Southern Sweet Potato Pie Recipe (2024)

This Southern Sweet Potato Pie is an heirloom recipe loved for generations! A delicious Southern favorite made with simple ingredients and perfect for Thanksgiving!

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 lovepumpkin pietoo, 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 Make the Best Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet Potato Pie Ingredients

• Sweet Potatoes– I like to use medium sweet potatoes.
• Butter– Softened butter will mix more easily into the baked sweet potatoes when making this pie.
• Sugar– My family has traditionally used granulated sugar for this pie. If you are looking for a brown sugar version, I’ve included how to make it later in this article and in the recipe notes.
• Vanilla extract– The vanilla extract enhances the flavor of the pie. I do recommend using pure vanilla extract rather than imitation vanilla flavoring as I believe you can taste the difference in the baked pie.
• Eggs– You’ll need 2 large eggs for this pie recipe. I also like to have them at room temperature to mix into the pie filling more easily.
• Milk– Use your preference of whole milk, heavy cream, or evaporated milk in this recipe. You will not want to use a lower fat content milk.
• Unbaked Pie Crust– There is NO need to pre-bake these pie crusts. While I hope you try myhomemade pie crust recipe, you can also use your favorite 9-inch pie crusts from the store if you wish.

Step by Step Instructions

This pie is so simple to make! Here’s how I make it:

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.

How to Serve

This pie is delicious served perfectly plain, but I also love to serve this pie with a few toppings:

• Homemade Whipped Cream
• Toasted Marshmallow Fluff
• Homemade Ice Cream
• Salted Caramel Sauce

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.

Brown Sugar Sweet Potato Pie

To make this pie a brown sugar sweet potato pie, you simply have to modify the sugar used. Rather than 1 cup of granulated sugar, use instead:

• 3/4 cup brown sugar (light or dark)

Follow the rest of the recipe as given.

More Favorite Fall Pie Recipes

Pumpkin Pie

Apple Pie

Pecan Pie

Here’s the recipe for my family’s Sweet Potato Pie. I hope you love it as much as we do.

Enjoy!
Robyn