Food: Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie

Every Thanksgiving table needs a Sweet Potato Pie and every Sweet Potato Pie needs a little bourbon for good measure!  The addition of bourbon just adds a new level of flavor to this holiday favorite.  My friends south of the border will be celebrating family, togetherness and all things to be thankful for soon and I want to celebrate right alongside with a slice of this traditional pie and make a toast to my American friends. 

I love easy and made from scratch recipes.  They are the best and this pie is no exception.  It’s easy to make and it can even be made in advance.  Of course I prefer a homemade pie crust, so use your favorite recipe.  If you are in a pinch for time or rolling dough is not your thing, store bought pastry crust is totally acceptable.  You know me, I won’t judge!   You will be blind baking the pie crust, so you will either need pie weights or you can use rice or dried beans.  I have a container of dried beans that I use only for blind baking pie crusts.

Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie:

Ingredients:

1 – 8 or 9 inch pie crust (unbaked)

3 large sweet potatoes (roughly 2 lbs)

½ cup softened butter

½ cup white sugar

½ cup of brown sugar

½ milk

2 eggs

1 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp nutmeg

2 tbsp + 2 oz bourbon

Method: 

Preheat the oven 350F

1.       Pierce the sweet potatoes and place on a cookie sheet and bake for 45minutes or until baked through.  Peel the skins…they will just fall off.  Trust me.  Mash the potatoes and let cool for 10 minutes in a large bowl.

2.       While the potatoes cool, you will blind bake the pie crust.  This just means you will partially bake the pie shell.  Using a fork, pierce the crust a few times then gently press a piece of foil into the pie shell and fill with dried beans.  Bake for approx. 10 min – the edges should just start to take on some color.  Very carefully remove the dried beans.

3.       Add the rest of the ingredients to the potatoes (except the 2 oz of bourbon – you know what that’s for) and beat with a mixer or whisk by hand until smooth.

4.       Scrape the sweet potato mixture into the unbaked pie crust  

5.       Bake for 55-60 minutes.  It is seriously that easy.  The pie will be set when done and the centre may look a little soft but should not be “jiggly” (high tech baking term). 

6.       While your pie is baking, pour yourself the 2 oz of bourbon and give thanks to those wonderful people that work tirelessly mashing, distilling, monitoring and aging your bourbon so you can sit back and enjoy it while baking a sweet potato pie.

7.       Cool the pie on a rack. 

The cool thing about this pie is that it can be served as a side dish at dinner or with your desserts.  If you are serving this with dinner, you can warm it before serving.  I love this as a side with turkey and stuffing and all the fixings!  Now I’m hungry!!  Or if you are serving it as a dessert, whip cream is a must have.  Whatever way you enjoy your Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie, we here at the Whiskey Corner wish you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. 

 Have questions about the recipe or want to share your experience making this or show off your pictures of your Thanksgiving table and Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie?  Leave a comment below or send a direct message to me @canadian_proof .  Happy Thanksgiving!!     

Cheers and Enjoy!

 Maureen LInehan