Homemade Southern Sweet Potato Pie Recipe: Grandma’s Secret

Southern kitchens buzz with magic when a classic sweet potato pie lands on the counter.

This beloved dessert carries generations of culinary tradition in its smooth, silky filling.

Warm spices dance through each creamy bite of the southern sweet potato pie recipe, promising a taste of pure comfort.

Rich, velvety sweet potatoes create a luscious base that melts effortlessly on your tongue.

Buttery pie crust cradles the golden-orange filling, providing the perfect crisp contrast to the tender interior.

Memories of grandma’s kitchen and Sunday gatherings swirl with every forkful of this soulful southern classic.

One slice transports you to a world of pure, nostalgic bliss that will leave everyone asking for seconds.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 2 hours

Calories: 350 kcal

Servings: 9

Ingredients for Southern Sweet Potato Pie

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and tender base for the pie's foundation, choose unbleached flour for best texture.
• Cinnamon, Nutmeg: Warm spices that add subtle depth and aromatic complexity to the crust.
• White Sugar: Helps with browning and adds a gentle sweetness to the crust.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness.
• Salted Butter: Creates flaky, rich texture and adds rich buttery flavor, use cold for best results.
• Ice Cold Water: Helps bind ingredients and ensures a tender, flaky crust.

• Sweet Potato: Creamy, nutrient-dense base that provides natural sweetness and vibrant orange color.
• Salted Butter: Browned butter adds deep, nutty complexity to the filling.
• Brown Sugar, White Sugar: Layered sweetness with caramel undertones from brown sugar.
• Cinnamon, Ground Ginger, Ground Nutmeg, Ground Cloves: Warm spice blend that creates classic Southern pie flavor profile.
• Evaporated Milk: Adds richness and creamy texture without making filling too heavy.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances and rounds out the sweet potato's natural flavor.
• Kosher Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies other flavors.
• All-Purpose Flour: Helps thicken and stabilize the filling.
• Eggs: Provide structure, richness, and help bind the filling together.

• Egg Whites: Create light, airy topping with beautiful volume.

Tools to Bake a Sweet Potato Pie

• Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer: Perfect for whipping meringue to glossy perfection.
• Food Processor or Large Bowl: Essential for mixing pie crust ingredients quickly and evenly.
• Pie Pan: Crucial for shaping and baking your delicious sweet potato pie.
• Rolling Pin: Helps roll out pie dough smoothly and evenly.
• Baking Weights or Dried Beans: Keeps pie crust flat during initial baking.
• Sieve or Strainer: Optional tool for removing sweet potato fibers.
• Mixing Bowls: Needed for combining sweet potato filling and other ingredients.
• Whisk: Great for blending filling ingredients thoroughly.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures precise ingredient quantities.
• Pastry Brush: Useful for egg wash or butter application.
• Kitchen Torch (optional): Adds beautiful golden color to meringue topping.

Sweet Potato Pie Baking Guide

• Crust Foundation

Craft a buttery base that whispers southern comfort using flour, a sprinkle of warm spices, and chilled butter. The secret lies in creating delicate, flaky layers that melt in your mouth.

• Sweet Potato Magic

Transform humble sweet potatoes into a velvety smooth filling bursting with caramel-like sweetness. Boil and mash the potatoes until they’re tender and dreamy, infusing them with rich spices that dance on your palate.

• Flavor Symphony

Blend the mashed sweet potatoes with fragrant eggs and a touch of vanilla, creating a luscious mixture that promises pure indulgence. The filling should feel like a warm hug from a southern grandmother.

• Baking Ritual

Nestle your delicate crust into a pie pan and lovingly pour the sweet potato mixture. Slide into a warm oven where golden edges and a silky center will emerge, telling a story of comfort and tradition.

• Final Flourish

Let the pie cool completely, allowing flavors to harmonize. If feeling adventurous, crown your creation with a cloud-like meringue topping that adds a playful, elegant finish to this southern treasure.

Enhancements for Sweet Potato Pie

• Sweet Potato Pie Perfection: Cooking Tips & Variations
• Butter Browning Magic: Elevate flavor by carefully browning butter before mixing with sweet potatoes, creating a nutty, rich undertone that transforms the entire pie's taste profile.
• Make-Ahead Mastery: Prepare the pie crust and sweet potato filling a day in advance, storing separately in the refrigerator to streamline your baking process and intensify flavors.
• Texture Tweaks: For an ultra-smooth filling, press the mashed sweet potatoes through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any stubborn fibers, ensuring a silky-smooth consistency that melts in your mouth.
• Spice Adventure: Experiment with alternative spice blends like adding a pinch of cardamom, ginger, or replacing some cinnamon with pumpkin pie spice to create your unique flavor signature that keeps guests guessing.
• Topping Creativity: Replace traditional meringue with a dollop of bourbon-spiked whipped cream or a sprinkle of candied pecans for an unexpected twist that transforms this classic Southern dessert into a show-stopping finale.

