Quick Answer
Patti LaBelle is famous for her sweet potato pie, which she launched commercially with Walmart in 2015. Her pie contains sweet potatoes, brown sugar, evaporated milk, butter, eggs, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and other spices. It has a smooth, creamy filling enclosed in a flaky, buttery pie crust. LaBelle’s sweet potato pie became a viral sensation and sold over 75,000 pies within 24 hours of its launch. Its popularity has endured over the years due to its delicious taste and Patti LaBelle’s star power.
Patti LaBelle is an iconic R&B singer who has been delighting fans with her powerful vocals for over 50 years. From her early days with the group Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles in the 1960s to her distinguished solo career, LaBelle’s soulful voice has earned her the title of “Godmother of Soul.” While Patti LaBelle is best known for her music, she also has a reputation for baking exceptionally tasty pies. Her sweet potato pie became a national sensation after going viral on social media in 2015. Since then, demand for LaBelle’s pie has remained strong due to its sweet, spiced filling and flaky crust. This article will take a closer look at the ingredients and origins of Patti LaBelle’s famous sweet potato pie.
The Origins of Patti LaBelle’s Sweet Potato Pie
Patti LaBelle has baking in her blood. She grew up in a family that loved to cook and originally became interested in baking as a child. LaBelle was taught traditional soul food recipes by the women in her family and church community in Philadelphia. She has fond memories of helping her aunt make sweet potato pies for the holidays. After becoming a star, LaBelle would often bake her pies to share with friends and crew members while on tour. Her pies quickly gained a reputation for being the best around.
In the 1990s, LaBelle began selling her sweet potato pie at her Philadelphia restaurant, Patti’s Place. A local food critic sampled the pie and described it as “the best I’ve ever eaten” in a newspaper review. The pies sold briskly to patrons of Patti’s Place. Then in 2015, at age 71, LaBelle partnered with Walmart to launch her own line of frozen sweet potato pies just in time for Thanksgiving. A viral social media video of a man joyfully reacting to trying LaBelle’s pie helped spark nationwide demand. Within 24 hours, over 75,000 pies were sold and supplies ran out. Ever since, LaBelle’s pies have been a seasonal favorite at Walmart.
Ingredients in Patti LaBelle’s Sweet Potato Pie
Sweet Potatoes
The filling for Patti LaBelle’s pie starts with fresh sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes have an intrinsically sweet flavor when cooked, which is why they are ideal for dessert recipes. Their natural sugars caramelize during baking, resulting in a creamy, smooth texture. LaBelle likely uses a variety like Garnet or Jewel sweet potatoes, which are known for being moist and flavorful when baked.
Sugar
One of the secrets to Patti LaBelle’s sweet potato pie is that it contains both granulated white sugar and brown sugar. The white sugar helps sweeten the potatos to the right degree and make the pie filing smooth. The addition of brown sugar contributes extra moisture, texture, and molasses notes. The brown sugar enhances the natural caramel-like flavors of the baked sweet potato.
Butter
Butter is the key ingredient that gives Patti LaBelle’s pie crust its signature flakiness. It also adds rich flavor to the filling itself. LaBelle likely uses a high-fat butter with at least 82% butterfat for the flakiest results. Butter helps bind the filling and adds a creamy mouthfeel.
Evaporated Milk
Evaporated milk is often used in sweet potato pie recipes because it creates a perfectly thick, custard-like consistency. When combined with eggs and butter, the evaporated milk gives Patti LaBelle’s filling a lush texture reminiscent of pumpkin pie filling. The milk adds a subtle richness without making the pie overly heavy.
Eggs
Eggs act as a binding and leavening agent in Patti LaBelle’s sweet potato pie. They add moisture, structure, and lift to the custard filling to keep it from becoming too dense. As the pie bakes, the eggs create a lightly puffed, flan-like texture that is smooth and creamy.
Spices
Spices take Patti LaBelle’s sweet potato pie to the next level. The blend likely includes warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. These spices add layers of flavor and fragrance. Cinnamon brings a subtle heat and sweetness that amplifies the natural sweet potato flavor. Nutmeg and ginger lend the pie a more robust, aromatic taste.
Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract adds another layer of aromatic flavor to Patti LaBelle’s pie. Vanilla brings out the sweetness of the other ingredients and contributes a pleasing background note that makes each bite smell and taste like classic comfort food. Its flavor profile perfectly complements the sweet potatoes.
The Perfect Pie Crust
Any baker knows that a pie is only as good as its crust. Patti LaBelle’s sweet potato pie has a delicious flaky, slightly crisp crust that provides the perfect complement to the creamy filling. She likely uses a standard pie dough recipe consisting of all-purpose flour, butter, vegetable shortening, salt, and ice water. The keys to flaky pie crust are using very cold butter cut into small pieces, not overworking the dough, and keeping everything chilled before baking. LaBelle may also add a touch of sugar to the crust to enhance browning and caramelized flavors.
