Grandma Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie Recipe (2024)

Grandma’sold-fashioned sweet potato pie is alegacy soul food recipehonoring traditions of West African influences in sweet potato pie passed down from one African-American generation to another.

Sweet potato pies are often said to be an elevated,more soulful version of pumpkin piebecause of the flavor combinations like cinnamon, brown sugar, sweet vanilla, cloves, and nutmeg.

Making sweet potato pieGrandma’sway

My grandma’s and my mom’s sweet potato pies are dessert family favorites that introduced warm spicy notes of cinnamon and clove as part of its signature soul food spices, along with silky evaporated milk in the recipe.

The difference between this classic soul food sweet potato pie recipe and my adapted family recipe,Black Folks sweet potato pie, is thatGrandma’srecipe does not include the modern twist of ginger.

Ingredients

Knowingwhat mistakes to avoid when making sweet potato pieis integral to the legacy of this classic Southern dish.But, with today’s modern cooking appliances, you may be surprised that old-fashioned sweet potato pie is a very easy-to-makesoul food Southern dessert.

*See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients with measurements.

• Sweet potatoes –Use Jewel (best for baking) or Beauregard sweet potatoes (slightly sweeter) to make a naturally sweet pie filling with a smooth, silky texture. Learn more aboutwhat type of sweet potatoes are best for sweet potato pie HERE.
• Evaporated milk –Evaporated milk adds a velvety smoothness to the pie.
• Light brown sugar –Adds a touch of sweetness with caramel-like flavor.
• Eggs –The binding agent that ensures the pie filling holds its shape.
• Butter –Adds a rich flavor that complements the natural sweet potatoes.
• Vanilla extract –For a warm and comforting balance in the flavor profile.
• Nutmeg –Adds a warm, nutty, and earthy balance to the pie’s sweetness.
• Cinnamon –Adds a comforting warmth and heat with earthy flavor.
• Clove –Contributes to the pie’s overall soulful spiciness.
• Salt –A necessary contrast to balance the sweet spice profiles.
• Pie crust –Elevates this dish from a sweet potato soufflé to a sweet potato pie with a simple, delicious, and flaky pie crust encasing.

Ingredients substitutes

You can use the following swaps for this soul food baked sweet potato pie recipe:

• Different types of sweet potatoes:Jewel andBeauregardsweet potatoes are preferred because they are sweeter and the best for baking.Still, Garnet sweet potatoes have juicy orange flesh, perfect for mashing and baking.
• Canned sweetpotatoes:Fresh potatoes are always best when making a homemade sweet potato pie. However, you could use canned sweet potatoes.
• Sweetened condensed milk:While I’ve foundevaporated milkto be the smoothest and perfect flavor additive for sweet potato pie,sweetened condensed milkcan substitute.Here’s mysweet potato pie recipe with condensed milk.
• Regular milk:Becauseregular milkcontains significantly more water, it’s not a recommended substituteinsweet potato pie.
• Granulated sugar:Dark brown sugar will work, but light brown sugar is best. You can also use granulated sugar in a pinch.
• Frozen pie crust: Of course! You can use a frozen pie crust, pie shell, or store-bought pie dough. You can even use a frozen pie crustalreadyin an aluminum foil pan. Thaw it, add your filling, and then bake.

How to make Grandma old-fashioned sweet potato pie

This pie is traditionally made with softened or mashed sweet potatoes, eggs, sugar, butter, and the best harmonious blend of vanilla, cinnamon, and other sweet potato pie spices.

*See the recipe card below for a detailed list of instructions with guided pictures.

1. Grease the pie panso the pie crust does not get stuck on the pie pan while baking.
2. Roast the sweet potatoes in the oven.
3. Peel the sweet potatoesonce they have cooled to the touch.
4. Gather the potato fleshand discard the skin.
5. Mix the potato flesh, spices, and ingredientsat high speed using an electric mixer to make the pie filling.
6. Pour the filling into the unbaked pie crust.
7. Bake the pie.
8. Let the pie coolfor 4 hours for ease in slicing.
9. Serve warm and enjoy!

