This Sweet Potato Pecan Pie Recipe starts with a flaky, buttery crust that’s filled with a lush sweet potato filling then topped with a crisp, sweetened pecan topping. You get the best of both worlds PLUS A HOW TO VIDEO!
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Homemade pies are the heart of the South especially during the holidays. That’s why I’m sharing the ultimate Fall pie recipe: Sweet Potato Pecan Pie using Karo Corn Syrup.
From Georgia Peach to Florida Key Lime, Southerners everywhere love to knead buttery doughs and fill them with joy. Like most of those Southerners, I learned how to bake pies from none other than my grandmother: Big Mama. Her careful hands moved with intention and years of practice allowed her to bake with ease. When I watched her make magic, I wanted nothing more than to be just like her.
Now, I’m not quite there yet, but I will say that after plenty of my own trials and errors, I’m coming close. Pie making is in my blood y’all, and who am I to deny that? My mama made pies. I make pies and now even my daughter is stirring fillings to pour into my homemade doughs.
So, today I’m sharing the ultimate Fall pie recipe: Sweet Potato Pecan Pie. It’s balanced, it’s sweet, and so dang addictive. For Thanksgiving, we always have a mean homemade sweet potato pie AND an insane homemade pecan pie on the dessert table. I thought it might be fun to merge the two into something even more impressive!
You’re gonna find yourself busting out this recipe all season long especially for the holidays!
Perks and Highlights of the Best Sweet Potato Pecan Pie Recipe
Cuisine Inspiration: Southern Comfort This recipe has its roots deep in the heart of Southern cooking, y’all! It’s where the comforting sweetness of sweet potato meets the southern belle, the pecan, in a pie that’s all about homey vibes and down-to-earth goodness.
Primary Cooking Method: Baking We’re talking about pie, sweethearts! And pies need some oven lovin’. So preheat that magic box and let’s get baking. It’s all about that slow heat working its charm, turning our pie into a golden, gooey masterpiece.
Dietary Info: Indulgence Alert Not for the faint of heart (or diet!), this pie is a treat-yo-self kind of dish. It’s packed with sugars, nuts, and dairy, so it’s a no-go for the vegan or lactose-intolerant buddies. But it is vegetarian-friendly, so herbivores, rejoice!
Key Flavor: Sweet ‘n Nutty Imagine this: the creamy sweetness of sweet potatoes in a tender, flaky crust, topped off with crunchy, caramelized pecans. It’s a textural and flavorful delight that dances on the palate!
Skill Level: Intermediate Baker You don’t need to be a pastry chef, but a little experience around pies will take you a long way. A bit of patience and passion, and you’ll nail it!
Special Perks:
- Two-in-One Dessert: Why choose between sweet potato pie and pecan pie when you can indulge in both? It’s a dual delight!
- Make-Ahead Magic: Whip it up ahead of time and chill it – it’s just as divine served cold as it is warm.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for holiday tables, family gatherings, or just because. This pie is a universal charmer!
- Versatile Toppings: Get creative! Top it with whipped cream, ice cream, or even a drizzle of maple syrup for extra decadence.
- Nutritional Goodness: Packed with beta-carotene from sweet potatoes and healthy fats from pecans, it’s indulgence with a side of real nutrients.
The Best Pie Dough to Use
Pie dough, or any dough for that matter, can seem intimidating but I promise it’s not. After years of practice, I’ve nailed the recipe and technique just so that I could share it with y’all! Check out my Best Pie Crust Recipe for a complete walkthrough.
Tip: When making pie dough, make sure all of your ingredients are super cold. From the butter and water to even your hands, you want to make sure that you keep these ingredients chilled to ensure for flakiness to develop when the oven heat hits your dough.
Ingredients
This pie is truly my Southern foodie dream come true! I mean, we’re talking luscious sweet potato filling and perfectly gooey pecan topping layered onto flaky pie crust. It doesn’t get any better than that. Each element of this pie corresponds with another to make something you’ve truly never had before.
Here’s how it all happens:
Sweet Potato Pie Filling
- Mashed Sweet Potato- rich and sweet, these creamy potatoes make for a wonderfully decadent pie. Each bite is earthy, smooth and downright heavenly!
- Salted Butter- butter adds velvety richness. Using the salted variety helps to balance out sweetness.
- Granulated Sugar- added sugar will combine with the natural sugars from the sweet potato and create a caramelized flavor.
- Egg– works as an emulsifier and binder
- Cinnamon & Nutmeg– woodsy and fragrant, both spices add warmth and aroma.
Pecan Pie Topping
- Corn Syrup– made with 3 simple ingredients, Karo Corn Syrup has been the go-to for adding sweetness and giving smooth texture to baked goods since 1902.
- Chopped Pecans– pecans are buttery and nutty; their crunchy nature also adds incredible texture.
- Granulated & Light Brown Sugar– sugar coats the pecans and creates a delicious layer of goodness!
- Egg– simply a binder but it also adds richness.
- Vanilla Extract– a heavy splash never killed anyone, right? Everyone loves the smell of warm vanilla.
How to Make Sweet Potato Pecan Pie
For the Sweet Potato Pie Filling:
- Grab your hand mixer and a sizeable bowl, it’s showtime! Dive in with the sweet potato, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk it up until it’s smoother than a jazz melody. Set it aside, ’cause we’ll be back!
For the Pecan Pie Filling:
- In another large mixing bowl, it’s time for the pecans to shine! Mix that beaten egg, pecans, both sugars, corn syrup, and vanilla. It’s sweet, it’s nutty—it’s a whole mood!
To Assemble:
- Fire up your oven to 400 degrees, ’cause things are about to get toasty!
