs and spices, this classic custard pie is one of the easiest sweet potato recipes to make. And like its cousin pumpkin pie, the flavor and bright orange color reminds you of the holidays.

How long does sweet potato pie last in the fridge? ›

Storage Tips

Sweet potato pie should be kept in the fridge, tightly covered, and can last about 5 days. Let come to room temperature prior to serving. To Freeze. Yes, sweet potato pie can be frozen!

Does sweet potato pie taste better than pumpkin pie? ›

For instance, The Great Bake states that sweet potato pie typically has a lighter filling, coarser texture and sweeter taste, whereas pumpkin pie is denser and has more spices. The Herald Mail-Media reports that raw pumpkin is usually bland, so spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg help give it flavor.

How long do you bake Patti LaBelle sweet potato pie? ›

Reduce the oven temperature to 350 F. Bake until a knife inserted in the center of the filling comes out clean, about 1½ hours. Cool completely on a wire cake rack. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve with whipped cream.

Who makes sweet potato pies for Walmart? ›

She leads a team of professionals to bring quality bakery products to over 4,500 store locations. A notable accomplishment is that Kinna is the person responsible for creating the Patti Labelle Sweet Potato Pie.

Does sweet potato pie raise blood sugar? ›

Since sweet potatoes are high in carbohydrates, they can spike blood sugar levels. Their fiber content helps to slow down this process. Orange sweet potatoes have a higher GI. This can increase your blood sugar level, compared to other sweet potato varieties.

Why is my sweet potato pie not firm? ›

There could be a few reasons why your sweet potato pie isn't firm: you may have overcooked it, the filling may not be thick enough, or you may have used too much liquid. If your recipe doesn't call for eggs, try adding two eggs to the filling mixture to see if that helps thicken it up.

Why is my sweet potato pie soggy? ›

If the bottom crust doesn't set before the filling soaks in, it's going to be gummy. A metal pie pan placed on a preheated surface will set the bottom crust quickest; once cooked, the liquids from the filling above won't soak in, and as a result: no soggy bottom.

Can I eat week old sweet potato pie? ›

Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 1 week. This sweet potato pie freezes exceptionally well in one of two ways: Freeze the entire pie. Simply bake and chill the pie, then wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and foil and freeze for up to 2 months.

Can you eat old sweet potato pie? ›

Homemade sweet potato pie follows similar guidelines, being safe to consume within 4-5 days if refrigerated and 2-3 days if left in a cooler part of the house, and can be frozen for up to 2 months. How do you tell if Sweet Potato Pie is bad? Check the pie for any pronounced changes in color, smell or texture.

Can you let sweet potato pie sit out overnight? ›

Note: Sweet potato pie can be left at room temperature up to two days without refrigeration. Can be refrigerated up to one week and remain fresh.

Who eats sweet potato pie? ›

Though creamy vegetable pie recipes date back to Medieval Europe, sweet potato pie appears in the southern United States from the early colonial days. The use of sweet potatoes in Southern and Black-American cuisine traces back to Native American cuisine.

Is eating sweet potato pie good for you? ›

While most dessert pack empty calories, this dessert is made with healthy sweet potatoes, which are high in beta-carotene and vitamin C. This simple pie recipe is great for beginner bakers and for anyone who is super busy with all the holiday festivities.

Are you supposed to eat sweet potato pie hot or cold? ›

Serve sweet potato pie chilled or at room temperature. If you like it warm, you may warm a properly chilled sweet potato pie before serving. Warm individual slices in a preheated 300 F oven for about 10 to 15 minutes, or warm a whole pie for about 25 to 30 minutes.

How do you make Patti LaBelle sweet potatoes? ›

Boil the sweet potatoes in a large stockpot until soft, about 25 minutes; drain. When cool enough to handle, peel the potatoes and transfer them to a large bowl. While the potatoes are still warm, add the butter, cream, agave, cinnamon and salt, and mash until smooth. Sprinkle with the orange zest.

How much does Patti LaBelle sweet potato pies cost? ›

If you multiply them out, Walmart has sold over 65 million pies since the product debuted — enough for everyone in America to have a nice-sized slice — even though inflation has now raised the price to a still very reasonable $3.98.

What is Elvis Presley pie? ›

Chef Paula Haney shares with Duff the bakery's recipe for the Fat Elvis Pie, which was inspired by Elvis Presley's love of peanut-butter-and-banana sandwiches. The pie includes chocolate pastry cream, peanut butter filling and slices of banana in a crust made of graham cracker crumbs, dry roasted peanuts and pretzels.

What are the ingredients in Patti LaBelle's peach cobbler? ›

Ingredients
  • 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter.
  • 2 ready-made pie crusts.
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus for dusting the work surface.
  • 3 tablespoons agave syrup.
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling.
  • 3/4 teaspoon nutmeg.
  • Four 29-ounce cans sliced peaches, drained.
  • Kosher salt.

References

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