You may not be able to tell from all my pumpkin recipes, but I’m actually not a huge lover of pumpkin. It can be good depending on how it’s used, but sweet potatoes have my heart. Sweet potato pie is what we have every year at Thanksgiving, and it’s one of the things I most look forward to during this time of year. I’m pretty sure the whole pumpkin pie vs. sweet potato pie thing is one of those divisive American issues–most families I know have strong preferences for one or the other and don’t mess around in between! I’m thrilled to be able to share a new and healthy twist on my favorite sweet potato pie for you this Soul Food Sunday.
Lately I’ve been making a lot of desserts using flour and butter, which makes for very delicious desserts but of course is not the healthiest option (especially when I use white flour). With this pie I really wanted a dessert that was delicious but that wouldn’t be too rich for us to enjoy as an everyday treat. I’ve been wanting to try a nut crust for a long time and figured sweet potato pie would be the perfect oppurtunity.
And boy, it WAS the perfect opportunity. The flavor and texture of the nuts goes so well with the smooth, creamy sweet potato filling. There’s NO butter or white flour in this recipe, and I think it also happens to be gluten-free!
Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan Crust
by
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Keywords: bake dessert low-carb sweet potato pie Southern fall
Ingredients (serves 8)
For the crust:
- 2 c. raw pecan halves
- 2 T. melted coconut oil
- 2 T. agave nectar
- 1/4 t. cinnamon
- 1/4 t. salt
For the filling:
- 2 large sweet potatoes (enough for 2 1/2-3 c. of flesh)
- 3 eggs, at room temperature
- 1 c. evaporated skim milk
- 1 c. brown sugar (not packed)
- 1 t. cinnamon
- 1/4 t. nutmeg
- 1/4 t. salt
- dash of allspice
- dash of ginger
Instructions
Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into chunks. Boil the chunks in a large pot of water for 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
Drain the potatoes and mash them well with a potato masher. Cover with saran wrap and set aside.
In a blender or food processor, chop up the nuts just until the largest pieces are pea-sized.
Stir the remaining crust ingredients into the ground nuts until well combined.
Press the nuts into the bottom and sides of either a 9-inch pie pan or a 8-inch springform pan (the springform pan won’t need to use all the crust mixture).
Place the crusted pan in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.
Bake the crust in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes to toast the nuts.
While the crust is baking, blend the mashed sweet potatoes with an electric mixer until very smooth.
Add the remaining filling ingredients and continue to blend until the mixture is very smooth and creamy.
When the crust is done, remove it from the oven and then raise the oven temperature to 400 degrees.
Pour the filling into the crust and return it to the oven to bake for about 45 minutes, or until the top of the pie is lightly browned and the pie does not jiggle around when you move it.
Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool on a rack.
This pie reminds me of a combination between sweet potato and pecan pie–so delicious! Just enough nuts to hold the pie together.
If you’re looking for a twist on the traditional pumpkin or sweet potato pie this Thanksgiving season, I highly recommend this! It’s a great alternative for gluten-free guests! Or, if you’re like me and just really love nuts, then that’s enough of a reason in my book.
I love making desserts on the weekend that we can eat all week long! With school I definitely don’t have time during the week to bake up dessert every night, so it’s really nice to already have something prepared. Although I doubt this pie is going to last all week.
I know that lots of you are out there somewhere reading my posts, which I love and am so grateful for! But I don’t get to hear from you all very often! Please leave a comment and say hello! No matter who you are, I would love to say hi and get to know you. 🙂 I’m going to start doing reader questions at the end of my posts to get some conversation started, and here’s the first one…
What side of the fence are you and your family on? Sweet potato pie or pumpkin pie?
Thanks for reading!
-Lauren
36 Responses
Lauren
I’m sort of ashamed to admit that I’ve never had sweet potato pie 🙁 But I love pumpkin pie, so maybe I’d hate SP? I doubt it, considering I LOVE sweet potatoes. There’s room for both in my life.
Lauren
Oh my gosh, I wish I could give you a slice! I bet you would love it. You might just be one of those people who love both. 🙂
Erika - The Teenage Taste
Sweet potato pies are the best – love that you used pecans for the crust! Mmmmm…
Lauren
Thanks, Erika! 🙂 I agree, they are the best!
