Sweet Potato Pecan Pie
This sweet potato pecan pie is perfectly spiced, silky smooth and topped with a crunchy pecan streusel. Just what every Thanksgiving table needs.
(This recipe and post were originally published in November 2013. Pictures and recipe updated in November 2018 but post content below remain unchanged.)
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Hi friends! Before we get to this incredible sweet potato pecan pie today, I need to talk about shopping. Have you guys been out shopping lately? I have been doing a bit of shopping this week, despite my jet-lagged state. My sister is leaving soon and together we have been gathering gifts for family members. Usually shopping during the week is calmer and you don’t have to mangle through crowds of people. But no, that has not been the case this week. Everywhere we go is packed with holiday shoppers. Be it Target, TJMaxx, the Mall or even Walmart. Am I the only one who isn’t even thinking about holiday shopping yet?
What’s even worse is that all these stores are playing Christmas music already!!!!! Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas. It’s my favorite time of the year. I get all romantic (a very rare occasion for this gal), enjoy all the family gatherings and especially love all the presents that come with it. But we haven’t even had turkey and stuffing yet!!! I want my stuffing before thinking of Santa (No offense Santa. I’ve been a good girl 🙂 ).
I think there is a secret group on corporate America hill who is plotting to get rid of Thanksgiving soon to start the marketing campaigns earlier and earlier. This year, stores are opening as early as 5 pm Thanksgiving Day for Black Friday shopping. We sit down to have dinner at 4 pm. Goodness!!!
But talking about turkey and Thanksgiving, this sweet potato pecan pie needs to be on your dinner menu (ahem late planners) if you love sweet potatoes. When I was planning Pie Fridays, the man of the house requested sweet potato pie because it is his favorite on Thanksgiving! So I obliged even though I am not a fan of sweet potatoes in my desserts. I am a convert now.
I started with a homemade sweet potato puree for the filling. It is so easy to make your own instead of buying the canned stuff. Just peel, dice, and boil sweet potatoes until they are very soft. Drain and puree potatoes in the food processor (or mash if you like using your arm muscles). That’s it. To ensure the filling is smooth and the spices are well-developed, I added the sugar, spices and some of the milk to the processor and blended for an additional minute. Next time, I might even cook the filling a little over the stove to blend the spices further.
The pie filling is silky smooth, perfectly spiced and the brightest orange I have ever seen. (Sorry the pictures do not show this striking color. I am struggling to shoot brown and orange food at the moment). The pecan streusel here is also very delicious and adds another fall flavor to the pie. It was my favorite part, to be honest despite being sweet. It’s a beautiful pie and would be a show stopper at your Thanksgiving dinner. You can make the pie up to two days ahead of time and stored refrigerated.
For more Thanksgiving inspired desserts and recipes, check out my Thanksgiving Recipe board on Pinterest or my Thanksgiving recipe archives.

Sweet Potato Pecan Pie
This sweet potato pecan pie is perfectly spiced, silky smooth and topped with a crunchy pecan streusel.
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 2 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the Crumb Topping:
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup pecans, chopped
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the Filling:
- 2 cups sweet potato puree (I made my own from 3 medium sweet potatoes)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 cup evaporated milk, divided
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
Instructions
To make pie crust:
- Prepare ¼ cup ice-cold water and keep in fridge. In a food processor, pulse the flour, shortening, 2 tablespoons butter and salt until combined. Add in the rest of butter and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons cold water over mixture and pulse until dough comes together in clumps. If dry, add a little bit more water (1 teaspoon at a time). Remove dough from processor and form into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour. The dough can be made up to 3 days ahead. Keep chilled. Let stand at room temperature 15-30 minutes before rolling out.
- Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface and fit into a 9-inch round pie dish. Press the dough into the bottom and up the sides. Using sharp shears, trim the overhanging dough, leaving about 2-inches. Fold overhanging dough under itself and crimp the crimps. Chill for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the crust with foil and top with pie weights or beans. Bake crust for 15-20 minutes, until the edges are golden then remove the foil and pie weights and continue baking until the crust is golden all over, another 5 minutes. Let cool completely.
To make the topping:
- Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl and mix until clumps form. Squeeze the clumps into bite sizes and transfer to a plate and place in the freezer until hard, about 30 minutes.
To Make to Filling:
- If you are making your own sweet potato puree, peel and dice your potatoes. Boil in a medium saucepan until potatoes are soft. Drain water and process puree potatoes in a food processor. Add the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, ½ cup milk and sugar. Pulse for another minute until smooth. Transfer puree to a large bowl and gently whisk in the remaining milk and eggs until combined. (If you are using canned sweet potato puree, gently whisk together all the ingredients until smooth). Pour filling into cooled crust.
- Place pie dish on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Scatter topping on the pie and continue baking until the center is almost set, about 30-45 minutes. The center should still jiggle slightly. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely.