Why Patti LaBelle’s Sweet Potato Pie Became a Sensation
Patti LaBelle’s sweet potato pie has remained popular since its initial viral fame for several reasons:
- Delicious taste – It’s hard to beat the spiced sweet potato flavor
- Nostalgic appeal – It reminds people of Thanksgiving and other holidays
- Patti’s star power – Her name recognition added momentum
- Appeal of sweets – People always love a good dessert
- Southern roots – Sweet potato pie has a comforting, regional appeal
- Novelty factor – The viral video sparked curiosity to try it
- Limited availability – Being sold seasonally online and in stores stoked demand
The perfect storm of Patti LaBelle’s fame, a clever marketing campaign, and an irresistible product caused the pie to sell out instantly. The pie’s continued popularity is driven by genuine love for its one-of-a-kind spiced sweet potato flavor.
How to Make Sweet Potato Pie Like Patti LaBelle’s
Here is a recipe to make sweet potato pie at home inspired by Patti LaBelle:
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 6 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
- 1 unbaked deep dish pie crust
Steps
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake sweet potatoes until very soft, about 1 hour.
- Scoop out cooked sweet potato flesh and mash until smooth. Allow to cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, beat together sweet potatoes, sugars, melted butter, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, lemon zest, salt, and eggs.
- Gradually stir in evaporated milk until fully incorporated.
- Pour filling into unbaked pie crust.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes until center is set.
- Allow pie to cool completely before serving.
Enjoy your homemade version of Patti LaBelle’s famous sweet potato pie! Play some of her music while baking for the full experience.
Nutrition Facts of Sweet Potato Pie
Patti LaBelle’s sweet potato pie delivers indulgent flavor, but how does it measure up in terms of nutrition? Here is the nutrition information per 1/8 slice:
| Nutrition Facts | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 340 |
| Fat | 13g |
| Saturated Fat | 5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 55mg |
| Sodium | 320mg |
| Carbohydrates | 53g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Sugars | 30g |
| Protein | 4g |
As we can see, Patti LaBelle’s sweet potato pie is high in calories and carbohydrates, which is expected for an indulgent dessert. The majority of calories come from sugars. The pie also provides a few grams of protein and fiber. Overall, sweet potato pie should be enjoyed in moderation as an occasional treat.
The Legacy of Patti LaBelle’s Sweet Potato Pie
In the years since it first captivated a nationwide audience, Patti LaBelle’s signature sweet potato pie remains a beloved dessert. It has become a iconic part of the Thanksgiving tradition, joining staples like turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. Fans eagerly await its arrival every holiday season. According to LaBelle, the ongoing success of the pie is “the cherry on top” of her legendary music and stage career.
The viral fame of her pie took Patti LaBelle by surprise. She had just wanted to share a treasured family recipe with the world. But the pie’s story is about more than just dessert – it celebrates the joy of food and family. LaBelle’s sweet potato pie inspires us to share our own food traditions and find new ones to adopt. It embodies comfort, nostalgia, quality ingredients, and from-the-heart home cooking. That magical combination is what keeps Patti LaBelle’s fans coming back for more pie year after year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy Patti LaBelle’s sweet potato pie?
Patti LaBelle’s sweet potato pie is sold exclusively at Walmart stores nationwide each holiday season. It is typically available from late October through December, while supplies last. The pies are usually stocked in the frozen desserts section.
Can I make Patti LaBelle’s sweet potato pie at home?
Yes, you can recreate Patti LaBelle’s famous sweet potato pie at home using ingredients like sweet potatoes, brown sugar, butter, and fall spices. See the recipe above for an easy home version with similar sweet, spiced flavor.
What is Patti LaBelle’s connection to sweet potato pie?
Sweet potato pie has roots in Patti LaBelle’s childhood. She has fond memories of helping her aunt make the pies for holiday meals. She later baked the pies for her own family and friends before launching the commercial version.
What makes Patti LaBelle’s version different than a typical sweet potato pie?
LaBelle’s pie stands out for its balanced blend of spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and vanilla. It also contains both white and brown sugars for varied sweetness and moisture. The filling is perfectly thick and creamy. And the flaky crust provides textural contrast.
How did Patti LaBelle’s sweet potato pie become so famous?
In 2015, a viral YouTube video showed a man hilariously reacting with joy at tasting LaBelle’s pie for the first time. This sparked national interest leading to a rush on Walmart stores to buy the pies. The combination of a quality product and social media buzz created instant fame.
Conclusion
With her sweet potato pie, Patti LaBelle has created a contemporary cultural phenomenon that recallscomforting family food traditions. The pie’s widespread popularity reveals that a well-executed classic resonates across generations. LaBelle’s music career already demonstrated her star power, but her baking skills have provided an unexpected encore. This unlikely dessert sensation proves that with the perfect recipe, passionate food crazes can touch us all. For those with a taste for the holidays, Patti LaBelle’s pie delivers nostalgia and delight in every fresh-baked bite.