Visually stunning and just as delicious, this Purple Sweet Potato Pie is creamy, spiced, and naturally stunning. Made with rich purple sweet potatoes, it's a beautiful twist on classic sweet potato pie.
The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.
Purple sweet potato pie, like the Southern Sweet Potato Pie recipe, is a sweet and creamy custard pie. This unique purple dish will be a fantastic addition to your Thanksgiving menu alongside the traditional pumpkin pie.
My mother-in-law brought one of these purple beauties to a Thanksgiving dinner, and we were all in awe. Believe me, this is a show-stopper dessert that is as delicious as it is beautiful.
Sweet potatoes are one of the most versatile root vegetables, equally at home in sweet and savory dishes. For dessert, I love baking them into Sweet Potato Bundt Cake and Jamaican Inspired Sweet Potato Pudding.
On the savory side, they shine in Sweet Potato Salad or Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges.
Ingredients for Purple Sweet Potato Pie
Ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions are on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Purple sweet potatoes – The star of the recipe, giving the pie its naturally vibrant color and subtly sweet flavor. Stokes or Okinawan varieties work well. You’ll need about 2 cups of mashed potatoes after cooking.
- Unsalted butter, softened – Adds richness and helps create a smooth, custardy texture.
- Eggs, lightly beaten – Bind the filling and give it structure.
- Brown sugar, packed – Sweetens the pie while adding a hint of molasses depth.
- Coconut milk (canned, shaken well) – Provides creaminess and a subtle coconut flavor. Whole milk or evaporated milk can be substituted if preferred.
- Vanilla extract – Enhances the overall flavor and warmth of the pie.
- Spices - ground ginger, salt, ground cardamom, ground cinnamon
- 9-inch pie crust, store-bought or homemade – The buttery base that holds the filling. A par-baked crust will help prevent sogginess.
Tools needed for this recipe
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Food processor
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Pie pan
How to make Purple Sweet Potato Pie
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Poke the purple sweet potatoes with a fork, and bake them on a sheet pan in the preheated oven until softened, about 40-45 minutes.
Remove the purple sweet potatoes from the oven and set them aside to cool. Once cooled, peel the sweet potatoes, discard skins, and place the cooked purple sweet potatoes in the bowl of a food processor.
Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Add butter, eggs, brown sugar, coconut milk, vanilla extract, ground ginger, table salt, cardamom, and cinnamon to the food processor. Process on low until the sweet potato mixture is smooth.
Pour the sweet potato mixture into the pie crust. Bake in the preheated oven 350 degrees oven for 55 minutes to 1 hour, until the pie is set in the middle.
Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool for at least 1 hour. Serve and enjoy.
What are purple sweet potatoes?
Purple sweet potatoes are a root vegetable just like the orange-fleshed variety. Packed with anthocyanins, a pigment that gives purple sweet potatoes and other fruit and vegetables their vibrant colors.
Not as commonly found as regular orange sweet potatoes, however. Stokes purple sweet potatoes are grown in central California but were originally cultivated in Stokes County, North Carolina.
An Okinawa purple sweet potato has white skin with purple and white speckled flesh. Often called Hawaiian sweet potatoes, their flavor is mild and sweet but very dry and starchy.
Molokai purple potatoes have a darker brown and purple skin with darker purple flesh. Also, a resident of Hawaii.
How To Store Purple Sweet Potatoes
Store purple sweet potatoes as you would regular potatoes, in a cool and dry place.
Be sure to use your purple sweet potatoes within a week or two due to their shorter lifespan than a regular potato.
Storing Purple Sweet Potato Pie
- Room Temperature: Because this pie contains eggs and butter, enjoy it within 2 hours of serving.
- Refrigerator: Cover leftovers and store in the fridge for up to 4 days—perfect for making ahead.
- Freezer: For longer storage, wrap the cooled pie in plastic, then foil, and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
Tanya's Top Tips
- Prepare pie crust according to your recipe or package directions.
- The cooked sweet potatoes will yield about 2 cups of mashed sweet potatoes.
- Sweet Potato Pie is best when it has cooled, so wait to serve it.
- The best sweet potato pie is made at least a day ahead and chilled. Remove from the fridge at least 30 minutes before serving.
Looking for more Pie recipes? Try these out:
- Homemade Pumpkin Pie - Always on our Thanksgiving table, thishas just the right balance of spice and sweetness.
- Southern Pinto Bean Pie - An old-fashioned dessert that surprises everyone with its rich, nutty flavor.
- Southern Chess Pie - Sweet, simple, and a family favorite.
If you have tried this recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
Purple Sweet Potato Pie
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Poke the sweet potatoes with a fork, and bake them on a sheet pan in the preheated oven until softened, about 40-45 minutes.
- Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven and set them aside to cool. Once cooled, peel the sweet potatoes and place them in the bowl of a food processor.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F.
- Add butter, eggs, brown sugar, coconut milk, vanilla extract, ground ginger, table salt, cardamom, and cinnamon to the food processor. Process on low until the sweet potato mixture is smooth.
- Pour the sweet potato mixture into the pie crust. Bake in the oven for 55 minutes to 1 hour, until the pie is set in the middle.
- Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool for at least 1 hour. Serve and enjoy.
Nutrition
Notes
- Prepare pie crust according to your recipe or package directions.
- The cooked sweet potatoes will yield about 2 cups of mashed sweet potatoes.
- Sweet Potato Pie is best when it has cooled, so wait to serve it.
- The best sweet potato pie is made at least a day ahead and chilled. Remove from the fridge at least 30 minutes before serving.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!This post was originally published on August 24, 2022. It's been updated with new information.
VA says
OUR STORES DO NOT HAVE PURPLE SWEET POTATOES OR DO GROW YOUR OWN? ARE THEY JUST FOUND IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY?
THIS LOOKS AND SOUNDS WONDERFUL.
Tanya says
Hi VA, it may be regional. I don't see them in all grocery stores but I find them occasionally here in North Carolina. I've found them in Food Lion, Sprouts, and Whole Foods.
Elle says
@VA, you can also order them off of Amazon look for Stokes purple sweet potato
Ariel says
I CANNOT wait to try this! I love purple sweet potatoes so this sounds amazing!
Lupe says
I have some frozen Ube puree, would that work in this recipe?
Tanya says
Hi Lupe, I think that would work, so long as the weight of the puree is similar to the mashed sweet potatoes.
Brenda says
Good morning more of a question, using the purple potatoes does the taste change?
Tanya says
Hi Brenda, it does. Purple sweet potatoes have a richer taste. It's also why I changed up the spices and used coconut milk.