- Dough time! Sprinkle some flour on your counter and roll out your dough to a 1/4-1/3 inch thickness. Pop it into your pie plate like a pro and freeze for 10 minutes.
- Take out the crust, line it with parchment paper, throw in some pie weights, and give it an egg wash glow-up. Bake for 6-8 minutes until it’s just turning golden.
- Crust’s done? Awesome! Reduce that heat to 350 degrees and prep a baking sheet on the oven’s lowest rack.
- Now pour that sweet potato mix into the crust. Cover it gently with foil—like tucking it into bed.
- Bake on the hot sheet for 40-45 minutes.
- Out it comes! Let it chill under the foil for 10 minutes. Then, it’s pecan’s time to shine! Spoon those bad boys on top.
- Back into the oven it goes for another 20-25 minutes. You’re looking for a set filling and that gorgeous golden crust.
- Cool it (literally) on a wire rack for 2 hours, then let it chill in the fridge overnight.
- Serve it up! Whether it’s with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, you just can’t go wrong.
Baking Tips
Making a pie is always a decent amount of work, so don’t let it go to waste! Here are a few pro tips to ensure a perfectly-baked, flavorful pie:
Bake the Sweet Potatoes
A lot of recipes call for boiling or steaming sweet potatoes before making the filling. But, I find that both methods water-log the potatoes and make for a soupy, underwhelming filing.
Bake the sweet potatoes whole, at 375 degrees for an hour, up to a week in advance of baking.
Bake the Pie Properly
The texture of a sweet potato pie is similar to that of a custard pie: satiny and smooth. In order to achieve that creamy mouthfeel, it’s crucial to bake the pie properly.
Keep a close eye during baking. When done, the center of the pie should have a slight jiggle; it will continue to set during the rest period. A knife inserted in the edge of the pie should come back moist, but clean.
Give the Pie Enough Time to Rest
Okay, I know this is the worst part. Who wants to wait while a warm, tasty pie is just sitting there? But, I promise that if you cut into it too early, it’s gonna be a hot mess.
For best results, let the pie sit at room temperature for at least 2 hours after baking. Then, cover loosely and rest overnight (a full 24 hours, if possible) in the refrigerator.
Storage and Reheating
To Store: Because this pie contains eggs, it’s important to keep it tightly-wrapped and refrigerated. A properly stored pie will keep for up to 3 days.
To Reheat: I suggest avoiding the microwave; it just doesn’t help the texture of the pastry. A conventional or toaster oven works much better. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper, place the pie on the sheet and lightly cover with foil. Bake for 5-15 minutes, depending on the size of the slice you’re reheating.
Best Southern Pie Recipes
Looking for more of my butteriest bites? You’ve come to the right place. Migrate South for the Winter by churning out a few of my most decant Southern-inspired pie recipes:
- S’mores Pumpkin Pie
- Sheet Pan Pie with 3 flavors in 1
- Pecan Pie Bars
- Sweet Potato Cobbler
- Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
- Pumpkin Pie
- Pecan Pie
- Black Folks Sweet Potato Pie
Sweet Potato Pecan Pie
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Ingredients
For the Pie Crust (Double if using a deep pie plate!)
- 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup very cold unsalted butter cut in cubes
- 1/4-1/3 cup very cold water
For the Sweet Potato Pie Filling
- 1 cup sweet potato mashed
- 1/4 cup salted butter melted and cooled
- 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
For the Pecan Pie Topping
- 1 large egg room temperature and beaten
- 1 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp light brown sugar packed
- 1/3 cup Karo’s Corn Syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
For the Crust
- (if using a deep pie dish, double this recipe). In a medium sized bowl, whisk together flour, sugar and salt.
- Next, add the cold butter cubes to flour and, using your pastry cutter or hands, cut the butter into the flour mixture until various sized crumbs appear.
- Slowly add the cold water into the flour until a ball of dough forms. Start with a ¼ cup and add more water if needed. Knead the dough quickly to bring it together. Don't worry if there is any flour left in the bowl.
- Remove the dough from the bowl, round into a ball and place into a clean bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and rest in the refrigerator for 45-55 minutes.
For the Sweet Potato Pie Filling
- Using a hand mixer and a large bowl, whisk together sweet potato, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg until smooth then set aside.
For the Pecan Pie Filling
- In a large bowl, combine the beaten egg, pecans, both sugars, corn syrup and vanilla.
To Assemble
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Remove dough from the fridge and add a bit of flour to a working surface or clean counter and place dough on it. Using a rolling pin, quickly roll dough out to about 1/4-1/3 inch thickness and place in your pie plate. Freeze the crust for 10 minutes.
- Remove the crust from the freezer, line with parchment paper and add pie weights. Brush with egg wash (just 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of water whisked together) then Bake for 6-8 minutes or until a pale golden color.
- Remove crust from the oven, reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and place a baking sheet on the lowest oven rack.
- Slowly pour sweet potato filling into the crust and carefully cover with a piece of aluminum foil.
- Place the pie on the preheated baking sheet in the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes.
- Remove pie from the oven and let rest (covered) for 10 minutes. Then, gently spoon the pecans over the top of the pie.
- Place pie back in the oven and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes or until pie is set and the crust is golden brown.
- Cool on a wire rack for 2 hours. Refrigerate overnight. Serve with whipped topping or vanilla ice cream, if desired.
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I’m so glad you baked this pie! It was my favorite at Pappadeaux but since the pandemic they no longer make it. Thank you!
1 1/2 cups of sugar in the sweet potato pie filling? To 1 cup of sweet potato? That seems like a lot. Is that a typo?
Not a typo. You can easily adjust the sugar if you would like. Start with a cup and taste and see if it is to your preference.