How to Make the Best Sweet Potato Pie – From the Queen of Soul Food Cooking

Last Updated on October 9, 2025 by Soul Food Cooking

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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Sweet Potato Pie has long been a staple on Southern holiday tables — a dessert that feels like home with every bite. Much like Sweet Potato Casserole or Pecan Pie, it’s rich, comforting, and filled with warm, familiar flavors. Passed down through generations, this classic pie brings together simple ingredients and timeless Southern tradition in the most delicious way.

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: They give the pie its 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: Use yams or canned sweet potatoes (drain well) if sweet potatoes are not readily available.
• Sugar and Brown Sugar: Swap with coconut sugar, maple syrup, or honey for a natural sweetener option.
• Milk: Replace with evaporated milk for extra richness, or plant-based milk (almond, oat, or coconut) for a dairy-free version.
• Eggs: For egg-free baking, use flax eggs (1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water per egg) or a commercial egg replacer like Bob’s Red Mill.
• Butter: Substitute with 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 Me Make Sweet Potato Pie

Instructions

Step 1: Preparing your Sweet Potatoes

For this recipe, I used baked sweet potatoes. Boiling the sweet potatoes is an option, but I prefer the flavor baked sweet potatoes yield.

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Place your sweet potatoes in the oven and cook for 50 minutes.

After 50 minutes remove them from the oven and set them aside for 10 minutes to cool. After 10 minutes peel away the skin then place them in your mixing bowl.

Step 2: Mixing the Ingredients for Your Sweet Potato Pie

In a stand mixer, add the butter, eggs, milk, vanilla extract, almond extract, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, ground ginger, salt, nutmeg and flour to your mixing bowl and mix until well combined

Step 3: Transfer Pie Filling to Shell and Bake

Pour the filling into the pie crusts, then bake in a preheated 350°F and bake for one hour.

Step 4: Remove Pies From Oven

After an hour remove the pies from the oven and allow then to rest on a wire rack. These sweet potato pies can be prepared a day a head and stored in the refrigerator. After they have reached room temperature, wrap them place then in the fridge.

Here are a few tips for making the best pie:

• Always use fresh sweet potatoes. Canned ones tend to be watery and can make your pie less creamy.
• Don’t overmix the filling. Over mixing can make the pie tough.
• The pies should be baked until the filling is set. An underbaked pie will be runny.
• Make sure to let the pies cool completely before serving. This will help the filling set and make it easier to slice.

How to Store Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet Potato pie can be stored in the refrigerator and the freezer.

• Refrigerate for up to 3–4 days. The flavor actually improves as it chills and sets.
• Before serving, bring to room temperature or warm briefly in the oven (10–15 minutes at 300°F).
• Freeze sweet potato pie for up to 3 months. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

FAQ

I hope you enjoy this recipe! It’s the perfect pie for any occasion, and I know you are gonna love it.

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