The Coziest Sweet Potato Pie Recipe for Fall Gatherings

When autumn whispers its sweet potato pie magic, culinary dreams come alive with warmth and nostalgia.

Memories of grandma’s kitchen dance through my mind, filling the air with comforting aromas.

Southern traditions blend seamlessly with each creamy, spiced slice of goodness.

Cutting through a flaky, golden crust that promises pure indulgence.

Nutmeg and cinnamon weave their enchantment, creating a dessert that feels like a tender embrace.

Rich, velvety filling promises to transport you to moments of pure comfort.

I promise this recipe will become your new seasonal obsession—so let’s bake something extraordinary together.

What’s So Great About Sweet Potato Pie

• Craft a Flaky, Buttery Crust: The pie's homemade pastry delivers a melt-in-your-mouth texture with rich, golden layers that crumble delicately with each bite.
• Master Simple Baking Techniques: This recipe teaches beginner bakers how to create a perfect pie crust using basic hand-mixing methods and classic pastry-making skills.
• Chill for Superior Results: Refrigerating the dough allows butter to solidify and gluten to relax, ensuring an incredibly tender and exceptionally flaky crust that elevates the entire pie experience.
• Quick Preparation Magic: With minimal ingredients and straightforward steps, you can prepare this pie crust in under 45 minutes, making it an ideal choice for spontaneous baking adventures or last-minute dessert needs.

Everything In Sweet Potato Pie

• All-Purpose Flour: A key foundation for the flaky pie crust, providing structure and texture.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the pie crust and balances the richness.
• Unsalted Butter: Creates a tender, flaky texture with rich, buttery flavor; cold butter works best for optimal pastry results.
• Ice Water: Helps bind the dough together without developing too much gluten, ensuring a delicate crust.

• Sweet Potatoes: The star ingredient, providing natural sweetness and smooth, creamy texture; choose orange-fleshed varieties for best color and flavor.
• Eggs: Act as a binding agent and help create a smooth, custard-like filling.
• Milk or Cream: Adds richness and helps create a silky, creamy consistency.
• Sugar: Enhances the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes.

• Ground Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger: Warm spices that complement the sweet potato's natural flavor and add depth to the pie.
• Vanilla Extract: Provides a subtle, aromatic sweetness that rounds out the flavor profile.
• Pinch of Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out the other flavors in the pie.

Steps To Make Sweet Potato Pie

Step 1: Blend Dry Ingredients

In a spacious mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. Use a pastry cutter or fingertips to work the butter into the dry ingredients. Continue until the mixture looks like rough, crumbly sand with tiny butter pieces scattered throughout.

Step 2: Form Pie Dough

Slowly drizzle ice water into the flour mixture, adding small amounts at a time. Gently mix and press the ingredients together until a soft, cohesive dough forms. Be careful not to overwork the dough, as this can make the crust tough.

Step 3: Chill Dough

Shape the dough into a smooth, flat disk. Wrap the disk completely in plastic wrap, ensuring no air pockets remain. Place the wrapped dough in the refrigerator and let it rest for at least 30 minutes. Chilling helps the butter solidify and creates a flakier crust when baked.

Tips For Perfect Sweet Potato Pie

• Chill the Dough Thoroughly: Refrigerate the pie crust for a minimum of 30 minutes to prevent shrinkage and ensure a flaky, tender texture during baking.
• Master the Butter Technique: Use cold butter and cut it into the flour carefully, creating small, pea-sized crumbs that guarantee a light and crispy crust.
• Control Water Addition: Add ice water sparingly, just until the dough barely holds together, preventing a tough or overly wet pastry.
• Handle Dough Gently: Minimize handling when mixing to keep the butter cold and maintain the delicate structure of the pie crust.
• Opt for Precise Measurements: Use exact measurements for flour, salt, and butter to achieve consistent, perfect pie crust results every time.

Storing And Reheating Sweet Potato Pie

• Refrigerate: Store leftover sweet potato pie in an airtight container or tightly wrapped with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Freeze: Wrap the entire pie or individual slices in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 2 months to preserve its delicious flavor and texture.
• Reheat Oven Method: Warm refrigerated pie slices at 350°F for 10-15 minutes, covering loosely with foil to prevent over-browning and maintain moisture.
• Room Temperature: Let frozen pie thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving, ensuring the best taste and consistency for your delightful dessert.

