5 min read

Imagine it’s Thanksgiving Day, and you want to end it on a sweeter note. Well, the good news here is that you have practically tons of options for desserts that traditionally go with Thanksgiving. However, let me tell you that nothing can match the sweetness of pies that could make your special day even sweeter.
When thinking of Thanksgiving pies, two pies that come first to your brain would be sweet potato pie and pumpkin pie. Though your loved ones’ debate over sweet potato pie and pumpkin is everlasting. In my opinion, it’s better to make both to avoid any conflict so that you may have double the fun and double the taste.
It’s worth mentioning that the enmity between the two pies is more regional rather than personal.
The history of pumpkin pie dates back to the early 16th century. In the 18th century, it made its way to the Thanksgiving table and stayed there till date. Sweet potato pie has been around since colonial times.
In this article, I’ll discuss which pie tastes better. Also, there’ll be some insights on which one is healthier.
Let’s get into it…
Both the pies have an orangish-brown color, but there’s a huge difference in their taste.
Sweet potato pie, due to its natural sweet taste, is sweeter than the pumpkin pie. The taste of the pie has a lot to do with seasoning. It’ll inevitably taste similar to pumpkin pie if you roast sweet potatoes and use “pumpkin pie seasoning.” While pumpkin pie may leave a bitter aftertaste.
In some cases, they’re quite similar in taste because their spices are the same. The most common spices that you can add to a pumpkin pie or sweet potato pie are;
The ratio of spices may vary depending on the taste and recipe of the maker. In the case of ready-made pies, the taste will also vary depending on the brand making the pies. These rich custard pies are heavier than the simple custard made with milk.
Here’s a really sweet debate over pumpkin pie and sweet potato pie;
You probably have wondered why some people wrongly call pumpkin pie sweet potato pie, but let me clear that there are contrasting differences between them. People might get confused because these both are custard pies and use almost the same side ingredients except for the main one. In my opinion, you can easily tell them apart because:
The popularity of sweet potato pies is more prevalent in the south. Despite the regional differences, they both have different tastes and textures. The creamier pumpkin pie is still at the top of many people’s lists.
If the pies are store-bought, they probably contain preservatives, making them less healthy.
Sweet potatoes have more fiber than pumpkin, making them a healthier choice.
Let’s have a look at the nutrients of both;
Sweet Potato | Pumpkin | |
Calories | 86 calories/100 grams | 26 calories/100 grams |
Vitamins | C, E, B2, B9 | A, K, B1, B5, B6 |
Sodium | 55 mg/100 g | 1 mg/100 g |
Sugar | 4.2 g/100 g | 2.8 g/100 g |
Carbohydrates | 20 g/100 g | 7 g/100 g |
If you make a comparison based on nutrients and minerals, sweet potato is a winner. However, pumpkin, containing less sugar and carbs, is healthier for those with sugar sensitivity. If you want to keep your pies healthy, I’d recommend making them from good-quality pumpkin or sweet potato and using artificial sweeteners instead of refined white sugar.
If you want to enhance the taste, I’d recommend baking the sweet potatoes. It’s not necessary that you like a pie with a baked sweet potato. Playing around and trying different ways will help you discover different and unique tastes you might like.
Containing a bunch of nutrients, boiling sweet potatoes will make them lose some of them. If you want to take maximum nutritional advantage of sweet potatoes, baking them would be a healthier option.
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