APEX Legacy · a way of life

Sweet Potato Pie

This is not pumpkin pie. Sweet potato pie is a Black American original — culturally one of the most significant Black American foods ever created.

Compiled by APEX Legacy from published research and documented food history, under the editorial direction of Jonathan Jackson, Founder. How we write and review these pages →

Why it is ours

At Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter in Black households, sweet potato pie sits at the center of the table as the definitive dessert. It is given as a gift. It is a love language. The person who makes the best sweet potato pie in the family is a respected elder title.

What it does

The sweet potato itself is a tier-1 superfood. In standard sweet potato pie, this is buried under 1 cup of sugar, 1 can of sweetened condensed milk, and 4 tablespoons of butter per 9-inch pie — producing approximately 350-400 calories and 40-45g sugar per slice.

How it is cooked

Standard recipe: boiled or baked sweet potatoes, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, butter, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, in a butter pie crust.

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