Robyn Stone
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 is a delicious southern classic and one of my favorite pie recipes! It’s simple, creamy and delicious atop my flaky homemade pie crust and is absolutely perfect in the fall – or anytime! My Southern Sweet Potato Pie is a family recipe passed down from my great grandmother. It’s a favorite at family suppers during the fall and is always part of our Thanksgiving dessert table!
Southern Sweet Potato Pie
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!
What Makes It a Favorite Pie?
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 six ingredients in the filling for this pie. Chances are, if you have sweet potatoes on hand, then you probably already have the other 5 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 love pumpkin pie too and do put my own pumpkin pie spices in that recipe, I don’t use those same spices in this pie.
How to Make Sweet Potato Pie
This pie is absolutely scrumptious – yet surprisingly simple. It’s just how southern cooks from generations ago cooked. (It’s how I like to cook too.) So, if you’ve never tried sweet potato pie, or even if you have, I hope you give this a try and enjoy it with your family like mine has. Here’s how I make it.
First, let’s talk about the Sweet Potatoes. You will need them cooked for this pie.
How to Cook Sweet Potatoes
You can prepare your sweet potatoes for using in the pie by baking or boiling them. The method is really based on personal preference. I will say that I love the deep flavor from baked sweet potatoes, but use boiled sweet potatoes too.
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Preheat the oven to 425º F. Scrub the sweet potatoes until clean and place onto a baking sheet. Prick the potatoes 4 to 5 times all over and bake until the potatoes are tender, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and peel.
Boiled Sweet Potatoes
Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into 2-inch cubes. Add the sweet potatoes to a Dutch oven or large pot. Rinse the potatoes and then add enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil and boil until very tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and drain well.
Ingredients for Sweet Potato Pie:
- Sweet Potatoes – cooked
- Butter – at room temperature
- Sugar
- Vanilla
- Large Eggs – beaten
- Milk
- Two Unbaked Pie Crusts – There is NO need to pre-bake these pie crusts. While I hope you try my homemade pie crust recipe, you can also use pie crusts from the store if you wish.
First, cube the tender, cooked and peeled sweet potatoes. Make sure any extra water from cooking is drained away.
Then add the butter (at room temperature)to the cubed sweet potatoes and mash. Add the sugar and the vanilla. Mix all well.
Pour the milk into a large measuring cup and add the beaten eggs. Mix well. Then pour the milk and egg mixture into the mashed sweet potatoes. Combine until well blended.
Finally, pour the sweet potato pie filling into the prepared, unbaked pie crusts, making sure to divide equally between the two crusts.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour or until pie is set in the center. Allow to cool completely before slicing. This will make it easier to slice the pie.
Slice and Serve! Add a dollop – or two – of homemade Whipped Cream to the top of slices as you serve if you wish.
Perfect Make Ahead Dessert!
You cake easily make your pie ahead of time. Allow it to cool completely and then store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Can You Freeze Sweet Potato Pie?
Cool. Allow the pie to cool completely.
Wrap. Wrap the pie plate entirely in foil and then place into a freezer-safe zip top bag.
Freeze. Freeze for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then slice and serve as normal.
Other Fall Favorite Pie Recipes
Here’s my family’s Sweet Potato Pie Recipe. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Southern Sweet Potato Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups sweet potatoes
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3 large eggs beaten
- 1 cup milk
- 2 unbaked pie crusts
Instructions
- Peel and cube sweet potatoes. Boil until very tender. Remove from heat and drain. Add butter and mash. Add sugar and vanilla. Mix well.
- Pour milk into a measuring cup add in eggs and mix well with a fork. Pour milk and egg mixture into sweet potatoes. Combine until well-blended.
- Pour into unbaked pie crusts.
- Bake each pie at 350 degrees for about 1 hour or until set in the center.
Enjoy!
Robyn
I love sweet potato pie especially when it is made without all the pumpkin pie spices. Just good ole butter and vanilla is all it needs.
