Homemade Sweet Potato Pie

Follow our pie crust instructions to make a homemade crust. Once the crust is assembled and fluted in the pie pan, place it in the refrigerator while you prepare the pie filling.

Prep the Sweet Potatoes

Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Wash the sweet potatoes thoroughly. Pierce each sweet potato several times with a fork or knife. This helps steam escape while they roast. Place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. This will make cleanup easier. Roast the sweet potatoes in the oven for about 45-60 minutes, or until they are tender. You can check for doneness by inserting a fork or knife into a sweet potato; it should go in easily.

Remove the roasted sweet potatoes from the oven and allow them to cool for a bit until they are comfortable to handle. Once the sweet potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel off the skin. The skin should easily come away from the flesh. Measure out about 2 cups of sweet potatoes and place in the food processor.

Position your oven rack in the bottom ⅓ of your oven and preheat the oven to 425º.

Process the sweet potatoes until they are smooth and free of lumps, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure even blending. Add the softened butter, granulated sugar, milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and vanilla extract to the food processor and pulse until creamy and well combined.

Add in the eggs, process everything until the mixture is smooth.

Pour the filling into the unbaked pie crust.

Place the pie in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Then turn the temperature down to 350ºF and bake for 30-40 minutes. To determine if the sweet potato pie is done, use one of these methods.Visual Inspection: Look at the pie's appearance. The edges of the pie should be set and slightly browned, while the center should be firm but not overly jiggly. It's okay if the center has a slight wobble as it will continue to set as it cools.Knife or Toothpick Test: Insert a clean knife or toothpick into the center of the pie. If it comes out clean with no wet batter sticking to it, the pie is done. If there's still wet batter on the knife or toothpick, it needs more time in the oven.Temperature Check: Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the pie. The sweet potato pie is done when its internal temperature reaches about 175-180°F (80-82°C). This method provides a precise way to ensure the pie is fully cooked.Shake Test: Gently shake the pie. If the center jiggles excessively, it may need more time in the oven. A slight jiggle is okay, but it should be mostly set.Allow the sweet potato pie to cool on a wire rack for a few hours or until it reaches room temperature. Refrigerate before serving for the best flavor.