Black Folks Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

What’s the word, Flavor Family? Today we’re about to get down with a dessert that’s smooth, soulful, and deeply rooted in tradition. I’m talking about the one and only Southern Sweet Potato Pie! This ain’t just any ol’ pie, baby—it’s a holiday classic, elevated with warm spices, browned butter, and a bright pop of orange zest.

It’s the kind of dessert that makes you close your eyes, take a deep breath, and say, “Mmm, now that’s soul!” So, if you’re ready to bring some flavor to your holiday table, let’s get into it, because this pie is about to change the dessert game.

Southern Sweet Potato Pie - a blackalicious, old school sweet potato pie recipe with a few twists that delivers an aromatic, rich and silky smooth Thanksgiving Day dessert.

When it comes to holiday desserts, nothing is more traditional than sweet potato pie. And when it comes to sweet potato pie, nobody takes it more seriously than black folks. This sweet potato pie is made with the finest ingredients, including fresh sweet potatoes, brown sugar, and spices.

The result is a rich and flavorful pie that is sure to please even the most discerning palates. Whether you enjoy it plain or topped with whipped cream, marshmallows, or ice cream, this Southern pie greatness is sure to be a hit at your next holiday gathering.

Related Dessert Posts:

• Key Lime Pie
• Mexican Sweet Potatoes
• Southern Peach Cobbler

The Cultural Significance of Sweet Potato Pie During the Holidays

Now, let’s take a moment to honor the legacy of this dessert. . I know most of America celebrates the holiday season with traditional pumpkin pie, but the other America, i.e. black America it's sweet potatoe pie all day. More people probably know Patti Labelle more for her particular sweet potato pie recipe than they do for her legendary career as a singer.

Sweet Potato Pie is right there along with Potato Salad and Mac and Cheese as dishes black people get irrationally passionate about.

Sweet potato pie isn’t just a holiday staple—it’s a symbol of Black Southern culture and soul food heritage. For generations, this pie has graced the tables of Black families during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and every celebration in between.

To learn more about this phenomenon peep this article about how sweet potato pie became the Thanksgiving Day dessert for black people. I never even knew pumpkin pie was a thing for the first 16 years of my life.

I remember celebrating Thanksgiving dinner early with my family before traveling across town to my classmate's house for our annual touch football game. Post game I saw an orange pie on the kitchen table for the taking and went for it. I smooth grabbed a slice and took a bite, only to realize that this wasn't big mama's recipe.

It was bland, pulpy and had a few stringy pieces hanging suspended. Pumpkin pie is also dense and creamy; I prefer light and airy.  I tried to play it cool and though stressed about wasting food I cased the scene for a place to inconspicuously unload my not so sweet potato pie.  

I'm sure my non-black followers may be thinking but aren't sweet potatoes a side dish. Well yeah, sure, but can you really have too many sweet potato dishes. It's quite normal in most black homes (especially down South) to have something like a sweet potato casserole, mashed sweet potatoes, or candied yams as one of many sides then close dinner with a sweet potato pie.

I'm not a baker. I don't even pretend be one on TV. The exactness that baking requires stresses me out so much, I know most have their favorite pie crust recipe, but I didn't even bother trying to come up with my own crust.

I considered making my own and probably would have if I weren't cooking multiple pies. Instead, I just copied the pros over at Serious Eats for their Old Fashioned Flaky Crust recipe. But this ridiculous and fantabulous pie filling is all me babeeee!

Beats and Eats (music to pair with Southern Sweet Potato Pie)

The best sweet potato pie recipes IMO are simple and use simple ingredients, but flavor-wise have a lot of depth, character, and to a certain degree complexity which is exactly how I would describe Somi's song "Blak Enough." It's a song that stirs the soul which you'll need to be able to pour those emotions into this dish.

This song, like the pie, is all about celebrating identity, culture, and the beauty of being unapologetically yourself. “Black Enough” is a soulful, reflective piece that speaks to the complexities of Black identity and the richness of Black culture.

This pie, with its layers of flavor—from the earthy sweetness of the sweet potatoes to the warmth of cinnamon and the nuttiness of browned butter—mirrors the depth and complexity of Somi’s music. It’s a dessert that honors tradition while embracing creativity, just like the song. So, put on that track, let it set the mood, and get ready to bake with love and soul.

Key Flavor Ingredients and Their Roles

Every ingredient in this Southern Sweet Potato Pie plays a crucial role in building its rich, layered flavor profile. Let’s break it down:

Sweet Potatoes

The Star of the Show
Sweet potatoes bring natural sweetness, earthiness, and a creamy texture to the pie. Roasting them intensifies their flavor, adding a caramelized depth that forms the foundation of this dessert.

Browned Butter

The Nutty Note
Browning the unsalted butter adds a rich, nutty, almost caramel-like flavor that elevates the pie from good to unforgettable. It’s the secret ingredient that makes you go back for seconds.