Pro tips:

• Do you preheat (blind bake) the pie crust?No need to pre-bake, which could cause your pie crust edges to overcook or burn later when the pie is filled.
• Does this recipe make two pies or one?Depending on how deep of a dish your pie pan is, you’ll probably have leftover sweet potato mix to make mini sweet potato pies.
• Use any leftover pie doughfor the easiest Southern dessert ever – flaky homemadepie crust cookies!

Watch the video to see how to make sweet potato pie step-by-step with key moments.

What is the best way to cooksweet potatoesforsweet potatopie?

The quickest method is to use anInstant Pot pressure cookerto soften and peel the sweet potatoes quickly and almost effortlessly to prepare them for mashing.Youwon’teven need a potato masher!Butfor thisrecipe,we’reusing the oven to roast our sweet potatoes, just like Grandma did!

Roasting the sweet potatoes in the oven is recommended over boiling or steaming because the intense oven heat breaks down the potato starches into sugars, resulting in a sweeter and more flavorful pie filling.
Learn more about the best way to cook sweet potatoes for sweet potato pie in my post HERE.

Do you eat sweet potato pie hot or cold?

Sweet potato pie is best served warm or at room temperature.

Most pies are left unrefrigerated while family and friends feast on the dessert. Then,it’schilled in the fridge to store the leftovers and warmed up before serving again.

What to serve with an old-fashioned sweet potato pie

If you’re looking for classic soul food recipes to serve with your sweet potato pie for your Thanksgiving menuorChristmas dinner, look no further than these delicious ideasinmy post HERE about what to serve with sweet potato pie.

Some Southern soul food favorites to serve with sweet potato pie include soul food collard greens, Southern black-eyed peas, and cornbread dressing.

Grandma old-fashioned sweet potato pie recipe FAQs

How do you keep a sweet potato pie from getting stringy?

A blender, hand-held mixer, or electric stand mixer will automatically collect the strings on its blade for easy removal or, better yet, dissolve them.
Read more about how to get strings out of sweet potatoes in my guide HERE.

How to know when the filling is cooked

Thepie is donewhenyou can see the center of the pie filling puffing in the oven, and it’sfirm and not runny or jiggly. Underbaking the pie can causethe pieto not properly set, so be sure your pie is done,before removing it from the oven.

How to cut sweet potato pie

One primary consideration when cutting your sweet potato pie is to let it set before cutting. Otherwise, the slice will fall apart like feta cheese!

It’sbest to let the pie cool and set for a few hours to a whole day.But if youcan’twait the entire day, wait at least four hours orrefrigerate,before cutting it into pieces. Be sure to wipe the knife after each slice and cut cleanly through to the bottom of yourpie,for perfect slices!

Storing and reheating sweet potato pie

Sweet potato pie must be refrigeratedfor storage and will lastforup to 5 days in the fridge. Whenyou’reready to serve itagainwarm a slice up in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or reheat your entire pie in the oven on warm for about 30 minutes.

Can you freeze a sweet potato pie?You canabsolutelyfreeze whole sweet potato pies or leftoverpiesfor up to three months. First, wrap tightly in plastic wrapandthen foil, then seal tight in an airtight container.

Which one is your favorite?

Grandma’s old-fashioned sweet potato pie, Black folks’ sweet potato pie recipe, purple sweet potato pie, Southern sweet potato pie with cream cheese, or sweet potato pie with condensed milk.

My favorite is my classic Black folks’ sweet potato pie, my family recipe adapted from my grandma.Understandably, your favorite is likely your grandma’s old-fashioned sweet potato pie recipe, too!

What other recipes can you make with sweet potatoes?

Check out my bestSouthern soul food sweet potato recipes HERE!

Like this post? Pin the below picture to your “Soul Food Recipes” Pinterest Board!