Sweet Potato Pie Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Christmas

by: Nicole Price

October16,2014

3.8

4 Ratings

  • Prep time 20 minutes
  • Cook time 1 hour
  • Makes one 9-inch pie

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Author Notes

Nothing says "holidays" to me more than sweet potato pie -- pumpkin pie just can't compare. While this is technically a dessert, you will always catch my family eating it as part of our breakfast the morning after it's made (because calories don't count between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, of course). I love the pumpkin craze in the fall, but sweet potatoes are the real MVP.

For this recipe, you can either boil or roast the sweet potatoes to make the mash for the filling. If boiling, dice the sweet potatoes and boil them in a large pot of water until tender before draining and mashing. If roasting, place sweet potatoes in a 400° F oven for about an hour until tender. Then slice the sweet potatoes and scoop out the pulp from the skin. —Nicole Price

Test Kitchen Notes

WHO: Nicole Price joined the Food52 advertising team in October -- and she brought this recipe with her.
WHAT: A pie that looks like the classic pumpkin but tastes a little sweeter (and a little more potato-y).
HOW: Make your favorite pie crust and primp the edges however you’d like. Roast or boil sweet potatoes, then mash and mix them with your usual filling ingredients and a hit of lemon extract. Pour into pie shell and bake until firm.
WHY WE LOVE: This Thanksgiving, don’t limit sweet potatoes to mashes and marshmallow-covered casseroles -- they want to be turned into full-fledge desserts. This pie might pass for pumpkin, but its earthy and buttery flavor is all its own. —The Editors

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 2 cupsmashed sweet potatoes (from about 2 medium sweet potatoes)
  • 1 1/4 cupssugar
  • 1/2 cupevaporated milk
  • 6 tablespoonsbutter, softened
  • 1 teaspoonlemon extract
  • 1 tablespoonvanilla extract
  • 1 teaspooncinnamon
  • 1 teaspoonall-purpose flour
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
  2. Blend all of the ingredients except the eggs and the pie shell together with a mixer and taste for seasoning.
  3. Add eggs and mix until the filling is smooth.
  4. Spoon the filling into the unbaked pie shell.
  5. Bake for 1 hour or until firm. Let cool completely before slicing and enjoying.

Tags:

  • Pie
  • American
  • Potato
  • Vegetable
  • Sweet Potato/Yam
  • Christmas
  • Kwanzaa
  • Winter
  • Thanksgiving
  • Fall
  • Dessert

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Marques

  • Jaché

  • Nicole Lyons

  • walkie74

  • ChefJune

Popular on Food52

25 Reviews

Jonathan November 20, 2020

I made the pie using the recipe with one substitution, I switched the sugar for SPLENDA since I am type 2 diabetic. When done the top looked dry but when I tasted a slice it was sweet and moist. totally happy with the outcome and a new way to use sweet potatoes!

Cindy W. September 6, 2020

I just made 2 sweet potato pies for my 8 year old granddaughter. Her and her papa can eat 1 by themselves! I use allspice and cloves in my pie plus vanilla from beans, but I think I am going to try the lemon next time. Also my grandmother told me to stir a raw egg into mixture before baking. Love these recipes. Trying to find something new to do with potatoes for Labor Day, any suggestions? Our meats will be smoked beef brisket, baby back ribs and smoked chicken. Any new sides suggestions would be appreciated! Tired of the same ole potatoes salad and baked beans.

Marques April 12, 2020

Came out fantastic — will definitely be a go to! Used 1c of sugar to minimize sweetness, and may try next time w even less. My mom and grandmother swore by baking their potatoes (vs boiling) — more concentrated flavor.

Ronald J. April 13, 2020

Thanks for the comment. I had some left over sweet potatoes from easter dinner yesterday and was trying to decide what to do with them. Since we're all stuck at home, I figured this would be a good choice since I have all the stuff I need. Thanks!

Marques April 13, 2020

👍🏿 Enjoy!

Maria November 25, 2018

The pie was a big hit this Thanksgiving! The only tweak I did was using brown butter and it was so good! I’m going to test it out with brown sugar because I think a caramel/ toffee flavor is good with sweet potatoes.

Angela L. July 18, 2018

What is the purpose of the 1 teaspoon of flour in the sweet potato filling? Can I leave it out?

PJ B. November 22, 2020

It definitely adds a more 'servable texture.. I wondered, but did it. you won't be disappointed.

clarissa M. January 15, 2018

I added a teaspoon of nutmeg to the recipe. My mom always used nutmeg in hers. Thanks for the great recipe.

Jaché November 24, 2016

Definitely the "real MVP"! I LOVE sweet potato pie and haven't enjoyed a homemade one since my grandmother's, God rest her soul. Since I don't have her recipes I've been searching for a one and here it is. The blend of ingredients creates an amazing flavor, and with my old fashion pie crust recipe, it makes for an excellent pie! Thank you!

CeCe November 7, 2016

A delicious tip from my MIL is to use coconut extract in place of the lemon extract. Incredible difference in flavors really bring out the sweet potato!

jeni December 5, 2015

this turned out incredible! i added a little more lemon extract and a little less sugar and use a simple recipe for pie crust: flour, salt, ice water + lots of butter. i will be making this again!

thi December 10, 2014

What state should the butter be in? Room temperature, cold, or melted?

Nicole P. December 10, 2014

Cold or room temperature is fine! You can leave it out on the counter for a few minutes, but it all still whips together smoothly if the butter is still cold.

