Brown Butter Sweet Potato Pie

There has never been a holiday in my family without a Sweet Potato Pie on the table. Thanksgiving and Christmas simply wouldn’t feel complete without it, and in true Southern tradition, one pie is never enough. It’s ok to have one red velvet cake and one banana pudding, but there must be at least two sweet potato pies. I have been baking this recipe for decades, perfecting the balance of creamy texture, warm spices, and that signature soul food flavor. If you’re looking for a tried-and-true Sweet Potato Pie that turns out perfect every time, you’re in the right place. This is my foolproof Soul Food Sweet Potato Pie recipe, the same one that has brought smiles to my family for years.

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Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Perfect for the Holidays: A must-have dessert for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special family gathering.
• Authentic Soul Food Flavor: Made the traditional way with baked sweet potatoes, butter, and warm spices just like Grandma used to make.
• Simple, Foolproof Method: No complicated steps or fancy equipment needed just easy, step-by-step instructions anyone can follow.
• Made with a Few Simple Ingredients: You don’t need anything fancy to make this pie just real ingredients like sweet potatoes, butter, sugar, milk, and warm spices. Each one adds its own touch of Southern comfort, creating a dessert that’s both simple and unforgettable.
• Make-Ahead Friendly: Prepare in advance for a stress-free holiday menu without sacrificing homemade taste.

Ingredients for Soul Food Sweet Potato Pie

• Sweet Potatoes: naturally sweet flavor, creamy texture, and beautiful orange color.
• Sugar and Brown Sugar: Both create the perfect balance of sweetness and depth, with brown sugar adding a hint of caramel richness.
• Milk: Adds moisture and helps create a silky, custard-like filling that holds together beautifully.
• Eggs: Bind all the ingredients and give the pie its smooth, firm structure once baked.
• Butter: Adds richness, creaminess, and that unmistakable homemade flavor.
• Self-rising Flour: Lightly thickens the filling and gives it a smooth, stable texture without making it dense.
• Almond Extract and Vanilla Extract: Add warm, sweet aroma and depth of flavor that complement the sweet potatoes perfectly.
• Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Ground Ginger: Classic soul food spices that give the pie its warm, comforting, and slightly spiced flavor.
• Kosher Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors in the pie.
• Deep Dish Pie Crust: Holds the rich filling and provides that flaky, buttery base that completes this classic dessert.

Substitutions

• Sweet Potatoes: Yams or canned sweet potatoes 
• Sugar and Brown Sugar: maple syrup or honey
• Milk: Evaporated milk for extra richness, or plant-based milk (almond, oat, or coconut) for a dairy-free version.
• Butter: Margarine, plant-based butter, or coconut oil to make the pie dairy-free.
• Self-Rising Flour: Use all-purpose flour and add ¼ teaspoon baking powder and a pinch of salt.
• Deep-Dish Pie Crust: Swap with a homemade pie crust, graham-cracker or gluten-free crust for a different texture and flavor.

Watch the Video Tutorial

Instructions

*When making sweet potato pie, I use baked sweet potatoes. Boiling the sweet potatoes is an option, but for a rich, sweet flavor baked sweet potatoes gives the best results.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place your sweet potatoes in the oven and cook for 50 minutes.

Step 1: Brown the Butter

Using medium heat, bring a skillet to temperature. Melt your butter and cook until it has reached a deep brown color making sure to stir occasional.

Step 2: Combine the Ingredients Brown Butter Sweet Potato Pie

Using a hand mixer, mix the sweet potatoes until they are smooth and creamy.

Once your sweet potatoes are smooth, add in the brown butter and eggs and continue mixing until well incorporated. Add the remaining ingredients and continue mixing until your pie filling is smooth and creamy.

Step 3: Transfer Pie Filling to Shell and Bake

Fill the pie crusts with the pie filling then transfer them to your oven that has been preheated to 350°F and bake for one hour.

After your pies have cooked for an hour, remove them from the oven and place them on a wire rack. Brown butter sweet potato

How to Store Sweet Potato Pie

Brown Butter Sweet Potato pie can be stored both the refrigerator and the freezer. When storing in the refrigerator make sure your pie has completely cooled. Place it in the fridge for no more than 4 day. When storing in the freezer, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and also aluminum foil. Brown Butter Sweet Potato pie can last for up to 3 months when frozen.

• Before serving, bring to room temperature or warm briefly in the oven (10–15 minutes at 300°F).
• When removing from the freezer, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

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