Orange Zest

The Bright Accent
A touch of orange zest adds a burst of citrusy brightness that cuts through the richness and adds a layer of complexity. It’s like a high note in a jazz solo—unexpected but essential.

Vanilla Extract

The Warm Hug
Vanilla brings warmth and depth, enhancing the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes and tying all the flavors together.

Evaporated Milk

The Creamy Base
Evaporated milk adds creaminess and a slight caramelized flavor, giving the pie a silky, smooth texture.

Cinnamon, Ground Ginger, and Nutmeg

The Spice Trio
These warm spices are the heart of the pie, bringing warmth, depth, and a touch of heat that makes each bite feel like a cozy hug.

Light Brown Sugar

The Sweet Backbone
Brown sugar adds sweetness with a hint of molasses, creating a rich, caramel-like sweetness that complements the sweet potatoes perfectly. Go with the light version but dark brown sugar is fine if you need to this route.

How To Make Sweet Potato Pie

A proper Southern homemade sweet potato pie relies on a strong natural sweet potato taste, the right amount of sweetness, a smooth and fluffy texture, and depth of flavor overall.

Prepare the Sweet Potatoes

• Pierce skin on sweet potatoes with a fork several times.
• Place the potatoes on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil
• Bake at 400 degrees F for 45 minutes or until very tender. Set aside and let cool.
• After cooling, scoop out the sweet potato flesh into a large or medium bowl.

Make the Browned Butter

• Add butter to a saucepan or large pot and cook over medium heat. Once the butter melts and begins to foam a bit, whisk continuously. As the butter begins to brown keep whisking to avoid burning.
• If necessary lower the heat. When the butter develops that cooked caramel apple aroma you're good to go. Remove from heat and pour everything into a glass dish.

For the Milk

• Bring evaporated milk to a simmer. Add orange zest, cinnamon sticks and whole nutmeg and allow to steep 10-15 minutes. Stir as needed to keep the milk from curdling. Set aside

Make The Pie

• Mix cooled sweet potatoes until creamy and smooth, adding a few splashes of the milk. The texture of the mashed sweet potatoes should be that of a thick puree.
• Mix the brown butter into the sweet potato mixture until smooth. Mix in the brown sugar, plain sugar, evaporated milk mixture, eggs, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and baking powder until well combined.
• Pour the sweet potato mixture into the pie crust shell and smooth the top. Bake on the middle rack in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let the pie cool completely. The pie should sit undisturbed for at least an hour.
• Optional (serve with whipped cream).

What To Serve With Sweet Potato Pie

This pie is a showstopper on its own, but if you’re looking to elevate your dessert game, here are some perfect pairings:

• Whipped Cream: Light and airy, it balances the richness of the pie.
• Vanilla Ice Cream: A scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream adds a delightful contrast of cold and warm.
• Candied Pecans: Sprinkle them on top for a crunchy, nutty finish.

Other holiday dishes to add and round out the menu include:

Savory Mains

1. Glazed Ham
   The salty-sweet flavor of a maple-glazed ham contrasts beautifully with the earthy, spiced sweetness of sweet potato pie. The caramelization on the ham also echoes the pie’s browned sugar and spice notes.
2. Roast Turkey
   A classic Thanksgiving pairing! The savory, herbaceous flavors of roasted turkey with gravy balance the sweetness of the pie, making for a harmonious holiday plate.
3. Fried Chicken
   The crispy, seasoned exterior and juicy meat of Southern fried chicken pair perfectly with the creamy, spiced filling of the pie for a true soul food experience.
4. Braised Pork Shoulder
   Tender, slow-cooked pork with rich, savory flavors enhances the sweetness of the pie while adding a hearty, comforting element to the meal.

Side Dishes

1. Collard Greens
   The slightly bitter, tangy, and savory flavors of Southern collard greens cooked with smoked meat or vinegar cut through the richness of the pie and create a perfect contrast.
2. Macaroni and Cheese
   Creamy, cheesy, and indulgent, mac and cheese is a Southern staple that complements the sweet and spiced flavors of sweet potato pie.
3. Cornbread
   Whether sweet or savory, cornbread’s dense, crumbly texture and buttery flavor work well with the smooth, spiced filling of the pie. I'm partial to hot water cornbread myself.
4. Green Beans
   Southern green beans offer a fresh contrast to the rich, creamy texture of the pie.

Cooking Tips and Considerations For Making Sweet Potato Pie In The Southern Tradition

I use an electric hand mixer on medium speed to blend things. Feel free to use a pastry blender or electric mixer (stand mixer) or even an old school potato masher

Go with large sweet potatoes and then cut them into smaller, more manageable cubes. Cut as evenly as possible so that they all cook at the same rate.

