Special Report

The Best Pie Shop in Every State

Courtesy of Sari Marissa G. via Yelp

Who doesn’t love pie? Apparently, Americans love it a lot. The American Pie Council (yes, there such a group) estimates that 186 million units or $700 million worth of pies are sold each year in grocery stores alone. That actual number  doesn’t account for pies picked up in restaurants, food service, price clubs – or dedicated pie shops.

Pies date back to the ancient Egyptians who ate free-form pies with a crust of oats, wheat, rye, or barley filled with honey. Around 2000 B.C., a chicken pie recipe was inscribed on a tablet in Sumer in Mesopotamia. The ancient Greeks and Romans carried on the tradition, making both sweet marpastry tarts and savory pies containing meats. 

In medieval times, pies were mostly packed with meat. By the 15th century, custards and fruit pies became popular. But not everyone loved pies. When Oliver Cromwell ruled England in the 17th century, he banned mince pies, claiming the treats were “frivolous.” Luckily, the ban was lifted in 1660 when the monarchy was restored. 

When the Pilgrims came to America, they brought their meat pies with them. At the second Thanksgiving in 1623, the iconic pumpkin pie may have first been brought to the table.

By the 1870s, however, pies fell out of favor, criticized for their heavy crusts. As countries entered the Industrial Revolution, women went to work and didn’t have the time to home bake pies, anyway. In the 1950s, however, pies underwent a renaissance whose effects we still enjoy. (See what other old-fashioned dishes deserve a comeback.)

To determine the best pie shops in every state, 24/7 Tempo consulted reviews and rankings on a wide range of websites, including Yelp, Taste of Home, Thrillist, Fodors, Food Network, Spoon University, Forbes, Delish, and The Daily Meal, as well as numerous local and regional sites. While precedence was given to shops specializing in pies (often with “pie” in their name), in some cases bakeries with more general focus and occasionally places that are primarily cafés were included, if they were highly rated for their pies. Some of the pie purveyors on this list make savory as well as sweet pies, but we have showcased the latter.

Most of the pies mentioned here are of the traditional variety, filled with fruits, berries, nuts, custards, and/or chocolate, and sometimes a dash of booze. The Pie Junkie in Oklahoma City bakes up the Drunken Turtle, which is a graham cracker crust loaded with chocolate, salted bourbon caramel, and pecans – a riff on turtle candy. 

Some pie-makers venture outside of the box – or crust. The Purple Pie Place in Custer, South Dakota, spices up its pie menu with a raspberry rhubarb jalapeño offering. Another spicy pie comes out of the oven at the Pie Hole in Phoenix, where you can satisfy your sweet and spicy tooth with a mango chile lime treat. (Here are some popular desserts from every state that you must try.)

Click here to see the best pie shop in every state

Many of the pies mentioned here are seasonal, and you may have to place an advance order in some cases to make sure of getting what you want. But the wait and extra effort will be well worth it to relish these satisfying indulgences.

Courtesy of JaWanda's Sweet Potato Pies via Facebook

Alabama: JaWanda’s Sweet Potato Pies
> Location: Birmingham
> Sample specialty: Pineapple crème

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Courtesy of A Pie Stop

Alaska: A Pie Stop
> Location: Anchorage
> Sample specialty: Peanut butter cream

Courtesy of Mamma Toledo's The Pie Hole

Arizona: Mamma Toledo’s The Pie Hole
> Location: Phoenix
> Sample specialty: Green chile apple

Courtesy of Rymolene's Pies

Arkansas: Rymolene’s Pies
> Location: Fayetteville
> Sample specialty: Pistachio humble

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Photo by Sushant Z. via Yelp

California: Julian Pie Company
> Location: Julian
> Sample specialty: Caramel Dutch apple

Photo by Crista L. via Yelp

Colorado: Granny Scott’s Pie Shop
> Location: Lakewood
> Sample specialty: Rocky road

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Courtesy of Michele's Pies LLC

Connecticut: Michele’s Pies
> Location: Norwalk
> Sample specialty: Pineapple mango with macadamia coconut crumb

Courtesy of Sweet Somethings Dessert Shoppe

Delaware: Sweet Somethings Dessert Shop
> Location: Wilmington
> Sample specialty: White chocolate banana cream

Photo by Mike B. via Yelp

Florida: The Pie Factory
> Location: Largo
> Sample specialty: Authentic Key West Key lime

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Courtesy of Crave Pie Studio

Georgia: Crave Pie Studio
> Location: Duluth & Alpharetta
> Sample specialty: Bourbon chocolate pecan

Courtesy of Hawaiian Pie Company

Hawaii: Hawaiian Pie Company
> Location: Honolulu
> Sample specialty: Hawaiian passion pear pie

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Courtesy of Birdie's Pie Shop

Idaho: Birdie’s Pie Shop
> Location: Post Falls & Hayden
> Sample specialty: Salted caramel candy bar

Photo by Tammy S. via Yelp

Illinois: Myrtle’s Café and Pies
> Location: Princeton
> Sample specialty: Strawberry rhubarb

Courtesy of Lisa's Pie Shop

Indiana: Lisa’s Pie Shop
> Location: Atlanta
> Sample specialty: Black raspberry

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Courtesy of Try Pie Bakers

Iowa: Try Pie Bakers
> Location: Waterloo
> Sample specialty: Apple pear cranberry

Photo by Lindsay I. via Yelp

Kansas: The Upper Crust Pie Bakery
> Location: Overland Park
> Sample specialty: Blueberry sour cream

