Easy Sweet Potato Pie

This Easy Sweet Potato Pie is a simple to prepare, homemade version of a classic southern treat. It's sweet, creamy, and full of flavor. Make this recipe soon, you won't be disappointed!

This recipe can be made with a store-bought pie crust or you can choose to make your own Homemade Buttery Pie Crust. Also if you love the flavors of sweet potato pie, then you should try making a Sweet Potato Casserole or Sweet Potato Pound Cake.  

To me, nothing says that it's Thanksgiving Day better than a good ole sweet potato pie.

For years, I was intimidated to even give this pie a try. Each year I would ask my mom to make this treat for me so that I could enjoy it. To me, it is the perfect dessert to end a very filling holiday meal. A few years ago I decided to spend some time in the kitchen to watch my mom make these pies and I was floored to see how easy they are to make. The hardest part about preparing these pies is the prep required for the sweet potatoes.

The recipe begins by picking out four large sweet potatoes. Next, you need to clean, peel, and cut the sweet potatoes into large chunks. Lastly, you have to boil them until they are fork-tender and drain off all the water to add them to the recipe. That is all you need to do to prepare the sweet potatoes.

Place the potatoes along with all of the other pie ingredients into a stand mixer bowl or food processor and mix until smooth before adding to the pie shell to bake. That is it! This recipe is so simple and definitely worth giving a try for Thanksgiving dinner or this holiday season.

Let's get started! 

What Equipment to Use?

To make a homemade sweet potato pie, you will need a mixer! You can use a hand mixer with a large bowl or a stand mixer, either will do. This recipe could also be made by hand using a whisk or wooden spoon.

However, it will take some arm muscle to mix the ingredients together until creamy. I love using my KitchenAid Stand Mixer to make things easier, but I have made it with a hand mixer as well. 

What Ingredients are Needed to Make this Easy Sweet Potato Pie Recipe? 

1. Sweet Potatoes - Select fresh sweet potatoes that are large and about the same size. Locate them in the produce section of the grocery store and they may also be referred to as Mississippi red sweet potatoes, or yams. If it's labeled as yams, just make sure it looks like an orange potato with red outer skin and not tree bark which is actually a yam and is not sweet. The recipe can be made with Japanese or white sweet potatoes as well. 
2. Butter - Use salted or unsalted butter in your favorite brand. Allow the butter to come to room temperature before using it to make it easier to mix with the other ingredients to make the sweet potato pie filling. 
3. Sugar - Granulated sugar (white sugar) or cane sugar works best for this pie recipe. 
4. Milk - Be sure to use whole milk or canned evaporated milk for a little extra sweetness. This recipe has not been made with any milk substitutes, but lactose-free whole milk should work with no problem. Heavy cream could also be used instead in the same unit of measure.
5. Eggs - You will need two large eggs for this recipe, one per pie. Try to remove them from the refrigerator and allow them to sit at room temperature for easier combining with the rest of the ingredients. 
6. Ground Nutmeg - This spice certainly makes a difference, so definitely do not omit it. 
7. Ground Cinnamon - Make sure it is pure ground cinnamon without any additional ingredients added to it. 
8. Vanilla Extract - Opt for pure vanilla extract instead of imitation vanilla. Vanilla bean paste could be used instead. 
9. Pie Crusts - 2 (frozen or refrigerated) prepared pie crusts or make your own! 

See the recipe card below for exact simple ingredients and instructions.

How to Make the Best Recipe for Sweet Potato Pie: 

Begin the recipe by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. If you are using frozen pie crust, now is the time to remove them from the freezer and allow them to sit at room temperature while preparing the sweet potato filling. You will need two pie crusts for this recipe. 

Clean the sweet potatoes, peel off the skin, and cut them into large chunks. Place the prepared sweet potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring the sweet potatoes to a rolling boil over high heat and allow them to continue boiling until fork-tender, about 10 minutes. 

Carefully drain the water off the sweet potatoes and add them into a stand mixer bowl or large mixing bowl to use a hand mixer. Add the butter and mix on medium speed until combined. 

Adjust the mixer speed to low and add in the sugar, milk, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and vanilla extract. Mix until combined. Add in the two eggs, adjust the mixer speed back to medium, and mix until slightly smooth.

If there are still a few chunks of sweet potato in the mixture, it's perfectly fine. 

Turn the mixer off and slowly add the filling evenly into the two pie crusts. Add a baking sheet to the oven to place the pies on just in case so filling spills over. Place the pies into the oven to bake at 350 degrees F. for 55 to 60 minutes, until the center of the pie has set and lightly browned.

Allow the pies to cool before slicing to serve.

Serve a slice of pie warm or at room temperature topped with a dollop of fresh whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

Tips to Make the Best Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

• Make sure the pie crust is at least 9 inches in size. This recipe yields 2 pies.
• You may prepare the sweet potatoes a day in advance. 
• Be sure to use whole milk for this pie recipe or you can also use canned evaporated milk. 
• Try tasting the pie filling before adding it to the pie dish. Don't be afraid to adjust the sugar, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg according to your preference. 
• Be careful not to over-mix or overbake your pies. 
• To keep this recipe simple, I use frozen pie crust or refrigerated pie crust, but you can also make your own for a completely homemade pie version. 
• If you notice your pie crust is browning faster than the pie baking, cover the pie crust with aluminum foil or use a pie crust shield. 

Storage Tips

Refrigerator. Once the sweet potato pie has completely cooled, transfer the slices to an airtight container or cover it with some aluminum foil or plastic wrap, and store it in the refrigerator. You may store the pie in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. When ready to serve the pie again, allow it to come to room temperature or slightly reheat it before enjoying it again.

Freezer. This pie can be made in advance and stored in the freezer for up to 30 days. Allow the baked pie to cool to room temperature, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before storing it in the freezer. 

Once you're ready to serve, simply remove the pie from the freezer the night before and allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving it the next day. Once the pie has fully thawed you may store it at room temperature.

Want More Easy Holiday Recipes? Try These:

• Easy Candied Yams
• Cajun Maple Glazed Spatchcock Turkey
• Easy Cornbread Dressing 
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Sweet Potato Casserole 
• Collard Greens with Ham Hocks 
• Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts 
• Easy Deviled Eggs 
• Sour Cream Pound Cake

Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ideas for this Classic Sweet Potato Pie? Please share them in the comments below!

📖 Recipe

Original post date 11/26/2020. Updated 11/07/2023 and 11/15/2024.