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Horizontal image of a slice of Sweet Potato Maple Pecan Pie on a green plate. a gold fork rests on the plate to the right of the pie.

Sweet Potato Maple Pecan Pie

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: African American, North American, Soul Food
Keyword: pecans, pie, sweet potatoes
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 10
Calories: 447kcal
Author: Marta Rivera
A marriage of two soul food classics. Begin a day ahead for best results.
Print Recipe

Equipment

  • 9-inch pie tin (preferably metal)
  • electric hand mixer

Ingredients

For the Maple Pecan Filling

  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup, packed (120 grams) dark brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter melted and cooled slightly
  • 1 1/2 cups (205 grams) chopped pecans
  • 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) pure maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the Sweet Potato Pie Filling

  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup, packed (58 grams) dark brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups (430 grams) sweet potato puree
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon (3 grams) kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon (1 gram) ground cinnamon *or Pumpkin Pie Spice (see notes)
  • 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Instructions

Prepare the Pie Shell *see posts on best method for baking this pie*

  • If your oven has a lower heating element: move one of your oven racks to the very last (bottom) notch. Place the second rack in the middle section of your oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C).
    If your oven doesn't have a lower heating element: position the oven rack so it's in the center of the oven. Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C).
  • Roll out the pie dough to a 12-inch circle lay it into your pie tin. Flute the edges of the dough and refrigerate the prepared pie shell while you measure out and begin your Maple Pecan Pie Filling. 

Mix the Maple Pecan Pie Filling

  • In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whip together the eggs, brown sugar, and melted butter on low speed using an electric hand mixer.
    After 30 seconds, increase the mixing speed to medium-high and whip the mixture together for 1 1/2-2 minutes or until the mixture resembles caramel and is thick and foamy. Scrape down the bowl and better halfway through this mixing time.
  • Add the pecans, maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon to the bowl.
    Blend these into the egg and sugar mixture for 30 seconds on low speed. 
  • Remove the pie shell from the fridge.
    Once the nuts are mixed into the sugar mixture, use a rubber spatula to scrape the pecan pie filling into the chilled pie shell. 
    Set this aside while you mix the Sweet Potato Pie Filling.

Prepare the Sweet Potato Pie Filling

  • In the same bowl you mixed the Maple Pecan Filling in, whip the egg at high speed for 30 seconds.
    After 30 seconds, stop the mixer and add the brown sugar, butter, and flour to the egg. Whip these together at medium speed for 1 1/2 minutes. 
  • Stop the mixer and scrape down the bowl and beater using a rubber spatula. Add the sweet potato puree, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves (or pumpkin pie spice) to the egg and sugar mixture. 
    Blend the sweet potato puree and flavorings into the egg mixture at low speed for another 1 1/2 minutes.

Finish Assembling the Pie and Bake

  • Use the rubber spatula or a wide spoon to gently lay the sweet potato pie filling on the maple pecan filling.
    Start from the outer rim and, going around the perimeter of the pecan pie filling, lay the sweet potato filling onto the pecan filling working towards the center.
  • Once all of the sweet potato filling is on top of the pecan filling, use your spatula (or the back of the spoon) to smooth the top to an even layer. 
  • If you have the lower heating element: slide the pie onto the lower rack and bake for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, work as quickly as you can, and transfer the pie to the middle of the oven to finish baking for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  • If you don't have a lower heating element: bake the pie on the middle rack for 15 minutes.
    After 15 minutes, decrease the oven temperature to 350°F (177°C). Don't move the pie or open the door. Bake for an additional 45 minutes to an hour.
  • If, after 30 minutes of baking, the pie crust looks too dark, carefully lay a piece of aluminum foil lightly over the top of the pie to keep the crust from browning too much.
    Check the pie after 45 minutes for a slightly jiggly center. If the very center jiggles slightly, remove it from the oven and allow the residual heat to finish baking the custard as it cools.
  • Cool the pie for at least 1 1/2 hours or overnight.
    Serve this Sweet Potato Maple Pecan Pie chilled or at room temperature within 2-3 days of baking.

Notes

Tips and Tricks:

  • Chill the pie shell while measuring out the ingredients for this recipe or overnight because it firms the butter in the dough up reducing the likelihood of a weeping, soggy pie crust.
    Wait until just before you start mixing the pecan pie filling or until just after you've mixed in the pecans to remove the pie shell from the fridge.
  • Custard pies usually take 45 minutes to 1 hour to bake, depending on the calibration of your oven. After 45 minutes of baking, when you check the color, give the pan a little jiggle. If there's only a little jiggle right in the very center, remove it from the oven. If it's still really jiggly in the center, bake it for another 10-15 minutes. If the sweet potato custard doesn't move, it's probably over-baked.
  • Serve this pie on its own or topped with whipped cream, ice cream, or your favorite dessert sauce.
Add-ins, Swaps, and Substitutions:
  • Use 1 portion of this Flaky Pie Dough, Mealy Pie Dough, or use store-bought pie dough. 
  • *Replace the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves in the sweet potato filling with 1 teaspoon (3 grams) of Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend.
  • Add 1 teaspoon of orange zest to the sweet potato pie filling.
  • Add 1-2 tablespoons of bourbon to the maple pecan pie filling.
  • To use canned sweet potato for this recipe:
    1. Mash one 29-ounce can (822 grams) of sweet potatoes with 1-2 tablespoons of its syrup with a potato masher or fork. 
    2. Reserve 1 1/2 cups (430 grams) of this mixture for this recipe.
    3. Add a teaspoon of orange zest to the mashed canned sweet potatoes mix to brighten up the flavor. 

Storage and Freezing Instructions:

  • Cover leftovers with plastic wrap or in a covered container and store them in the fridge for 3 days.
  • Reheat individual slices in the microwave or air fryer for a few seconds. 
  • Freeze this pie after baking and cooling: 
    1. Just cool to room temperature.
    2. Wrap the pie in its tin in a layer of plastic film, followed by a layer of aluminum foil.
    3. Freeze the pie for 2 months. 
    4. To thaw the pie, remove the foil layer and defrost it in the fridge for 24 hours.
    5. Reheat as desired or serve cold. 

Nutrition

Calories: 447kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 137mg | Potassium: 392mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 7070IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 2mg