Southern Pie Serving Suggestions

• Sweet Potato Pie Paradise: Serving Suggestions
• Cozy Family Dessert Night: Serve warm slices with vanilla bean ice cream, creating a delightful contrast between cool creaminess and spiced pie warmth.
• Southern Brunch Delight: Pair with strong coffee or chicory brew, garnishing each slice with a sprinkle of candied pecans for extra crunch and southern charm.
• Holiday Celebration Platter: Arrange pie slices on a rustic wooden board with dollops of fresh whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, and whole nutmeg for an elegant presentation that captures festive spirit.
• Comfort Mood Companion: Top with a light dusting of powdered sugar and serve alongside a steaming mug of spiced apple cider, perfect for chilly autumn evenings.

How to Plan Meals with Sweet Potato Pie

• Slice and Serve Strategy: Cut pie when completely cooled to prevent crumbly edges. Use a sharp knife dipped in hot water for clean, smooth slices that showcase beautiful layers.
• Fridge Fresh Technique: Store covered in plastic wrap or sealed container up to 4 days. Keep refrigerated to maintain creamy texture and prevent bacterial growth.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare pie crust and filling one day before baking. Refrigerate components separately to maintain freshness and crisp pastry texture.
• Freezer-Friendly Method: Wrap fully baked pie tightly in aluminum foil and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before serving for best taste and consistency.

Decadent Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

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4.8 from 21 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours
• Yield: 9 1x

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Description

Southern cooks treasure this sweet potato pie as a cherished family classic with creamy, spiced filling nestled in a buttery crust. Rich flavors and comforting warmth invite you to savor each delectable slice of traditional Southern comfort.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 cups (680 grams) mashed sweet potato (about 3 large sweet potatoes)
• 3 large eggs
• ½ cup (113 grams) salted butter, browned
• 1 cup brown sugar
• ⅓ cup evaporated milk
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup white sugar
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• 2 tbsps white sugar
• ¼ tsp kosher salt
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (113 grams) salted butter, cut into chunks
• ¼ cup ice cold water
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 3 egg whites
• ¼ tsp cream of tartar, or lemon juice
• 6 tbsps brown sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of kosher salt

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Instructions

1. Pastry Preparation: Pulse flour, spices, sugar, and salt in a food processor until uniformly combined, creating a fragrant dry mixture.
2. Butter Integration: Cut chilled butter into the dry ingredients, mixing until the texture resembles coarse sand, ensuring even distribution of fat.
3. Dough Formation: Drizzle ice water into the mixture, gently kneading until a cohesive dough develops. Shape into a compact disk, wrap in plastic, and chill for one hour to relax gluten and solidify butter.
4. Sweet Potato Transformation: Boil sweet potato halves until fork-tender, then puree until silky smooth. Fold in caramelized butter, sweeteners, warm spices, and evaporated milk, straining if desired for ultimate refinement.
5. Filling Enrichment: Incorporate vanilla, flour, and eggs into the cooled sweet potato mixture, whisking until perfectly harmonized and luxuriously creamy.
6. Crust Deployment: Roll out chilled dough and delicately drape into a pie dish. Freeze briefly, then blind bake with ceramic weights at high heat until edges turn golden and crisp.
7. Pie Assembly: Reduce oven temperature and pour sweet potato filling into the pre-baked crust. Bake until the filling sets with a gentle wobble, indicating perfect custard-like consistency.
8. Meringue Crowning: Whip egg whites with cream of tartar, gradually adding sugar and vanilla until glossy peaks form. Pipe or spread meringue atop the cooled pie, optionally caramelizing with a culinary torch for a dramatic, burnished finish.

Notes

• Chill Butter Strategically: Freeze butter for 15 minutes before cutting into small pieces to ensure the flakiest, most tender pie crust texture.
• Sweet Potato Perfection: Select firm, uniform sweet potatoes without blemishes for consistent, smooth puree and best flavor profile.
• Moisture Management: Pat sweet potatoes completely dry after boiling to prevent excess liquid that could compromise the filling’s stability.
• Meringue Mastery: Ensure egg whites are room temperature and use a clean, grease-free bowl for maximum volume and stable peaks when whipping.

• Prep Time: 1 hour
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Southern American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 30 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 45 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg