Unearth The Voyage
Some places do pie. The Midwest owns it.
From flaky, fruit-packed slices that drip down your fork to sky-high cream pies that disappear before you’ve even found a seat. If you’ve ever pulled off the highway for “just one quick stop” and ended up leaving with a whole box, you already get the obsession.
These beloved bakeries are the ones people swear by, the kind locals recommend quietly and out-of-towners remember for years. A few are in small-town “worth-the-detour” spots, and more than one sells out fast once the rush hits.
1. Stockholm Pie and General Store
Walking into this Wisconsin gem feels like stepping into your grandmother’s kitchen, if your grandmother happened to win USA Today’s top pie shop honors. Stockholm Pie and General Store has perfected the art of pie-making, turning out both sweet and savory creations that have people driving hours just for a slice.
The fruit pies here shine with seasonal produce, while the cream pies are downright legendary. You’ll find classic apple and cherry alongside more adventurous flavors that change with what’s fresh.
The savory pies deserve equal attention, perfect for lunch before you inevitably order dessert.
What makes this place special isn’t just the accolades. It’s the commitment to handcrafted quality in every single pie.
The crusts are buttery and flaky, the fillings generous and perfectly balanced. Locals know to call ahead during peak seasons because these pies sell out fast.
The general store setting adds to the charm, making it easy to grab a whole pie to take home. Fair warning: once you taste these pies, you’ll be planning your next visit before you’ve finished your first slice.
2. Sweetie Pies
Door County cherry country produces some of the best cherries in America, and Sweetie Pies in Fish Creek knows exactly what to do with them. This classic bakery has turned local cherries into an art form, creating pies that capture the essence of summer in every bite.
The cherry pies are the obvious stars, made with fruit sourced right from nearby orchards. But don’t sleep on their other traditional fruit fillings, each one showcasing the same attention to detail and quality ingredients.
The crust strikes that perfect balance between tender and crisp.
I grabbed a slice here after a morning of kayaking, and it was exactly what I needed. The tart-sweet cherry filling paired beautifully with their flaky pastry, and I understood immediately why locals consider this place essential.
It’s not fancy or complicated, just really good pie done right.
The bakery’s location in Fish Creek makes it a natural stop during any Door County adventure. Whether you’re grabbing a slice to enjoy on their patio or taking a whole pie back to your rental, Sweetie Pies delivers that authentic Door County experience everyone’s chasing.
3. Betty’s Pies
Perched along Highway 61 near Two Harbors, Betty’s Pies has achieved something remarkable: regional fame so intense they ship pies nationwide. This Minnesota institution draws pie pilgrims from across the country, all seeking those legendary cream and fruit pies that have made Betty’s a household name.
The cream pies here are stuff of legend. Rich, smooth, and topped with clouds of meringue or whipped cream, they’re the kind of dessert that makes you close your eyes and savor every forkful.
The fruit pies showcase Minnesota’s seasons beautifully, from spring rhubarb to fall apple.
What started as a roadside stop has grown into a destination, but Betty’s hasn’t lost its soul in the process. The pies still taste homemade because they are.
The portions are generous, the coffee’s always hot, and the view of Lake Superior doesn’t hurt.
Locals know the best strategy: arrive early, especially on weekends, because popular flavors disappear fast. And if you can’t make it to Minnesota, their shipping program means you can get a taste of the North Shore delivered right to your door.
4. The Cherry Hut
Since 1922, The Cherry Hut in Beulah has been slinging cherry pie to travelers and locals alike. That’s over a century of pie perfection, and in 2025, the New York Times recognized what Michiganders have known all along: this place serves one of the fourteen best desserts in America.
The iconic cherry pie is everything you want it to be. Tart cherries balanced with just enough sweetness, encased in a crust that shatters at the touch of your fork.
It’s simple, classic, and absolutely perfect. No fancy twists or modern interpretations needed when you’ve nailed the original this completely.
The roadside location adds to the appeal, making The Cherry Hut a natural pit stop during any northern Michigan adventure. The vintage charm hasn’t been polished away by renovations.
This place feels authentic because it is, serving the same quality pie that made it famous generations ago.
Summer brings crowds, but the line moves quickly, and trust me, it’s worth the wait. Grab a slice with vanilla ice cream, find a picnic table, and taste a piece of Michigan history.
Some traditions endure for good reason.
5. Sister Pie
Detroit’s Sister Pie brings serious creativity to the pie game, crafting inventive, seasonally changing flavors that keep locals coming back to see what’s new. The scratch crusts are made daily, and you can taste the difference in every flaky, buttery layer.
What sets Sister Pie apart is their willingness to experiment while respecting tradition. You’ll find classic fruit pies alongside unexpected combinations that somehow just work.
The seasonal menu means there’s always something new to try, reflecting what’s fresh and available right now.
The bakery’s locally adored status isn’t just about the pies, though they’re certainly the stars. It’s the whole vibe, the commitment to quality, and the way they’ve become part of Detroit’s food renaissance.
Fair warning: they have periodic seasonal closures and special events, so check their current hours before making the trip.
When you do visit, come hungry and open-minded. Try something you wouldn’t normally order.
Sister Pie has a way of turning skeptics into believers with their creative flavor combinations. And if you can snag a whole pie, do it.
These are the kind of desserts that make you a hero at any gathering.
