Silky Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

Soul-Warming Sweet Potato Pie Recipe: A Homemade Joy

Creamy, velvety sweet potato pie delights taste buds with its rich, autumnal charm.

Southern kitchens buzz with excitement when this classic sweet potato pie recipe emerges from warm ovens.

Silky smooth filling nestles into a perfectly golden crust, promising pure comfort in every bite.

Generations have cherished this beloved dessert, passing down secrets from grandmothers to eager bakers.

Warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg dance through the custard-like filling, creating an irresistible aroma.

Each slice promises a perfect balance of sweetness and warmth that will make your gathering memorable.

Dive into this delectable tradition and watch as smiles light up around the table.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours

Calories: 312 kcal

Servings: 7

Sweet Potato Pie Ingredients Guide

For Pie Crust:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Creates a tender, flaky base that provides the perfect foundation for your sweet potato pie.
  • Salt: Enhances the overall flavor and helps balance the sweetness of the pie.
  • Unsalted Butter: Delivers rich, buttery taste and helps create those coveted flaky layers in the crust.
  • Ice Water: Binds the ingredients together while keeping the dough cold for maximum flakiness.
For Binding and Moisture:
  • Ice Water: Helps create a smooth, cohesive dough without warming the butter.
For Preparation:
  • Plastic Wrap: Protects the dough from drying out and helps it rest in the refrigerator.

Tools You’ll Need To Bake Sweet Potato Pie

  • Large mixing bowl: Perfect for combining dry ingredients and creating your pie crust.
  • Pastry cutter or fingers: Essential for cutting butter into flour and creating those delicious flaky crumbs.
  • Plastic wrap: Helps rest and chill the dough for maximum texture.
  • Rolling pin: Needed to roll out the pie crust smoothly and evenly.
  • 9-inch pie dish: Ideal for shaping and baking your sweet potato pie.
  • Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient proportions.
  • Sharp knife: Useful for trimming excess pie crust edges.

How To Prepare Sweet Potato Pie Smoothly

  • Pie Crust Foundation

Crafting the perfect base starts with blending flour and salt, creating a soft, crumbly texture. Gently work butter into the dry ingredients using fingertips or a pastry tool until the mixture looks like sandy pebbles.

  • Dough Transformation

Slowly introduce ice water, dropping tiny amounts while softly mixing. The dough will gradually transform into a cohesive, smooth ball that feels slightly tacky but not sticky. Handle with tender care to keep the texture light and flaky.

  • Chilling Rest

Shape the dough into a smooth disk, lovingly wrap it in plastic, and tuck it into the refrigerator. Let it relax and firm up for at least half an hour, allowing the butter to solidify and gluten to settle, which ensures a wonderfully tender crust when baked.

Flavorful Changes To Try In Sweet Potato Pie

  • Flaky Crust Secret: Use cold butter and handle the dough minimally to ensure a tender, melt-in-your-mouth pie crust that's light and crisp.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the pie dough up to 3 days in advance and store in the refrigerator, or freeze for up to a month to save time during busy holiday seasons.
  • Gluten-Free Option: Swap traditional flour with a gluten-free all-purpose blend, adding a touch of xanthan gum to help bind the dough and maintain its structure.
  • Vegan Twist: Replace butter with cold coconut oil or vegan butter substitute, using the same cutting technique to create a rich, flaky pastry that suits plant-based diets.
  • Flavor Boost: Sprinkle a pinch of ground cinnamon or nutmeg into the flour mixture for an extra layer of warmth and complexity in your pie crust.

Serving Sweet Potato Pie With Charm

  • Rustic Pie Plate Presentation: Serve the sweet potato pie on a vintage ceramic plate with delicate scalloped edges to highlight its homemade charm and rustic appeal.
  • Cozy Autumn Garnish: Top the pie with a light dusting of ground cinnamon and a dollop of freshly whipped cream, creating a warm and inviting seasonal touch that complements the pie's rich flavors.
  • Elegant Slice Styling: Cut precise triangular slices and place them on individual dessert plates, garnishing with a small mint leaf or a sprinkle of toasted pecans for added texture and visual interest.
  • Warming Side Companion: Pair the sweet potato pie with a steaming mug of spiced apple cider or a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream to enhance the dessert's comforting and indulgent qualities.

