Thanksgiving Desserts
Ever since I tried sweet potato pie for the first time, I was hooked. I smiled and said “mmmm yam pie!” Ever since, I’ve been on a mission to find a great sweet potato pie recipe to add to my Thanksgiving desserts.
It’s called the cousin to pumpkin pie and is a delicacy in the southern states. I can understand why.
This is a great follow up dessert to from-scratch green bean casserole and moist slow cooker turkey breast with gravy. Are you drooling yet?
It’s denser and richer than pumpkin pie and it’s simply delicious! I used yams in this recipe.
I’ll show you how easy it is to make. This pie isn’t labor intensive especially, if you use a store bought pie crust.
But, I do include a homemade pie crust just in case you have the time.
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Serve this pie topped with whipped cream! I made homemade whipped cream with the rest of my heavy cream used in this recipe. You can find my recipe for homemade whipped cream below.
Just add a couple tablespoons of powdered sugar and whip the cream with your mixer until fluffy. It’s so good and easy!
Pumpkin Pie Spice
You may use 1 and 1/2 tbls of pumpkin pie spice in the recipe instead of the dry seasonings listed in the recipe card. It’ll be faster and have almost the same taste. I have my own pumpkin pie spice substitute recipe.
Can I use yams instead of sweet potatoes?
I made this recipe with yams instead of sweet potatoes. Why? The grocery store only had white sweet potatoes so I chose to use yams or I wouldn’t have the rich orange color. Yes, sweet potatoes and yams are different. I’ve had sweet potato pie made with yams before and it was awesome.
So, don’t fret if you can find orange sweet potatoes. Use yams instead. By the way, you can use canned yams too. Just drain them and mash them.
I used one large yam to make this pie. It weighed about a pound. I cut it into three pieces and boiled it, covered for about 45 minutes. The center must be very tender because you’ll mash it to make the pie filling.
Some sweet potato pie recipes are made with evaporated milk or condensed milk but, I liked the flavor of the heavy cream in this pie. It gives it a fresh, creamy taste.
This pie might be the one way you get your kids to eat vegetables. LOL!
See the homemade whipped cream recipe below.
Can you freeze sweet potato pie filling?
Yes! Pull it out to thaw in your refrigerator and then fill in a pie shell and bake as directed in this recipe. You may also freeze the whole pie after it’s been baked and cooled.
How long will a sweet potato pie last in the freezer?
It’ll last months but, for best quality freshness, store up to six months is an air tight container or freezer bags.
How to Make Homemade Whipped Cream
Make your own whipped cream to top this yummy pie.
Ingredients:
- 8 oz heavy whipping cream
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
Instructions:
Using a mixer, mix the whipped cream and sugar together until fluffy- about a minute or two. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Serve this delicious pie with whipped cream! Make this delicious Sweet Potato Pie for your holiday dinner. It’s a yummy addition to your feast and a nice change up from same the old pumpkin pie.
See more of our Thanksgiving recipes!
You may also like:
Caramel Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust
Best Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
Amish Pumpkin Whoopie Pie Recipe
I took this recipe to Weekend Potluck.
NOTE: This recipe was updated on December 22, 2021.
Brown Sugar Sweet Potato Pie
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup whipped cream (optional topping for serving pie)
Homemade Pie Crust
- 1 cup flour
- 6 tbsp vegetable shortening
- 4-8 tsp ice cold water
Pie filling
- 1 lb yams or orange sweet potatoes
- 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed (or light brown sugar)
- 1 tbsp flour
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 eggs
Dry Seasonings for Pie Filling
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ginger
Instructions
Pie filling
- First, cut yams in 1/3 pieces with peel on and boil until yams are very soft when poked with a fork. It will take about 45 min to boil covered. Do not peel them until they cool completely. Meanwhile, make pie crust.
- Then, peel off the skin and discard. Mash yams with a fork.
- Next, preheat oven to 350F.
- Then, in a large mixing bowl, add all of the pie filling ingredients and dry seasonings and mix until well combined.
- If using a store-bought pie crust, read the instructions first to see if the pie shell needs to be pre-baked. If not, pour in the unbaked pie crust and bake for one hour.
- Last, let the pie cool completely before serving. Top with whipped cream, if desired.
Homemade pie crust
- In a mixing bowl, add flour and shortening. Combine well with a pastry cutter or a fork.
- Add two teaspoons of ice cold water and combine. Continue to add the water until you can form a ball. Do not handle too much or the pie crust will become tough.
- Put plastic wrap around the dough and refrigerate for 30 min.
- After the pastry dough is chilled, roll out dough on a floured surface with a rolling pin. Ensure dough will cover pie plate and cut to fit. Put dough in pie plate and set aside until ready to fill.
Video
Notes
How to Make Homemade Whipped Cream
Ingredients:
- 8 oz heavy whipping cream
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
Instructions:
Using a mixer, mix the whipped cream and sugar together until fluffy- about a minute or two. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.Did You Make This Recipe?
If you made this recipe don’t forget to leave a review!
This recipe was adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction Sweet Potato Pie.
Hi Keri. I’m glad all of you like it so much and thanks for the 5 star rating!
This is the best sweet potato pie recipe I have found and the only one I use!! My husband loves it and so do the kids so it’s a win all the way around!!
I haven’t tried this recipe with pumpkin however, try my Brown Sugar Pumpkin Pie which is similar.
It’s a family favorite and there’s never any left even when I make multiple pies. Wondering if it pumpkin could be used instead?
Gland you liked it Helan and thanks for the 5-star rating!
Thanks For Sharing this Amazing Recipe. My Family Loved It. I will be sharing this Recipe with my Friends. Hope They will like it.
Hi Michelle. It will take one hour to bake at 350F. It’s in the recipe card. Happy Thanksgiving and hope you love this recipe.
Am I missing the time? How long are we baking this for?
Hi Donald. I love your idea of baking the sweet potato and believe that would be better. I’ll have to try that. Hmmm… I’ll try the whipping the egg whites too. Your recipe would be a great spin off recipe! Thanks for the idea! Happy Thanksgiving.
Similar to my recipe. I bake the sweet potato for a richer flavor and separate the eggs and beat the egg whites to stiff peak and fold into the sweet potato mixture before I pour into the crust. Really lightens the pie.