Sweet Potato Pie

Hubby's grandparents live in Gilmer, TX... home of the annual Yamboree.  Yes, that's right, an entire festival for yams or sweet potatoes.  We go most years.  It's awesome- in a very small town sort of way.

There is a sweet potato pie contest each year, and after the judging is over, the pie entries go on sale.  Grandma always buys one for us and now sweet potato pie has become a favorite in our home.

Hubby asked for one for Christmas Eve dinner and I was happy to oblige. I've made this one time before, but have no clue what recipe I used. So this year, I googled it, read about 100 recipes. Figured Paula Deen's would be the best.  They are all very similar anyways. 

I did not take pictures of the process, but it really is pretty easy.  Here is my finished product (it was delicious)  recipe below.

Paula Deen's Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie

2 cups peeled, cooked sweet potatoes (this was 1 large sweet potato)

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 stick melted butter

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 to 2 tablespoons bourbon (I used vanilla)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger (I used 1/4 teaspoon allspice instead)

1 cup milk

9-inch unbaked pie crust (I used pilsbury pre-made)

3 egg whites (this is for meringue, which I did NOT make)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

For the filling, using an electric hand mixer, combine the potatoes, 1 cup of the sugar, the butter, eggs, vanilla, salt, and spices. Mix thoroughly. Add the milk and continue to mix. Pour the filling into the pie crust and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Place the pie on a rack and cool to room temperature before covering with meringue.

For the meringue, using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form; beat in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Continue beating until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is glossy and stiff, but not dry. With a rubber spatula, spoon the meringue onto the pie, forming peaks. Make sure the meringue touches the crust all around. Sprinkle with a pinch of granulated sugar. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until delicately browned. Cool and serve.

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So there you have it... good ole fashioned sweet potato pie.  The consistency is exactly like pumpkin pie, but replace the pumpkin flavor with sweet potato flavor.  

Enjoy!