Notes
Adapted from Food Network Magazine
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I’ve started my Christmas shopping but so far it has all been online. I really hate shopping when the stores are so crowded eventhough I love everything else about Christmas.
On another note, it was a bad idea to look at this pie so early in the morning. It’s all that I will think about all day now. It looks so silky smooth and I love the crunchy topping. Have a great weekend!
Ashley smart lady. Online is the way to go. Avoid the crowd lol! So sorry the pie caught you at the wrong time. Hope you have a great weekend too 🙂
I am starting my Christmas shopping soon and prefer going on the weekdays as well since the weekends are definitely busier. This sweet potato pecan pie looks gorgeous Zainab! I love how smooth the filling looks and can always go for a pile of crumbly topping 🙂 Thanks for sharing and hope you have a great weekend!
Thanks Kelly! I agree stick to the weekdays and spare yourself the crowd 🙂
She’s magnificent! Your Sweet Potato Pie looks divine, Z! Love all your parenthetical notes, too, LOL. You are right…Christmas over the last decade or so has arrived especially early. You almost have to give the stores a pass this year as Thanksgiving is so late. They kind of need to be prepared to what will happen to them as we all descend upon them all at once during just a few short weeks! Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful pre-Thanksgiving weekend!
Thank you so much Stacy! You are too kind. It makes sense they are freaking out they have only 4 weeks to milk us this year and they are pushing hard to reduce the crowd. Can’t blame it.
Oh I wish I had a piece of this right now! It looks so thick and creamy and sweet and that nut topping – wow. I was actually talking with my mom about mall shopping today since I hadn’t been in a while, but I hadn’t thought of all the Christmas stuff. Don’t people know it’s not even December yet? Regardless of season, this pie would be the star of the show!
This looks wonderful! I love the pecan topping too. Sweet potato pie never appealed to me until I tried it and was totally blown away!! Thanks for the recipe, I may have to try my hand at a sweet potato pie! 🙂
Thanks Renee. The topping is very sweet and I love it. I’m so glad too that I tried sweet potato pie.
Oh gosh. Yep, this is immediately going onto my Thanksgiving dinner list. The pecan streusel topping is just the tip of the iceberg! My brother is obsessed with sweet potato pie, so he’s going to be so happy about this!
Hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving!
(Thanks for sharing all of your amazing recipes 😉 )
Thanks Graham!! I hope your brother enjoys it..you are the best brother :). Have a great Thanksgiving!
That looks delicious!
Thanks dear!
I’ve been anticipating your pie this week. I love this! I have never had sweet potato pie nor really gave it much thought until I heard someone mention it earlier in the week. I can’t wait to give this a try.
I haven’t done any Christmas shopping yet. I HATE all the TV ads and Christmas decorations in the stores already. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE Christmas –I’m romantic about it too. Part of what makes it special is that it only comes once a year for a short time. Christmas stuff appearing shortly after Halloween ruin it for me. I will wait until December to start my shopping.
Thanks Jamie! I’m so glad you were looking forward to Pie Fridays :). I thought sweet potato pies were more popular but I guess not. So glad I gave it a try!
See I am totally with you!! I wait till December to get in the game. So funny today though my SIL texted saying that she is all done shopping lol!
I am with you, stores prematurely called it Christmas season even before Halloween was over. Sweet potato pie has been on my list for a while, it is one thing I haven’t made yet! Love your version and that streusel topping.
Thanks Meghan!!
You definitely have a gift for pies! This looks so delicious! I’ll take two pieces!
I wish I could share with you! Especially as you celebrate one year 🙂
Love this gorgeous looking pie.
I hear ya, driving the other day, my teen was talking about how early the ads are coming out for Christmas. Why not live in the moment and enjoy what coming next right..but hey..
I love your pie and the topping.
Thank you Ash!
Scrolled through your blog & couldn’t decide what post to click on first. Everything here looks insanely delicious!!!
your pie is AWESOME! I also know what you mean about Christmas being out too early. I agree
Thank you girl!
I have never had a sweet potato pie!! I need to make one – yours looks delicious. I can’t get enough of that crumb topping!
Thank you Cate!! I thought sweet potato pie was more popular but it seems as if a lot of people haven’t tried it either like me. Have a happy Thanksgiving friend!!
I am with you! I haven’t even thought about holiday shopping… but other people are out everywhere! The holidays are coming up way too fast. I have never had sweet potato pie before… but this streusel and crumb topping looks delicious!!
Ally, thank you! I am starting holiday baking though and that I can accept but not the shopping yet.
Oh yummy! This looks delicious.
Thanks Sandi!
I’m agree with you – totally not into the Christmas shopping and music yet. I love me some Christmas, but how can November be almost over!? This pie, though. It looks phenomenal! Love that you combined two awesome pies into one!
