Golden Sweet Potato Pie: Dreamy Brown Sugar Meringue Recipe

Southern kitchens buzz with anticipation when a sweet potato pie with brown sugar meringue hits the table.

This decadent dessert weaves comfort and nostalgia into every silky, golden slice.

Rich sweet potatoes create a luxurious canvas for the caramelized brown sugar meringue topping.

Generations of home cooks have perfected this classic Southern treat, passing down secrets from one kitchen to another.

Each forkful promises a harmonious blend of creamy filling and cloudlike meringue that dances between sweet and subtle.

The golden-brown peaks of meringue add a dramatic flourish to this beloved pie.

Let’s find out this irresistible recipe and let your taste buds celebrate a true Southern delicacy.

Everything You Need for a Silky Sweet Potato Pie

• Egg Whites: Provides airy structure and helps meringue hold its shape with maximum volume.
• Cream of Tartar: Strengthens egg white protein bonds for stable, glossy peaks.
• Lemon Juice: Natural acidic alternative to cream of tartar for meringue stability.

• Brown Sugar: Adds deep caramel-like sweetness with rich molasses undertones.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor complexity and softens sugar's intensity.

• Kosher Salt: Subtle seasoning that amplifies and rounds out sweet notes, preventing one-dimensional taste.

The Tools That Bring the Pie Together

• Pie pan: 9-inch round dish for baking the pie.
• Mixing bowls: Multiple sizes for preparing crust and filling.
• Rolling pin: Essential for flattening pie dough evenly.
• Food processor or pastry cutter: Helps blend butter into flour mixture.
• Sieve or fine mesh strainer: Optional for smoothing sweet potato filling.
• Whisk: Perfect for mixing meringue and combining ingredients.
• Electric mixer: Great for whipping egg whites to soft peaks.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Precise ingredient measurements.
• Baking weights or dried beans: Keeps pie crust flat during initial baking.
• Piping bag: Creates decorative meringue topping.
• Kitchen torch (optional): Caramelizes meringue for golden finish.

Instructions for a Pie That Holds Its Shape

• Pie Crust Foundation

Craft a delicate pastry base using flour, warming spices, and chilled butter. Gently blend ingredients until they resemble soft pebbles, then bring together with icy water. Let the dough rest and chill, allowing flavors to mingle and texture to relax.

• Sweet Potato Heart

Transform vibrant orange sweet potatoes into a silky, luxurious filling. Boil the tubers until tender, then mash with creamy butter and sweet seasonings. Allow the mixture to cool completely, creating a smooth, velvety texture.

• Flavor Symphony

Awaken the filling with rich vanilla, a touch of flour, and farm-fresh eggs. Blend these ingredients into the sweet potato base, creating a harmonious mixture that promises comfort and warmth.

• Crust Preparation

Roll out the rested dough into a delicate canvas, draping it lovingly into a pie pan. Freeze briefly to set the shape, then bake with careful attention until golden and crisp.

• Baking Magic

Pour the luscious sweet potato filling into the pre-baked crust. Slide into a gentle oven, letting the pie transform into a golden, fragrant masterpiece that whispers of home and tradition.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Calories: 65 kcal

Servings: 9

Flavor Upgrades for the Pie Filling

• Sweet Potato Edition
• Roast sweet potatoes instead of boiling for deeper caramelized flavor and richer sweetness that intensifies the pie's natural sugars.
• Experiment with warm spices like cardamom, ginger, or allspice to create unique flavor profiles that complement the sweet potato's natural earthiness.
• For ultra-smooth filling, push mashed sweet potatoes through a fine-mesh sieve or use a food processor to eliminate any lumps and create silky-smooth consistency.
• Add finely chopped pecans or graham cracker crumbs to the pie crust for an unexpected crunch and nutty undertone that elevates the entire dessert experience.
• Prepare the pie crust and sweet potato filling a day in advance, refrigerate separately, and assemble just before baking to save time and intensify flavors.

