Quick and Easy Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

Southern Sweet Potato Pie recipe is also known as Sweet potato casserole. However, is it a side dish or a dessert? The debate goes on!

Easy Sweet Potato Pie

Its been an ongoing debate for many years as to whether sweet potato pie is a dessert or a side dish.

Thirty-three percent say sweet potato pie is a side dish, while a whopping 49 percent consider it a dessert. Eighteen percent consider it both.

I think many people say dessert because it’s a pie. However, sweet potatoes are a vegetable which makes it a side dish.

When you serve it is when I guess you decide what you call it.

I’m still out in left field on that decision.

But whatever you want to call it, all I know is that it tastes very good and my family really enjoys it.

Sweet Potato Pie Origination

Sweet potato pie originated in the south and is a southern favorite.

It started out being served at Thanksgiving and Christmas and was served in place of dessert.

Whereas pumpkin pie is a Northern favorite. The main difference between pumpkin pie and sweet potato pie is one is made with pumpkin and the other is made with sweet potatoes.

Also known as sweet potato casserole, except it is served in pie shape in an open pie crust rather than in a casserole dish.

Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

Prep time: 10 minutes 

Cook time: 45 minutes 

Cooling time: 3-4 hours 

Yields 1

Sweet Potato Ingredients

• Bruce’s Yams, drained and mashed
• Whole eggs, plus 1 egg yolk
• Heavy whipping cream 
• Granulated sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Salt
• Salted butter, softened 
• Cornstarch
• Pumpkin pie spice
• Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust, for 8”/9” pans (or homemade)
• Whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice, for garnish 
• For exact amounts, please see the printable recipe card below.

More Dessert Recipes

• Cherry Berries in The Snow Dessert Recipe - Whether you call this recipe Cherries on a cloud, Cherry berries on a cloud, Cherries in the snow, fruit in a cloud, Heaven on Earth cake, or one of its many other names, the taste is heavenly!
• Peppermint Cool Whip Candy - This delicious three-ingredient candy plus Peppermint, Cool Whip candy only requires a few ingredients – melted chocolate chips and cool whip, peppermint extract, and crushed peppermint.
• Unicorn Cake Recipe With No Artificial Colors - This cute unicorn cake is made with no artificial food coloring or flavors and is a 2-tier, 6-inch, homemade vanilla cake, with buttercream frosting, and flower piping for a unicorn mane.
• Easy Pineapple Cheesecake Ambrosia Salad Recipe - Call it a fruit salad, ambrosia salad, watergate salad, or dessert, the Pineapple Cheesecake Ambrosia Salad recipe is a dish you want to serve for any gathering.
• Crown Royal Apple Pie Minis Recipe - This Crown Royal Mini Apple Pies Recipe has all the delicious flavors of an apple pie but in bite-size form. They make a great appetizer or dessert for any occasion. The filling is made with fresh apples, Crown Royal whisky, and a touch of cinnamon.
• Crown Royal Peach Cobbler Crescent Roll Recipe - It doesn’t get any easier than this peach cobbler with crescent rolls, canned peaches, and Crown Peach inside and out in this Crown Royal Peach Cobbler Crescent Roll Recipe.

As an Amazon Associate, this post may contain affiliate links and I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure policy for more info.

Supplies need for Southern Sweet Potato Pie

• Pie pan
• Mixing bowl
• Stand mixer or hand mixer

How to Make the Best Sweet Potato Pie Recipe Ever

Pre the oven to 400°f.

In a bowl, incorporate the mashed yams, eggs, and cream. 

Add the sugar, spices, vanilla, cornstarch, and butter (⅓ cup). Mix with a stand mixer or hand mixer. You want the filling to be smooth and whipped slightly.

Add 1 tablespoon of softened butter to the pie dish and spread it to coat the whole dish. Roll in the pie crust and remove any air pockets from between the dish and crust.

Press the edge of the crust into a decorative shape or in the dish’s edge mold if applicable. 

Bake the crust for 3 minutes.

Remove the crust and add the pie filling evenly and level with the dish. 

Bake the pie for 12 minutes. Drop the heat to 335° and bake for 30 minutes or until the center is set. Stick a toothpick in the center to see if it’s set. 

Remove the pie and set it on a counter to cool for 3-4 hours. The pie needs to be cool. If you serve it before it cools, the shape of the pie will not be firm enough to sustain itself. 

Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin spice. Nutmeg can be used to garnish too.

Be sure to pin it for later and follow us on Pinterest.