Homemade Sweet Potato Pie Recipe (2024)

Julie Clark

Posted: 7/20/2021 Updated: 11/12/2021

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This sweet potato pie recipeuses vanilla pudding for the best ever flavor and texture. Learn how to make the best homemade sweet potato pie recipe from scratch! It’s one of our best potato recipes!

Sweet potatoes were never something I craved…that is until I started baking with them. Sweet potato bread has always been a favorite of mine, but lately I’ve been craving sweet potato pie.

If you’re looking for something a little different than pumpkin pie for the Thanksgiving and holiday season, try this best Sweet Potato Pie recipe.

Is sweet potato pie a dessert or side dish?

Sweet potatoes are often thought of as “healthy”, but when you bake with them, I’m sorry to say that sweet potatoes are not that great for you. Sweet potato pie is a dessert because of the amount of sugar that goes into the recipe.

Sweet potatoes do have many health benefits though (they are a great source of Vitamins A, C and B6) so hey…if you want to eat it as a side dish, go for it!

Do you use yams or sweet potatoes for sweet potato pie?

Yams that are found in US grocery stores are a type of sweet potato. True yams are often not found around the US except in specialty markets. US yams are higher in sugar content and get very soft when they bake.

Sweet potatoes are starchier and are better for cooking and frying because they keep their shape. Yams are great to use for sweet potato pies and other baked goods. You can use either for this recipe.

How to Make Sweet Potato Pie

The first thing you need to do when making a pie is prepare the crust. We love homemade crust and you can find all of our tips on making the best pie dough. If you’d like to take a shortcut, buy an unbaked refrigerated crust. We use a 9-inch pie crust.
Fresh sweet potatoes vs. canned sweet potatoes. You can use either for this recipe. Fresh sweet potatoes (or yams) will obviously mean a pie that tastes just a little bit fresher. If you choose fresh sweet potatoes, peel the potatoes, cut them in chunks, then boil them in water until they are soft. Drain the potatoes and mash until they are creamy. For canned potatoes, be sure to drain all of the liquid off of the potatoes before you mash them.
We like to use an electric mixer to blend the sweet potatoes and sugar together. This allows the potatoes to get completely mashed so your sweet potato pie is smooth.
Vanilla pudding and sweetened condensed milk both add to the flavor of this pie. You can use sugar free pudding mix if you’d like!
How long to bake sweet potato pie? This pie will take about 40-50 minutes to bake. A knife inserted in the center of the pie should come out clean and the pie should seem mostly firm in the center.
Top with a dollop of whipped cream. You can decorate the whole pie with swirls of whipped cream if you’d like.

Recipe Variations

Love spices? Try adding a dash of freshly grated nutmeg, ginger or cloves. It will change the flavor slightly but tastes so so good!
Use dark brown sugar instead of light brown sugar if you’d like.
Need a dairy free dessert? Try using plant butter and sweetened condensed coconut milk.

Can you freeze sweet potato pie?

Yes, you can freeze sweet potato pie. It’s important to allow the pie to defrost slowly in the refrigerator or it may get wet and have moisture on top of the pie.

Another option is to make the pie crust and freeze it, then make the pie filling closer to the day you want to serve it. That will say some of the mess.

How long does sweet potato pie last in the freezer?

Sweet potatoes can be frozen for about 6-8 months. (source)

Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

4.71 from 89 votes

The vanilla pudding in this sweet potato pie recipe makes for the best ever flavor and texture. Learn how to make the best homemade sweet potato pie recipe from scratch!

Servings 8

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

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Ingredients
US Customary – Metric

2 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes
½ cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs (room temperature)
½ cup salted butter (very soft so it mixes in easily)
1 small box instant vanilla pudding (dry mix..do not add milk!)
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk (1 can)
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 unbaked pie crust

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Fill a 9" pie plate with pie crust.
In a large bowl, blend sweet potatoes and sugar with a hand mixer.
Add one egg, then beat the mixture.
Add the second egg and beat again.
Add softened butter, pudding mix, condensed milk, cinnamon and vanilla. Mix well.
Pour into the unbaked pie crust and bake for 40-50 minutes.
Allow the pie to cool on a wire rack.

Video

Notes

Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.

