Saveur

Photo: Ben Fink

Sweet potato pie is a longstanding Southern tradition—in many families, the holidays simply aren't complete without one.

1 lb. sweet potatoes
2 eggs
1 1⁄2 cups milk
4 tbsp. butter, melted and cooled
1 cup brown sugar
1⁄2 tsp. ground cloves
1 1⁄2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1⁄2 tsp. nutmeg
1⁄4 tsp. salt
1  9" Unbaked pie shell

1. Preheat oven to 450°. Peel sweet potatoes, cut into large pieces, and cook in boiling salted water over high heat until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain, mash, and measure out 1 1⁄2 cups (set any excess aside for another use).

2. Whisk together eggs, milk, butter, brown sugar, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl. Add sweet potatoes; beat until smooth. Pour into an unbaked 9" pie shell. Bake 15 minutes; lower oven to 350° and bake an additional 20–25 minutes until set. Cool completely before cutting.

This article was first published in Saveur in Issue #9