Southern Sweet Potato Pie

Indulge in the mouthwatering and delightful classic dessert cherished for generations. This Southern Sweet Potato Pie Recipe is irresistible, featuring a velvety texture that will transport you to the sweet nostalgia of holidays past. Get ready to discover this time-tested dessert that’s simply unforgettable.

This was Grandma’s sweet potato pie recipe and has an entirely different taste than a traditional pumpkin pie. This pie is made with a creamy sweet potato filling and is my favorite. This has always been the best sweet potato pie recipe I have ever made and eaten.

Simply Southern Sweet Potato Pie is a favorite in our house. It’s made with basic ingredients and turns out perfect every time. Try it with a dollop of whipped cream for an added touch.

Sweet Potato Pie is silky, smooth, and a must for your dessert table. It is a perfect blend of sweet potatoes, evaporated milk, sugar, and vanilla. It’s a popular pie that shows up on many tables here in the south.

Why This Recipe Is Fabulous

Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie is a delicious, comforting dessert that brings nostalgia to the holiday table. It carries a sense of tradition and the warmth of cherished family tradition.

Comforting Flavor: This pie is rich and comforting and combines the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes with vanilla, creating an indulgent taste experience.

Velvety Texture: The creamy sweet potato pie filling is smooth, thanks to the butter, eggs, and evaporated milk.

Time-Tested Tradition: A family recipe and a classic Southern dessert that has stood the test of time and is a family favorite.

Seasonal Celebrations: This pie is perfect for your holiday table, especially Thanksgiving dinner, dessert, and Christmas. It’s the perfect pie for any time of the year.

Easy to Make: This sweet potato pie recipe is straightforward and is great for beginner bakers. Make it a dessert for your Thanksgiving Day.

Sweet Potato Pie usually gets overshadowed by Pecan Pie during the holiday season. Although pecan pie is quite delicious, sweet potato pie delivers a lighter and completely different taste.

You are in for a treat if you’ve never tasted sweet potato pie. This recipe belonged to my mother-in-law, who baked sweet potato pies for the holidays and all year.

A lot of different spices do not overpower her recipe. You taste sweet potato pie, and that reminds me of fall.

How Many Pies Does This Recipe Make?

This recipe makes 2 pies. Yes, more to love and to eat. Holidays are busy, and if I can bake two pies at one time, it seems to help with the menu. Of course, you can always freeze one for later if so desired. Sometimes, I do, but usually, they both end up on the dessert table with little to none left.

Choosing The Right Crusts

For this pie, I used 2 deep-dish pie crusts. My husband likes to eat the crust on all pies and desserts. The filling does not come up to the top on the deep dish crusts. Instead, it sits below the rim by about 1/2 inch or so, which is perfect for him. This allows more crust to show plus more room for the whipped topping to sit next to the crust—Win-Win.
If you want the filling to come to the top of the pie, use regular pie crust for this recipe. You will have 2 full pies—your choice.

How Does Sweet Potato Pie Taste?

This pie tastes like sweet potatoes, of course. But, if you have never tasted this pie, you are in for a treat. And, if you like sweet potatoes, you will love this homemade sweet potato pie. Spices or flavorings do not disguise the taste. It’s just pantry ingredients that bring a big bite.

Sweet potato pie has a unique and comforting flavor. It’s sweet, warm, creamy, and smooth with a hint of vanilla. The combination of flavors and textures creates a comforting dessert usually served on holidays and for family traditions—an irresistible and scrumptious sweet potato pie.

Condensed Milk vs. Evaporated Milk

We are talking about two different kinds of milk.
Condensed milk is not the same as evaporated milk. Evaporated milk is creamy and gives this pie a silky texture.
Condensed milk is a lot thicker and sweeter. If you use condensed milk, it will not turn out the same. Double-check your cans of milk before adding to this recipe.

How To Prepare Sweet Potatoes

I have made this pie using sweet potatoes prepared in two different ways. The first way–I peeled the potatoes, thickly diced them into 2-3 inch pieces, placed them into a pot of cold water, and boiled until tender. I then drained and mashed the potatoes.

The second way is to bake the potatoes in the oven. Wash potatoes, place on a baking sheet, and cook at 400 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour or until fork tender. The time depends on how big the potatoes are. Adjust the time accordingly. Once they are fork-tender, they are done. Slightly cool and peel the potatoes and mash them in a bowl.

Homemade Sweet Potato Pie Ingredients

With these simple ingredients, you can have a delicious classic southern sweet potato pie on your table in no time. This is a simple pie with a big taste. See the printable recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and amounts.