BellaRasa November 19, 2014

My husband loves sweet potato pie, so I went ahead and doubled the recipe and made two. He's already had 2 servings and told me to cover up the pie so he is not tempted for a third piece. Thanks Nicole!

Nicole P. November 20, 2014

Great to hear it was a success. My family always (at least) doubles the recipe, too -- 1 pie is never enough!

Nicole L. November 19, 2014

Ginger works well with pie as well as white and brown sugars

Nicole P. November 19, 2014

Great suggestion. I never thought to add ginger! I'll have to try that -- I pretty much love anything with ginger in it.

walkie74 November 18, 2014

Sweet potato pie using vanilla and lemon extract, just like my mom makes! YES!!! I don't suppose you've got a good turnip greens recipe up your sleeve, do you??

Nicole P. November 19, 2014

I do -- I'll have to post that recipe soon! I'm more of a collard greens girl myself, but turnip greens can easily be substituted, of course. Or some mixture of mustard, turnip, and collard greens is my other go-to.

ChefJune November 17, 2014

Welcome to Food 52, Nicole!
Sweet Potato Pie is my all-time favorite dessert. There hasn't been a time I'd turn down a slice. :) But I like my pie much less sweet. I use honey (just 1/2 cup) because I think the potatoes are pretty sweet on their own. Here's my version: https://food52.com/recipes/2089-sweet-potato-pie

Nicole P. November 17, 2014

Thanks, June -- happy to be here! I love using honey or agave in desserts, too. I'll have to try your version sometime this season :)

AntoniaJames October 16, 2014

What a great idea, using vanilla and lemon extract in this! We are so fond of sweet potato, so I plan to make one when my sons are home next; this sounds perfectly delicious. Thank you for sharing this recipe. ;o)

Nicole P. October 16, 2014

Thanks! Let me know how it goes over with your family :)

AntoniaJames October 16, 2014

Nicole, I can promise you, it's going to go over VERY well. Of course, I'll leave a comment to confirm that. In fact, I'll probably be testing this before the holidays -- not that I doubt for a moment that this is going to be spectacular, but because, well you know, you can never be too concerned about quality control (code for, "I really can't wait until the boys come home to try this!") Cheers. ;o)

Sweet Potato Pie Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

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 mix runny? ›

Incorrect Ratios: The ratio of sweet potato puree to other ingredients (such as eggs, milk, sugar, and spices) in the filling can affect the texture. If there's too much liquid or not enough binding agents (like eggs), the filling might turn out mushy.

Do you have to refrigerate 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.

Did Patti LaBelle change the sweet potato pie recipe? ›

While Patti LaBelle may have tweaked her sweet potato pie recipe a bit from the original "Norma's Black-Bottom Sweet Potato Pie" in her 1999 cookbook, her love of Crisco hasn't changed.

Why did my sweet potato pie turn green? ›

The greenish tint is actually a sign that the potatoes have been exposed to too much light—the green is our good friend chlorophyll, which is nontoxic and potentially beneficial for human health.

Why add eggs to sweet potato casserole? ›

A really good sweet potato casserole filling should be light and moist, not dense. If it's dense, then you may not have added an often overlooked ingredient—an egg. An egg adds lift, structure and volume and makes the filling more custard-like.

How do you thicken a sweet pie filling? ›

Flour as Pie Filling Thickener

Teaspoon for teaspoon, you will need to use about twice as much flour as you would cornstarch or tapioca to achieve the same thickening effects. Adding too much flour to your pie filling will turn it cloudy and pasty, with a distinctly floury taste.

What is the difference between sweet potatoes and yam pies? ›

From a culinary perspective, the biggest difference between sweet potatoes and yams becomes more apparent when they are cooked. Yams are starchy and dry, but sweet potatoes are fluffier and the right consistency for this rich autumn tart.

What tastes good in a sweet potato? ›

For a topping, stick to butter, Greek yogurt, or sour cream, or try adding a dollop of cilantro lime dressing, tzatziki, chipotle sauce, pesto, guacamole, or a drizzle of tahini sauce. If you have leftover baked sweet potatoes, save the soft flesh for another recipe.

Why do pumpkin pie and sweet potato pie taste the same? ›

If you were to take a bite of both sweet potato and pumpkin pies, you'll notice that there are more similarities than differences. They're both made with eggs, vanilla, and milk (either whole or condensed), and they're both seasoned with warm spices including cinnamon and nutmeg.

How do you keep sweet potato pie crust from getting soggy? ›

Often, blind-baking solves this problem. If you're making a single crust custard-filled pie, like a pumpkin pie, bake the pie dough first before adding filling to allow some of the moisture in the crust to evaporate. You can also totally blind-bake fruit pies.

What to do if sweet potato pie filling is too runny? ›

The solution for watery casseroles is instant potato mash powder or cornflour - slake (mix with a little water) at first or it will go lumpy. Stir well. Alternatively, don't add so much water at first, especially if you're using a slow cooker.

How do you keep a sweet potato pie from getting stringy? ›

Blending the sweet potato puree with the heavy cream until smooth ensures that the filling is not stringy at all!

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.

What is the nutritional information for Patti Labelle sweet potato pie? ›

Patti Labelle Sweet Potato Pie Single Slice (1 pie) contains 36g total carbs, 33g net carbs, 12g fat, 3g protein, and 250 calories.

Does Walmart own Patti pies? ›

Master P Breaks Down The Patti Pie Ownership W/ Walmart & Patti Labelle! Patti Pies made 200 Million and Patti owns 10%. 10 % is 20 Million no need to complain. One recipe made her 20 Million, Walmart takes on the expenses for developing & distribution & marketing.

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.

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