The sweet potato pie vs. pumpkin pie dilemma has been around every year, especially around Thanksgiving. Many lean towards one or the other as they notice specific differences in taste, texture, and consistency. But is there really a difference between the two?
If you have also been between the dilemma of pumpkin pie vs. sweet potato pie, and you can’t decide which one you will prepare this year, we bring you all its characteristics and differences. We will let you know if there is actually a winner between the two.
What’s a pumpkin pie?
A pumpkin pie is the best way to welcome fall. Especially since it is a recipe that needs a lot of spices to have that characteristic flavor that we all know.
In addition, the crispy crust that we like so much is prepared from a puff pastry, which can be eaten cold or at room temperature. We leave you a simple pumpkin pie recipe, so you know what the characteristic ingredients are:
Usual ingredients of pumpkin pie
1 package of Store-bought Puff Pastry.
¾ cup Brown Sugar
¾ cup White Sugar
½ tbsp ground nutmeg
½ tbsp of Salt
1 pinch of Cinnamon Powder
½ tbsp Ginger Powder
½ tbsp allspice
15 oz Pumpkin Puree
3 Eggs
½ cup Whole Milk
½ cup of Heavy Cream
1 spoon of Vanilla
The characteristic flavor, texture, and consistency of a traditional pumpkin pie are obtained with these ingredients. You can have the entire experience and make it at home, or buy one straight from the store that will last much longer but lacks that homey touch.
What’s a sweet potato pie?
On the other hand, the sweet potato pie does not need so many spices to have a good flavor or sweetness that we all like. It’s also a cheaper option because you don’t have to buy as many spices, and you can sweeten it with molasses instead of brown and white sugar.
In addition, the sweet potato pie is more commonly prepared throughout the year without waiting until autumn to eat it. It is a unique flavor that does not remind us of autumn and that we can prepare calmly at any time of the year.
Characteristic ingredients of sweet potato pie
2 Sweet Potatoes (Medium)
¼ cup Unsalted Butter
¾ Molasses or White Sugar
¾ Whole Milk
1 tbsp of Rum
1 pinch of Nutmeg Powder
3 Eggs
1 spoon of vanilla
½ tbsp of Cinnamon
1 pinch of Salt
1 tbsp All-purpose Flour
What stands out most in the flavor of the sweet potato pie is the rum flavor that you can give to your taste. This makes its flavor much more intense and counteracts the sweetness to prevent it from being too much. We can eat them as much as we want and we won’t say anymore.
Main differences between sweet potato and pumpkin pie
Now, many people cannot see or feel the differences between these two countries. But as today we have come to clarify this dilemma of sweet potato pie vs. pumpkin pie, we bring you the main differences between the two.
- Preparation: The sweet potato pie needs another previous preparation of the vegetables to obtain a puree that will be the one we will use. It needs to be done at home to make sure we remove any damaged parts of the vegetable and get the needed smoothness.
On the other hand, pumpkin pie can be made with canned pumpkin puree, and if you want to make it at home, the pumpkin pieces are baked instead of parboiled. To that puree, you only have to add the spices, dairy products, and sugar and bake for the necessary time.
- Texture: The texture of sweet potato pie is a bit more rustic and fluffy than pumpkin pie. At the same time, some people tend to leave sweet potato lumps to give their pies more texture. In the second, a smooth and creamy texture is sought, which is why the pumpkin puree must be well prepared on all occasions.
- Taste is its most obvious characteristic since the sweet potato has a natural sweetness that does not need so many spices to stand out. On the other hand, pumpkin pie has a much weaker and milder flavor, which needs a lot of spices to bring out, because otherwise you will have a pie without flavor. Generally, pumpkin pie stands out for the flavors of ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon or allspice.
Although the preparation of both may be similar, thanks to the texture and the difference between their ingredients, we realize that the final result is very different. There is no winner in this sweet potato pie vs. pumpkin pie dilemma, as it will all come down to your preference and taste for fall flavors.