Millionaire Bean Pie is a delicious spicy dessert made with cooked pinto beans, spices, brown sugar, and other ingredients. Tastes like a sweet potato pie. Excellent warm or cold.
I first heard of bean pies over 20 years ago. Every weekend on my way to a favorite hair salon in Atlanta, I’d drive through a popular area where Muslims were selling bean pies. People were always stopping to purchase them! Business was booming.
Although I never purchased one of their bean pies, I asked my hair stylist if she had ever tasted a bean pie. Her enthusiastic response was refreshing. She said they tasted like a really good sweet potato pie.
DISCLOSURE (NOT SPONSORED): Pictured products are personal favorites I purchased and used in this delicious recipe.
The traditional bean pie is a sweet custard pie associated with the Nation of Islam. The filling contains mashed navy beans, sugar, eggs, milk, butter, and spices. This creative dessert dates back to the 1930s when Elijah Muhammad, founder of the Nation of Islam, told his followers to avoid pork and unhealthy starches.
Muslims created the bean pie as a healthier substitute for the sweet potato pie. Navy beans replaced sweet potatoes.
I’m inspired by the Muslim’s creative use of navy beans.
A google search revealed they also use black beans and pinto beans are to make mouthwatering bean pies.
I used pinto beans, shredded carrots and no eggs to make my version of this classic dessert. Shredded carrots, an optional ingredient, adds texture and thickness.
How To Read & Follow A Recipe
Reading a recipe is an important life skill. It starts with knowing how to read a recipe’s ingredients, follow the instructions, prep ingredients, and knowing what equipment to use.
The following tips and strategies will help beginners or experienced cooks create a delicious dish as intended in the recipe.
Start with clean hands and organized kitchen. Wash hands thoroughly. Make sure kitchen and countertops are clean before making a recipe.
Create a relaxing environment. Play favorite music while in the kitchen. I love listening to classical or gospel music.
Read the recipe. Don’t just quickly skim it. Thoroughly read from start to finish. Visualize doing each step which will help you avoid missing a step.
If you see ingredient that you and your family don’t use for whatever reason, use a substitutions or omit the ingredient.
My recipes are packed with helpful tips like shortcuts and serving sizes which save time time and help with meal planning.
Pay attention to the order in which ingredients are prepped. For example, 1 cup of chopped pecans is not the same as pecans, chopped (measure whole pecans and then chop).
Know the assumptions. For example, when my recipe calls for “sugar,” use granulated sugar. If brown sugar is an ingredient, it will be written as such in the recipe.
Figure out the timing. Check the listed “prep time” and “total time” to be sure you have enough time to complete the recipe.
Look for hints, such as the words “meanwhile” or “at the same time,” which indicate two or more steps can happen simultaneously.
For example, my prep time doesn’t include bringing cold butter up to room temperature. Be sure to include in your timetable.
Watch Recipe Videos. If you’re a visual learner (like me), watch recipe videos. Perfect for when you’re learning a new skill or just want to see how a recipe is made.
Mise en place is a super time saver. This French cooking term translates as “putting in place.” It means prepping/measuring ingredients and chopping food before you start cooking. It’s the perfect way to get organized and avoid missing an ingredient or missing a step in the instructions.
Organize your tools and kitchen equipment. Mise en place isn’t just for ingredients. Before starting, make sure you have parchment paper, aluminum foil, measuring cups, measuring spoons, the right pans, mixing bowls, and other equipment.
Make notes in your recipe. Note any special prep instructions and highlight cooking times. Make note of ingredients omitted, favorite substitutions and creative twists. The notes will be very helpful the next time you make this recipe.
Enjoy!
| Prep Time | 2.5 hours |
| Cook Time | 30 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
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- 3 cups pinto beans, cooked See recipe notes for cooking tips.
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup fresh carrots, shredded (optional)
- 2 regular 9" pie crusts Homemade or store-bought.
- kosher salt (optional) Sprinkle a pinch on top of each serving.
Ingredients
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- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a blender, add cooked pinto beans, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, melted butter and sweetened condensed milk.
- Pulse once or twice OR until smooth. Stir in shredded carrots (if using). Set aside.
- Add filling to prepared pie crusts (instructions below).
- Bake 30 to 40 minutes. Filling will be jiggle slightly. Will firm as it cools.
- Cool baked pie 10 minutes before serving. If desired, sprinkle each serving with a pinch of kosher salt (optional). Serve warm or cold.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Place each pie crust (homemade or store-bought) in a pie pan. Generously pierce bottom and sides with a fork.
- Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes in a glass pan and 8 minutes in an aluminum pan OR until puffy.
How to Prepare Pinto Beans
- Remove/discard debris from pinto beans.
- Soak 1 hour.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Cook pinto beans with chunks of ham or use my favorite brand of smoked pork ham distributed by Royal Foods. This a friendly mention. Not a paid endorsement.
5. Add 1 teaspoon of salt to pinto beans after cooking. Stir until evenly distributed. Well seasoned pinto beans are delicious as is and in this recipe. 6. If using my favorite Hurst Beans brand of pinto beans, do not use Ham Flavor packet. Save for later. 