Best 3 Grandaddys Sweet Potato Meringue Pie Recipes

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Indulge in a delightful culinary experience with Grandaddy's Sweet Potato Meringue Pie, a unique and delectable dessert that combines the rustic charm of sweet potatoes with the fluffy sweetness of meringue. This classic Southern recipe has been passed down through generations, promising a taste of nostalgia and comfort in every bite.

The journey begins with a flaky, buttery pie crust that encapsulates a velvety smooth sweet potato filling, boasting a harmonious blend of spices and flavors. The sweet potatoes, roasted to perfection, lend their natural sweetness and vibrant orange hue to the filling, creating a luscious and inviting center.

Atop this sweet potato delight rests a cloud-like meringue, billowing and golden brown, adding a touch of ethereal lightness to the pie. The meringue, made with egg whites, sugar, and a hint of vanilla, achieves a perfect balance of crispiness on the outside and a soft, marshmallow-like texture within.

This article presents a collection of recipes that explore different variations of this beloved dessert. From the traditional Grandaddy's Sweet Potato Meringue Pie to creative twists like the Sweet Potato Pecan Pie and the Sweet Potato Chocolate Chess Pie, each recipe offers a unique interpretation of this classic Southern treat.

Whether you prefer a classic or a contemporary take on sweet potato pie, this article has something for every palate. Gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and embark on a culinary adventure that promises to satisfy your sweet tooth and warm your soul.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

SWEET POTATO MERINGUE PIE



Sweet Potato Meringue Pie image

Everything about this sweet potato pie is surprisingly light and creamy, from the soft custard filling to the swoopy toasted meringue. Piping that meringue dresses it up even more. Instead of focusing on making uniform shapes and sizes with the piping tips, give into spontaneity - use two tips with different shapes and use them to make different effects within a designated portion of the pie. The untopped pie can be made up to 1 day ahead, but it's best to make and apply the meringue within 2 hours of serving.

Provided by Erin Jeanne McDowell

Categories     pies and tarts, dessert

Time 2h

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

Perfect Pie Crust, prepared for a custard pie and chilled
3 large eggs
1/2 cup/110 grams light brown sugar
1/2 cup/100 grams granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 cups/510 grams smoothly mashed sweet potatoes (from about 1 ½ to 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and boiled)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ cup/120 milliliters heavy cream
Egg wash (1 large egg mixed with 1 tablespoon water)
3 large egg whites
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup/200 grams granulated sugar

Steps:

  • On a lightly floured surface and using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out a disk of dough into a circle about ¼-inch thick. Starting at one end, gently roll up the dough onto the rolling pin. Unfurl the dough over a 9-inch pie plate, preferably ceramic, and press it in lightly, making sure it's lining the plate.
  • Trim so that there's about ½ inch of excess dough hanging over the edge of the pie plate. (If the dough feels warm, refrigerate it for 15 minutes.) Tuck the excess dough under itself so it is flush with the edge of the pie plate; leave the pie like this for a straight-edge finish, or crimp as desired. Dock the base and sides all over with a fork and refrigerate at least 30 minutes, and up to 2 hours.
  • Place a rack on the bottom shelf of the oven, and place a baking stone, if you have one, on the rack. Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Use a small brush to evenly paint egg wash on the edge of the crust. Cut a square of parchment paper and use it to line the crust. Fill with pie weights (or dried beans) up to the top edge. Place the plate on a baking sheet lined with parchment or foil.
  • Transfer the baking sheet to the oven, placing it directly on the baking stone if using. Bake crust until the outer edge is just starting to turn golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove the parchment and pie weights, and continue to bake until the base appears set, 2 to 4 minutes more. If the dough puffs up anywhere, you can puncture it with a fork. Cool the crust completely. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees.
  • Make the filling: In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla and melted butter to combine.
  • Add the sweet potatoes, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg and mix to combine. Whisk in the heavy cream until evenly incorporated. (If you have an immersion blender and want to get the texture even smoother, you can blend it now too.) Transfer the pie plate to the prepared baking sheet and pour the custard into the crust.
  • Transfer the baking sheet to the oven, placing it directly on the baking stone if using. Bake until the crust is evenly golden brown and the custard appears set around the outer edge, about 35 minutes; the center of the pie may still be noticeably jiggly. Let cool completely at room temperature on a rack.
  • Make the meringue: Place the egg whites and cream of tartar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and mix briefly just to combine. Stir the sugar and ⅓ cup/80 milliliters water together in a small pot. Place the pot over medium heat, and stir until it begins to simmer, then stop stirring. Use a pastry brush dipped in water to brush away any sugar crystals that have washed up on the sides of the pot.
  • Continue to cook the sugar mixture until it reaches 235 degrees on a thermometer, about 4 to 5 minutes; when it does, start whipping the egg whites on medium speed. (The goal is to get them lightly whipped and foamy by the time the sugar reaches 240 degrees.)
  • When the sugar reaches 240 degrees, remove the pot from the heat. With the mixer still running on medium speed, gently pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl in a slow, steady stream. Continue whipping until the meringue reaches medium peaks, 3 to 4 minutes more.
  • Prepare two disposable piping bags by cutting openings large enough to accommodate pastry tips: an open star tip and a French star tip. Divide the meringue between the two bags.
  • Starting with one of the bags, pipe shapes on top of the filling around the outside edge of the pie, varying the shapes in size and design. (Piping straight downward will form a basic star shape, or you can pipe in a spiral to create a sort-of rosette design.) The piped shapes should be random and can be layered on top of one another for the fullest look. Continue with both bags until the whole outer portion of the pie is covered, leaving a 3-inch circle of filling exposed in the center. (You'll most likely have extra meringue: See Note.) Alternatively, you can skip the piping, and scoop the meringue onto the pie, swirling it with the back of a spoon or offset spatula.
  • Use a kitchen torch to toast the meringue, if desired. Serve within 2 hours. Store leftovers in the refrigerator, tented with foil.

