Sweet Potato Pie with Toasted Meringue Topping

Key Ingredients in This Recipe

• Sweet potatoes – Sweet potatoes are a nutritious root vegetable with bright orangey flesh. Sweet potatoes have a naturally sweet flavor. Over half the US sweet potato crops are grown in North Carolina. Baking the sweet potatoes allows them to soften and caramelize which develops deeper flavor – it also keeps from adding extra water and ending up with a soggy pie filling.
• Meringue – I use the Italian method of making meringue in this recipe. The sugar is dissolved in water to form a sugar syrup. The egg whites are whipped then the simple syrup is slowly added so it completely dissolves and the mixture forms stiff peaks and the meringue comes to room temperature. I add a bit of cream of tartar because it helps to stabilize the meringue (it’s a bit of a shortcut). The meringue should have a thick, shiny consistency.
• Spices – The sweet potato pie filling is seasoned with a cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.

How to Make Sweet Potato Pie

For the pie crust:

1. Add ingredients to a food processor. To make the dough, place the flour, sugar and salt into a food processor. Pulse for a few seconds to combine. Pour 6 tablespoons of cold water over a few ice cubes. Let sit for a few seconds to chill. Remove the ice cubes from the chilled water, and add the butter and water to the flour mixture.
2. Shape and chill the dough. Pulse until the mixture forms a rough dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead the dough. Form into a circle, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 10 minutes.
3. Roll out the dough. Heat oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Lightly dust a work surface with flour and roll the dough out into a ¼-inch thick, 12-inch circle. Carefully line a 9-inch pie pan with the dough and use a knife to cut away any excess dough hanging over the side.
4. Par-bake the crust. Bake the crust until lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Set aside.

For the sweet potato pie:

1. Bake the sweet potatoes. Heat oven to 400ºF (200ºC). Place the potatoes on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet and prick each several times with a knife. Roast until soft, about 60 minutes. Remove and let cool to the touch.
2. Blend the filling. Lower the heat of the oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Once cool remove the skins of the sweet potatoes and add the insides to the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse with the butter until pureed.
3. Add the eggs. Next, add the eggs, brown sugar, half and half, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt, pulsing until the ingredients are combined.
4. Add the filling to the crust. Pour the filling into the partially baked crust. Be careful not to overfill.
5. Bake the pie. Bake the pie until the filling sets, about 40 minutes. Remove and let cool.

To make the meringue topping:

1. Increase oven heat. Increase heat to 400ºF (200ºC).
2. Make the sugar syrup. Add ½ cup of water and the sugar to a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil and cook until the mixture becomes thick and syrupy, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
3. Meat the egg whites. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar at a medium-low speed and increasing gradually to medium-high speed until the egg whites form stiff peaks, about 3 minutes.
4. Slowly add the sugar syrup. With the mixer running, slowly pour the syrup into the whites. Beat until the meringue has cooled and becomes thick and shiny, about 6 minutes.
5. Add meringue to pie and bake. Use a rubber spatula and mound the meringue over the top of the pie. Use the spatula to create peaks all over, then bake until the peaks turn golden brown, about 6 minutes. Let cool then serve.

Other Recipes to Try

If you enjoy this homemade sweet potato pie recipe, I recommend checking out some of these:

• Cranberry Ginger Pie
• Butterscotch Pie with Caramelized Pecans
• Apple Cheddar Hand Pies
• Pumpkin Spice Beignets