It’s going too fast and I cannot take it. November gone 🙁 Thanks Beth!!
Oh, I’m already on full Christmas mode since we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Spain 😉 Though I’d never say no to a piece of this beautiful pie! It looks so bright and fun, I love it 😀
Hahha that makes sense. With no Thanksgiving then it is Christmas whenever you want it to be :). Thanks as usual dear!
Sweet potatoes and pecans together? Man, if this doesn’t make me miss the South, I don’t know what does! Sounds amazing…thanks for the inspiration. 🙂
David, funny that is exactly what my husband said!! I love the combination too. Thanks 🙂
I tried to get some holiday shopping done, but I’m totally unprepared. Yay for online shopping 🙂 This pie looks incredible!
So true Thank God for online. I start shopping online for gifts but end up buying for myself so I am still not anywhere with my Christmas agenda.
OMG Zainab this pie is like heaven on a plate! I’ve been on the lookout for a streusel…I don’t know why but I’ve been craving it…oh I want this so bad.
I know exactly how you feel…and this has been going on for a while now, but I feel like everyone kind of skips of Thanksgiving and it is my favorite holiday of the year. I think it’s insane people rushing in the wee hours of the morning…my Day-After Thanksgiving tradition is feasting on all the leftovers, staying in my p.j.s all day and chilling by the tv 😀
Anywho, I know I’ll be by before Thursday to wish you a happy holiday, but have a relaxing weekend.
Toodles,
Tammy<3
Tammy thank you very much!! I totally agree with you that we need to focus on Thanksgiving before the next one. Your day after traditions are very similar to mine except I watch Harry Potter re-runs all day 🙂
Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Oh my gosh, Mr. Allie will die when he sees this! It’s right up his alley… and you are not the only one who hasn’t started Christmas shopping. I wish I was that on the ball!
You will have to make it for him sometime this holiday my dear!! Maybe after you return from NY? Thank you as always!! Have a happy Thanksgiving and safe travels.
Yum! This is totally my families favorite recipe. In fact one year I can remember making 20 of them! Not all for us of course, we took 17 to the homeless shelter and kept 3 at home. 🙂 This looks awesome Zainab! Pinning!
Oh wow that is alot of pies and what a kind thing to do :). Thanks for sharing!! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I do not allow Christmas music before Thanksgiving. I do however try to get all of the shopping done within the first week of December if not before and I just might have got a Christmas wreath for our front door today. This pie looks fantastic. I have always wanted to make a sweet potato pie.
I think after my trip to the mall this weekend, I will get all my shopping done ASAP because it was miserable with the amount of people. I’m looking forward to put up our tree this weekend 🙂
Ohhhh your pie looks so good! That topping just sounds HEAVENLY!!! Especially with all the pecans…… YUM!!!! I really shouldn’t be looking at these things before going to bed…. it’s making me so hungry!!!! This looks so so good!
Thank you so much Maria! The topping was my favorite part. It is so hard to read blogs at night I know :). I hope you have a great Thanksgiving!!
I AM ABSOLUTELY LOVINGGGGGGG THIS PIE, Zainab! I love sweet potato but I have never tried using it in dessert or savory recipes! I just eat it boiled but I’ve recently bought a shiny new tart case and I cannnnnot wait to give this a try! 🙂
Thank you Samina!! I was new to sweet potato in desserts before this pie as well and now I am convinced it’s a great idea.
Your pie looks amazing! Wish my pics turned out that well. Love the addition of the topping to this pie. Great idea! And yeah, it’s time for Christmas music and shopping. Luckily, I do the vast majority online!
Thanks Laura! I may be doing a lot online this year too because the malls here are going crazy already. I went to watch Hunger Games this weekend and it took me 20 mins to find parking because everyone was shopping lol!
Whole Foods was playing Christmas music the other day and I almost cried. It was disturbing. Can’t we just take it one holiday at a time?!
Pumpkin pie gets all the love on T-Day but I’m glad you’ve included sweet potatoes in the pie mix!
That is all I ask, one at a time. Simple!
Whoa… this looks like the perfect Thanksgiving dessert- YUM! 🙂
Thank you for sharing at Marvelous Mondays this week! Pinned & sharing!
Thank you Carrie for hosting and sharing 🙂
What a pie, Z! I just made a sweet potato cheesecake last night, but now all I can think of is PIE PIE PIE!
Ooooo I can’t wait for that recipe!!
I only just recently ever tried sweet potato pie and I love it! Your husband and I seem to like the same treats! 🙂 Adding pecans really puts this over the top! I would love to try this. I am ready for Christmas, but I have lots of love for Thanksgiving!
Delicious…. two of my favorite pies in one!
Thanks!!
I want a big slice right now! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
ohhh I love sweet potatoes and that looks so good!
Your style of cooking is right up my alley and speaks to my heart! Thank you for all the lovely recipes!
Thank you very much!