Deborah
I love sweet potato pie. We have it every thanksgiving and christmas
Lauren
YUM–love that you have it on both holidays! For some reason we never have pie after Thanksgiving…I have no clue why not.
Allegra
Love your posts! Definitely out there (grad school in England) reading :), also because I’ve been accepted to law school next year and it’s interesting to see how you can continue doing what you love while in the thralls of 1/2/3L.
& my family is, like yours, equal on the pumpkin pie/sweet potato debate. I generally do a mixture of both over the year’s holidays, but your nut crust looks dynamite! Must try it on my housemates this weekend.
Lauren
Hi Allegra, awesome to meet you! 🙂 Congrats on law school, that’s so great! Feel free to email me if you ever have any questions (not that I’m really the best person to be giving advice)!
Allegra
Thanks! I *do* have a few questions about law school that I’ll shoot your way as our Michaelmas term wraps up… Love the blog!
Helen
Honestly I love them both! We have both for the holidays, and I enjoy a piece of each one 🙂
Lauren
Love that you love both! I knew there had to be someone! 🙂
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Susan
Stumbled upon your blog while looking for a 7-up pound cake recipe and I just love it. I had to comment on your latest post because I am from the South and my Grandparents in Mississippi would roast sweet potatoes in the ambers of their fireplace for us to eat after church on Sunday. My Grandpa would pop open these sweet potatoes and cover them with sweet homemade butter. So with wonderful memories like these, of course, I prefer sweet potatoes.
Lauren
What a wonderful story! Thanks so much for sharing!
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma)
I think sweet potato has way more flavor then pumpkin. My vote is sweet potato!
Sherry
I am definitely in favor of this since I am trying to eat raw living foods most of the time…..and to be honest, I could not find any pumpkins and I love sweet potatos……so I’m looking forward to giving it a try!
Thank you!
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Yammie @ Yammie's Noshery
Hey, is there a recipe???
Lauren
Something had gone wrong with the page–thanks for letting me know! The recipe is there now.
Yammie @ Yammie's Noshery
Thank you! Love your blog. 🙂
Rozlyn.petersen@yahoo.com
This recipe looks Devine, especially the crust! Do you think I can make the crust a couple days ahead of time?
Lauren
Absolutely! Keep it refrigerated and it should be fine! 🙂
Jan Marie Vinsonhaler
I am inspired Lauren!! I’ve not had sweet potato pie but this sounds amazing and looks so beautiful in the spring form shape. Thank you and have a wonderful holiday!
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Sheefra Yakir
For along time I have been looking for a good sweet potato pie recipe. I can’t wait to try it.
Leslie rosa
Im.so looking forward to reading all your recipes 🙂
Rhonda
Hi Lauren!?
Love your blog! I’m a Sweet Potato Girl! My family and I usually do both for the end of year holidays, but we strongly PREFER Sweet potato; which btw, will be here very soon!?
Theresa
I love pumpkin, haven’t had a sweet potato pie in years, but wasn’t fond of it when I did… Maybe using a kitchen aide mixer to make the batter really smooth would help do the trick! I love the idea of this crust… Will definitely try it!
Lorna
I cant wait to try this!! Pumpkin is hard on my tummy!
Rene
I love this recipe and can’t wait to try it! I eat sweet potatoes almost every week but usually don’t make sweet potato pies until the holidays but I think I will make one this weekend! Thank you for sharing this
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[…] 18. Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan Crust […]
Rosemary
I can’t wait to try this recipe for myself and my gluten free guests
Tracy
Saw a nut crust pin that lead to nowhere. I was so upset. It took me a whole day surfing to find you. My granddaughter is alergic to agave. Bet I can use honey. What do you think?
Cathy
I was looking for a sweet potato casserole recipe when I came across this sp pie recipe. You see my dear cousins are visiting from out of state and I thought this would b a good time to give thanks for them in my life, hence thanksgiving dinner. This sounds like an awesome accompanying side dish. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Ps I’ve never had sweet potato pie but I love sweet potatoes!! I think I’ll have a new fav.
Heather
I’m so excited to try this!! Thank you for sharing.
Mark Turner
This pie 🥧 sounds awesome! I’m going to concoct a cinimon sugar glaze to drizzle over the top! Yum