How To Store Sweet Potato Pie Perfectly

  • Chilling Strategy: Rest the pie dough in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes to help gluten relax and butter solidify, ensuring a flakier crust.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the pie dough up to 3 days before baking and store tightly wrapped in the refrigerator, saving you precious time during meal preparation.
  • Freezer-Friendly Technique: Wrap the unbaked pie dough disc in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 2 months – perfect for spontaneous baking moments.
  • Smart Storage Solution: Once baked, cover the sweet potato pie loosely with aluminum foil and refrigerate for 3-4 days, maintaining its delicious flavor and texture.
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Silky Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

Silky Sweet Potato Pie Recipe


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 15 reviews

  • Total Time: 2 hours
  • Yield: 7 1x

Description

Grandma’s classic sweet potato pie recipe delivers a heartwarming Southern dessert with rich, creamy filling and buttery crust. Spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, this pie offers a delightful finale to holiday meals that will satisfy you completely.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups (450 g) mashed sweet potatoes
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar, packed
  • 1 ¼ cups (155 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, chilled and diced
  • ½ cup (120 ml) evaporated milk (or heavy cream)
  • ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger (optional)
  • 34 tbsps ice water

Instructions

  1. Dough Preparation: Blend flour and salt in a large mixing bowl, ensuring uniform distribution of dry ingredients.
  2. Butter Integration: Work cold butter into the flour mixture using fingertips or pastry cutter until the texture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
  3. Moisture Addition: Gradually introduce ice-cold water, folding gently until the dough forms a cohesive ball without overworking.
  4. Dough Shaping: Form the dough into a smooth disk, wrap tightly in plastic film, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow gluten relaxation and butter solidification.
  5. Crust Rolling: Remove chilled dough from refrigerator and roll out on a lightly floured surface to fit a 9-inch pie dish, trimming excess edges and creating decorative crimping around the perimeter.
  6. Filling Preparation: Mash sweet potatoes until smooth, then blend with eggs, cream, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until thoroughly combined and silky.
  7. Pie Assembly: Pour sweet potato mixture into prepared pie crust, ensuring even distribution and smooth surface.
  8. Baking Process: Place pie in a preheated oven at 375°F, baking for 45-50 minutes until the filling is set and the crust turns golden brown.
  9. Cooling and Serving: Remove pie from oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack for at least 2 hours, enabling the filling to set properly before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • Chill Butter Thoroughly: Keep butter extremely cold and cut into small cubes before mixing to ensure a flaky, tender pie crust with perfect texture.
  • Handle Dough Minimally: Work with pastry dough quickly and gently to prevent gluten development, which can make the crust tough and chewy.
  • Rest Dough Completely: Let the wrapped dough sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow ingredients to hydrate and butter to solidify, creating a more manageable and flakier crust.
  • Control Moisture Carefully: Add ice water sparingly and just until the dough comes together, preventing a sticky or overly wet pastry that can compromise the final texture.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Mixing
  • Cuisine: Southern American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 7
  • Calories: 312
  • Sugar: 23 g
  • Sodium: 188 mg
  • Fat: 17 g
  • Saturated Fat: 10 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 39 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 63 mg
Liam O’Sullivan

Liam O’Sullivan

Founder & Culinary Content Creator

Expertise

Recipe Development​, Traditional Irish and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education​

Education

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology

  • Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development.​

Ballymaloe Cookery School

  • Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
  • Focus: Intensive, hands-on experience emphasizing farm-to-table cooking and sustainable practices.​

Isabella brings a global spark to the Craft Meats table. Born in Florence and trained at the Apicius International School of Hospitality, she blends classic Italian flavor with modern writing that’s easy to follow and hard to forget. 

Her additional training at the Italian Chef Academy fueled her love for well-crafted dishes, especially ones that spotlight beautiful cuts of meat.

She’s a food writer with heart, and a deep love for storytelling through single recipes. Her goal? To help you cook with more confidence and a little more joy, no matter where you start.

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