There is a clear winner in the pumpkin pie versus sweet potato pie debate in our house! It will always reign as the dessert champion. As much as I want to love pumpkin pie, I miss the familiar taste of sweet potatoes, nutmeg, butter, and vanilla. Maybe you remember exactly how your mom or grandmother’s pie tasted. My beloved 100-year-old grandmother, Helen Anthony of Fort Valley, GA, passed this recipe down to me. She graciously told me how to make her pie one afternoon. And so, I wrote it down to keep her heirloom recipe alive. Now what do you prefer? Vote for your favorite and tag me at @allaboutfoodswithcybil on Instagram when you make it!
Mrs. Helen's Sweet Potato Pie
Ingredients
- 3 medium sweet potatoes
- 2 9-inch frozen regular pie shells, thawed
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F
- Place sweet potatoes in a large pot, cover with water, and boil until potatoes are tender.
- While potatoes are cooking, use a fork to prick the bottom of each pie shell.
- Bake pie shells for about 6 to 8 minutes, just to set the crust and brown lightly. You don't want to brown the crust too much because the pies will bake some more. Set aside to cool on a baking rack.
- Remove sweet potatoes from the water and drain thoroughly. Remove the skin from the potatoes and place them in a large mixing bowl.
- Mash the potatoes until smooth. Granny says to be sure that you use a fork to remove any strings from the potatoes.
- Mash the butter in a small bowl and fold into the sweet potatoes.
- In a small bowl, stir together the sugar and flour to combine. Add the sugar mixture to the sweet potatoes. She uses the flour to bind the potatoes.
- Add in the eggs, stirring until well mixed.
- Add nutmeg and vanilla, stirring well.
- Evenly distribute the sweet potato mixture between the two pie shells.
- Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove pies to wire rack to cool.
- Serve with love.
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