This rich, dairy-free sweet potato pie recipe was originally adapted from a beloved recipe on Allrecipes. We opt to bake the sweet potatoes for more natural sweetness and flavor, use part brown sugar (we also have a reduced sugar option), and swap in lite coconut milk for a seamless finish. We originally posted this recipe way back in 2006, but recently gave it another test run and update! Fortunately, good recipes never get old.
This Dairy-Free Sweet Potato Pie is a Classic Holiday Dessert
I have just a couple important tips to emphasize and some topping ideas to help you make the perfect sweet potato pie.
Be Patient: Let the pie cool completely (uncovered) at room temperature, and then refrigerate it until set. If you serve it too early, it won’t be set. If you cover it while warm, this will trap steam, resulting in a soggy crust and a filling that doesn’t set. It will set, just give it time!
Lite Coconut Milk Alternatives: We like lite canned coconut milk in this recipe because it’s lightly rich, and helps the pie set a little more, but doesn’t impart a notable coconut flavor. If you want the pie to be richer and thicker, you can use full-fat canned coconut milk instead of lite. It sets up firmer, but imparts a faint coconut flavor that some might notice, others might not. Fortunately, coconut melds well with the flavors in this recipe. If you need a coconut alternative, I recommend using a dairy-free creamer or “half and half” (like Silk or Ripple) or a homemade nut cream. Regular milk beverages aren’t rich enough. If you use a sweetened creamer, adjust the sugar accordingly.
Toppings: You can serve it with a dollop of homemade coconut whip or soy whip, or use store-bought whipped cream. Vanilla dairy-free ice cream also makes a great topping. Regular or candied pecans are a pretty seasonal choice, which you can set on the pie as it cools. Or, once the pie is set, top each slice with a jumbo marshmallow and use a creme brulee torch to melt and brown it (as pictured).
Special Diet Notes: Dairy-Free Sweet Potato Pie
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, optionally gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, optionally soy-free, and vegetarian.
Need Egg-Free? To keep it traditional, this dairy-free sweet potato pie recipe does use eggs. If you confuse eggs with dairy, you’re not alone. See this post: Are Eggs Dairy? If you need an egg-free and vegan version, enjoy this Vegan Caramel Sweet Potato Pie.
- 1 pound sweet potatoes
- ½ cup dairy-free buttery sticks or spread
- ½ cup brown sugar (see Sugar Note below)
- ½ cup sugar (see Sugar Note below)
- ½ cup canned coconut milk (do not substitute milk beverage)
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Pinch salt
- 1 (9-inch) unbaked dairy-free pie crust (use a gluten-free crust, if needed)
- Preheat your oven to 400ºF and line a rimmed baking sheet with a piece of foil.
- Prick the sweet potatoes several times and place them on your prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are very tender.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 350ºF.
- Once the sweet potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them open and scoop all of the flesh into a mixing bowl.
- Add the buttery stick to the sweet potato and beat with a hand mixer until relatively smooth. Add the sugars, coconut milk, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Beat with your hand mixer on medium speed until the mixture is smooth.
- Pour the filling into the unbaked pie crust.
- Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center of the pie comes out clean. The pie will puff up a bit like a souffle and sink a bit as it cools.
- Let the pie cool completely at room temperature (about 2 hours). Then refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours or overnight.
Spice Note: If you prefer a little more spice, you can add ¼ teaspoon ground ginger and ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves with the spices.
Key Pantry Supplies: Dairy-Free Sweet Potato Pie
More Beloved Dairy-Free Holiday Pies
The Best Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie
Chocolate Pecan Pie
Butterscotch Apple Pie
27 Comments
Is this butter meant to be softened or melted before mixed with the sweet potatoes here?
Most brands soften quite quickly, so it will probably soften and make mixing easy if you have it out for 5 or 10 minutes. That said, if your sweet potatoes are warm at all, that will soften it. You don’t need to melt it.
could I put marshmallows on top? if so when and how long ?
I haven’t done this, but based on what I’ve read, you would probably add the marshmallows after cooking and then broil for a minute or two or use a kitchen torch.
Can I use real butter?
If you aren’t strictly dairy-free, dairy butter should work just fine.
I’m looking for the recipe for my daughter with food allergies. Could you replace the coconut milk with oat milk?
Possibly, but it might not set up as firmly. Lite canned coconut milk is similar to half & half in fat and consistency.
I made a custard sweet potato crustless “Pie” in a square glass baking dish. No sugar only a few drops of stevia,
Baked at between 375-350 degrees, also when it was almost done but still soft in the middle I put aluminum foil around the edges to help it cook in the middle faster.
1 can (15 oz.) sweet potato puree
1/2 cup well shaken coconut milk (the canned kind, be sure it is MILK not just the cream and water.)
1/2 cup liquid egg whites
About 1 1/2 tsp of pumkin pie spice
A small handful of raisens (maybe 10)
It can be tweaked but it came out SO good for something with so little added sugar. Easily could substitute splenda as well…….Happy Thanksgiving!
That’s fantastic! Thank you for sharing Emily.
I followed all instructions and ingredients but my pie didn’t set up. It is very mushy.
Hi Amanda, which instructions and ingredients? The recipe, or what Emily did? I can’t speak to her method. For the recipe, you used eggs, buttery sticks, and coconut milk (not milk beverage in the carton), you cooked until the knife came out clean, then let it cool completely on the counter (it must cool completely uncovered first!), and then refrigerated it and it didn’t set? How long has it been refrigerated?
Do you think this would work without the crust?
Hmm, I haven’t tried crustless sweet potato pie. If you have, then this should in theory work the same. Since it is a soft pie though, I would worry that it might not have enough structure. It can definitely be baked in individual servings without the crust though.
Yum! I still want to try to make a Sweet Potato Pie! Looks delicious!
I so want to see a Gluten free with Emily version!
Sweet potato pies are extremely nostalgic for me. Growing up we didn’t have pumpkin pie…it was always sweet potato and I loved it!.
Your sweet potato pie is a nice alternative to pumpkin pie! And I’m sure the coconut milk tastes so good!
Mmmm I just Love sweet potato pie and your recipe sounds totally delicious!
Looks so creamy and delicious! and I love that you reduced the sugar. I like things with just a hint of sweetness.
I love how creamy this pie looks 🙂
I am adding this to our holiday dessert plans in December… this sounds incredible!
My oh my I need a slice of this pie! I’m not sure I’ve ever had a straight traditional sweet potato pie but I have made some variations and combos. You just can’t beat a classic!
Confess your unpopular opinion: I prefer sweet potato pie to pumpkin pie. 🙂
I’ve never made sweet potato pie, so thank you for the dairy free recipe. I think my family will be down with it too!
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Thank you for posting.