CRUST:
1 large egg yolk
1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water, divided
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold shortening, cubed
1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
FILLING:
2-1/2 pounds sweet potatoes
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon bourbon
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
Optional toppings: Whipped cream and sugared cranberries
1. In a small bowl, mix egg yolk with 1/4 cup ice water; set aside. Place flour, sugar and salt in a food processor; pulse until blended. Add shortening and butter; pulse until shortening and butter are the size of peas. While pulsing, add egg yolk mixture. Add just enough of remaining ice water to form moist crumbs. Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 400°. Scrub sweet potatoes; place in a 13x9-in. baking pan with 1-1/2 cups water. Bake until tender, 45-50 minutes. Meanwhile, on a lightly floured surface, roll 1 disk of dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. deep-dish pie plate. Trim crust to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Roll remaining disk to 1/8-in. thickness; cut into desired shapes with floured 1-in. cookie cutters. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate crust and cutouts for at least 30 minutes.
3. Peel potatoes when they are cool enough to handle; place in a food processor. Pulse to coarsely mash. Add brown sugar and the next 8 ingredients; blend until smooth. Pour filling into chilled crust. Bake on lowest oven rack 15 minutes. Reduce oven setting to 350°; bake until center is just set, 20-25 minutes. Bake crust cutouts on an upper oven rack until golden brown, 10-12 minutes. Cool on a wire rack; decorate pie with cutouts and toppings as desired.
TOTAL TIME: Prep: 1-1/2 hours + chilling Bake: 35 min. + cooling
YIELD: 8 servings.
I love this recipe's rich sweet potato flavor and irresistibly buttery crust. Sour cream makes the filling super smooth, and the brown sugar and spices make it extra cozy. There's no doubt that this is the best sweet potato pie!
Nutrition Facts
1 piece: 726 calories, 37g fat (18g saturated fat), 147mg cholesterol, 500mg sodium, 88g carbohydrate (38g sugars, 6g fiber), 10g protein.