Trader Joe’s releases all kinds of tempting seasonal items as we head into the end of the year and I always keep an eye out for them. Trader Joe’s Sweet Potato & Marshmallow Pixie Pie Mix is one of this season’s newest options. I haven’t heard of a pixie pie before, but the packaging promised layers of sweet potato filling, buttery crust and swirls of marshmallow – all things that I like, so I was certainly eager to give it a chance!
The package comes with three packets inside: one for the filling, one for the crust, and one full of marshmallow cream. You will need to add melted butter to the crust, and both butter and eggs to the filling. The crust is mixed up and spread into an 8-inch pie plate, forming an even layer on the base of the pan. I found I got better results if I baked the crust until it started to turn golden around the edge, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time. I typically find that Trader Joe’s mixes need a few more minutes than specified on the packaging, so this didn’t surprise me. The filling was poured on top of the crust, then the marshmallow spread was swirled on top. As the pie bakes, the filling rises up around the marshmallow, so you get layers in the finished slices. I was surprised that the marshmallow held its shape so well and that I could clearly see it in the finished dish!
The filling is a cross between sweet potato pie filling and a blondie, as it had a moist and almost fudgy interior beneath a sugary top crust. It is made with real sweet potato (dehydrated, so it works in the box mix) and is flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. The nutmeg really comes through and is a nice pairing with the sweet potato. The bottom crust is a pastry crust that adds some support to the filling and makes the pie easy to slice.
It’s a fun and easy dessert to make, and a nice alternative to more traditional desserts. I also like that this mix is not the kind of thing that you would ordinarily expect to find in a box mix! I’m still not sure what a pixie pie is, but I’m interested in seeing more of them.
Chelsea
November 10, 2017I was wondering how this would be! The picture for it looks divine, but your review seemed not that crazy enthusiastic about it? Do you think this could be a pass overall? Love your blog! 🙂
Nicole
November 13, 2017Chelsea – Thanks! I think that it is worth a try if you’re a baker who likes sweets, sweet potato and marshmallows. I think that adjusting the baking time would have made it a bit better for me, but it’s inexpensive and I have no regrets about trying it 🙂
Meredith
November 22, 2017Do you think this would work in an 8 inch tart pan? It doesn’t look super tall…
Nicole
November 22, 2017Yes, I think that it would. It’s not very tall and it doesn’t rise much.
Judy
November 25, 2017The finished product was way too sweet to serve in pie-sized pieces. I cut it up into small bites and placed them in mini-cupcake liners. Everybody at Thanksgiving loved my Sweet Potato bars!