Sweet Potato Chess Pie Recipe (2024)

November 1, 2016 by Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) · Updated November 3, 2023

In this Sweet Potato Chess Pie Recipe, roasted sweet potato is mixed with a deliciously rich custard and poured into a homemade pie crust and baked to perfection.

My big mama’s sweet potato pie is a highlight that truly represents our heritage. It is a recipe that has been passed down from generation to generation. It never fails to make an appearance on our holiday dessert table. It means a lot to the tradition of our holiday season. Her sweet potato pie is also quite famous. I remember seeing locals drop by her home to get a pie for their own holiday. Nothing is better than my big mama’s sweet potato chess pie, and the whole neighborhood of Winona seemed to agree.

Ingredients

Here are some of the key ingredients that will work:

• Eggs
• Butter
• Sugar
• Cornmeal
• Vinegar

Eggs are truly the stabilizer in this key. It creates the creamy custardy texture that makes this pie so delicious. Coupled with the richness of butter and sugar, you are already starting something super special!

Cornmeal and vinegar are the ingredients that really set chess pie apart. It adds grit and a uniqueness that is absolutely delicious. Finally I add roasted sweet potato along with some flavors like cinnamon and vanilla.

Tip: To roast my sweet potato, I pierce the skin then lightly oil the outsides and add to foil. I bake at a high heat of about 400 F for about an hour. When the sweet potato is completely tender, I mash it and set it aside. It should be very easy to mash at this point.

Tip: The key for these ingredients to work wonderfully is for them to be at ROOM TEMPERATURE. Trust me, I have tried to bake a chess pie with cold eggs or colder butter and the custard didn’t set.

How to Make Sweet Potato Chess Pie

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Beat butter and sugar together on high until light and fluffy (about 4-5 minutes).
• Add eggs one at a time and mix together until well incorporated.
• Next add cornmeal, flour, cinnamon, vinegar and vanilla and finally slowly add mashed sweet potatoes into batter and beat until completely smooth.
• If using my pie crust, roll one of the disks out into the pie plate then use a fork to poke holes along the sides and bottom of the pie crust. Line the pie crust with parchment paper. Fill with pie weights, making sure the weights are evenly distributed around the pie dish. Pre-bake the crust for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the parchment paper/pie weights. If you would like, you can brush some egg wash on the outside of the crust as well (just take 1 egg and whisk together with a teaspoon of water).
• Pour batter into prepared pie shell and bake for 45-50 minutes. If you find that your pie crust is browning quickly, add a pie shield or foil around the outside halfway through the bake.
• Cool for at least 4 hours and serve.

How to Serve

Sweet potato chess pie is fantastic on its own but here are a few ways you can serve it:

• Make some homemade whipped cream and serve along with it.
• You can also make a caramel sauce or even a ganache for something decadent to serve with.
• Ice cream! I love a classic vanilla ice cream or even something more fun like this sweet potato ice cream with toasted marshmallows.
• Finally you can add it to a sweet potato trifle.

How to Store

To store sweet potato chess pie, cool it to room temperature, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze the wrapped pie for up to a month. Thaw in the fridge overnight before enjoying.

Favorite Holiday Pie Recipes

• Buttermilk Pie
• Chess Pie
• Egg Pie
• The Best Sweet Potato Pie
• Sweet Potato Cobbler
• Sweet Potato Pecan Pie