SWEET POTATO-GINGERBREAD MERINGUE PIE



Sweet Potato-Gingerbread Meringue Pie image

This delicious pie showcases gingerbread flavor in the meringue instead of the crust. Baking it on the bottom rack gets the crust nice and crisp without parbaking it. -Shannon Norris, Cudahy, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 1h40m

Yield 10 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 23

1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
4-1/2 teaspoons sugar
Dash salt
6 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
1 large egg yolk, room temperature
4 to 6 tablespoons ice water
FILLING:
3 pounds medium sweet potatoes
1-1/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Dash salt
4 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
MERINGUE:
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1 tablespoon molasses
Dash salt
5 large egg whites, room temperature
3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Steps:

  • Pulse flour, sugar and salt in a food processor until blended. Add butter; pulse until butter is the size of peas. Combine egg yolk and 2 tablespoons ice water; slowly add to processor until dough holds together, adding remaining ice water, if needed, 1 tablespoon at a time. Shape dough into a disk; wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight., Preheat oven to 400°. Scrub sweet potatoes; pierce several times with a fork. Bake until tender, 45-50 minutes. Cool slightly; peel and mash to yield about 4 cups. Reduce oven setting to 350°. , On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. deep-dish pie plate. Trim to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Refrigerate 30 minutes., For filling, beat sugar, butter, pie spice and salt until blended. Add eggs and vanilla; beat in cooled sweet potatoes until smooth. Add filling to chilled crust. Bake on bottom rack until a knife inserted in center comes out clean, 40-45 minutes. Keep warm., Meanwhile, for meringue, combine sugar, water, molasses and salt in a small saucepan over medium-high heat; , using a pastry brush dipped in water, wash down the sides of the pan to eliminate sugar crystals. When mixture comes to a boil, stop brushing. Cook without stirring until a thermometer reads 240° (soft-ball stage)., As molasses mixture cooks, preheat broiler. Beat egg whites, cream of tartar and spices on medium speed until soft peaks form. While beating, gradually drizzle hot molasses mixture over egg whites; continue beating until stiff glossy peaks form. Spread meringue over warm pie; broil 4-6 in. from heat until slightly browned, 1-2 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 609 calories, Fat 22g fat (13g saturated fat), Cholesterol 144mg cholesterol, Sodium 663mg sodium, Carbohydrate 96g carbohydrate (64g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 9g protein.

SWEET-POTATO MERINGUE PIE



Sweet-Potato Meringue Pie image

The Southern counterpart to pumpkin, this sweet potato pie (pictured on the left) comes topped with a sugary cloud of meringue for extra crowd-pleasing appeal. Keep in mind, the baked pie needs plenty of time to cool before being topped with the meringue-about 2 1/2 hours-but the good news is that it can be made the day before!

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Pie & Tarts Recipes

Time 2h15m

Yield Makes one 9-inch pie

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 pounds sweet potatoes
1 disk Test-Kitchen Piecrust
All-purpose flour, for surface
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light-brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 large egg whites
Pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 cup granulated sugar

Steps:

  • Sweet-Potato Pie: Preheat oven to 425°F. Pierce sweet potatoes in a few places with a fork, and bake until very soft, about 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on size of potatoes.
  • Meanwhile, roll out dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Fit into a 9-inch pie plate, and trim edge, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
  • When sweet potatoes are cool enough to handle, scoop out enough flesh to measure 2 cups (reserve any remaining flesh for another use), and transfer to a food processor. Add eggs, milk, cream, sugars, salt, nutmeg, and vanilla, and process until smooth.
  • Reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Pour filling into crust. Bake until filling puffs and cracks around edge and pie is just set, 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack, about 2 1/2 hours. Pie can be kept at room temperature for 1 day, covered loosely with parchment or foil.
  • Meringue: Beat egg whites, salt, and cream of tartar in a bowl with a mixer on low speed until foamy. Raise speed to high, and add granulated sugar in a slow, steady stream. Whisk until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 5 minutes. Spoon meringue on top of pie. Lightly brown meringue in places with a small kitchen torch (or broil about 7 inches from heat source about 45 seconds).

Tips:

  • To achieve the perfect crispy crust, preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) before baking the pie.
  • For a gooey meringue topping, make sure the egg whites are at room temperature and beat them until stiff peaks form.
  • To prevent the meringue from weeping, add a pinch of salt or a teaspoon of vinegar while beating the egg whites.
  • For a golden brown meringue, sprinkle some granulated sugar on top before baking.
  • Allow the pie to cool completely before slicing and serving to allow the flavors to meld and the meringue to set.

Conclusion:

Granddaddy's Sweet Potato Meringue Pie is a delightful combination of sweet and savory flavors, with a crispy crust, gooey meringue topping, and a creamy, flavorful sweet potato filling. The addition of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract enhances the flavor of the sweet potato, while the meringue adds a touch of sweetness and a light, fluffy texture. This pie is a perfect dessert for any occasion, whether it's a family gathering, a holiday celebration, or a special occasion.

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