Presentation Ideas That Make It a Showstopper

• Festive Brunch Delight: Serve slices of sweet potato pie alongside crispy bacon and fresh mimosas for a weekend morning treat that balances sweetness with savory notes.
• Cozy Dessert Pairing: Top each slice with a dollop of cinnamon-spiced whipped cream and a sprinkle of candied pecans to enhance the pie's warm, rich flavors.
• Holiday Presentation Wow: Garnish the pie with a delicate dusting of powdered sugar and fresh mint leaves, creating an elegant display perfect for family gatherings and special occasions.
• Comfort Comfort Companion: Enjoy a slice with a steaming mug of spiced chai tea or dark roast coffee, letting the complementary warm spices elevate the dessert experience.

Keeping the Pie Tasting Just-Baked

• Fresh Slice Strategy: Cut pie into individual portions and wrap each slice in aluminum foil for quick grab-and-go dessert options during busy weekdays.
• Refrigeration Magic: Store completed sweet potato pie in an airtight container for up to 4 days, keeping it fresh in the refrigerator's main compartment away from strong-smelling foods.
• Freezing Technique: Wrap the entire pie or individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place inside a freezer-safe container to maintain quality for 2-3 months without flavor loss.
• Serving Temperature Trick: Remove chilled pie from refrigerator 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to soften and develop a more creamy, rich texture that enhances the sweet potato's natural sweetness.

Irresistible Sweet Potato Pie with Brown Sugar Meringue Recipe

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4.8 from 25 reviews

• Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
• Yield: 9 1x

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Description

Home cooks love this Southern sweet potato pie with brown sugar meringue, a creamy dessert blending rich spices and silky texture. Warm comfort and seasonal charm invite you to savor each delightful slice with friends and family.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 6 tbsps (90 mL) brown sugar
• 3 egg whites
• ½ tsp (2.5 mL) vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp (1.25 mL) cream of tartar, or lemon juice
• 1 pinch kosher salt

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Instructions

1. Dough Preparation: Combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Cut chilled butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs, creating a textured base for the pie crust.
2. Dough Resting: Introduce ice-cold water to the flour mixture, kneading gently until a unified dough emerges. Encase in plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour to enhance texture and flavor development.
3. Sweet Potato Cooking: Cleanse sweet potatoes, halve lengthwise, and submerge in boiling water. Simmer until tender, then drain and allow to cool slightly before peeling.
4. Filling Creation: Thoroughly mash sweet potatoes with butter, brown and white sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, and milk until achieving a silky, uniform consistency. Integrate vanilla extract, flour, and eggs, whisking until perfectly blended.
5. Crust Preparation: Warm the oven to 425°F. Roll out chilled dough on a floured surface, carefully transferring to a 9-inch pie dish. Trim edges, crimp decoratively, and freeze for 20 minutes to set the structure.
6. Blind Baking: Line crust with parchment, fill with ceramic weights, and bake for 17-20 minutes. Remove weights and allow to cool, reducing oven temperature to 350°F.
7. Pie Assembly and Baking: Pour sweet potato filling into the pre-baked shell. Bake for 35-40 minutes until the center maintains a slight wobble, indicating perfect doneness.
8. Optional Meringue Topping: Whip egg whites with cream of tartar and sugar until forming glossy, stiff peaks. Artfully pipe or spread over the cooled pie.
9. Final Browning: Use a kitchen torch to delicately caramelize the meringue or briefly broil, watching attentively to prevent burning and achieve a golden finish.

Notes

• Chill Dough Strategically: Refrigerating pie dough allows gluten to relax, creating a more tender, flaky crust that prevents shrinkage during baking.
• Master Sweet Potato Selection: Choose firm, vibrant orange sweet potatoes with smooth skin to ensure maximum flavor and creamy texture in your pie filling.
• Prevent Soggy Crust Technique: Blind baking creates a protective barrier, stopping moisture from sweet potato filling from making the bottom crust soft and mushy.
• Meringue Mastery Tip: Ensure egg whites are room temperature and use clean, grease-free utensils to achieve perfect, stable meringue peaks that won’t deflate.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Desserts, Breakfast
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 65
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 0.2 g
• Saturated Fat: 0 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0.1 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 15 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg