Black folks purple sweet potato pie – When it comes to soul food Thanksgiving desserts, you can bet that the menu starts with a classic Southern Black folks sweet potato pie.
But have you heard about the contemporary upgrade of this classic Southern treat? Purple sweet potato pie is what they call it – and it’s still made the Southern soul food way!
What is a Black folks’ purple sweet potato pie?
A Black folks’ sweet potato pie recipe is a delightful Thanksgiving or Christmas dessert (and New Year’s treat) packed with flavorful seasonings and spices in the tradition of Black folks’ soul food cooking.
But this ain’t no humble pie! A purple sweet potato pie is a stark contrast from the traditional Thanksgiving hues of brown and orange. This pie is bright purple, so if you want your dessert this year to stand out from the crowd – make it a Black folks’ purple sweet potato pie!
What are purple sweet potatoes?
Purple sweet potatoes just might be one of the prettiest vegetables on the planet! They are indeed purple – skin and flesh, and they don’t lose their color when cooked. Thus, making for a beautiful purple pie filling!
Are purple sweet potatoes natural?
Yep! Purple sweet potatoes are not genetically modified to look purple. (No GMOs here!)
They originated in North Carolina and are purple because of their rich nutrient value. In fact, they’re so organic that you could grow these purple potatoes in your own backyard garden!
Why are they called Stokes?
There was a North Carolina company called Stokes Foods that was first to grow these potatoes. That’s why they’re called Stokes purple sweet potatoes.
Where can you buy Stokes purple sweet potatoes, and what store carries them?
Do you have Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s nearby?
That’s where I buy my purple sweet potatoes for my Black folks’ sweet potato pie recipe.
You can also try purchasing them from your local farmer’s market.
How do you make a purple sweet potato pie?
So how does the pie turn purple?
A Black folks’ purple sweet potato pie is made with the same ingredients and instructions as a traditional soul food sweet potato pie recipe.
The only difference is that a purple sweet potato pie uses purple Stokes sweet potatoes instead of yams or regular orange sweet potatoes.
What does purple sweet potato taste like?
Some people say that purple sweet potatoes are denser, drier, and a bit less sweet than regular sweet potatoes.
While that may be true, I have found no difference.
Although I’ve only used Stokes purple sweet potatoes in my Black folks’ sweet potato pie recipe. Which calls for savory and sweet spices to achieve the soul food flavor.
What texture is this pie filling?
So there is no surprise that the taste of a purple sweet potato pie will be the same as an orange sweet potato pie because of the soul food seasonings.
With the addition of evaporated milk, the texture is also the same as a regular sweet potato pie.
In my humble pie opinion (pun intended), purple sweet potatoes in a pie taste just like the orange sweet potatoes you are used to.
Kitchen equipment
- Instant Pot electric pressure cooker
- Instant Pot Omni Plus oven (optional)
- Instant Pot Ace Plus blender or an electric mixer
- 9-inch deep-dish pie plate
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Ingredients for Black folks’ purple sweet potato pie
- 1 ½ pounds of Stokes purple sweet potatoes, washed and scrubbed (equals about 3 cups when softened and peeled)
- 12 oz. evaporated milk, 1 can
- 1 cup of light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 5 tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted (or vegan butter)
- 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon of ginger, minced
- 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon of ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
Instructions for Black folks’ purple sweet potato pie
- Grease a 9-inch pie pan and set it aside.
- See my recipe HERE for homemade almond flour pie crust, or you can use a store-bought pie crust, dough, or pie shell that may or may not come with its own pie pan.
- Pro tip: Use an Instant Pot pressure cooker to soften and peel the sweet potatoes quickly and almost effortlessly!
- Open the Instant Pot lid and fill the stainless-steel inner pot with water to the ½ mark.
- Add the scrubbed purple sweet potatoes to the pot of water.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 12 minutes to loosen the potato skin.
- When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 12 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- Pour the water and sweet potatoes into a colander in the sink to drain the hot water from the potatoes.
- Once the sweet potatoes are cool to the touch, peel and discard the skin.
- Gather 3 cups of purple potato flesh.
- Add to either the Instant Pot Ace blender or an electric mixer the sweet potato flesh, evaporated milk, brown sugar, egg, melted butter, vanilla extract, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt.
- Pulse or mix until the ingredients are combined and smooth.
- Pour the sweet potato mixture into the pie crust.