In my humble opinion a homemade sweet potato pie does not include boiled sweet potatoes

To make a truly great pie with maximum flavor consider the following

• There ain’t nothing like walking into a kitchen a getting a big whiff of the intoxicating aroma of a baking sweet potato pie. I love cinnamon and want those spices to permeate throughout the whole pie but in a subtle way so as not to overpower the sweet potatoes.
• So rather than relying solely on dry spices, I used a few in their whole form, specifically one whole nutmeg and a few sticks of cinnamon. My approach was to steep the wholw spices in simmering evaporated milk. Cinnamon actually helps keep the milk from curdling as it simmers on a low flame. You will have to stir it some, but not much. I find this process gives you a highly aromatic pie.
• The other next-level flavor tip is to brown your butter first. As a kid I used to watch my grandmother burn her butter, which I thought was weird, but hey my young self was only concerned about the end results, and Madear always delivered the goods.
• Feel free to make sweet potato pie ahead

Additional tips for consideration

• Have several pie pans on hand to make several pies - One for you and multiple for your friends and family
• Use fresh over canned sweet potatoes
• Don’t bring pumpkin pie spice into the house let alone the kitchen. Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and vanilla are your core black folks seasonings
• Keep the add-ins to a minimum. A little citrus (lemon juice and/or zest) or bourbon is ok, but stop with all the extra. Keep it simple and allow the chosen few ingredients to work together and harmonize.
• Butter, yes please!
• Evaporated milk, check. No harm if you want to make your own version using heavy cream or regular milk, but that canned stuff works magic.
• Add eggs for that airy lightness.
• Roast your sweet potatoes in their skins. You get a deeper, more intense flavor vs. boiling.

How To Store and Reheat Sweet Potato Pie

To freeze sweet potato pie follow these steps to preserve its rich flavor and creamy texture:

Step 1: Let the Pie Cool Completely

After baking, allow the sweet potato pie to cool completely at room temperature. This prevents excess moisture from forming, which could lead to a soggy crust when thawed.

Step 2: Wrap the Pie

For maximum freshness and to prevent freezer burn, wrap the pie carefully:

1. First Layer: Wrap the entire pie (or individual slices) tightly with plastic wrap, making sure it’s fully covered.
2. Second Layer: Wrap the pie again with aluminum foil or place it in a large, freezer-safe zip-top bag. Remove as much air as possible before sealing.

Step 3: Label and Freeze

The pie can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.

Step 4: Thawing the Pie

1. Transfer to the Refrigerator: Move the pie from the freezer to the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight.
2. Warm It Up (Optional): If you prefer your pie warm, preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C), cover the pie loosely with foil, and heat for 10-15 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can You Use A Store-bought Crust For Southern Sweet Potato Pie?

You most certainly can. I’ve done it many times. I’m not a baker. I don’t even pretend to be one on TV. The exactness that baking requires stresses me out so much that even when I forgo store-bought I don’t even bother trying to come up with my own crust. Instead I just copied the pros over at Serious Eats for their Old Fashioned Flaky Crust recipe. But this ridiculous and fantabulous pie filling is all me babeeee!

Should I Boil or Bake the sweet potatoes?

Many recipes out there call for boiling the sweet potatoes, but not this one! I don’t boil ribs, and I don’t boil sweet potatoes when making sweet potato pies. Boiling is obviously much faster and may get you the tenderness you need, but it falls waaaaay short on flavor and worse it produces too much moisture which dilutes the filling.

You must protect flavor at all costs. Roasting the potatoes is the ticket. Not only do they soften the potatoes, but like it does with most vegetables, roasting concentrates flavors and brings out that sweet potato flavor even more.

How do I make a smooth sweet potato pie filling?

• Using either a stand mixer or food processor is the best way to get that smooth, lump-free sweet potato filling
  • Food processors have the added benefit of creating that ultra fluffiness for the pie.

For Other Holiday Recipes Try These:

Crispy Roasted Okra

Southern Collard Greens w/ Smoked Turkey

Classic Mac and Cheese

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Grapes

Crispy Cornish Hen

Candied Yams

Key Lime Pie

Southern Peach Cobbler

Making Black Folks Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

And there you have it, Flavor Fam—a Southern Sweet Potato Pie that’s bold, soulful, and unapologetically delicious. This pie isn’t just a dessert; it’s a celebration of culture, tradition, and flavor.

With each bite, you’re tasting the warmth of cinnamon, the brightness of orange zest, and the rich nuttiness of browned butter—all wrapped up in a silky-smooth filling that’s pure comfort.

So, the next time you’re looking to bring something special to the holiday table, remember this pie. Don't forget - Keep it soulful, keep it flavorful, and always do the right thing—in the kitchen and beyond.

If you make this great dessert, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback. Definitely take a photo of the dish and be sure to tag #foodfidelity so that I can see them.

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