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Courtesy of Georgia's Sweet Potato Pie Company

Kentucky: Georgia’s Sweet Potato Pie Company
> Location: Louisville
> Sample specialty: Purple sweet potato

Courtesy of Not Just Pie

Louisiana: Not Just Pie (temporarily closed)
> Location: Monroe
> Sample specialty: Strawberry banana

Courtesy of Sari Marissa G. via Yelp

Maine: Puzzle Mountain Bakery
> Location: Newry
> Sample specialty: Maine blueberry

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Courtesy of The Ugly Pie

Maryland: The Ugly Pie
> Location: Salisbury
> Sample specialty: Sweet potato

Courtesy of Connie M. via Yelp

Massachusetts: Ever So Humble Pie Company
> Location: East Walpole
> Sample specialty: New England apple

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Courtesy of Sister Pie

Michigan: Sister Pie
> Location: Detroit
> Sample specialty: Salted maple

Dzevoniia / iStock via Getty Images

Minnesota: Heather’s Pies
> Location: Minneapolis
> Sample specialty: Triple berry

Courtesy of Sugaree's Bakery

Mississippi: Sugaree’s Bakery
> Location: New Albany
> Sample specialty: Chocolate meringue

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Photo by Alyssa D. via Yelp

Missouri: A Slice of Pie
> Location: Rolla
> Sample specialty: Tollhouse

Courtesy of The Coffee Pot Bakery Cafe

Montana: The Coffee Pot Bakery Café
> Location: Bozeman
> Sample specialty: Chocolate mousse

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Courtesy of The Bubbly Tart

Nebraska: The Bubbly Tart
> Location: Omaha
> Sample specialty: Chocolate raspberry crème 

Courtesy of Pies Unlimited via Yelp

Nevada: Pies Unlimited
> Location: North Las Vegas
> Sample specialty: Grasshopper

Courtesy of Woodstock Pie & Coffee Co. via Facebook

New Hampshire: Woodstock Pie & Coffee Co.
> Location: North Woodstock
> Sample specialty: Fruits of the forest

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Courtesy of Sari Marissa G. via Yelp

New Jersey: Penza’s Pies at the Red Barn Café
> Location: Hammonton
> Sample specialty: Pumpkin ricotta

Photo by Heidi Natalie S. via Yelp

New Mexico: Burro Street Bakery
> Location: Cloudcraft
> Sample specialty: Caramel apple walnut

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Courtesy of Miss American Pie

New York: Miss American Pie
> Location: Brooklyn
> Sample specialty: Salted-caramel banana cream pie

 

Courtesy of Annamaria-Guarneri M. via Yelp

North Carolina: Carolina Pie Company
> Location: Mooresville
> Sample specialty: Frozen margarits

Courtesy of Nichole's Fine Pastry & Cafe

North Dakota: Nichole’s Fine Pastry & Café
> Location: Fargo
> Sample specialty: Sour cream raisin

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Photo by Nadira Y. via Yelp

Ohio: Just Pies
> Location: Westerville
> Sample specialty: Peach riot pie

Courtesy of Pie Junkie

Oklahoma: Pie Junkie
> Location: Oklahoma City
> Sample specialty: Drunken turtle

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Photo by Tee D. via Yelp

Oregon: The Pie Spot
> Location: Portland
> Sample specialty: Marionberry

The Pie Place

Pennsylvania: The Pie Place
> Location: Pittsburgh
> Sample specialty: Freestone peach

Courtesy of DeLuise Bakery

Rhode Island: DeLuise Bakery
> Location: Providence & Cranston
> Sample specialty: Pumpkin

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Courtesy of Sugar Bakeshop

South Carolina: Sugar Bakeshop
> Location: Charleston
> Sample specialty: Chocolate bourbon pecan

Courtesy of Purple Pie Place Restaurant, Pie Shop and Ice Cream Parlor

South Dakota: Purple Pie Place (open in summer and fall)
> Location: Custer
> Sample specialty: Raspberry rhubarb jalapeno

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Courtesy of Papa C Pies Bakery

Tennessee: Papa C Pies Bakery
> Location: Brentwood
> Sample specialty: Steeplechase Derby (pecans, chocolate chips, bourbon)

Courtesy of Royers Pie Haven

Texas: Royers Pie Haven
> Location: Round Top
> Sample specialty: Shannon’s blueberry lemon

Courtesy of Veyo Pies

Utah: Veyo Pies
> Location: Veyo
> Sample specialty: Caramel apple

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Photo by Sarah C. via Yelp

Vermont: Poorhouse Pies
> Location: Underhill
> Sample specialty: Maple pecan

Courtesy of Mom's Apple Pie Company

Virginia: Mom’s Apple Pie Company
> Location: Leesburg, Round Hill, & Occoquan
> Sample specialty: Butter pecan apple crumb

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Photo by Sharon C. via Yelp

Washington: A la Mode Pies
> Location: Seattle
> Sample specialty: Sweetheart sour cherry

 

Courtesy of Sugar Pie Bakery via Yelp

West Virginia: Sugar Pie Bakery
> Location: South Charleston
> Sample specialty: Peach caramel crumb

Courtesy of SmallPie by Honeypie via Facebook

Wisconsin: SmallPie by Honeypie
> Location: Milwaukee
> Sample specialty: Milwaukee mud

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Courtesy of Cowboy Cafe - Dubois, WY

Wyoming: Cowboy Café
> Location: Dubois & Sheridan
> Sample specialty: Cherry almond

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