Recipe For Sweet Potato Pie

Mmm mmm! A Black folks’ sweet potato pie tastes like warm family memories, good times, and a legacy of the best holiday traditions handed down from one African American generation to another.

Whether it’s the scent of cinnamon-sugar that sings sweet notes of “Home” like Stephanie Mills or Diana Ross in The Wiz.

Or how the deliciousness of sweet potato pie reminds you of childhood good times gone by. Either way – grab a slice before it’s all gone!

This old-fashioned Black folks’ Southern dessert may be single-handedly responsible for generations of nostalgic memories – especially in the Black community.

recipe for sweet potato pie

Black Folks Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

recipe for sweet potato pie

A Black folks’ sweet potato pie recipe is a delightful Thanksgiving and Christmas dessert packed with flavorful seasonings and spices in the tradition of Black folks’ soul food cooking.

Prep: 5min

Total: 59min

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 268 kcal, Carbohydrate 50 g, Protein 6 g, Fat 5 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Trans Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 54 mg, Sodium 198 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 35 g, unSaturated Fat 2 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ pound sweet potatoes (washed and scrubbed (equals about 3 cups when softened and peeled))
  • 12 oz evaporated milk (1 can)
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 5 tablespoons butter (unsalted butter, melted (or vegan butter))
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ginger (minced)
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instruction:

  1. Grease a 9-inch pie pan and set it aside.
  2. See my recipe HERE for homemade almond flour pie crust, or you can use a store-bought pie crust, dough, or pie shell that may or may not come with its own pie pan.
  3. Pro tip: Use an Instant Pot pressure cooker to soften and peel the sweet potatoes quickly and almost effortlessly!
  4. Open the Instant Pot lid and fill the stainless-steel inner pot with water to the ½ mark.
  5. Add the scrubbed sweet potatoes to the pot of water.
  6. Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 12 minutes to loosen the potato skin.
  7. When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 12 minutes.
  8. To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
  9. Pour the water and sweet potatoes into a colander in the sink to drain the hot water from the potatoes.
  10. Once the sweet potatoes are cool to the touch, peel and discard the skin.
  11. Gather 3 cups of sweet potato flesh.
  12. Add to either the Instant Pot Ace blender or an electric mixer the sweet potato flesh, evaporated milk, brown sugar, egg, melted butter, vanilla extract, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt.
  13. Pulse or mix until the ingredients are combined and smooth.
  14. Pour the sweet potato mixture into the pie crust.
  15. Bake the sweet potato pie at 350 degrees F: in a conventional oven for 28-30 minutes, in the Instant Pot Omni Plus oven for 24-26 minutes, or until the pie is puffed and firm in the center. (Remember that cooking appliance times and oven temperatures will vary.)
  16. Allow the sweet potato pie to cool for at least 2-4 hours before garnishing or slicing.
  17. Garnish with whipped cream and cinnamon sprinkled on top.
  18. Serve this Black folks’ sweet potato pie recipe warm and enjoy!

Sweet Potato Pie

recipe for sweet potato pie

You will love this recipe for Sweet Potato Pie! The filling is sweet, creamy, and will melt in your mouth. It’s perfect for the holidays!

Prep: 35min

Total: 150min

Yield: 8

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 230 kcal, Carbohydrate 44 g, Protein 5 g, Fat 4 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Trans Fat 0.01 g, Cholesterol 56 mg, Sodium 93 mg, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 26 g, unSaturated Fat 1.4 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds whole sweet potatoes ((900g))
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar ((150g))
  • 1 cup milk (evaporated or whole (240mL))
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust*
  • whipped cream (to serve)

