Southern Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

on Oct 08, 2021, Updated Oct 07, 2022 445 Comments Sweet Potato Pie has been a well-loved dessert here in the South for generations and is gaining popularity in other regions now, too. I think it’s wonderful that many more people are trying – and loving – this classic southern pie! Like Sweet Potato Casserole, it is a definite family favorite!

Southern Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet Potato Pie is a delicious southern classic and one of my favorite pie recipes! It’s simple, creamy and delicious and is absolutely perfect in the fall – or anytime! This pie recipe is a family recipe passed down from my great grandmother. It’s a favorite at family suppers during the fall and has always been a part of my family’s Thanksgiving dessert table!

What Makes Sweet Potato Pie a Favorite Pie Recipe?

Easy to Make Ahead: Time is precious during the holidays or before big family meals and this is easy to make ahead of time! Made with a Few Simple Ingredients: There are only a few simple ingredients in the filling for this pie. Chances are, if you have sweet potatoes on hand, then you probably already have the other ingredients for the filling in your pantry, too! Mild, Simple Flavors: There are no spices added to this pie. The flavor comes from the creamy sweet potatoes and the buttery, flaky pie crust. My recipe is like many other traditional, old fashioned southern sweet potato pies in this way. Other recipes may use various spices, making them very similar to pumpkin pie. While I make and love pumpkin pie too, I don’t use those same spices in this pie. If you prefer, you can absolutely add ground cinnamon, ginger, and/ or ground nutmeg or even a teaspoon of my pumpkin pie spice to this recipe.

Baked Sweet Potatoes Make the Best Pie

First things first. You will want to bake sweet potatoes for the pie. Baked sweet potatoes provide a creamier texture and a deeper flavor and richness to the pie that boiled sweet potatoes just does not provide in my opinion.

How to Serve

This pie is delicious served perfectly plain, but I also love to serve this pie with a few toppings: Bake Sweet Potatoes. Once baked and slightly cooled, peel the skins off of the sweet potatoes and place them into a large mixing bowl. Make the Sweet Potato Pie Filling. Heat oven to 350º F. Mash the peeled sweet potatoes with the softened butter. Add the sugar(s) and the vanilla extract and mix until well combined and pour in the milk and eggs. Mix until the mixture is well combined. I use a simple potato masher, but you can also use an electric mixer if you prefer. Bake the Pie. Pour the pie filling mixture into unbaked pie crust. Bake until the center of the pie is just set and does not jiggle in the center when moved, about 60 minutes. Allow to cool on a wire rack. Serve. Serve slightly warm or allow to cool to room temperature and store in the refrigerator to serve later.

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Can You Make Sweet Potato Pie Ahead of Time?

Yes! You cake easily make your pie ahead of time. I think besides it tasting fabulous, this is another reason it is such a favorite pie recipe!

How to Store Sweet Potato Pie

Once baked, allow the pie to cool completely. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Can You Freeze Sweet Potato Pie?

Yes! It freezes beautifully! Allow the pie to cool completely and then store the pie in a freezer-safe container covered well with foil and freeze for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw the frozen pie in the refrigerator overnight. Then, slice and serve as normal.