- Bake the purple sweet potato pie at 350 degrees F: in a conventional oven for 28-30 minutes, in the Instant Pot Omni Plus oven for 24-26 minutes, or until the pie is puffed and firm in the center. (Remember that cooking appliance times and oven temperatures will vary.)
- Allow the sweet potato pie to cool for at least 2-4 hours before garnishing or slicing.
- Garnish with whipped cream and cinnamon sprinkled on top.
- Serve this Black folks’ purple sweet potato pie recipe warm and enjoy!
More sweet potato pie recipes from The Soul Food Pot!
Pro tips:
- You’ll probably have leftover sweet potato mix, depending on how deep-dish your pie pan is. You can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. Or you can pour it into a Ziplock bag and freeze it for up to 3 months.
- You could also make mini-Black folks purple sweet potato pies with any leftover pie filling.
- And don’t forget to use any leftover pie dough for the easiest Southern dessert ever – pie crust cookies!
- Stokes purple sweet potatoes are similar to Ube purple yams. But not the same as Okinawan Japanese sweet potatoes or regular (not sweet) purple potatoes. So double-check that you’ve picked up the correct potatoes when shopping for this recipe!
What do you serve with Black folks purple sweet potato pie?
A simple answer would be whipped cream or ice cream, but that’s not the question.
You want something that compliments it! So if you’re looking for classic soul food recipes to serve with your purple sweet potato pie, then look no further than these delicious ideas!
Black folks Southern turkey recipe
Black folks chicken and dressing
Black folks soul food collard greens recipe
Black folks Southern green beans recipe
Black folks purple sweet potato pie FAQs
Where do you store purple sweet potatoes?
You can make the most of your Stokes purple sweet potatoes by storing them like you would regular potatoes.
Place in a cool, dry place away from heat and sunlight for up to two weeks.
What size pie pan should you use?
I used my trusty 9-inch pie pan because it’s perfect for baking tasty pastries and pies. But depending on how deep of a dish your pie pan is, you may end up with leftover sweet potato puree. Enough sometimes to make a second pie or mini pies!
Is there a substitute for the almond flour pie crust?
You can always make your purple sweet potato pie with my almond flour pie crust recipe. Still, store-bought pie crust is an excellent substitute.
What can you substitute for the evaporated milk if you are vegan?
So, you are vegan and want to make some of your favorite desserts. Luckily there are plenty of substitutes for evaporated milk that will give the same texture as dairy-based products, from soy to oat, almond, or coconut milk.
Are there any other acceptable ingredients substitutes in a Black folks’ sweet potato pie recipe?
In addition to vegan butter and the vegan substitutes mentioned above, you can use the following swaps for this soul food baked sweet potato pie recipe:
While I’ve found evaporated milk to be the smoothest and the perfect flavor additive for this recipe, sweetened condensed milk can substitute. Likewise, heavy cream.
Also, for this pie recipe, light brown sugar or dark brown sugar is best. But granulated sugar can also work in a pinch.
Is sweet potato pie a Black thing?
I’ve always had sweet potato pie for Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday dinners.
That’s because sweet potato pie was made by Black folks back in Africa when they used the native grown vegetable, yams. African-Americans today have continued the tradition of sweet potato pie with holiday dinners.
But there’s a new twist on the old classic! Introducing this Black folks’ purple sweet potato pie recipe.
It’s the same but new. Incredible soul food flavor, the perfect amount of sweetness, and a regal purple hue to stand out from the crowd the way Black folks’ food should!
Check out this classic Black folks’ sweet potato pie recipe HERE for more FAQs answered!
What do you think of this soul food purple sweet potato pie recipe?
Do you have your Thanksgiving menu planned?
Have you had purple sweet potato pie?
Would you make it?
Comment below and lemme know.
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Equipment
- Instant Pot electric pressure cooker
- Instant Pot Omni Plus oven (optional)
- Instant Pot Ace Plus blender or an electric mixer
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds sweet potatoes Stokes purple sweet potatoes washed and scrubbed (equals about 3 cups when softened and peeled)
- 12 oz evaporated milk 1 can
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 5 tablespoons butter unsalted butter, 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
- Grease a 9-inch pie pan and set it aside.
- See my recipe HERE (coming soon!) for homemade almond flour pie crust, or you can use a store-bought pie crust, dough, or pie shell that may or may not come with its own pie pan.