Instruction:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
  2. Pierce the sweet potatoes in several places with the tip of a knife and place them on the baking sheet.
  3. Bake for 1 hour or until very soft and the skin wrinkles when pressed. Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 30 minutes. Peel, discard the skins, and mash the sweet potatoes in a large bowl or puree in a food processor for a smoother filling. (Should yield about 2½ cups.)
  4. Increase the oven temperature to 400F. Position the oven rack in the bottom third. (If using a homemade crust, see notes about blind baking.)
  5. In a large mixing bowl, combine the roasted sweet potato, sugar, milk, eggs, vanilla, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk until well combined. Pour into the pie crust.
  6. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350F and continue baking for 40 minutes or until the filling is puffed and the center barely wobbles when gently shaken. Let cool completely on a wire rack. The pie can be served at room temperature or refrigerated for up to 24 hours before serving. Serve with whipped cream, if desired. Cover and refrigerate leftovers for up 5 days.

SWEET POTATO PIE

recipe for sweet potato pie

Looking for an alternative to pumpkin pie this holiday season? This Sweet Potato Pie is a super easy, tasty, must-have dessert that will have folks coming back for seconds!

Prep: 15min

Total: 70min

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 569 kcal, Carbohydrate 67 g, Protein 6 g, Fat 32 g, Saturated Fat 17 g, Trans Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 122 mg, Sodium 387 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 38 g, unSaturated Fat 12 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound sweet potatoes ((estimate about 2 large or 3 medium sized))
  • ½ cup salted butter (room temperature)
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 9- inch refrigerated pie crust

Instruction:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Poke holes all over the sweet potatoes and place them on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave for 5 minutes flipping the potatoes over halfway through.
  2. Poke a knife through the potato. If there is no resistance then they are ready. If not, place them back in the microwave in 30-second intervals until soft.
  3. Let the potatoes cool to room temperature. Remove the peel from the potatoes (they should just peel off) and place them in a large bowl. Whip them with an electric hand mixer until smooth.
  4. Add in the butter and mix until combined.
  5. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar, mix until smooth.
  6. Next add the eggs and mix until smooth.
  7. Add the heavy cream, flour, lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg, Mix until smooth and combined. Scraping the sides of the bowl if needed.
  8. Place the pie crust into a deep 9-inch pie plate and crimp the edge.
  9. Add the filling and smooth out the top. Bake for 45-50 minutes until set. It might be the slightest bit jiggly which is normal. It is ready when a butter knife inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. Or, an internal temperature reaches 175°F.
  10. Let the pie cool to room temperature before slicing to serve.

Grandma Gloria’s Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

FAQ

How to make a Paula Deen sweet potato pie?

The Absolute Best Southern Sweet Potato Pie Recipe
  1. 2 cups peeled, cooked, cubed sweet potatoes.
  2. 1 ¼ cups sugar, divided, plus a pinch.
  3. ¼ cup (½ stick) melted butter.
  4. 2 eggs.
  5. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 to 2 tablespoons bourbon.
  6. ¼ teaspoon salt.
  7. ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon.
  8. ¼ teaspoon ground ginger.

How do you thicken a sweet potato pie filling?

If the mixture is too runny add flour a tablespoon at a time to thicken it up until the mixture is almost like an applesauce consistency.

How do you make Patti Labelle sweet potato pies?

Ingredients
  1. 2 1/2 pounds orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (yams), about 5 medium, scrubbed but unpeeled.
  2. 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted.
  3. 1 cup granulated sugar.
  4. 1/2 cup evaporated milk (See Patti’s Pointers below)
  5. 2 large eggs.
  6. 1 teaspoon freshly grated or ground nutmeg.
  7. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
  8. 1/4 teaspoon salt.

How do you keep a sweet potato pie from getting soggy?

The strategy is by puling the pie before the filling is completely set that the carryover heat will bring it to a point where the custard is set (sweet potato pie is considered a custard pie). The filling will set around the edges before the center.

Why do you have to soak sweet potatoes before baking?

Soak in cold water

By soaking the wedges you draw out the starch from the potato. The starch is what causes the insides of wedges to go gloppy when they bake, and by removing the starch you increase the chances of them coming out light and fluffy in the centre.

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

Leave a Comment