Cutting board: Provides surface for peeling and preparing sweet potato.
Step-by-Step for Baking a Sweet Potato Pie
Sweet Potato Comfort
Sweet Potato Selection Fresh, vibrant sweet potatoes with smooth skin guarantee a delicious pie that feels like a warm hug from grandma's kitchen.
Potato Preparation Gently boil sweet potatoes until tender, allowing them to soften and release their natural sweetness in a bubbling water bath.
Creamy Potato Transformation Mash the cooked sweet potatoes into a silky smooth texture, breaking down the flesh with gentle strokes to create a luxurious base.
Flavor Symphony Blend aromatic spices and rich dairy ingredients into the potato mixture, creating a harmonious dance of warmth and comfort that will make taste buds sing.
Pie Crust Magic Carefully pour the velvety sweet potato filling into a waiting pie shell, ensuring an even distribution that promises a perfect slice every time.
Oven Magic Bake the pie until the filling sets with a gentle wobble, allowing the kitchen to fill with an irresistible aroma that draws everyone near.
Cooling Celebration Let the pie rest and settle, allowing flavors to mingle and create a dessert that speaks of love and home-cooked comfort.
Spice It Up: Ideas for Your Pie Filling
Roast sweet potatoes instead of boiling to develop deeper, caramelized notes and enhance natural sweetness.
Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth, even blending without lumps in the filling.
Brush pie crust edges with egg wash and sprinkle raw sugar for a golden, crispy exterior that resists moisture.
Experiment with adding ground ginger, cardamom, or a pinch of black pepper to complement the traditional nutmeg and cinnamon.
Prepare the pie filling a day in advance and refrigerate to allow spices to develop more complex, rich flavors before baking.
Ways to Present Ina Garten’s Sweet Potato Pie
Garnish with Whipped Cream: Top each slice with a dollop of freshly whipped cream for an extra creamy and indulgent touch.
Sprinkle Cinnamon Dust: Lightly dust ground cinnamon over the pie surface to enhance the warm, spicy flavor profile.
Pair with Vanilla Ice Cream: Serve a slice alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delightful temperature and texture contrast.
Add Candied Pecans: Scatter chopped candied pecans on top for a crunchy, sweet complement to the smooth pie texture.
Refrigerate or Freeze Sweet Potato Pie the Right Way
Refrigerate Wisely: Store your sweet potato pie in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, covering it loosely with aluminum foil or plastic wrap to maintain freshness and prevent absorption of other food odors.
Freeze for Later: Wrap the cooled pie tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then place in a freezer-safe container. Frozen sweet potato pie stays delicious for up to 2 months, perfect for make-ahead dessert lovers.
Thaw with Care: Remove the pie from the freezer and let it defrost in the refrigerator overnight. Avoid countertop thawing to prevent bacterial growth and maintain the pie's delicate texture.
Serve at Peak Flavor: Allow the chilled or thawed pie to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. This helps restore the pie's creamy consistency and enhances its rich, warm spice flavors.
Sweet potato pie from Ina Garten combines creamy Southern comfort with elegant culinary craft. Warm spices and silky filling create a memorable dessert you’ll savor during holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
1 (454 g / 1 lb) sweet potato, with skin
2 large eggs
1 cup white sugar
½ cup (113 g / 4 oz) butter, softened
½ cup (120 ml / 4 fl oz) milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust
Instructions
Potato Preparation: Submerge whole sweet potato in water, simmering for 40-50 minutes until fork-tender.
Oven Setup: Preheat oven to 350°F, positioning rack in the center for even baking.
Potato Processing: Drain and rinse potato, then peel away skin and transfer soft flesh to a large mixing bowl.
Mixture Creation: Blend sweet potato with softened butter using an electric mixer until smooth, then gradually fold in granulated sugar, whole milk, eggs, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.
Filling Integration: Whip mixture until ingredients are fully incorporated and texture becomes silky and uniform.
Pie Assembly: Pour the creamy sweet potato filling into an unbaked pie crust, spreading evenly to ensure consistent thickness.
Baking Process: Place pie in preheated oven and bake for 55-60 minutes, verifying doneness by inserting a knife into the center – it should emerge clean without any wet filling.
Cooling and Serving: Remove pie from oven and allow to cool completely at room temperature for at least one hour before slicing and presenting.
Notes
Potato Preparation: Choose firm, fresh sweet potatoes without blemishes for the best flavor and texture.
Boiling Technique: Simmer potatoes whole to preserve nutrients and prevent waterlogging, ensuring a rich, concentrated sweet potato taste.
Mixing Mastery: Use room temperature ingredients for smoother blending and more consistent pie filling.
Baking Precision: Check pie at 50 minutes to prevent over-browning and ensure a creamy, perfectly set filling.
Founder, Head Recipe Developer & Cuisine Specialist
Expertise
Recipe Development and Testing, Modern American and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education and Workshops
Education
Johnson & Wales University
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts
Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and global cuisines.
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Program: Diploma in Pastry Arts
Focus: Specialized education in baking and pastry, emphasizing artisanal bread, confections, and plated desserts.
Michael Reynolds is the founder and head recipe creator at wd-50.com. With over 15 years of experience in the kitchen, he’s spent time working in top restaurants and now focuses on making great food easy for everyone at home.
Michael studied culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University and later trained in pastry at the Auguste Escoffier School. He knows his way around both savory meals and sweet treats.
At wd-50.com, his goal is to help you feel confident in the kitchen, whether you’re trying something new or cooking a favorite dish. He loves using fresh ingredients and simple steps that still bring out big flavors.
Michael Reynolds
Founder, Head Recipe Developer & Cuisine Specialist
Expertise
Recipe Development and Testing, Modern American and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education and Workshops
Education
Johnson & Wales University
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Michael Reynolds is the founder and head recipe creator at wd-50.com. With over 15 years of experience in the kitchen, he’s spent time working in top restaurants and now focuses on making great food easy for everyone at home.
Michael studied culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University and later trained in pastry at the Auguste Escoffier School. He knows his way around both savory meals and sweet treats.
At wd-50.com, his goal is to help you feel confident in the kitchen, whether you’re trying something new or cooking a favorite dish. He loves using fresh ingredients and simple steps that still bring out big flavors.