Two Mini Sweet Potato Pies

Photo: Etsy

A few days ago I had one can of sweet potatoes I didn't know what to do with because ... well we don't eat canned sweet potatoes. So I used it to make two 4" mini sweet potato pies for Thanksgiving. The small pies are enough for 4 servings. The trouble is on Sunday night my mother and I took one of the pies out of the refrigerator and ate it! Why? Because they were made too far in advance of Thanksgiving.:) The pie was delicious and not too sweet, so I'm posting my recipe below.

Full-sized pie with fresh microwaved sweet potato

To make a full-sized pie, simply double all the ingredients, beginning with the crust. For example, use 28 oz - 29 oz (2 cans or 2 full cups fresh, cooked, and mashed) sweet potatoes: 

So let's begin with the crust ... 

No Fail Flaky Vinegar Pie Crust (Double this recipe for a 9-inch pie.)

Ingredient:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) of cold butter, sliced and diced quickly to keep it cold

A pinch of salt
1 teaspoon cider vinegar (the flaky crust’s secret ingredient. Vinegar slightly retards gluten to keep the crust from toughening.)
3 tablespoons ice-cold water

Directions:

1) Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and form into a ball. (Since I made 2 small pies, I divided my dough into 2 small balls.) Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes or more.

2) With a rolling pin, roll the dough flat on a floured surface and fit it onto your buttered pie pan(s). 

3) Using a fork, poke holes all over the dough to release air during baking so it doesn't bubble.

Source: Taste of Home

Sweet Potato Pie Filling (Remember to double the filling for a 9" pie)

1 14-ounce can of sweet potatoes (or about 1 1/2  cups of cooked, softened, and mashed fresh sweet potato)

1 egg

1/4 tablespoon dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon of cottage cheese

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg

A light sprinkle of Allspice

A pinch of salt

Optional: 1 tablespoon of butter (for additional creaminess and flavor. I left it out to save calories. You decide for yourself.:)

Directions:

1) Using an electric mixer combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl for about 2 minutes or until smooth. I didn't miss the butter but you can put it in for extra creaminess and flavor.

2) Pour into your waiting prepared pie dough-lined pan(s).

3) Bake in a preheated 400-degree F oven for 50 - 60 minutes. (Mini pies take about as much baking time as full-sized pies.)

Photo: LSU AgCenter

Some recipes call for more sugar and butter in the filling, but my first homemade mini 4" sweet potato pies turned out so delicious, I'll lighten up my recipe again! We had no trouble eating the lesser caloric pies. Now what will we do if we have to share our 2nd mini pie with an unexpected guest who drops by? I suppose we'll offer it to our guest? Baking in advance of a holiday doesn't always pay off.😛

🍁Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

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Making Healthy Pie Crust

I had a jar of Grandma Hoerner's Pecan Pie Filling in my pantry. It has the bourbon, you add the eggs. I bought it at Whole Foods reduced for about $3 dollars before the pandemic ... it was time to use it! I should have made a traditional flaky pie crust but I didn't want to consume the calories of a stick of butter. Since I'd be the only person eating the pie, I decided to play around with trying to make a healthy pie crust. No visitors to worry about feeding it to! I can eat a less-than-perfect dish but have higher standards for what I serve guests.

I'm not unhappy with the results and yet I'm not quite there. What I produced was tasty and editable and I think if I add a little butter and a sprinkle of baking soda to the dough next time I'll get the missing flaky texture. The following is the recipe for the very editable, yet chewy crust with my next attempt's 2 additional ingredients: 

A Healthy Banana Crust For Pies

2 ripe bananas

2 cups whole wheat flour

I think these 2 additions will make a flaky dough:

2 tablespoons ice cold butter, finely diced

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

 

1) Incorporate all the ingredients and press into a buttered or cooking-sprayed pie pan. I was fine with pressing it flat into a pan. If you wish to roll flat with a rolling pin, just add more flour to counter a sticky dough (and the rustic style:).

2) Bake at 325 degrees F for 15 minutes.

3) Remove from the oven and let it cool a bit before pouring in your prepared pie filling then return it to the oven to bake for the required time.

The pecan pie I'm now eating is good without being too rich, or sickeningly sweet. The bananas do add a mild sweetness without sugar (or a banana flavor) which is a good thing.

 

🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧

Alternate Healthy Pie Crusts from around the web I think would work too:

🥧 Mix uncooked oatmeal and dates in a food processor

until it forms a ball, press it into a pan then add your pie filling. The dough can be eaten baked or unbaked.

🥧 Crispy cereal combined with peanut butter that gets pressed into a pan with no baking. Like a graham cracker and butter crust, it won't be flaky but still good.

I'm aware of almond and other nut or soy flours, but let's keep it simple with ingredients already in the panty. 

Does a healthy and flaky pie crust exist?

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May the Pies Of Texas Be Upon You

When I plan a big holiday dinner and do a lot of cooking, I sometimes make my life slightly easier by ordering an appetizing dessert. It's more expensive than if I make it myself, true, but everything is paid for in either time or money. And the bustling holidays are the perfect time to spend a little more on culinary treats that are extra special, extra rich and extra delicious.

Some of the best pies known to man can be ordered from Royers Round Top Cafe located an hour's drive from Austin, Texas. It's been around for over 60 years, but in 1987 Bud Royer and his wife, Dr. Karen, bought the 38-seat eatery and turned it into a warm and friendly, casual and kooky Texas bistro. In addition to gourmet comfort food, Royers Round Top Cafe has evolved into a pie lovers haven. I cannot make a pie better than Bud, so it's worth the $26.50, plus shipping, for a holiday indulgence. Now ... I just order one or two pies; but for serious pie eaters, Royers has a pie-for-life membership plan. Here's a schedule of pies you could get monthly for the rest of your life:

January: Ann's Pecan

February: Bud's Butterscotch Chip

March: Café's Buttermilk Delight

April: Café's Buttermilk

May: Bud's Chocolate Chip

June: Ann's Pecan

July: Bud's Butterscotch Chip

August: Bud's Chocolate Chip

September: Café's Buttermilk

October: Sam's Coconut Chess

November: Dr. Karen's Pumpkin

December: Café's Sin-Nammon Ring

Fruit pies are only available at the restaurant. And if you order a slice while dinning in, without the recommended vanilla ice cream, you are charged an extra 50 cents. Talk about pie in the sky! Thanks to Royers, you don't have to wait for your heavenly rewards.

Café's Sin-Nammon Ring