Fried Sweet Potato Pies

Next time you’re planning a party, hosting a game day or taking dessert to a potluck, make an impression (and some new friends) with fried sweet potato pies. These hand-held, personal pies with a creamy sweet potato filling wrapped in crispy fried pie crust and dusted with confectioners’ sugar are so surprisingly delicious that even the staunchest sweet potato critic will be back for seconds.

If you’re from the southern U.S., you’re probably no stranger to sweet potato pie. A Dixieland staple, sweet potato pie is a decadent dessert popular year-round, but especially around the holidays. It’s so indulgent that it may have first-timers asking, “Wait, this used to be a vegetable?” This portable fried version is packed with all that deliciousness, with no slicing or portioning required. Plus, it can even fit in a pocket.

Ingredients for Fried Sweet Potato Pies

• Self-rising flour
• Sugar
• Shortening
• Eggs
• 2% milk

Filling:

• Mashed sweet potatoes
• Sugar
• Egg
• 2% milk
• Melted butter
• All-purpose flour
• Vanilla extract
• Oil for frying
• Confectioners’ sugar (optional)

Directions

Step 1: Create the dough

In a large bowl, combine the flour and sugar, then cut in the shortening with a pastry blender or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Combine the eggs and milk in a small bowl, then add that to the crumb mixture.

Mix it with a fork until a dough ball forms. Cover the dough and refrigerate it for several hours or overnight.

Step 2: Form and fill the pies

In a large bowl, combine the mashed sweet potatoes, sugar, egg, 2% milk, melted butter, all-purpose flour and vanilla extract, then stir until smooth.

Divide the dough into 25 equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each portion into a 5-inch circle.

Spoon 1-1/2 tablespoons of filling onto one half of each circle.

Moisten the edges of the circle with water, and fold the dough in half over the filling. Press the edges together with a fork to seal.

Step 3: Fry the pies

In a cast-iron or electric skillet, heat 1 inch of oil to 375°F. Fry the pies in small batches until they’re golden brown, about one minute.

Remove them from the oil and drain them on paper towels.

If desired, dust the pies with confectioners’ sugar.

How to Store Fried Sweet Potato Pies

When the sweet potato hand pies have cooled, place them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to three days. Fried sweet potato pies can also be frozen in freezer-safe containers or storage bags for up to three months. To reheat the pies, warm them in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds, in a 400° oven for five to six minutes, or in an air fryer for three to four minutes until heated through.

Fried Sweet Potato Pie Tips

What other spices or add-ins are good with fried sweet potato pies?

A traditional sweet potato pie recipe typically contains cinnamon and nutmeg to provide a warm and pleasant spice to the filling. Adding additional spices to these sweet potato hand pies will give them an autumnal flavor reminiscent of classic pumpkin pie. To push flavor and texture even further, try adding chopped pecans to the filling for a nutty, buttery crunch.

Can I use a store-bought crust for fried sweet potato pie?

You can. These pies work perfectly well using premade, store-bought pie crust. However, since the recipe makes 25 hand pies, you’ll need a few boxes of premade crust. Another option is to use premade empanada wrappers. They can be purchased in various sizes, so there’s no trimming involved.

Can fried sweet potato pies be made in an air fryer?

You bet they can! To convert this recipe for air-frying, preheat the air fryer to 375° and place the pies on a greased tray in the air-fryer basket. Spritz them with cooking spray, and cook them for four to five minutes, until golden brown. Flip the pies over, spritz again, and cook for an additional four to five minutes.

Watch How to Make Fried Sweet Potato Pies

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