SWEET-POTATO PECAN PIE WITH
CHANTILLY CREAM
 
From Chef Paul Prudhomme's Louisiana Kitchen. Makes one 8 inch pie.

3 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
2 tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 of a whole egg
2 tbsp. cold milk
1 c. all-purpose flour

(Vigorously beaten until frothy - reserve the other half for the sweet potato filling).

For the dough: Place the softened butter, sugar and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer; beat on high speed until the mixture is creamy. Add the 1/2 egg and beat 30 seconds. Add the milk and beat on high speed 2 minutes. Add the flour and beat on medium speed 5 seconds, then on high speed just until blended, about 5 seconds more (overmixing will produce a tough dough). Remove the dough from the bowl and shape into a 5 inch patty about 1/2 inch thick. Lightly dust the patty with flour and wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 1 hour, preferably overnight. (The dough will last up to one week refrigerated.)

On a lightly floured surface roll out dough to a thickness of 1/8 to 1/4 inch. Very lightly flour the top of the dough and fold it into quarters. Carefully place dough in a greased and floured 8 inch round cake pan (1 1/2 inches deep) so that the corner of the folded dough is centered in the pan. Unfold the dough and arrange it to fit the sides and bottom of pan; press firmly in place. Trim edges. Refrigerate 15 minutes.

SWEET-POTATO FILLING:

2 to 3 sweet potatoes (or enough to yield 1 c. cooked pulp), baked
1/4 c. packed, light brown sugar
2 tbsp. sugar
1/2 egg, vigorously beaten until frothy (reserved above)
1 tbsp. heavy cream
1 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground allspice
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg

For the sweet-potato filling: Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Beat on medium speed of electric mixer until the batter is smooth, about 2 to 3 minutes. Do not overbeat. Set aside.

PECAN PIE SYRUP:

3/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. dark corn syrup
2 sm. eggs
1 1/2 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
2 tsp. vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Pinch of ground cinnamon
3/4 c. pecan pieces or halves

For the pecan pie syrup: Combine all the ingredients except the pecans in a mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly on slow speed of electric mixer until the syrup is opaque, about 1 minute; stir in pecans and set aside.

To assemble: Spoon the sweet-potato filling evenly into the dough-lined cake pan. Pour the pecan syrup on top. Bake in a 325 degree oven until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 3/4 hours. (Note: The pecans will rise to the top of the pie during baking.)

Cool and serve with Chantilly Cream. Store pie at room temperature for the first 24 hours, then (in the unlikely event there is any left) refrigerate.

CHANTILLY CREAM:

Makes about 2 cups.

2/3 c. heavy cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp brandy
1 tsp. Grand Marnier
1/4 c. sugar
2 tbsp. dairy sour cream

Refrigerate a medium-size bowl and beaters until very cold. Combine cream, vanilla, brandy and Grand Marnier in the bowl and beat with electric mixer on medium speed 1 minute. Add the sugar and sour cream and beat on medium just until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. DO NOT OVERBEAT. (Overbeating will make the cream grainy, which is the first step leading to butter. Once grainy you can't return it to its former consistency, but if this ever happens, enjoy it on toast!)

recipe reviews
Sweet-Potato Pecan Pie with Chantilly Cream
 #133897
 WendyT.Oly (Washington) says:
I made this recipe with home grown pumpkin instead of sweet potatoes and it was awesome. Great pie. I didn't think you could improve on whipped cream but I am in love with the Chantilly cream. I had some in my coffee this morning and will be sad when it is gone!
 #113795
 Janet (Missouri) says:
First time I ever had this pie was in 1990. I was the last person to get a piece and was amused that EVERY person was literally groaning with each bite! I thought they had conspired and having a little fun to make the cook feel good... But when I took my first bite I was groaning too!!!
I reduce the sugar slightly, increase the sweet potatoes by 1/4 to 1/3 and increase the pecans a bit.... and it is still being groaned over by young and old alike!!!! FABULOUS RECIPE!!!!
   #85204
 Debbie (Arizona) says:
I had the privilege of learning to cook from Chef Paul himself! This is absolutely the best recipe that you could find. We use this instead of plain pecan pie or pumpkin pie for the holidays. The flavor is mild and scrumptious!!!!
   #84961
 Nicole (California) says:
Thank you so much for posting this recipe. My mom has made this for every Thanksgiving for as long as I can remember and we couldn't find our cookbook to make it this year. Thank you for saving Thanksgiving!
   #84105
 Pamela L. (Illinois) says:
I had this pie at K-Paul's in New Orleans years ago and have since made it at home. It is the best of both worlds, with the sweet potato layer on the bottom and the pecan pie layer on top. Be sure to make it in a cake pan as called for in the recipe. It makes a beautiful presentation and is absolutely delicious!
   #52672
 Laura Libert (Wisconsin) says:
I have made this recipe for over 15 yrs for Thanksgiving. It is amazing and asked for by all.

 

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