Sweet Potatoes-–  Good sweet potatoes are the star of the show. Fresh sweet potatoes bring flavor to this pie. They make this pie creamy and give it smooth, sweet potato flesh. You’ll need about 3-4 medium or 2 large sweet potatoes. Cook, peel, and mash for a creamy texture.
Butter-– Adds richness and creaminess to the pie.
Sugar-– White sugar provides the necessary sweetness for this pie. You can adjust the sweetness if so desired.
Eggs–Eggs bind all the ingredients together and provide structure and texture.
Evaporated Milk– Use evaporated milk instead of regular milk. Make sure to check the can and do not use sweetened condensed milk. Evaporated milk makes a creamy consistency to the filling.
Vanilla-– Vanilla extract enhances the sweet potatoes and compliments the flavors. Use a good brand of vanilla extract for the best Homemade Southern Sweet Potato Pie.
Pie Crusts– I used 2 deep-dish frozen pie crusts (unbaked pie crust) for this recipe. The regular pie crust will also work. Feel free to use your favorite pie crust recipe if so desired, or use store-bought pie crust for ease.

How To Make a Simple Southern Sweet Potato Pie

Baking Tip: All ovens cook differently. Start checking on your pies after 30 minutes. If it slightly jiggles in the middle (center of the pie), it’s done. If it sloshes, put it back into the oven for several more minutes.

What I Love About This Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

It’s not that sweet.
It tastes like sweet potatoes.
You use fresh sweet potatoes and not canned potatoes.
This recipe uses evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed milk.
I usually buy the pie crust, which saves me time.
It is super easy to mix and bake.

How To Know When The Sweet Potato Pie Is Done

If your pie jiggles slightly in the middle, it’s done.
If it still sloshes, put it back in the oven.
**All ovens are different; some cook faster than others, so start checking your pies at the 30-minute. My deep-dish pies took 45 minutes; however, your pies may take less.

Help! My Crust Is Browning Too Fast!

If the edges of the crust begin to brown too fast, make a pie shield to shield your crust. This is super easy to do and will save your crust from burning. Click here for how to make a pie shield.

Love sweet potatoes? Then you must try my Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes and Sweet Potato Casserole. They will not disappoint!

How To Store Baked Sweet Potato Pie

This is a perfect make-ahead dessert that can be made in advance for the big day. Making this a few days earlier will certainly help you check off your to-do list.

Allow to cool to room temperature before chilling. I like it best after it has been chilled for several hours. It will set up and slice nicely.

Cover the pie gently with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container and chill for several hours before serving. This pie should last in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Mine never seems to last that long.

I like to add a little whipped topping to the top of each slice. Marshmallow cream is also an awesome topping. You can make it from scratch or grab a jar from the pantry for an easy option.

Be sure to try my No-Bake Pumpkin Pie for another fast, easy, and delicious holiday dessert.

How To Freeze Sweet Potato Pie

Freezing sweet potato pies is a beautiful way to enjoy pie any time you like while preserving its flavor and quality. It is a great make-ahead dessert that can be served for any special occasion.

Cool the pie. Wrap the pie. Label and date, freeze.

I usually bake my pies in aluminum pie pans, especially if I am using a frozen crust. This makes it super easy to freeze the pie. Once the pie has cooled, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil—place in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let the pie thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

Transfer the frozen pie from the freezer to the refrigerator when you’re ready to enjoy it. Allow it to thaw slowly for 12-24 hours. Serve it at room temperature or warm it in an oven.

Recipe Tips

• Use fresh sweet potatoes for the best outcome. They will result in a more decadent and more flavorful pie.
• Allow the pie to cool on a wire rack.
• Mash the sweet potatoes well to ensure there are no lumps.
• Adjust the sugar to suit your preference.

Recipe Variations

• Spice It Up: Use ground cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves to add spice.
• Homemade Crusts: Make homemade crusts for these delicious pies.
• Add Other Ingredients: Add some shredded coconut to the pie for a tropical twist.
• Mini Pies: Make individual pies for a charming presentation.

FAQs

More Pie Recipes:

Pecan Pie

Lemon Pudding Pie

Lemon Icebox Pie

Chocolate Lush Pie

Easy Banana Pudding

More Sweet Potato Dishes

Candied Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potato Casserole

More Holiday Side Dishes

Roasted Turkey

Pineapple Casserole

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

If you are looking for some delicious sides for your holiday table, I’ve got you covered. 23 Southern Side Dishes for Thanksgiving will have something for everyone at the table. There are so many delicious sides that are all easy to make and delicious to eat. 

Needing a good Stuffing recipe? Check out my Sausage Stuffing with Cranberries and Apples. It was featured in Lake Martin Living Magazine.

Homemade Pie Crust Recipe