Southern sweet potato pie should be simple, comforting, and full of warm fall spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Holiday baking can be a lot, so this old-fashioned dessert keeps things easy without sacrificing flavor. If you enjoy this pie, you’ll also like southern candied yams and a peach cobbler—each one makes a wonderful holiday dessert or a cozy treat any time of year.
In this post I’ll show you a fast, reliable way to get an ultra-smooth filling using a food processor, along with tips for making the best southern sweet potato pie.
I’m proud to be part of the Juneteenth Cookout Takeover with many talented food bloggers. This initiative celebrates Juneteenth and spotlights the food traditions that reflect resilience and creativity in Black culinary culture. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States; since 1865, June 19th has been observed as the day when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce freedom for enslaved people. Many Black communities celebrate with gatherings and food traditions that carry deep meaning—sweet potato pie is often one of them.
What is Juneteenth
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally observed commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. It marks the day in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger and Union troops reached Galveston, Texas and announced that the Civil War had ended and enslaved people were free. The day is a time to remember both the joy and the uncertainty those first moments of freedom brought.
Sweet potato pie is a beloved dessert for many Juneteenth gatherings. Below I share a straightforward recipe and the technique I use to make the filling silky smooth.
“It was amazing! I loved the fact that no other pie tasted like mine. Will definitely be keeping this recipe!” — Lena
Sweet Potato Pie
Thanksgiving in my house centers on turkey, cranberry sauce, candied yams, collard greens, and a must-have dessert: southern sweet potato pie. This pie is rich, warmly spiced, and not shy about butter or sweetness. It’s the kind of dessert that disappears fast—so consider yourself warned.
My mom has made this pie for holidays since I was a child, and everyone always says it’s the best. She never wrote down a formal recipe, so she gave me her “no recipe” method. After years of helping, I learned the approach and made a version that stands up to hers—sometimes I even prefer it!
A food processor is the secret to an impossibly smooth filling. You can use a mixer, but a food processor achieves a lump-free texture much faster. If you have one, use it. Also: bake your sweet potatoes rather than boiling them. Baking concentrates flavor and helps keep the filling robust and silky.
Why this recipe works
Using a food processor removes lumps quickly and creates a smooth, camera-ready filling. Bake the potatoes, add the ingredients to the processor, blend until silk, pour into a crust, and bake. The method is fast and produces consistent results every time.
How to make sweet potato pie & tips
A mostly dairy-free filling: This recipe skips milk, which lets the sweet potato flavor shine while yielding a firm but tender texture. Butter is included for richness, but leaving out milk prevents a fluffy, airy filling and keeps the pie silky.
Step 1: Prepare the sweet potatoes. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly coat each sweet potato with oil, wrap in foil, and place in a baking dish. Bake 45–55 minutes, until very tender. When cool enough to handle, remove the skins and mash the sweet potato flesh.
Step 2: Make the filling. Add the mashed sweet potato to the food processor along with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, eggs, butter, vanilla, and bourbon (optional). Process until completely smooth and lump-free. I often add the potato while it’s still warm so the butter melts and blends smoothly.
Step 3: Bake. Pour the filling into an unbaked pie crust and bake 50–60 minutes, or until the center no longer jiggles. The pie may puff while baking but will settle as it cools. Chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before slicing for the best texture.
How to cut sweet potato pie
Chill the pie thoroughly before slicing. Use a clean serrated knife and wipe it between cuts to keep slices neat. Make sure to cut through the bottom crust, and move slices gently after slicing. Serve plain or with whipped cream and a light dusting of cinnamon.
Can you freeze sweet potato pie?
Yes. Bake and cool the pie, then freeze it whole or in slices. Thaw on the counter and warm in a low oven (about 170°F) until heated through, or microwave individual slices for 10–15 seconds to serve warm. Many families prefer the flavor after freezing and reheating.
If you love this southern sweet potato pie, please share—chances are others will too.
Southern Sweet Potato Pie
April Boller Wright
Pin Recipe
5 mins
55 mins
1 hr
Dessert
Southern American
8 people
Ingredients
- 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
- 1 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3 tsp bourbon (optional)
- 11 tbsp room temperature butter, diced or sliced
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 unbaked pie crust
- 1/4 tsp salt plus a pinch
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly oil each sweet potato, wrap in foil, and place in a baking dish. Bake 45–55 minutes until very tender; the skins should slip off easily.
- Mash the sweet potatoes, then add the mashed potato to a food processor with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, eggs, butter, vanilla, and bourbon if using. Process until silky smooth. Pour into an unbaked pie crust.
- Bake 45–55 minutes or until the center does not jiggle. The pie may puff up while baking and will settle as it cools. Let cool, then refrigerate 2–3 hours to set. Slice and serve plain or with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon.
Notes
Tip: Bake sweet potatoes instead of boiling for deeper flavor. Use a food processor for a smooth, lump-free filling—an 8–10 cup processor is ideal. If the crust browns too quickly, cover the edges with foil. This recipe works well with a store-bought pie crust; some packaged crusts are smaller, so adjust as needed.
Freezing: The baked pie freezes well. Thaw and warm gently or microwave individual slices briefly. Many prefer the flavor after freezing.
Let us know how it turned out.
Save this sweet potato pie to your Pinterest board and follow the creator there if you’d like to see more recipes and inspiration.
You may also like these recipes:
Sweet Potato Cream Cheese Bread
Pumpkin Pie
Southern Candied Yams
Southern Peach Cobbler
Apple Cider Donut Cake
Sweet Potato Pie Galettes
Best Banana Bread
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See the full list of participating Black food bloggers for the Juneteenth Cookout Takeover.