Homemade sweet potato pie is a Southern classic and one of my favorite pies!

A flaky pie crust is filled with a rich and creamy sweet potato filling and a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Serve this delicious pie on the picnic table or the holiday table, and watch it disappear!

dish of Sweet Potato Pie with a piece on a plate

We Love Sweet Potato Pie

  • Homemade pies are the perfect way to end a holiday meal.
  • Use a pre-made pie crust or a homemade crust if time allows.
  • It uses ingredients you likely have on hand, don’t wait for Thanksgiving, this pie can be made any time of year.

Sweet Potato Pie vs. Pumpkin Pie

So, what is the difference between sweet potato pie and pumpkin pie?

These two pies are similar, calling for ingredients such as eggs, condensed or evaporated milk, and warm spices like nutmeg and cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice).

Obviously, one pie uses pumpkin puree while the other uses mashed sweet potatoes. The textures are also similar but you will likely find that this recipe has a bit more texture (using fresh sweet potatoes) and isn’t as ‘wet’.

We find sweet potato pie to have a more naturally sweet flavor than pumpkin pie relative and we prefer just cinnamon in this recipe and use pumpkin pie spice in pumpkin pie.

Sweet Potato Pie ingredients with labels

What’s in Sweet Potato Pie?

  • Sweet potatoes – Sweet potatoes are available year-round and they’ve got sweet orange flesh.
  • Dairy – Evaporated milk, butter, and sugar give this pie its signature moist and airy texture.
  • Eggs – Use fresh large eggs, these will help the pie set.
  • Spices – Traditional spices like vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon give sweet potato pie its savory flavor. Try adding a DIY pumpkin spice blend and use it all year long.
  • Pastry – This sweet potato pie filling is tucked into a single pastry crust. We prefer homemade but frozen or store bought works just fine too.

Variations – A graham cracker pie crust can be switched out for the regular crust. Make sweet potato pie REALLY stand out with a homemade topping of candied pecans or a drizzle of caramel sauce.

How to Make Sweet Potato Pie

  1. Cook and mash the sweet potatoes. Run through a potato ricer, blender, or mixer to break up the strings.
  2. Combine all the ingredients (except the crust).
  3. Pour into uncooked crust and bake (as per the recipe below). Cool before serving.

Top this sweet potato pie recipe with freshly whipped cream.

Sweet Potato Pie with whipped cream

Tips for a Great Pie

  • Cook sweet potato pie in advance, cool, and cover with plastic wrap until ready to serve. Leave at room temperature at least 60 minutes before serving.
  • To get the strings out of sweet potato pie, you can use a potato ricer (image above) or mix longer with a hand mixer (the beaters will collect some of the strings). The filling can also be blended if desired or run through a fine strainer.

Storing Leftovers

Keep leftover sweet potato pie covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Whole cooled pies and leftover pie portions can be frozen if wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for up to 6 weeks. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

plated slice of Sweet Potato Pie

Our Favorite Holiday Pies

Did you make this Sweet Potato Pie? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! 

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text
plated slice of Sweet Potato Pie
4.95 from 35 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet Potato Pie is a wonderfully rich and heavenly dessert that's a delightful addition to any dessert table, any time of the year!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Author Holly Nilsson
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Ingredients  

  • 1 ½ pounds sweet potatoes cooked and mashed, approximately 2 cups
  • cup granulated sugar
  • cup evaporated milk
  • ¼ cup butter melted
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch ground nutmeg
  • pinch of salt
  • 9 inch pie shell uncooked
  • whipped cream for topping

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350˚F
  • Run cooked sweet potatoes through a potato ricer and put through a strainer to remove the strings.
  • In a large bowl combine all ingredients (except pie shell).
  • Mix with an electric mixer until smooth. 
  • Pour into uncooked 9″ pie crust and bake for 55-60 minutes or until set.
  • Cool to room temperature before serving. Top with whipped cream.

Video

Notes

  • Use an electric mixer to thoroughly mix the pie ingredients. 
  • Cook sweet potato pie in advance, cool, and cover with plastic wrap until ready to serve. If chilled, leave at room temperature at least 60 minutes before serving.
  • To get the strings out of sweet potato pie, you can use a potato ricer or mix longer with a hand mixer (the beaters will collect some of the strings). The filling can also be blended if desired.
  • If the crust begins to brown too much, use a pie shield or cover with foil.
  • Sweet potato pie can be kept at room temperature or covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Sweet potato pie can be frozen for up to 6 weeks. Thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature before serving.
4.95 from 35 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 272 | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 183mg | Potassium: 180mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 4980IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dessert, Pie, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Sweet Potato Pie on a plate with a bite missing and a title
Sweet Potato Pie in a dish with writing
Sweet Potato Pie in a pie dish with a title
whole Sweet Potato Pie in a dish and a piece of Sweet Potato Pie on a plate with writing

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. Hi I love your recipe it was easy and I used this for Thanksgiving and anytime I love to bake. I will love to continue to use this recipe and tell them that you came with a wonderful recipe thank you so much.5 stars