Easy Sweet Potato Pie

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Easy Sweet Potato Pie is an old-fashioned southern classic. It’s a rich and flavorful custard pie recipe that is so simple to make- just like grandmas. It’s a perfect Thanksgiving Pie!

Sweet Potato pie with whipped cream in a pie pan.


 

Easy make ahead recipes are great during the holiday season. This Easy Sweet Potato Pie is one of my favorite pies to have on the Thanksgiving dessert table. My recipe was originally one that my husband’s family made, being passed down from his grandmother. It’s made with simple, easy to find ingredients like most old-fashioned southern pie recipes.
Serve Sweet Potato pie with a scoop of ice cream, a drizzle of Caramel Sauce or with a dollop of Homemade Whipped Cream.

Front view of sweet potato pie on a plate with a fork

In the past sweet potato pie has been a southern dessert but, in the past decade or so it has become so popular around the rest of the country. With sweet potatoes gaining in popularity, I can see why Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie has become the new Thanksgiving Pie. Some will say it’s better than a Classic Pumpkin Pie.

Side view of sweet. potato slice with text on image Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie, just like grandmas

Every pie starts with a pie crust. To keep this Sweet Potato Pie simple, you can use a store-bought pie crust or consider my Easy Pie Crust Recipe– Yes.. it’s very easy to make which results in a buttery and flakey crust. No shame though, I often use the deep dish Marie Callender frozen pie crust. They look pretty and save some time and dirty dishes.

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Whole view with slice missing of sweet potato pie with text on image Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie, just like grandmas

My family favorite Sweet Potato Pie uses baked sweet potatoes, not boiled. I find that baking the potatoes first results in a better pie. The baking draws the moisture from the sweet potato allowing the sugars to caramelize a bit. Less moisture= a silkier, creamier and smoother pie which I think is BEST. Plus… the sweet potatoes are much easier to peel, win-win.
For our Sweet Potato Pie filling, we use a combination of white and brown sugar. I find the combo to a perfect balance of sweetness and texture. Our filling also has a warm blend of fall spices, which are so comforting. Others omit the spices all together which baffles me.

Whole view of sweet potato pie slice with text on image Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie, just like grandmas

Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie Ingredients

One thing we noticed when we looked at old school pie recipes is that they use simple ingredients lists. Lots of fridge and pantry staples that many usually have on hand. In case you’re missing anything, here’s all you’ll need for this old-fashioned Sweet Potato Pie recipe:

Ingredients to make Old Fashioned  Sweet Potato Pie.
  • Sweet Potatoes – You’ll want to bake these up into baked sweet potatoes before starting on your Sweet Potato Pie recipe. We’ll include some quick instructions for how to make baked sweet potatoes at the start of the recipe.
  • Butter
  • Eggs
  • Sugar – Go with white granulated sugar here. You’ll be using it along with…
  • Brown Sugar – We used light brown sugar for this dessert recipe.
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg
  • Ground Cloves
  • Milk
  • Pie Crust – You want an unbaked pie crust here, since we’re baking the pie filling and crust together. If you don’t have any premade pie crusts, check our recipe for Easy Pie Crust for a quick guide on how to make pie crust from scratch with just 4 ingredients.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make Easy Sweet Potato Pie

Not only are sweet potato pie ingredients simple, but they’re also really easy recipes too usually. You’ll whip up a sweet potato pie filling, add it to your crust, and just let the oven do all the heavy lifting for you- it’s a really quick and easy recipe! For a quick guide, plus a simple way to bake sweet potatoes for pie filling, read on:

