Homemade Sweet Potato Pie Recipe (2024)

Julie Clark

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This sweet potato pie recipeuses vanilla pudding for the best ever flavor and texture. Learn how to make the best homemade sweet potato pie recipe from scratch! It’s one of our best potato recipes!

Sweet potatoes were never something I craved…that is until I started baking with them. Sweet potato bread has always been a favorite of mine, but lately I’ve been craving sweet potato pie.

If you’re looking for something a little different than pumpkin pie for the Thanksgiving and holiday season, try this best Sweet Potato Pie recipe.

Homemade Sweet Potato Pie Recipe (2)

Is sweet potato pie a dessert or side dish?

Sweet potatoes are often thought of as “healthy”, but when you bake with them, I’m sorry to say that sweet potatoes are not that great for you. Sweet potato pie is a dessert because of the amount of sugar that goes into the recipe.

Sweet potatoes do have many health benefits though (they are a great source of Vitamins A, C and B6) so hey…if you want to eat it as a side dish, go for it!

Do you use yams or sweet potatoes for sweet potato pie?

Yams that are found in US grocery stores are a type of sweet potato. True yams are often not found around the US except in specialty markets. US yams are higher in sugar content and get very soft when they bake.

Sweet potatoes are starchier and are better for cooking and frying because they keep their shape. Yams are great to use for sweet potato pies and other baked goods. You can use either for this recipe.

How to Make Sweet Potato Pie

  • The first thing you need to do when making a pie is prepare the crust. We love homemade crust and you can find all of our tips on making the best pie dough. If you’d like to take a shortcut, buy an unbaked refrigerated crust. We use a 9-inch pie crust.
  • Fresh sweet potatoes vs. canned sweet potatoes. You can use either for this recipe. Fresh sweet potatoes (or yams) will obviously mean a pie that tastes just a little bit fresher. If you choose fresh sweet potatoes, peel the potatoes, cut them in chunks, then boil them in water until they are soft. Drain the potatoes and mash until they are creamy. For canned potatoes, be sure to drain all of the liquid off of the potatoes before you mash them.
  • We like to use an electric mixer to blend the sweet potatoes and sugar together. This allows the potatoes to get completely mashed so your sweet potato pie is smooth.
  • Vanilla pudding and sweetened condensed milk both add to the flavor of this pie. You can use sugar free pudding mix if you’d like!
  • How long to bake sweet potato pie? This pie will take about 40-50 minutes to bake. A knife inserted in the center of the pie should come out clean and the pie should seem mostly firm in the center.
  • Top with a dollop of whipped cream. You can decorate the whole pie with swirls of whipped cream if you’d like.

Recipe Variations

  • Love spices? Try adding a dash of freshly grated nutmeg, ginger or cloves. It will change the flavor slightly but tastes so so good!
  • Use dark brown sugar instead of light brown sugar if you’d like.
  • Need a dairy free dessert? Try using plant butter and sweetened condensed coconut milk.

Can you freeze sweet potato pie?

Yes, you can freeze sweet potato pie. It’s important to allow the pie to defrost slowly in the refrigerator or it may get wet and have moisture on top of the pie.

Another option is to make the pie crust and freeze it, then make the pie filling closer to the day you want to serve it. That will say some of the mess.

How long does sweet potato pie last in the freezer?

Sweet potatoes can be frozen for about 6-8 months. (source)

Homemade Sweet Potato Pie Recipe (4)

Homemade Sweet Potato Pie Recipe (5)

Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

4.71 from 89 votes

The vanilla pudding in this sweet potato pie recipe makes for the best ever flavor and texture. Learn how to make the best homemade sweet potato pie recipe from scratch!

Servings 8

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

  • 2 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
  • ½ cup salted butter (very soft so it mixes in easily)
  • 1 small box instant vanilla pudding (dry mix..do not add milk!)
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk (1 can)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 unbaked pie crust

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Fill a 9" pie plate with pie crust.

  • In a large bowl, blend sweet potatoes and sugar with a hand mixer.

  • Add one egg, then beat the mixture.

  • Add the second egg and beat again.

  • Add softened butter, pudding mix, condensed milk, cinnamon and vanilla. Mix well.

  • Pour into the unbaked pie crust and bake for 40-50 minutes.

  • Allow the pie to cool on a wire rack.

Video

Notes

Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.

The calories shown are based on the pie being cut into 8 pieces, with 1 serving being 1 slice of cake. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**

Nutrition

Calories: 459kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 291mg | Potassium: 352mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 5270IU | Vitamin C: 2.1mg | Calcium: 177mg | Iron: 1.2mg

Author Julie Clark

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Calories 459

Keyword best potato recipes, sweet potato desserts, sweet potato pie recipe

Have you tried this recipe?

