Southern sweet potato pie

51 min
hard
11 ingredients

Southern sweet potato pie

Southern sweet potato pie is a very popular traditional dessert in the southern United States, especially during Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. This dish has its roots in African American cuisine and has been passed down from generation to generation, becoming a symbol of Southern culture. In other Latin American countries, sweet potatoes are also highly valued, although this type of pie is not always prepared in the same way or with the same ingredients. For example, in Mexico and Central America, sweet potato is mainly enjoyed in simpler sweets and desserts, while in countries like Colombia or Venezuela, it is common to find varied preparations based on sweet potato that range from stews to sweet purees.

The combination of the smoothness of the sweet potato with spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg provides a warm and comforting flavor that makes this pie so characteristic and appreciated. Molasses, an essential ingredient in this Southern recipe, adds a deep and sweet touch that perfectly complements the other flavors.

How to Make Southern Sweet Potato Pie

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Line a pie dish with rolled-out dough.

Prick the entire dough with a fork.

Press a sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil directly onto the pie crust.

Bake for 6 minutes.

Remove the aluminum foil.

Bake for 4 more minutes until it just begins to brown.

Combine the sweet potatoes and sugar in a large bowl.

Whisk the molasses and eggs.

Add the spices and orange zest and mix well.

Incorporate the melted butter and milk.

Pour the filling into the pie crust.

Bake for 15 minutes.

Reduce the temperature to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Continue baking for 30 to 40 minutes or until the filling is firm around the edges, but the center remains slightly soft and jiggles when the pie is moved.

Pastel de camote dulce sureño

Ingredients (11)

  • Unbaked pie crust
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Sugar
  • Molasses
  • Eggs
  • Nutmeg
  • Ginger powder
  • Cinnamon
  • Orange zest
  • Butter
  • Milk

Instructions (15 steps)

  1. 1 Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit
  2. 2 Line a pie pan with rolled-out dough
  3. 3 Prick the entire dough with a fork
  4. 4 Press a sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil directly onto the pie base
  5. 5 Bake for 6 minutes
  6. 6 Remove the aluminum foil
  7. 7 Bake for 4 more minutes until it just begins to turn golden
  8. 8 Combine the sweet potatoes and sugar in a large bowl
  9. 9 Whisk the molasses and eggs
  10. 10 Add the spices and orange zest and mix well
  11. 11 Incorporate the melted butter and milk
  12. 12 Pour the filling into the pie base
  13. 13 Bake for 15 minutes
  14. 14 Reduce the temperature to 300 degrees Fahrenheit
  15. 15 Continue baking for 30 to 40 minutes or until the filling is set at the edges but the center remains slightly soft and jiggles when the pie is moved