  • Before we can make our pie, we have to bake sweet potatoes. Wrap potatoes in foil and bake in a 400 degree oven for about 45 minutesuntil soft– before peeling and adding to a large mixing bowl. Use a hand or stand mixer to beat baked sweet potato until broken up.
Baked sweet potatoes in a mixing bowl with hand held mixer.
  • Add room temperature butter to the beaten potatoes and use mixer to beat until smooth.
Butter added to mashed sweet potatoes.
  • Crack eggs into the bowl and beat to combine.
Two eggs added to sweet potato mixture.
  • Follow up by adding brown and white sugars, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves. Beat to combine once again.
Sugars, spices and evaporated milk added to sweet potato custard mixture.
  • Finally, measure out milk and add to the bowl with the potato mixture. Beat in to combine and form a sweet custard pie filling.
Milk added to sweet potato custard.
  • Pour raw filling into an unbaked pie crust. Pie filling should be smooth enough, but even out top of pie with a rubber spatula if needed.
Unbaked sweet potato pie.
  • Transfer the unbaked pie to an awaiting 350 degree oven. Let bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center pulls out clean. You can serve Sweet Potato Pie warm or cold– but avoid serving hot directly from the oven.

Storage / Freezing

Storage: Don’t let that leftover sweet potato pie go to waste- store it right and keep it in the fridge! Let cool completely if still warm before wrapping with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and transferring to the fridge. Sweet Potato Pie lasts 3-4 days in the fridge- 5 if you store it really good.

Overhead of bare baked sweet potato pie.

Freezing: You can also try freezing sweet potato pie if you want to store it longer. You can prepare frozen pie with an unbaked or baked pie- in either case, wrap tightly with plastic wrap and/or foil and keep in the freezer. Keep frozen for 3-6 months, let thaw in the fridge overnight, and optionally reheat in the oven to crisp pie crust back up.

Tips for the BEST Sweet Potato Pie

  • Choose good looking sweet potatoes that are firm and speckle free.
  • Allow your baked sweet potatoes to cool before making the custard mixture.
  • Use evaporated milk, it has the lowest fat content.
  • Bake your pie until the center is just slightly jiggly.
Slice missing from sideways view of sweet potato pie.

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Easy Sweet Potato Pie

Easy Sweet Potato Pie is an old-fashioned southern classic. It’s a rich and flavorful custard pie recipe that is so simple to make- just like grandmas. It’s a perfect Thanksgiving Pie!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1 lb Sweet Potatoes, cooked
  • ½ cup Butter, room temperature
  • ½ cup Sugar
  • ½ cup Brown Sugar
  • ½ cup Milk
  • 2 large Eggs
  • 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • ½ tsp Nutmeg
  • pinch Ground Cloves
  • 1 unbaked Pie Crust

Instructions 

If your sweet potatoes are not cooked:

  • Preheat oven to 400.
  • Wrap them in foil and bake until soft (about 45 minutes)
  • Remove and allow to cool completely.
  • Remove foil and skin.

Pie

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • In a large bowl, beat sweet potatoes until broken up.
  • Add butter and beat until smooth.
  • Beat in the eggs.
  • Add in sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Beat until blended.
  • beat in the milk.
  • Pour filing into unbaked piecrust.
  • Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Notes

  • Choose good looking sweet potatoes that are firm and speckle free.
  • Allow your baked sweet potatoes to cool before making the custard mixture.
  • Use evaporated milk, it has the lowest fat content.
  • Bake your pie until the center is just slightly jiggly.

Nutrition

Calories: 377kcal, Carbohydrates: 49g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 73mg, Sodium: 235mg, Potassium: 275mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 29g, Vitamin A: 8484IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 64mg, Iron: 1mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!
Long pin collage with text on Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie, just like grandmas
Long pin collage with text on Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie, just like grandmas
Long pin collage with text on Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie, just like grandmas

About Jen Lunsford

A lover of food and frugal living. A wife to a wonderful hubby, momma to 5 fun kiddos. Welcome to my blog. You will find REAL TASTY RECIPES. Be sure to subscribe to my email list and follow me on social media, to never miss a recipe.

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2 Comments

  1. You mentioned a deep dish pie crust, is that what you used or did you use a regular pie crust? Mine will be frozen whichever it is!

    1. Hi Bev! I mentioned using the Marie Callender brand of frozen pie crust. It is called “deep dish” but, I think it is a happy medium. It’s not incredibly deep, not shallow and always looks presentable, lol. It’s a perfect shortcut when you want to keep this pie easy. I hope you try the Sweet Potato Pie and then drop back in with your rating and review (it really helps other readers). Have a great day- Jen