Cooking for Thanksgiving is a challenge–I seem
to always forget something. Two years ago I forgot the cranberry sauce. Last year I did not read the thawing directions for our turkey. I bought it the day before Thanksgiving and put it in the fridge. My dear husband informed me that night it would take four to five days to defrost. My response–hamburgers anyone?
I love Thanksgiving even if I’m not the perfect Southern cook. Big dinners are what we do well in the South. A Thanksgiving staple along with turkey and dressing is sweet potato pie. I heard Sean Hannity say he married a girl from Alabama but has never eaten sweet potato pie. That’s almost a sin!
While at the hair salon last year all the buzz was Thanksgiving desserts. I learned about a cheesecake that has to be made standing on a step-stool using dark and white chocolate. Directions for making a black walnut apple bundt cake and even a discussion on the beauty of chocolate pecan pies. All the women agreed on one dessert that was not on their favorite list–pumpkin pie. Yes, I even put myself in this category.
Maybe it’s because if you ever try sweet potato pie there is just no comparison–or going back. Sweet potato pies look like pumpkin pies but taste completely different. When eaten with a huge dollop of Cool Whip, there just isn’t a better dessert for Thanksgiving.
If you are looking for an easy Thanksgiving dessert, try sweet potato pie. Here’s the basic sweet potato pie recipe I use:
Sweet Potato Pie
1 cup baked and mashed sweet potatoes (3 to 4 good size potatoes)
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 eggs, beaten
Mix all the ingredients until smooth. Pour into a pie shell and bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until the pie is firm. Let cool. Serve with Cool Whip.
If you like a richer dessert–and have a bit more time then you’ll love my mother’s Sweet Potato Paradise Pie. I’ve made it before and it’s always a hit. The layer of sweet potato with a layer of cream cheese under it is also pretty on the plate when it is sliced.
Paradise Sweet Potato Pie
1 (9-inch) unbaked deep-dish pie shell
1 (8 oz.) package softened cream cheese
3/4 cup sugar divided into a 1/4 cup and a 1/2 cup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs divided into 2 beaten eggs and 1 egg
3 large baked sweet potatoes
1 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Dash salt
Combine cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, and vanilla. Blend in 1 egg. Spread cream cheese mixture in bottom of pie shell. Combine remaining ingredients; mix well. Carefully pour this mixture over cream cheese mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 65 minutes.
Thanksgiving turned out good last year. Apparently the turkey people think of everything–even people like me. Theyvincluded quick thawing instructions.
Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving pie recipe to share? I would love to try it!
About Kellie Renfroe
Kellie and her husband Greg have been married 32 years and have four children ranging in age from 17 to 28. She co-founded Mentoring Moments for Christian Women in 2005. Kellie is a homeschooling mom who enjoys reading, studying the Bible, writing, photography, and learning how to cook.
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