Family gatherings amid the holiday season can amount to a variety of events on the menu — last-minute tree shopping, gifting favorite things, celebrating old traditions with the young’uns, and topping off everything with some good ‘ole pie.
For generations, pumpkin pie and sweet potato pie have been the topic of conversations when it comes to which pie is “the best” centerpiece for tasting at the dinner table. While these two classics are truly different in spices, texture, and flavor, they both have one thing in common — instilling holiday joy and merry upon the first sight of them. When bringing up the discussion of which pie is better, things can get really heated, real fast. Fans of both have even demanded that you “pick a side.”
Has the line in the sand been engraved by society — demographically, geographically, or traditionally? From childhood, to now children of my own, I’ve tried sweet potatoes in just about every recipe variety out there — casserole, mashed, baked, and of course, pie. Pumpkin has never been a dessert choice for my family (or anyone close to me) growing up. I was recently intrigued by the hoopla of “my pie is better than your pie” battle.
Memphis Parent decided to bring both pie flavors together for a meet-and-taste, because if we know nothing better, we believe they both create a wonderful time of love and memories with family — which is at the high end of the list for us.
Special thanks to two phenomenal local bakeries (both co-owned by moms), Frost Bake Shop and The Pie Folks, we recently featured a special Pumpkin Pie vs. Sweet Potato Pie segment on Bluff City Life w/Gina Neely, and boy, it was a blast of a discussion.
Memphis Parent
Sweet Potato Pie and Pumpkin Pie on the set of Bluff City Life
Frost Bake Shop provided us with their famous pumpkin pie, while The Pie Folks supplied their popular sweet potato pie. I won’t spill too many beans here, and leave the Bluff City Life segment to tell the full story. But I have to say, from the very first bite of both pie slices, it was definitely a fulfilling moment in time where you had to process what you just ate. They were both fantastic in their own different ways.
As a lover of sweet potato pie — and one that has faithfully chosen that side of flavor — no one could have ever told me that pumpkin pie was that good, so five stars for Frost Bake Shop. (Coupling it with whipped cream makes it even better!) It was no surprise to me since Frost Bake Shop never disappoints when it comes to flavor and deliciousness, which has made them a fan-favorite across the Mid-South (3 locations). They’re baked-from-scratch cakes, pies, and cookies are all known for their flavor and moistness — even their custom-designed multi-tiered cakes for weddings and birthdays.
As a fan of sweet potato pie that has tried multiple variations of spices, I was instantly taken aback to the dinner table after ingesting the extremely flavorful sweet potato custard made by The Pie Folks. It was literally a brief sigh of goodness. The Pie Folks, located in Cordova, TN, prides itself on being the place where customers can get the best homemade pies ever to be baked. According to them, their slogan “Better Than Grandma’s” is not just a statement, but a fact. Oh, and they offer pumpkin pie, too.
Be sure to check out the Bluff City Life show and experience the joy of both reactions to these beloved dessert pies, and hey, my vote goes to both for the impactful flavor and richness of ingredients they bring. Whichever taste fancies your tummy, just remember to make beautiful moments together and pass down those recipes.
Special thanks to Frost Bake Shop and The Pie Folks for contributing some of the best pies I’ve tasted. Be sure to check them out for your next gathering. For more information, visit Frost Bake Shop and The Pie Folks.