Grandma Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

Want to make Thanksgiving dinner as good as Grandma’s?

But do you have questions about Grandma’s sweet potato pie recipe?

Grandma’s old-fashioned sweet potato pie recipe is likely a legacy soul food recipe honoring a legacy of West African influences passed down from one African-American generation to another. You are right to have questions about making this integral iconic dish.

But no worries, I gotchu – with my family’s old-fashioned sweet potato pie recipe, just like grandma’s because it’s her recipe! Check out the step-by-step instructions and easy recipe guide below.

Black folks’ sweet potato pie recipe, purple sweet potato pie, Southern sweet potato pie with cream cheese, or sweet potato pie with condensed milk.

Which one is your favorite?

My favorite is my classic Black folks’ sweet potato pie, my families recipe adapted from my grandma. 

Understandably, your favorite is likely your grandma’s old-fashioned sweet potato pie recipe, too. 

Why do you suppose that is?

For me, my grandma’s and my mom’s sweet potato pie is a dessert family favorite that introduced warm spicy notes of cinnamon and clove as part of its signature soul food spices, along with silky evaporated milk in the recipe. This dessert is like an evergreen holiday. A big warm hug!

So, let’s not wait another minute since hugs are waiting to be made! Let’s dive into how to make grandma’s seemingly complex recipe. 

But with today’s modern cooking appliances, you may be surprised that old-fashioned sweet potato pie is a very easy-to-make soul food Southern dessert!

What are the ingredients in Southern sweet potato pie?

This recipe is traditionally made with sweet potato pie ingredients: softened or mashed sweet potatoes, eggs, sugar, butter, and the best blend of vanilla, evaporated milk, cinnamon, and other sweet spices. 

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

Ingredients for a grandma old-fashioned sweet potato pie recipe

• Sweet potatoes – A naturally sweet pie filling with a smooth, creamy texture.
• Evaporated milk – Evaporated milk adds a velvety smoothness to the pie.
• Light brown sugar – Adds a touch of sweetness with caramel-like flavor.
• Eggs – The binding agent that ensures the pie filling holds its shape.
• Butter – Adds a rich flavor that complements the natural sweet potatoes.
• Vanilla extract – For a warm and comforting balance in the flavor profile.
• Nutmeg – Adds a warm, nutty, and earthly balance to the pie’s sweetness. 
• Cinnamon –  Adds a comforting warmth and heat with earthy flavor. 
• Clove –  Contributes to the pie’s overall soulful spiciness.
• Salt – A necessary contrast to balance the sweet spice profiles.
• Pie crust – Elevates this dish from a sweet potato soufflé to a sweet potato pie with a simple, delicious, and flaky pie crust encasing. 

Instructions for a grandma old-fashioned sweet potato pie recipe

1. Grease the pie pan – Grease a 9-inch pie pan and set it aside.

2. For homemade pie crust – See my recipe on TheSoulFoodPot.com for a homemade almond flour pie crust, or you can use a store-bought pie crust, dough, or pie shell that may come with its own pie pan.

3. Recipe pro tip – Use an Instant Pot pressure cooker to soften and peel the sweet potatoes quickly and almost effortlessly! 

4. Pressure cook or boil the sweet potatoes – Open the Instant Pot lid and fill the stainless-steel inner pot with water to the ½ mark.

5. Add the scrubbed sweet potatoes to the pot of water.

6. 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.

7. When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 12 minutes.

8. To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.

9. Drain the cooked sweet potatoes – Pour the water and sweet potatoes into a colander in the sink to drain the hot water from the potatoes.

10.                Peel the sweet potatoes – Once the sweet potatoes are cool to the touch, peel and discard the skin.

11.                Gather the potato flesh – Gather 3 cups of sweet potato flesh.

12.                Mix the ingredients – 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, nutmeg, cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt.

13. Pulse or mix until the ingredients are combined and smooth.

14.                Fill the pie crust – Pour the sweet potato mixture into the pie crust.

15.                Bake the pie – Bake the 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.)

16.                Let the pie cool – Allow the sweet potato pie to cool for at least 2-4 hours before garnishing or slicing.

17.                Optional toppings – Garnish with whipped cream and cinnamon sprinkled on top. 

18.                How to serve – Serve grandma’s old-fashioned sweet potato pie recipe warm and enjoy!

What other recipes can you make with sweet potatoes?

Check out my best Southern soul food sweet potato recipes HERE!

Do you eat sweet potato pie hot or cold? 

Sweet potato pie is best served warm or at room temperature. 

Most pies are left unrefrigerated while family and friends feast on the dessert. Then, it’s chilled in the fridge to store the leftovers and warmed up before serving again.

What do you serve with a grandma old-fashioned sweet potato pie recipe?

If you’re looking for classic soul food recipes to serve with your sweet potato pie for your Thanksgiving menu or Christmas dinner, then look no further than these delicious ideas:

Southern fried chicken or a Black folks Southern turkey recipe, soul food collard greens, Black folks cornbread dressing, Black folks homemade cornbread, and soul food black eyed peas.

Grandma old-fashioned sweet potato pie recipe FAQs

Which is better evaporated or condensed milk?

The answer is a matter of preference. Condensed milk is sweeter than evaporated milk. And evaporated milk is silkier than thicker condensed milk. Although one can be substituted for the other, condensed milk will make the pie taste a bit sweeter.

Can you boil the sweet potatoes for sweet potato pie?

Yes, an easy way to quickly peel and soften the sweet potatoes is to pressure cook or boil them.

How do you cook the potatoes to mash them?

The easiest method is to use an Instant Pot pressure cooker to soften and peel the sweet potatoes quickly and almost effortlessly to prepare them for mashing. 

How do you get the strings out of sweet potatoes? 

A blender, hand-held mixer, or electric stand mixer will automatically collect the strings on its blade for easy removal or, better yet, dissolve them.

How do you keep your pie crust edges from burning?

Unlike some pie recipes, there is no need to preheat your empty pie crust for this Black folks’ sweet potato pie recipe. Doing this can cause your pie crust edges to burn. 

You can also use a handy kitchen gadget called a pie shield. 

Will that change the baking time?

Using a pie shield will not affect the baking time. It’ll just prevent your pie crust edges from being overexposed to oven heat.

How do you know when the filling is cooked?

How do you know when your sweet potato pie is done?

How long should a sweet potato pie sit before slicing?

Allow the sweet potato pie to cool for at least 2-4 hours before garnishing or slicing.

How do you cut sweet potato pie?

One primary consideration when cutting your sweet potato pie is to let it set before cutting. Otherwise, the slice will fall apart like feta cheese! 

It’s best to let the pie cool and set for a few hours up to a whole day. 

But if you can’t wait the entire day, wait at least four hours before cutting it into pieces.

Pro tips for slicing sweet potato pie:

• This process can be even simpler if you run your sharp knife on a chilled sweet potato pie. 
• A perfect uniform slice will be in your hands if you refrigerate your sweet pie before cutting it. 
• Be sure the knife is clean and sharp before cutting. 
• Wipe it off with a damp cloth after each slice and cut cleanly through the bottom of your pie.

Do you refrigerate Black folks’ sweet potato pie?

Yes. After all, this recipe calls for eggs.

How long will sweet potato pie last in the refrigerator?

The baked and cooled pie can be stored in the refrigerator for 5 days.

Can you reheat sweet potato pie?

This sweet potato pie recipe can be quickly rewarmed in the oven. Or by the slice in the microwave. 

Can you freeze a sweet potato pie?

You can absolutely freeze whole sweet potato pies or leftover pie for up to three months. 

First, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and then foil, sealed tight with an airtight container.

Can you make this pie ahead?

Suppose you’re making a Thanksgiving sweet potato pie or a Christmas sweet potato pie. In that case, it’s a good idea to make your sweet potato pie masterpiece ahead of time. (Assuming, of course, that you have the refrigerator space!)

Just remember: wrap tightly and keep in the fridge – after all, this recipe calls for eggs.

Are there any acceptable ingredients substitutes in a Black folks’ sweet potato pie recipe?

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 perfect flavor additive for sweet potato pie, sweetened condensed milk can be a substitute. Likewise, heavy cream. 

Also, light brown or dark brown sugar is best for this pie recipe. But granulated sugar can also work in a pinch.

Which is better, pumpkin or sweet potato pie?

If you ask Black folks, there is no debate about which is better. 

The answer is always sweet potato pie – as long as it’s made the Black folks’ soul food way!

You can learn more in my post about why Black people eat sweet potato pie instead of pumpkin pie.

How did your pie turn out? 

Is it as good as grandma’s old-fashioned sweet potato pie recipe?

Comment below and lemme know. 

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