Share a review below or share on Instagram with the tag #tastesoflizzyt.

Other Sweet Potato Recipes

  • Sweet Potato Bread
  • Sweet Potato Casserole
  • Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole
  • Sweet Potato Fries
  • Sweet Potato Puffs

Kitchen Tools Needed to Make Pie

  • Pastry Cutter: I use this tool all the time. It cuts butter into flour perfectly for streusels, crusts and other pastries.
  • Pastry Mat:This silicone mat keeps your cupboard clean and makes rolling out pastries so easy.
  • Cute Pie Plate: Because if you’re taking the time to make pie, serve it up in style!
  • Pie Crust Decorator Wheel: Makes beautiful edges to your pie!
  • Pastry Guide:Makes perfectly round crust, every time.

Other Pie Recipes

Homemade Sweet Potato Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does sweet potato pie contain? ›

Sweet potato pie's custard filling is made of freshly cooked sweet potatoes (no cans here!), evaporated milk, eggs, butter, and basic spices. Make-Ahead Friendly. You can make sweet potato pie a day or two in advance, making it perfect for Thanksgiving and other busy holidays.

Why didn't my sweet potato pie set? ›

Sweet potato pie boasts the same creamy texture of other custard pies. While that does begin with ingredients, how you bake that pie really affects that final product. If you over-bake it, it becomes dense and loses its satiny mouthfeel; if you under-bake it, it will never set up to slice.

How many cups of sweet potatoes are in a pound? ›

One pound raw fresh sweet potatoes = 3 cups shredded, cubed or sliced = 1 3/4 cups cooked, mashed.

Can Type 2 diabetics eat sweet potato pie? ›

Try out this exceptional sweet potato pie recipe. Not only is it diabetes-friendly, but it's downright delicious! Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). If using fresh sweet potatoes, stab with a fork several times and microwave for 4 minutes.

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.

How do you thicken a sweet pie filling? ›

When thickening a fruit pie filling, there are several options to consider. Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency.

Should homemade sweet potato pie be refrigerated? ›

Sweet potato pies usually contain milk and eggs, so they are essentially baked custard pies and should be stored in the refrigerator. Rule of thumb: If a pie contains milk, cream and/or eggs, refrigerate it. You'll also want to refrigerate pies containing evaporated or condensed milk products.

Why did my sweet potato pie turn green? ›

AVA said that sweet potatoes contain flavonoids (a type of anti-oxidant), and water-soluble pigments which may cause colour changes. "The greenish colour can be due to a natural occurrence, when the water soluble pigments in the cooked sweet potatoes are exposed to air," AVA said.

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.

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.

What is sweeter pumpkin pie or sweet potato pie? ›

Both sweet potato and pumpkin pies are American staples with a starchy custardlike filling. Pumpkin pie tends to be more heavy on spice, while sweet potato pie is typically sweeter and lighter. But the reasons why people choose one over the other often trace back to where they were raised and their race.

How many sweet potatoes do I need for 5 people? ›

Potatoes or sweet potatoes: 5 to 6 ounces per person, which equals about 1 large Yukon Gold or white potato, or half of a large sweet potato. Pie: 1 pie will feed 8 people if you've got other desserts as well.

How many people does 3 lbs of sweet potatoes feed? ›

A good rule of thumb is to trust the recipe. A sweet potato casserole recipe might call for three pounds, or about 48 ounces, of sweet potatoes. By Burgess's estimation, that should equate to 9 to 12 servings.

Can I substitute canned sweet potatoes for fresh sweet potatoes? ›

Canned or frozen sweet potatoes may be substituted for the fresh form in any recipe calling for cooked sweet potatoes as the starting point. Canned sweet potatoes are generally smaller in diameter because of their better canning qualities.

Does sweet potato pie contain dairy? ›

Sweet potato pie is a Southern favorite and commonly found on the holiday dessert table. But it most often contains milk and butter, so it is not safe for those with dairy allergies.

Is eating sweet potato pie good for you? ›

Consuming sweet potatoes in the right quantities can enhance brain function, support the immune system, and manage diabetes. This makes sweet potato pies a healthy choice to consume essential nutrients that are important for a healthy diet.

Is sweet potato pie high in carbs? ›

Sweet potato pie (1 piece - single crust - 1/8 of 9" pie) contains 45.5g total carbs, 43.4g net carbs, 14.9g fat, 6.9g protein, and 342 calories.

What is the main idea of sweet potato pie? ›

The story “Sweet Potato Pie” by Eugenia Collier has a traditional structure with non-linear elements. The story focuses on Buddy's relationship with his brother, Charley, while also showing how Buddy escaped poverty with the help of his family.

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