Description
Delightful Sweet Potato Pie Bars bring Southern comfort straight to dessert tables with their creamy filling and buttery crust. Warm spices and silky sweet potato create a memorable treat you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
Sweeteners and Sugars:
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup evaporated milk (or heavy cream)
Spices and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger (optional)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Pinch of salt
Optional Toppings:
- Whipped cream
- Marshmallow fluff
- Crushed pecans
- Cinnamon sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by heating to 350F (175C) and lining a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring extended edges for convenient removal.
- Create the crust foundation by blending flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a food processor. Incorporate cold butter and pulse until the mixture transforms into grainy texture. Gently press the crumbly mixture into the pan’s bottom, ensuring uniform coverage.
- Bake the crust for approximately 15 minutes until achieving a delicate golden hue. Remove and allow slight cooling while preparing the filling.
- Craft the sweet potato filling by whisking mashed sweet potatoes with granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, evaporated milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt until achieving a velvety, homogeneous consistency.
- Carefully distribute the sweet potato mixture over the pre-baked crust, spreading evenly to create a smooth surface.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, monitoring until the filling sets completely and a toothpick emerges clean when inserted.
- Allow the bars to cool thoroughly at room temperature, then refrigerate for minimum two hours to enhance firmness and texture.
- Utilize parchment paper edges to extract the entire dessert from the pan. Slice into elegant squares or rectangles.
- Optional embellishment includes topping with whipped cream, marshmallow fluff, or crushed pecans to elevate presentation and flavor profile.
Notes
- Swap out butter for coconut oil to create a dairy-free version that’s equally delicious and tender.
- Reduce sugar content by using alternative sweeteners like monk fruit or stevia for a lower-calorie dessert option.
- Make the crust gluten-free by substituting regular flour with almond or oat flour, ensuring a crispy base that accommodates different dietary needs.
- Enhance nutrition by adding a sprinkle of chia seeds or ground flaxseed to the filling, boosting fiber and omega-3 content without altering the pie’s classic flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg