Sweet Potato Pie has a buttery crisp crust and creamy filling with nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and cinnamon. This is the perfect dessert to enjoy for Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

If you are looking for other delicious desserts to make for the upcoming holidays, make sure to also check Sweet Potato Bread, Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars, and Best Homemade Apple Pie.

Classic Sweet Potato Pie

When it comes to the Thanksgiving season, this is our favorite dessert to make. It tastes super good and smells very inviting! In addition, this is a very easy recipe to follow and is guaranteed to win you over! Once you try it, you will want to make it again and again. It’s that good!

I am very particular when it comes to meal preparation for Thanksgiving, and I always like to make plans way ahead of time. This year, instead of serving the classic Pumpkin Pie, I decided it would be nice to prepare some yummy Sweet Potato Pie to level up our celebration.

Delicious sweet potatoes make the dessert different yet still very traditional. Since it is not as common as pumpkin pie, I can make many batches to give out as gifts to family and close friends. You can do that too by following the easy instructions in our recipe!

What is Sweet Potato Pie?

This is a classic holiday dessert, usually served during Thanksgiving in the Southern part of America. It is a type of pie that has no crust on the top.

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What does Sweet Potato Pie taste like?

This dessert is very delicious! Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet, so you can expect the pie to be sweet-tasting.

If you are more familiar with pumpkin pie, imagine a sweeter version with more texture when eaten. That is because both pies basically use the same ingredients, and cooked practically the same way. 

Is Sweet Potato Pie served better hot or cold?

Personally, I prefer to eat it cold and I would often put whipped cream on top of my pie. However, some of my friends and family members like it best when it is served warm. It all depends on your preference, and therefore, there is no right or wrong way to enjoy it! 

Which is healthier Sweet Potato or Pumpkin Pie?

Sweet potatoes have much more sugar and calories than pumpkins. However, they also contain more fiber, protein, and nutrients.

Having said that, Pumpkin Pie is definitely the better option for people who are watching their calorie intake. But, hey, if you will be eating dessert on a holiday, maybe you can forget your diet for a day or two, or simply eat the dessert in moderation.

What is Sweet Potato Pie made of?

It mainly uses canned milk, sugar, and eggs. To spice up the flavor, we use nutmegs, cloves, ginger, and cinnamon.

How do you make Sweet Potato Pie?

For exact steps and recipe measures, please check the recipe box below. Also, watch the video tutorial for step-by-step instructions. 

1. Prepare the crust. Combine ingredients like salt, sugar, flour, and cold butter using a food processor. Then, add water to the dry mixture little by little to make the dough moist enough but still not sticky. Divide it into two and form two disks by flattening it. Then, make sure to cover it properly with plastic wrap before putting in the fridge for at least one to two hours.
2. Prepare the filling. First, work on the potatoes by boiling them until they become super soft. Once they are ready, peel the skin off, slice into large chunks, and put in a mixer. Next, add the rest of the ingredients into the mixer and wait until everything becomes super smooth.
3. Start baking. Meanwhile, take the dough from the fridge, lay it out nicely into a circle on a pie dish, and smooth it using your hands. Add the previously prepared filling into the crust. Then, put it in the oven to start baking at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to cool down the pie at room temperature for at least an hour before serving or putting in the fridge.

Can you use store-bought sweet potato puree?

Yes, it is possible to make the dessert with store-bought puree. However, it should be your last option. I personally recommend making the filling from scratch. By using fresh potatoes, you can control the amount of sugar and also the sweetness level of the dessert.

Recipe Variations

Most people would eat this with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, but you can actually use any of your favorite toppings like marshmallows or even meringue!

You can also make different versions of this pie by making it vegan, spiced, or gluten-free.

How to Store the Pie

Remember that you can only store the baked pie in the fridge for a maximum of 5 days. You have to loosely cover it with a plastic wrap before leaving it in the fridge.

To freeze it, make sure to double wrap it with plastic cover. Then, use aluminum foil to cover it again before finally putting it in a freezer bag. It will last for a few months.

Recipe Tips

• I find it better to bake the potatoes instead of boiling them. This is because they would usually turn out sweeter than usual!
• Also, feel free to add some orange or lemon zest into the filling as added flavor.
• If you don’t like the taste of ginger, simply remove it from the ingredients.

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5 from 10 reviews

Classic Sweet Potato Pie

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Author: Catalina Castravet Serves: 12 slices
Prep time: 1 hour Cook time: 1 hour Total time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

Crust:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1 tablespoon sugar 
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 
• 1 cup butter  (diced into 1/4" pieces)
• 6 tablespoons ice water 

Sweet Potato Filling:

• 1 lb sweet potatoes 
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter  (softened to room temperature)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar 
• 1/2 cup white sugar 
• 1/4 cup maple syrup 
• 1/2 cup heavy cream 
• 2  large eggs 
• 2  egg yolks 
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 

Egg Wash:

• 1  large egg  (beaten)
• 1 tablespoon milk 

Garnish:

•  Whipped cream 

Instructions

Pie Crust:

1. Place flour, sugar, and salt into the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times to combine.
2. Add very cold diced butter and pulse again, until the mixture looks dry and like coarse crumbs.
3. Add ice water and pulse just until moist small clumps are formed. Pause and tough the dough with your fingers, if it sticks together, you have added enough water. If it's still too dry, add more water, a teaspoon at a time. Be careful not to add too much water or the dough will be sticky.
4. Make a ball and place the dough onto a clean work surface, divide it in half, form two balls and press them into two disks. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour before using.

Filling:

1. Place sweet potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium heat and boil for 45-50 minutes, or until super soft when tested with a fork.
2. Discard the boiling water and run the potatoes under very cold water.
3. Peel off the skin and let the potatoes cool. Cut into chunks and place into a large bowl. Using a mixer, beat the potatoes on medium-high speed until smooth.
4. Add the remaining "Filling "ingredients and beat on high speed until smooth and well combined.

Assemble the Pie:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. On a floured work surface, roll out one of the disks of chilled dough, making a circle 12 inches in diameter.
3. Carefully place the dough into a 9×2 inch pie dish and tuck it in with your fingers. Trim excess dough off the edges and flute the edges.
4. Spread the filling into prepared crust. Brush the edges with egg wash.
5. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until the center is just slightly jiggly. A toothpick inserted into the center of the pie should come out *mostly* clean.
6. Place the pie on a cooling rack and allow to cool for at least 1 hour at room temperature before serving.
7. Serve with whipped cream.

Nutrition information

Calories: 453 Carbohydrates: 51 Protein: 5 Fat: 26 Saturated Fat: 9 Cholesterol: 95 Sodium: 342 Potassium: 261 Fiber: 3 Sugar: 25 Vitamin A: 6446 Vitamin C: 1 Calcium: 93 Iron: 2

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