The calories shown are based on the pie being cut into 8 pieces, with 1 serving being 1 slice of cake. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**

Nutrition

Author Julie Clark

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Calories 459

Keyword best potato recipes, sweet potato desserts, sweet potato pie recipe

Have you tried this recipe?

Share a review below or share on Instagram with the tag #tastesoflizzyt.

Other Sweet Potato Recipes

Sweet Potato Bread
Sweet Potato Casserole
Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet Potato Puffs

Kitchen Tools Needed to Make Pie

Pastry Cutter: I use this tool all the time. It cuts butter into flour perfectly for streusels, crusts and other pastries.
Pastry Mat:This silicone mat keeps your cupboard clean and makes rolling out pastries so easy.
Cute Pie Plate: Because if you’re taking the time to make pie, serve it up in style!
Pie Crust Decorator Wheel: Makes beautiful edges to your pie!
Pastry Guide:Makes perfectly round crust, every time.

Other Pie Recipes

FAQs

Why is my sweet potato pie mushy? ›

Overmixing: Overmixing the sweet potato filling can lead to a mushy texture. When mixing, especially after adding eggs, mix and mash only enough to combine the ingredients. Overmixing can add excess air, leading to a softer texture.

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How do you keep a sweet potato pie from getting stringy? ›

Blending the sweet potato puree with the heavy cream until smooth ensures that the filling is not stringy at all!

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Does sweet potato pie raise blood sugar? ›

“Sweet potatoes are a source of carbohydrates, which raise blood sugars,” says White. “People with diabetes can eat carbs but need to watch portions of foods with carbs.” What this means: Limit portions to half a sweet potato per meal or snack.

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What's the difference between yams and sweet potato pie? ›

From a culinary perspective, the biggest difference between sweet potatoes and yams becomes more apparent when they are cooked. Yams are starchy and dry, but sweet potatoes are fluffier and the right consistency for this rich autumn tart.

Get More Info Here ›

Are yams and sweet potatoes the same thing? ›

No, yams and sweet potatoes are not the same. Yams have rough, dark brown skin that is often compared to tree bark, and their flesh is dry and starchy like a regular potato. Sweet potatoes have smooth reddish skin, softer flesh (when cooked), and a sweet flavor.

What is the tradition of sweet potato pie? ›

Sweet potato pie is a traditional dessert, originating in the Southern United States. It is often served during the American holiday season, especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas in place of pumpkin pie, which is more traditional in other regions of the United States.

Why does sweet potato pie taste like pumpkin? ›

If you were to take a bite of both sweet potato and pumpkin pies, you'll notice that there are more similarities than differences. They're both made with eggs, vanilla, and milk (either whole or condensed), and they're both seasoned with warm spices including cinnamon and nutmeg.

How do you thicken a sweet pie filling? ›

Tapioca-it's not just for pudding! This old-school ingredient may be what your great grandmother used to thicken her pies, and it's still great for making a perfect fruit pie with a clear, stable filling. Tapioca is derived from cassava (also known as yuca or manioc), a starchy root native to South America.

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How do you keep sweet potato pie crust from getting soggy? ›

Often, blind-baking solves this problem. If you're making a single crust custard-filled pie, like a pumpkin pie, bake the pie dough first before adding filling to allow some of the moisture in the crust to evaporate. You can also totally blind-bake fruit pies.

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Do you refrigerate sweet potato pie after baking? ›

Sweet potato pies usually contain milk and eggs, so they are essentially baked custard pies and should be stored in the refrigerator. Rule of thumb: If a pie contains milk, cream and/or eggs, refrigerate it. You'll also want to refrigerate pies containing evaporated or condensed milk products.

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How do you fix a runny sweet potato pie? ›

The solution for watery casseroles is instant potato mash powder or cornflour - slake (mix with a little water) at first or it will go lumpy. Stir well. Alternatively, don't add so much water at first, especially if you're using a slow cooker.

Keep Reading ›

What causes sweet potato pie to crack? ›

Overbaking: Overbaking a pie is the most common cause of cracking. Be sure to remove your pie from the oven once a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cooking Prematurely: It's important that your oven is at 350°F when you put in your pie.

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What is the main ingredient in sweet potatoes? ›

Sweet potatoes are mainly composed of carbs. Most of the carbs come from starch, followed by fiber. This root vegetable is also relatively low in protein but still an important protein source in many developing countries.