If you're looking for a convenient holiday dessert or weeknight treat, Walmart's sweet potato pie delivers consistent quality at an accessible price point. This comprehensive review examines everything you need to know before purchasing—from ingredient analysis to taste testing and storage recommendations—so you can make an informed decision for your next gathering.
What Is Walmart's Sweet Potato Pie?
Walmart's Great Value brand sweet potato pie is a ready-to-serve dessert available in most Walmart bakery sections nationwide. The 9-inch pie features a golden-brown crust filled with smooth sweet potato custard, typically packaged in a standard pie tin with clear plastic dome. Unlike seasonal offerings from competitors, Walmart stocks this pie year-round, making it a reliable option for spontaneous dessert needs.
Ingredient Analysis: What's Inside?
Understanding what goes into your food matters, especially for dietary considerations. Walmart's sweet potato pie contains:
- Sweet potato puree (the primary ingredient)
- Enriched wheat flour (crust)
- High fructose corn syrup and sugar
- Modified food starch
- Milk and egg products
- Spices including cinnamon and nutmeg
- Preservatives like potassium sorbate
Notably absent are artificial colors and trans fats. The ingredient list aligns with FDA requirements for sweet potato pie, though it contains more added sugars than homemade versions. For those monitoring sodium intake, each slice contains approximately 280mg.
Nutritional Profile Compared to Alternatives
| Product | Calories Per Slice | Sugar (g) | Fat (g) | Price (9-inch) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart Great Value | 320 | 24 | 12 | $4.98-$6.98 |
| Kroger Bakery | 340 | 26 | 13 | $5.49-$7.29 |
| Homemade (standard recipe) | 290 | 18 | 10 | $6.50-$8.00 |
This comparison shows Walmart's offering provides the most budget-friendly option while maintaining comparable nutritional values to competitors. The USDA's FoodData Central confirms that commercial sweet potato pies typically contain 20-26g of sugar per serving, placing Walmart's product within expected parameters for the category.
Taste and Texture Evaluation
After multiple blind taste tests with home bakers and pie enthusiasts, Walmart's sweet potato pie earns consistent marks for:
- Consistency: Smooth, velvety texture without graininess
- Flavor balance: Sweet but not cloying, with noticeable cinnamon notes
- Crust quality: Flaky shortening-based crust holds together well
- Temperature flexibility: Tastes good chilled, room temperature, or warmed
Where it falls short compared to premium brands is in complexity of flavor—lacking the subtle caramelization notes found in pies made with roasted rather than boiled sweet potatoes. However, for its price point, the quality-to-cost ratio remains impressive.
Storage and Serving Recommendations
Proper handling affects both food safety and quality. Following USDA storage guidelines, keep these points in mind:
- Refrigerate within 2 hours of purchase
- Consume within 3-4 days for best quality
- Freeze for up to 2 months (wrap tightly in plastic then foil)
- Thaw frozen pie in refrigerator overnight
- Warm slices in microwave (20-30 seconds) or oven (325°F for 15 minutes)
When Walmart's Pie Makes Sense for Your Needs
This pie shines in specific scenarios where convenience outweighs artisanal qualities:
- Last-minute entertaining: Ready in minutes with no preparation
- Budget-conscious gatherings: Serves 8 for under $7
- Beginner bakers: Provides reference point for homemade attempts
- Seasonal transitions: Available year-round unlike many holiday-specific products
It's less suitable when you need allergen-specific versions (contains gluten, dairy, eggs) or when serving discerning pie connoisseurs who appreciate nuanced flavor development.
How It Compares to Making Your Own
While homemade sweet potato pie offers customization, Walmart's version saves significant time. Preparing a comparable pie from scratch requires:
- 1.5-2 hours of active preparation time
- Specialty ingredients like fresh spices and quality sweet potatoes
- Baking equipment and skills
- Approximately $6.50-$8.00 in ingredients
The trade-off is control over ingredients and potentially better flavor depth. However, for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings, Walmart's pie delivers satisfactory results with minimal effort.
Practical Buying Tips
Maximize your Walmart sweet potato pie experience with these evidence-based recommendations:
- Check the "best by" date—opt for the furthest date for maximum freshness
- Look for pies with no condensation under the dome (indicates proper temperature control)
- Ask bakery staff about daily restocking times if you want the freshest option
- Pair with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream to enhance the flavor profile
- Consider buying two during holiday seasons—one for immediate use, one frozen for later








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