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Rustic Sweet Potato Pie Bars Recipe

Rustic Sweet Potato Pie Bars


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4.9 from 23 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Creamy sweet potato pie bars blend Southern comfort with irresistible dessert magic. Nutty graham cracker crust and silky spiced filling promise a delightful escape into seasonal indulgence you’ll savor with pure happiness.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks/340 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • ½ cup evaporated milk (or heavy cream)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger (optional)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • Pinch of salt
  • Whipped cream (optional)
  • Marshmallow fluff (optional)
  • Crushed pecans (optional)
  • Cinnamon sugar (optional)

Instructions

  1. Crust Preparation: Pulse flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a food processor. Add cold butter and blend until crumbly. Press mixture evenly into parchment-lined 9×13-inch baking pan.
  2. Initial Baking: Roast crust in preheated 350F (175C) oven for 15 minutes until pale golden. Remove and let rest momentarily.
  3. Filling Creation: Whisk mashed sweet potatoes with granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, evaporated milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt until silky and uniform.
  4. Assembly and Baking: Spread sweet potato mixture smoothly over pre-baked crust. Return to oven and bake 35-40 minutes until filling sets completely and toothpick emerges clean.
  5. Cooling and Setting: Allow bars to cool entirely at room temperature, then refrigerate for minimum two hours to firm texture.
  6. Serving Presentation: Extract entire dessert using parchment paper edges. Slice into precise squares. Optionally garnish with whipped cream, marshmallow fluff, or crushed pecans for enhanced visual appeal and flavor complexity.

Notes

  • Optimize Butter Temperature: Keep butter extremely cold when preparing the crust to achieve a flakier, more crumbly texture that ensures perfect layering and prevents greasy results.
  • Prevent Filling Cracking: Avoid overbaking by removing the pie bars when the center still appears slightly jiggly, as it will continue setting during cooling, maintaining a smooth and creamy consistency.
  • Sweet Potato Selection Matters: Use fresh, orange-fleshed sweet potatoes with high moisture content for richest flavor and smoothest filling, preferably roasting and mashing them yourself instead of using canned puree.
  • Dietary Adaptation Strategies: Swap traditional ingredients for gluten-free flour blend, replace butter with coconut oil, and use dairy-free milk alternatives to create inclusive versions suitable for various dietary needs without compromising taste quality.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 287
  • Sugar: 21 g
  • Sodium: 170 mg
  • Fat: 13 g
  • Saturated Fat: 8 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 39 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 58 mg