A wonderful flavor and aroma, this sweet potato pie is perfect for serving during the holidays. It brings together the ease of canned yams with a traditional, homemade flavor.
For many families, sweet potato pie ranks right up there with pumpkin when it comes to holiday desserts. And once you’ve tasted this one, you will understand why.
The flavor of the yams pairs wonderfully with our spice mix of cinnamon, allspice, and cloves for a homestyle flavor you won’t forget.
It fills the home with a cozy aroma, that will instantly put you in the holiday mood.
But it doesn’t just have to be for the holidays. Since we are using canned yams, this pie can be made any time of year!
Make sure to bookmark or pin this recipe so you can find it the next time you want to bake a delicious sweet potato pie for your family.
When lining your pie pan with your crust, be sure not to stretch your crust into place. A stretched crust will shrink and puff up when baked.
Tip
How to Make a Homemade Sweet Potato Pie using Canned Yams

This pie is made in two stages. First you will prepare the base of your filling and prebake it. While it is cooling, you will then prepare the rest of your sweet potato pie filling.
This process is essential for producing the deep and wonderful flavor of this pie.
Note: You can use a premade or homemade crust for this pie. I will provide you with some recipes below in case you need one.
Try this tasty recipe too: Spiced carrot pie
Canned Yam Pie Ingredients

This recipe does call for a decent number of ingredients. But they are all common baking ingredients, so don’t let that dissuade you from making it.
The flavor is incredibly good, and it is super easy to make.
Ingredient List
- Canned Yams
- Butter
- Brown Sugar
- Milk
- Eggs
- Cinnamon
- Allspice
- Cloves
- Bourbon (optional)
- Chopped Toasted Pecans (optional)
- 9″ Pie Crust
Yams: Any precooked, canned yams will work. You will be mashing them before adding them to your other ingredients.
Brown Sugar: You will be using two separate measurements of brown sugar. I like to use dark brown sugar for the first stage, and light brown sugar for the second. But you can use the same type for both if you only have light or dark brown sugar on hand.
Butter: You will be using two separate measurements of butter. For the first stage, you will want to use softened butter but for the second, melt your butter before adding it in.
Eggs: Beat your eggs before adding them to the rest of your ingredients.
Bourbon: While entirely optional, this adds a wonderful depth of flavor to your pie. Any brand of bourbon will work.
Spices: The listed spice ratio adds just the right amount of flavor for our pie. You can adjust according to personal taste if desired.
Pecans: While optional, toasted pecans add an earthy flavor that pairs well with our sweet potato pie.
Another must bake holiday pie: Classic pumpkin pie
Pie Crust Ideas
One of the great things about this recipe is that it tastes great with either a premade or homemade pie crust.

With that in mind, I do like to make my own whenever possible. While many premade crusts taste great, it’s hard to beat the flavor and texture of one you make yourself.
Here are a few of my favorite pie crust recipes. You can also go to the top of this page and search for more. I have a lot of great ones to choose from.
Simple to Follow Instructions

Once your crust is prepared, make sure to line your pie pan with it before moving on to making the rest of your pie.
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.
Step 2: In a mixing bowl cream your butter and 1/3 cup brown sugar.
Step 3: Mix in your pecans if desired.
Step 4: Press mixture into bottom of crust.
Step 5: Bake 10 minutes. Remove and allow to cool while preparing the rest of your filling.
Step 6: Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
Step 7: Blend together your remaining ingredients. Your mixture should be smooth.
Step 8: Pour filling into pie crust. Bake for 50 more minutes.
Step 9: Remove from oven and allow to cool before serving. Enjoy!
More pie baking inspiration: Best pies to serve for Thanksgiving

Sweet Potato Pie (With Canned Yams)
Equipment
- 1 Mixer
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- 1 9" pie pan
Ingredients
Stage One
- 3 Tbs Butter softened
- ⅓ Cup Brown Sugar firmly packed
- ⅓ Cup Toasted Pecans chopped
- 1 9" Pie Crust
Second Stage
- 2 Cups Canned Yams mashed
- 1 Cup Brown Sugar firmly packed
- 1 stick Butter melted
- 2 Tbs Bourbon optional
- 2 Large Eggs beaten
- 1 Cup Milk
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- ½ tsp Cloves
- ½ tsp Allspice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees
- Add butter and 1/3 cup brown sugar to bowl and cream together
- If using pecans, mix them in now.
- Press your mixture into the bottom of pie pastry
- Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool while making the rest of your pie filling
- Reduce the temperature of oven to 350 degrees
- Add the rest of your ingredients to your mixing bowl and blend until smooth
- Pour mixture into your pie crust
- Bake for 50 minutes
- Carefully remove from oven and allow to cool before serving