Black Folks Purple Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

When it comes to soul food Thanksgiving desserts, you already know the celebration starts with my Southern classic Black folks’ sweet potato pie. But let me introduce you to a contemporary twist that’s turning heads and stealing hearts… My Black folks’ Purple sweet potato pie!

Made the same soulful way as the original, this stunning pie swaps in vibrant Stokes purple sweet potatoes for a rich, creamy, jewel-toned dessert that tastes like tradition with a side of show-stopping wow. It’s everything you love about the classic, with a colorful, cultural upgrade!

What is a purple sweet potato pie?

A Black folks’ purple sweet potato pie is made with the same love, legacy, and soul as the traditional sweet potato pie we all know and cherish—just with a vibrant twist! This pie uses Stokes purple sweet potatoes instead of the usual orange ones, giving it a bold color and a slightly thicker texture. It’s still rich with soul food flavor, but with a head-turning twist that’ll make your holiday dessert table unforgettable!

But, don’t let the color fool you… This jewel-toned beauty is still packed with the warm spices and deep flavor that make it a standout at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or even your New Year’s table. Rooted in the tradition of Black folks’ soul food cooking, it’s a modern showstopper that still tastes like the Southern comforts of home.

Where to get purple sweet potatoes

Got a Whole Foods or a local farmers market nearby? That’s your best bet! I always pick up my purple sweet potatoes for this pie recipe from Whole Foods, but you can often find them at farmers markets that specialize in unique or heirloom produce.

🥄 Shaunda says: Stokes purple sweet potatoes are often confused with Ube yams, but they’re not the same. And they’re definitely not Okinawan Japanese sweet potatoes or regular (not sweet) purple potatoes either. So be sure to double-check those labels when shopping, because you want the right purple for this soulful pie!

Ingredients

Unlike other potatoes that fade or dull when cooked, Stokes sweet potatoes stay bold and brilliant, resulting in a rich, creamy pie filling that’s as stunning as it is delicious.

And Stokes purple sweet potatoes might just be one of the most beautiful vegetables on the planet! With deep purple skin AND vibrant flesh, their color holds strong, even when blended and baked with what brings this recipe together: evaporated milk, eggs, butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and soulful spices to make a decadent sweet potato pie. 

How to make a purple sweet potato pie

My purple sweet potato pie follows the same soulful method as my traditional recipe, just with a vibrant purple hue! At a glance, here’s what to expect:

1. Prep and roast: Preheat the oven, grease your pie pan, and roast the purple sweet potatoes until tender.
2. Mash and mix: Peel and discard the skins, then gather the potato flesh and mix with the other filling ingredients until smooth.
3. Assemble: Pour the mixture into a pie crust and smooth the top.
4. Bake and cool: Bake until set, then let the pie cool for a few hours before slicing, serving, and enjoying every soulful bite!

What texture is this pie filling? 

Despite its bold purple hue, this pie tastes just like the classic orange sweet potato pie you know and love, thanks to the soulful spices and silky evaporated milk. The texture is smooth and creamy, with just a touch more thickness than the traditional version.

And in my humble pie opinion (pun fully intended!), if you tasted it with your eyes closed, you wouldn’t even notice the difference! It’s that close to the familiar flavor of the original.

What to serve with a Black folks’ purple sweet potato pie

Sure, whipped cream or ice cream is nice, but if you want soul food dishes that truly complement your purple sweet potato pie, think bigger! 

Pair it with classics like Black folks Southern turkey, soul food candied yams, or collard greens. For more delicious ideas, check out my full post on what to serve with sweet potato pie.

Black Folks Purple Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

A soulful twist on the classic, my Black folks’ purple sweet potato pie keeps all the rich, spiced flavor of tradition. This stunning pie swaps jewel-toned Stokes sweet potatoes for a vibrant, creamy dessert that tastes like tradition with a side of show-stopping wow!

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Roasting the sweet potatoes: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Soul Food, Southern Food

Servings: 8

Calories: 268kcal

Author: Shaunda Necole • The Soul Food Pot®

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Equipment

• Large baking pan
• Hand-held or stand electric mixer
• 9-inch deep-dish pie pan

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds Stokes purple sweet potatoes (equals about 3 cups when softened and peeled)
• 12 oz evaporated milk 1 can
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 5 tablespoons butter unsalted, melted (or vegan butter)
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ginger minced
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

• Wash and scrub the purple sweet potatoes and set them aside.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• You can use homemade or store-bought pie crust, dough, or shell that may or may not come with its own pie pan. Grease the pie pan, place the uncooked pie crust in it, and set it aside.
• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil, and roast the sweet potatoes on it for 40 minutes or until tender. 
• Remove the cooked potatoes from the oven, and once they're cool to the touch, peel and discard the skin.
• Gather 3 cups of sweet potato flesh.
• Add the purple sweet potato flesh, evaporated milk, brown sugar, egg, melted butter, vanilla extract, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt to a large bowl.
• Mix with a hand-held or stand electric mixer until the ingredients are combined and smooth.
• Pour the sweet potato mixture into the pie crust.
• Bake the sweet potato pie at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes, or until the pie is puffed and firm in the center. (Keep in mind, that oven temperatures will vary the cooking time.)
• Allow the sweet potato pie to cool for at least 4 hours before garnishing, then slice, serve, and enjoy!

Video

Notes

 

 

Nutrition

Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 198mg | Potassium: 488mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 12243IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 179mg | Iron: 1mg

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What is soul food? Soul food recipes are African-American recipes full of flavor! A legacy of Southern cooking the Black way. Check out this collection of the best soul food recipes!

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