I couldn’t agree more, Marci!!! No spices needed at all.
I agree with you Marci that’s the best way so good!
I think I would love your Aunt Ellen. ; ) YUM!
You would. Her rolls are pretty amazing too.
Is that the actual picture of it Robin?
Yes, Tony. It’s an old picture from when my blog was sort of new, but it’s an actual picture of a pie I made. Hope you enjoy it! Thanks!
I am loving all this fall food! Family recipes are the best!
Tried and true family recipes are the best! I always like to pull out the old family recipes around the holidays too.
Love sweet potato pie, and love that this one is not “gussied-up” to taste like pumpkin pie!!! Simple but delicious! Giggling….naw!!!!!! Thanks Robyn
What a lovely sweet potato pie. Just saying the words makes me smile!
I’ve always wondered about sweet potato pie. Do you know I’ve NEVER made it? It looks so custardy and delicious!
I love sweet potato pie. That is something my Mom always made for the holidays. This recipe looks delicious. Blessings, Deborah
so simple and so delicious. i will always pick sweet potato pie over pumpkin pie.
Me too, Brandi!
I’ve never had sweet potato pie before… But, I absolutely adore sweet potatoes. I will definitely have to give this a try this fall.
I can’t wait to hear how you like it, Jen!
This is almost identicial to my Mom’s famous Sweet Potato Pie which I now make. They have brought $65 each at auction church!!! Never seen this recipe anywhere else. It will simply melt in your mouth. No spices in sweet potato pie for me!!!
Aren’t they best? It’s one of my favorite recipes of hers.
this is an interesting recipe …the color is so lovely
I chose this recipe because I wanted something different than the usual sweet potato pie with cinnamon and nutmeg, you know all the traditional pumpkin pie spices. I was impressed by the simple ingredients and the clever use of milk. I tried a little of the batter and really liked how creamy and perfectly balanced it tastes. My pies are baking right now and I can’t wait to share them with my family!
This recipe is too bland without the other spices. I have a Virginia cook book with a recipe similar to yours,,,
The spices enhance the flavor not trying to duplicate pumpkin pie.
Spices ruin the taste of Southern Sweet Potato pie. This is the perfect recipe.
Agree
This recipe is identical to my moms sweet potato pie ! I couldn’t wait to have a slice of this delicious pie! I make this pie now for my family mom has passed but her recipe and memories of a warm loving mother busy in her kitchen are cherished in my heart! Emily (mom) you were the best cook ever and you taught me my cooking skills so thanks mom!❤️????????
What wonderful memories, Wanda! So great you have those to treasure! Take care! xo
Just made 2 sweet potato pies they look delicious. Can’t wait for them to cool so i can enjoy !!
My favorite pie!!
Now you have me craving this pie this afternoon, Jo Ann! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
You need a little nutmeg in there to spice it up or allspice
I tried it, but halved the sugar. I also used brown sugar. Everyone loved it. The simplest recipes are the best!
Glad everyone enjoyed it Elizabeth! Thanks!
Well I love this recipe, minus all the sugar, would cut out 2 cups and just use the 3/4 cups yum Thank you
MY MOM, WAS BORN IN BESS, AL. THIS IS THE SAME RECIPE, THAT SHE WOULD USE. AND OUR FAMILY GREW UP ON THIS. SHE WOULD,EYEBALL,…SHE DIDN’T MEASURE, AND GO WITH THE TASTE. WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER WAS SCROLLING, SHE SAID, THIS LOOKS JUST LIKE GRANDMA JONES PIE! WHAT A WONDERFUL RECIPE, THAT WE HAVE IN COMMON! THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS WE, STILL USE CAN PET MILK. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
It was delicious
I made this and it was my first time ever making sweet potato pie. This recipe is great. It’s very easy and tastes amazing. I did add about 1 tsp of cinnamon to it as well as everything else and they came out great.
So glad you enjoyed it, Stephanie! Thanks!
This is how true sweet potato pie is suppose to taste. So many people think adding all the spices are the key, but you are suppose to taste just the vanilla, sugar and the sweet potatoes. This is how my mom made them. That’s true southern cooking.
Thanks so much Tempie!
I did use your recipe, and added a touch of nutmeg, cinnamon, 2 tsp of lemon extract and 2 tsp of vanilla.
Looks good
This was my Moms recipe, I get request for it all the time. The best Sweet Potato Pie ever, I will pass it along!
This recipe is nearly the same as my Husband’s Grandmother’s, she used undiluted evaporated milk. My husband thinks it’s absolutely the only way to make Sweet Potato Pie.
It is a delicious pie – I have to agree with your husband! 😉
I hope you enjoy it! Thanks Lynn! xo
Tried this for the first time, simply cos there’s no evaporated milk in it (I didn’t have any and I am NOT going it to go some). Is it supposed to be super runny when it goes in? We made it sans crust so it wasn’t a big deal and it’s cooked pretty well, just wondering?
Hi Emma,
It shouldn’t be “super” runny, but it may be a bit runny until it bakes. It sounds like it turned out as it should if it’s already cooked well. Hope you enjoyed it! Thanks!
Fantastic THE BEST
Thank you Margo! xo
It was amazing!
Great pie! Just the one I was looking for, non- spicy. Will be my go to recipe. Used Mississippi Reds potatoes my sister-in- law gave me. Good choice, small, moist, tender and sweet. Baked two for Thanksgiving 2018. Thanks!
Thanks so much! xo
This pie was delicious. My family loved it. My mother who is 90 said my pie was better than the ones she made. I cooked two for Thanksgiving, and I am making two more today
Thanks so much Glenda! Glad you enjoyed it! xo
Are the 3 cups of sweet potatoes measured when cubed or mashed?
Measure the 3 cups of the cubed sweet potatoes. Enjoy, Jennifer!
This recipe makes 2 pies with 3 cups of sweet potatoes. So for 6 pies that’s 9 cups. I can’t remember all the details of my mom and grandma recipes. They taught and never wrote down recipes. I have no girls but my son loves to cook and is cooking and writing down the recipes. I have been using yours as a help guide. Thank you for your recipes they have been delicious.
Best sweet potato pie ever. It was delicious.
Thanks Vivian! xo
Second time making this recipe
Very delicious. Hazel
Thanks Hazel! xo
Can you use canned sweet potatoes? If so how many cans
I’ve not used canned yams in this recipe, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work, Crystal!
I’ve never made sweet potato pie before, but guess who has 2 in the oven now…. I can’t wait to see how good I did. I’m dying to brag to everyone. Sweet potato is my favorite.
What kind of milk is used?
Made the pies today.. Didn’t use 3 cups of sugar.because after 1 and half cup it was really sweet so stopped..Pies was great….
I’ve looked for 15 years for a recipe that seems to be like the one my Nana made me and finally I found your recipe. I’m going to make it today!! I have a very strong feeling that it’s going to hit the nail on the head with your recipe. Thanks
I’m happy you found this recipe, Jennifer. This has been a favorite for several generations in my family. Hope you enjoy!
This is the recipe I was looking for! I don’t like my sweet potato pie with all of the spices like a pumpkin!
I would however love to use sweet condensed milk in mine. How much though?
I have never used sweetened condensed milk in this recipe, Gina.
BEST Sweet potato Pie recipe!! My son does not like pumpkin pie or Sweet Potato pie with spices in them. This recipe is so easy and tastes wonderful. I did cut back on some of the sugar (Not much). These won’t make it to the freezer for Thanksgiving. Thank You again for sharing.
Thank you, Carole. I have family members that are sensitive to some spices so I can always make this pie and everyone can eat it. I hope you can get some made and frozen for the holidays! xo
This reminds me so much of my great grandmother’s sweet potato pie. Occassionally, she would add some coconut to it. Simple, but very good!
Thanks, Melissa. Don’t you love these old family recipes!