Homemade Sweet Potato Pie Recipe (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

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

Print RecipeSave Recipe

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

Is it better to boil or bake sweet potatoes for pie? ›

As others have said, baking preserves more flavor and the flesh doesn't absorb water that would make the custard more runny. Like David Wilcox says, baking the sweet potato produces a deeper flavor. I find that baking them brings out a sweeter flavor as well.

Learn More Now ›

Why do you soak sweet potatoes before baking? ›

The cold water bath helps rinse the starch off the sweet potatoes so they're a bit more crispy.

Read The Full Story ›

Does sweet potato pie raise blood sugar? ›

Since sweet potatoes are high in carbohydrates, they can spike blood sugar levels. Their fiber content helps to slow down this process. Orange sweet potatoes have a higher GI. This can increase your blood sugar level, compared to other sweet potato varieties.

Learn More ›

What is the difference between sweet potatoes and yam pies? ›

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.

Know More ›

What is Elvis Presley pie? ›

Chef Paula Haney shares with Duff the bakery's recipe for the Fat Elvis Pie, which was inspired by Elvis Presley's love of peanut-butter-and-banana sandwiches. The pie includes chocolate pastry cream, peanut butter filling and slices of banana in a crust made of graham cracker crumbs, dry roasted peanuts and pretzels.

Read On ›

Why is my sweet potato pie dry? ›

Under-cooked or under-mashed sweet potatoes: Make sure you properly cook and mash your sweet potatoes. Roast them until they are soft and easily mashed. If they are undercooked or not mashed thoroughly, it can result in a dry pie.

Read The Full Story ›

What is sweeter pumpkin pie or sweet potato pie? ›

Both sweet potato and pumpkin pies are American staples with a starchy custardlike filling. Pumpkin pie tends to be more heavy on spice, while sweet potato pie is typically sweeter and lighter. But the reasons why people choose one over the other often trace back to where they were raised and their race.

Discover More Details ›

Why is my sweet potato pie not firm? ›

There could be a few reasons why your sweet potato pie isn't firm: you may have overcooked it, the filling may not be thick enough, or you may have used too much liquid. If your recipe doesn't call for eggs, try adding two eggs to the filling mixture to see if that helps thicken it up.

Tell Me More ›

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.

Discover More ›

Should I peel sweet potatoes before boiling? ›

There is not much difference between boiling sweet potatoes with the skins on versus peeling them, but you will get a boost of fiber and potassium if you keep the skin on. The skin also adds a subtle texture to each bite. If you're looking for a smoother mash, peel the potatoes first before boiling.

Show Me More ›

What does sweet potato contain? ›

Sweet potatoes are a good source of fiber, potassium, vitamins, and other essential nutrients. There are various possible health benefits of sweet potatoes, such as improving digestion and reducing inflammation. Some people use the terms “sweet potato” and “yam” interchangeably. However, they are not related.

Keep Reading ›

Is sweet potato pie good for you or bad for you? ›

Consuming sweet potatoes in the right quantities can enhance brain function, support the immune system, and manage diabetes. This makes sweet potato pies a healthy choice to consume essential nutrients that are important for a healthy diet.

Explore More ›

What are some fun facts about sweet potato pie? ›

Did you know: Sweet Potato Pie was a favourite of Henry VIII of England, believing it was an aphrodisiac[1]. The sweet potato neither a potato nor a yam. It is commonly thought to be a type of potato but belongs to the morning glory family, not the nightshade family.