- Pro tip: Use an Instant Pot pressure cooker to soften and peel the sweet potatoes quickly and almost effortlessly!
- Open the Instant Pot lid and fill the stainless-steel inner pot with water to the ½ mark.
- Add the scrubbed purple sweet potatoes to the pot of water.
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 12 minutes to loosen the potato skin.
- When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 12 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- Pour the water and sweet potatoes into a colander in the sink to drain the hot water from the potatoes.
- Once the sweet potatoes are cool to the touch, peel and discard the skin.
- Gather 3 cups of purple potato flesh.
- Add to either the Instant Pot Ace blender or an electric mixer the sweet potato flesh, evaporated milk, brown sugar, egg, melted butter, vanilla extract, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt.
- Pulse or mix until the ingredients are combined and smooth.
- Pour the sweet potato mixture into the pie crust.
- Bake the purple sweet potato pie at 350 degrees F: in a conventional oven for 28-30 minutes, in the Instant Pot Omni Plus oven for 24-26 minutes, or until the pie is puffed and firm in the center. (Remember that cooking appliance times and oven temperatures will vary.)
- Allow the sweet potato pie to cool for at least 2-4 hours before garnishing or slicing.
- Garnish with whipped cream and cinnamon sprinkled on top.
- Serve this Black folks’ purple sweet potato pie recipe warm and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Unlike some pie recipes, there is no need to pre-heat your empty pie crust for this Black folks’ sweet potato pie recipe. Doing this can cause your pie crust edges to burn.
- A good indicator of when this pie recipe is done is when you can see the center of the pie filling puffing in the oven.
- You'll probably have leftover sweet potato mix, depending on how deep-dish your pie pan is. You can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. Or you can pour it into a Ziplock bag and freeze it for up to 3 months.
- You could also make mini-Black folks purple sweet potato pies with any leftover pie filling.
- And don’t forget to use any leftover pie dough for the easiest Southern dessert ever – pie crust cookies!
- It’s best to let the pie cool and set for a few hours up to a whole day before slicing.
- Stokes purple sweet potatoes are similar to Ube purple yams. But not the same as Okinawan Japanese sweet potatoes or regular (not sweet) purple potatoes. So double-check that you've picked up the correct potatoes when shopping for this recipe!
Nutrition
I haven’t seen purple sweet potatoes! I will be on the hunt for them now. Do they taste the same? The pie looks so good.
Author
Try Whole Foods or Trader Joes. They taste the same in the pie because of all the soul food spices. The only difference is the beautiful regal purple hue!
This just looks so fun and festive (and it’s my favorite color)
Author
Your favorite color – then you’ve gotta make this recipe!
This is stunning!!! Definitely something special to surprise my family and friends with
Author
Right! The color alone is a conversation starter!
Oh my gosh, it’s beautiful!!
Author
Thanks so much, Angelica! You’re guests will have the same reaction when you make this recipe!
That’s a nice looking pie! I can’t believe more people don’t use the purple sweet potatoes. I like this idea!
Author
I know – I too can’t believe they’re still a best kept secret!
I think this would be so cool to make for Mardi Gras! Thank you!
Author
OMG! Such a good ideas – purple sweet potato pie for Mardi Gras!!
I never knew there were purple sweet potatoes. Sure makes a pretty pie!
Author
I know right! And I’m happy to introduce them to you!
Love the purple. We are going to have to try this one!
Author
The purple just elevates this soul food tradition! And the purple sweet potatoes in a pie taste just the same as the original sweet potato pie.
Sweet purple potato is indeed sweet! We call it “Kamote” here in the Philippines..
Author
Yes – purple sweet potatoes are also a delicacy of the Philippines!!
making me hungry.
Author
Good, because this recipe is good!
Love everything in this. I think this must be made in our home
Author
I’m so excited that my soul food purple sweet potato pie is a new favorite in many homes!
thanks
Very pretty 😍 never tried it but might have to make it one day!
Author
It tastes just like the original sweet potato pie – just with a fanciful color twist!
Yum!
love sweet potatoes
looks yummy
looks good
I have never tried sweet potatoes in a pie…we always just boil them and add butter…but this sounds delicious
Author
Oh, then you must try them in a sweet potato pie!!
Honestly Okinawa purple sweet potatoes make a very good sweet potato pie. They are sweeter than the Stokes ones you suggest but have more of the texture of orange sweet potatoes. My only suggestion if you really want the purple color is to add ube extract to the recipe.