Sweet potato pie is a traditional dessert, originating in the Southern United States created by the African American community. It is often served during the American holiday season, especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas in place of pumpkin pie, which is more common in the northern United States.
It is made in an open pie shell without a top crust. The filling consists of mashed sweet potatoes, evaporated milk, sugar, spices such as nutmeg, and eggs. Other possible ingredients include vanilla or lemon extracts. The baked custard filling may vary from light and silky to dense, depending on the recipe's ratio of mashed potato, milk and eggs.