What To Serve With Sweet Potato Pie

• Pair with Spiced Bourbon Cocktail: A smooth, warming bourbon mixed with cinnamon and nutmeg perfectly complements the sweet potato pie's rich, creamy texture and warm spices.
• Serve with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: A scoop of cold, smooth vanilla bean ice cream creates a delightful temperature contrast against the warm, velvety pie, enhancing its sweet and comforting flavors.
• Match with Aged Whiskey: A glass of aged whiskey with subtle caramel and oak notes brings out the pie's earthy sweet potato essence and buttery crust, creating a harmonious taste experience.
• Accompany with Whipped Cream and Pecans: A dollop of freshly whipped cream sprinkled with toasted pecans adds a luxurious, crunchy texture that elevates the pie's creamy filling and provides a delightful sensory balance.

Fun Variations Of Sweet Potato Pie

• Gluten-Free Comfort: Swap regular flour with almond or coconut flour for a delectable gluten-free crust that's rich and tender.
• Herb-Infused Crust: Sprinkle dried thyme or rosemary into the flour mixture to add a subtle aromatic touch that complements the sweet potato filling.
• Spiced Whole Wheat Version: Replace half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour and add a pinch of cinnamon for a more robust, nutty flavor profile.
• Vegan Butter Alternative: Use cold coconut oil or plant-based margarine instead of butter to create a completely dairy-free pie crust that's just as flaky and delicious.

Sweet Potato Pie Questions Answered

• What makes the pie crust flaky and tender?

The key is using cold butter and handling the dough minimally. When you cut the butter into the flour, you create small butter pockets that melt during baking, creating those delicious flaky layers.

• Can I make the pie crust ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prepare the dough and refrigerate it up to 2 days in advance. This actually helps the gluten relax and makes the crust more tender when baked.

• I'm new to making pie crust. What if my dough feels too dry or crumbly?

Add ice water very gradually, just one tablespoon at a time. The goal is to have the dough just come together without becoming too wet. If it’s still crumbly, add a tiny bit more water, but be careful not to overwork the dough.

• Why do I need to refrigerate the dough before rolling it out?

Chilling allows the butter to firm up and the gluten to relax, which prevents shrinking during baking and helps maintain the crust’s structure. It’s a crucial step for achieving a perfect pie crust.

Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

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4.7 from 30 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Southern comfort meets culinary magic in this irresistible Sweet Potato Pie, blending creamy golden filling with a buttery crust that whispers holiday traditions. Fragrant spices and silky sweet potato create a dessert you’ll savor with pure Southern charm and warm hospitality.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Sweet Potato Ingredients:

• 2 cups (450 g) mashed sweet potatoes
• 2 large eggs

Sweeteners:

• ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
• ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar, packed

Pie Crust Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ cups (155 g) all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, chilled and diced

Additional Ingredients:

• ½ cup (120 ml) evaporated milk (or heavy cream)
• ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger (optional)
• 34 tablespoons ice water

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Instructions

1. Combine flour and salt in a spacious mixing vessel, ensuring even distribution of dry ingredients.
2. Incorporate cold butter into the flour mixture, using fingertips or a pastry cutter to create a textured, crumbly consistency reminiscent of coarse breadcrumbs.
3. Carefully introduce ice-cold water, adding small amounts while gently folding the dough until it begins to form a cohesive mass.
4. Gently shape the fragile dough into a smooth, compact disk, taking care not to overwork the delicate mixture.
5. Encase the dough completely in plastic wrap, sealing out any potential air pockets.
6. Allow the wrapped dough to rest and chill in the refrigerator, giving the gluten time to relax and the butter to firm up, typically for a minimum of half an hour.

Notes

• Chilling the dough helps prevent shrinkage and creates a flakier, more tender crust that melts in your mouth.
• Handle the dough minimally to keep the butter cold and maintain those beautiful, delicate layers that make pie crust irresistible.
• For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free blend, ensuring the same delicate texture and rich buttery flavor.
• Add a pinch of sugar to the crust for a subtle sweetness that complements the sweet potato filling perfectly, creating a more complex and balanced taste profile.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Mixing
• Cuisine: Southern American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 380
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 220 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 44 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg