Sweet Potato Pie (With Sweetened Condensed Milk)

Name: Sweet Potato Pie (with Sweetened Condensed Milk)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 105 min
Total time: 110 min
Ingredients: 1 pound sweet potatoes ((about 3 medium; 2 cups mashed)); 6 tablespoons butter (softened); 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk; 2 eggs (beaten); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; pie crust; whipped cream ((optional))

Published: Jun 22, 2021 by Erin · This post may contain affiliate links · 30 Comments

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There are few recipes more southern than sweet potato pie! This great recipe is made with sweetened condensed milk, making it creamy with just the right amount of sweetness. Best of all, it is simple to make! Once the sweet potatoes are baked, it takes just 5 minutes to prepare the pie for the oven!

Slice of sweet potato pie on a round plate with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

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Why You Will Love This Recipe
Ingredient Information
Step-By-Step Instructions
Expert Tips
What's the Difference Between Sweet Potato Pie and Pumpkin Pie?
Frequently Asked Questions
More Pie Recipes
Recipe
Reviews

Why You Will Love This Recipe

This is one of those old-school recipes that you could find taped on the inside of your grandmother's cabinet. Whether you are looking for the perfect sweet potato pie to finish off your southern Thanksgiving dinner, or you are simply craving the delicious flavors, you are going to love this easy recipe!

Using sweetened condensed milk in your pie will make it velvety in texture. And it is already sweetened, so no extra sugar is needed. That's one less ingredient you need to add. This pie is so easy to make, and tastes delicious! It is a fall favorite!

In my opinion, you can never have too many sweet potatoes on Thanksgiving! So I love to add sweet potato crunch casserole and no-rise sweet potato dinner rolls to my Thanksgiving table too!

Ingredient Information

It takes just a few simple ingredients to make this pie! Here is some information on why these ingredients are the perfect combination:

Sweet Potatoes - It wouldn't be sweet potato pie without the sweet potatoes! It is pretty incredible how you can make such a delicious pie from a vegetable. Fresh sweet potatoes are a fantastic source of beta carotene, vitamin c, and potassium. So if you are like me and love to eat leftover pie for breakfast you can do so guilt-free! (Okay, maybe just less guilt. I mean...it's still dessert for breakfast.)

Sweetened Condensed Milk - It is easy to get confused at the store and end up with evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed milk. Sweetened condensed milk is exactly what it sounds like - it is concentrated milk (60% of the water has been removed) with sugar added. Evaporated milk is also concentrated milk, but it is not sweetened. You will find some sweet potato pie recipes call for regular milk, but they will not be as creamy and velvety as this recipe.

Vanilla Extract - Classic sweet potato pie is flavored with vanilla extract. This is a distinct flavor difference that separates it from pumpkin pie. My favorite vanilla extract is Rodelle.

Spices - Save the pumpkin pie spice for your pumpkin pie! Cinnamon and nutmeg are the only spices this recipe calls for. They are the perfect blend of warm fall spices! This allows the vanilla flavors to come through, giving you a more subtle, balanced pie.

Pie Crust - Make your own pie dough with this flaky pie crust recipe, or buy your favorite store-bought dough. If you don't like messing with a crust, try sweet potato dump cake!

Step-By-Step Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, mash the baked sweet potatoes together with softened butter. You can also use a mixer to blend these two together.
Add the remaining ingredients and blend well. You can use a handheld mixer or a standing mixer to blend these ingredients.
Pour into your pie crust. Follow the par-baking steps for best results) and bake in a 350°F oven for 40-50 minutes. The center should still be jiggly like Jell-o. It will set up once it has cooled.
Once the pie cools for 2 hours at room temperature, place it in the refrigerator for at least another 2 hours to finish cooling. The pie can also be made a day ahead.

Step-by-step photo collage showing 1) mashing potatoes, 2) mixing all ingredients, 3) unbaked filling in pie, 4) baked pie.

Expert Tips

For the best sweet potato pie, use baked or microwaved sweet potatoes. Boiling your sweet potatoes will result in a flavorless pie. It may also have a runnier texture. To bake the sweet potatoes, pierce the potatoes with a fork. Line a wire rack in the oven with aluminum foil. You can also place them on a baking sheet. Bake at 425°F for one hour, or until soft.
For a smooth custard, use a blender to puree the potatoes with butter. If you prefer a more textured pie, mash the two ingredients together with a potato masher.
Blind-baking your crust will help it cook all the way through, and will avoid a gummy crust bottom.
Skip the Cool Whip and serve your sweet potato pie with fresh whipped cream. Or for a fun variation, top with marshmallows and place under the broiler for a minute or two.

Overhead view of two pieces of pie on plates, and the pie plate holding sliced pieces of pie.

What's the Difference Between Sweet Potato Pie and Pumpkin Pie?

I love a good pumpkin pie! As a matter of fact, I have an incredibly creamy and delicious pumpkin pie recipe! But there are some distinct differences between the two pies;

Both pies have warm spices, but pumpkin pies usually have a little more spice flavor, with the addition of ginger and clove. Sweet potato pie filling keeps the spice as an undertone, and often adds vanilla extract for flavor depth.

The texture of the pies is a little bit different as well, with sweet potato pie having a lighter texture, whereas pumpkin pie custard is denser.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know the filling is cooked?

You want the outer edges firm but the center still jiggly. It should look almost like Jell-o when you give it a shake. The pie will firm up completely as it cools.

Does sweet potato pie need to be refrigerated?

Sweet potato pie is considered a custard pie and does need to be refrigerated after two hours of cooling time. The pie is best served chilled.

Can you freeze sweet potato pie?

You can freeze sweet potato pie whole or in slices. Wrap in plastic wrap and then with aluminum foil, or store in an airtight container. They will keep in the freezer for 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Can I use canned sweet potatoes?

Canned sweet potatoes can be used but the texture may be slightly thinner. Be sure to drain the sweet potatoes before using.

Overhead view of sweet potato pie with two pieces sliced.

More Pie Recipes

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