6. The Upper Crust
Overland Park’s The Upper Crust has quietly become a Kansas City suburbs favorite, serving up both classic flavors and creative combinations that keep things interesting. Their key lime pie cuts through with perfect tartness, while the sour cream blackberry showcases their willingness to think outside the traditional pie box.
The bakery strikes a nice balance between familiar and adventurous. You can grab a reliable apple or pecan, or take a chance on one of their more inventive creations.
Either way, you’re getting quality ingredients and careful preparation in every slice.
Locals appreciate the consistency here. The Upper Crust delivers the same excellent pies whether you’re stopping by on a Tuesday afternoon or picking up dessert for Thanksgiving.
That reliability has earned them a loyal following in the KC area.
The shop’s suburban location makes it accessible for families and easy to visit during errands. It’s the kind of place that becomes part of your routine, whether you’re celebrating something special or just treating yourself to a Wednesday pick-me-up.
The pies are generous, the flavors are bold, and the quality never wavers.
7. Nichole’s Fine Pastry and Cafe
A James Beard nomination doesn’t just happen. Nichole’s Fine Pastry and Cafe in Fargo earned that outstanding bakery recognition through dedication to scratch-baked excellence, turning out fruit and cream pies that rival anything you’ll find in bigger cities.
The elegance here is genuine, not pretentious. Nichole’s brings refinement to classic pies without losing their soul.
The fruit pies burst with flavor, the cream pies are silky smooth, and the crusts are consistently perfect. It’s clear that every pie receives careful attention from start to finish.
What makes this place special for Fargo locals is how it elevates their dessert options without feeling out of reach. You can grab a slice with coffee or order a whole pie for your next gathering.
Either way, you’re getting bakery-quality work that stands up to national recognition.
The cafe setting means you can linger over your pie, making it an experience rather than just a transaction. Pair your slice with their excellent coffee, and you’ve got yourself a perfect afternoon break.
Fargo’s lucky to have this level of pastry expertise right in town.
8. Sweetie-licious
Nostalgia bakes into every pie at Sweetie-licious in DeWitt, where classics like coconut cream and chocolate chess share space with crowd-pleasers like the aptly named Tom’s Cheery Cherry Berry. This pie shop understands that sometimes the old ways are the best ways.
The coconut cream here is the stuff of dreams, with real coconut flavor and a cloud-like texture that makes you slow down and savor. The chocolate chess delivers that perfect balance of rich and sweet without being cloying.
And Tom’s Cheery Cherry Berry? It’s become a signature for good reason, combining cherries and berries in a way that tastes like summer.
What Sweetie-licious does best is remind us why we fell in love with pie in the first place. No fancy reinterpretations or trendy flavor combinations needed.
Just really good, honest pie made with quality ingredients and plenty of care. The kind of dessert that makes you want to call your grandmother.
The shop’s commitment to traditional techniques shows in every slice. These pies taste homemade because the methods are homemade, just scaled up with professional precision.
It’s comfort food at its finest, pure and simple.
9. Justice of the Pies
Chicago’s Justice of the Pies takes traditional pie-making and gives it a creative twist that’ll make you rethink everything you thought you knew about dessert. Salted caramel peach?
Bleu cheese praline pear? These aren’t gimmicks; they’re genuinely delicious innovations that somehow honor tradition while pushing boundaries.
The magic here is how these unexpected combinations actually work. The salted caramel enhances the peaches’ natural sweetness while adding complexity.
The bleu cheese and pear create a sweet-savory balance that’s surprisingly addictive. It’s the kind of creative risk-taking that pays off deliciously.
But don’t worry, traditionalists. Justice of the Pies also nails the classics, proving they understand fundamentals before they start experimenting.
The crust is consistently excellent, providing the perfect foundation for both familiar and adventurous fillings.
This innovative approach has made Justice of the Pies a Chicago destination for dessert lovers who want something beyond the ordinary. It’s the kind of place that sparks conversations, where you’ll find yourself describing your pie experience to friends and insisting they have to try it.
Bold flavors for a bold city.
10. Crystal Cafe
Roadside favorites earn that status through consistency, and Crystal Cafe in South Sioux City has been delivering hearty, homestyle pies alongside classic American comfort food for years. Locals rave about the pies here, and once you taste them, you’ll understand the devotion.
The pies at Crystal Cafe are exactly what you want from a roadside diner: generous slices, honest flavors, and that homemade quality that can’t be faked. Whether you’re finishing off a meal with dessert or stopping specifically for pie and coffee, you’re getting the real deal.
No pretense, just good food made well.
What keeps people coming back is the reliability. Crystal Cafe serves the same quality pie whether it’s your first visit or your hundredth.
That consistency builds trust, and trust builds loyalty. The cafe atmosphere is welcoming and unpretentious, the kind of place where everyone feels comfortable.
The location makes it a natural stop for travelers, but the quality makes it a destination for locals. This is where people bring out-of-town guests to show them real Nebraska hospitality.
The pies are the stars, but the whole experience captures something essential about Midwest dining culture.
11. Whistle Stop Cafe
Size doesn’t matter when you’re baking pies this good. Whistle Stop Cafe in Fox Lake might be tiny, but it’s become a local dessert staple through dedication to freshly baked pies served daily.
This diner-style spot proves that great pie doesn’t need fancy surroundings.
The daily fresh-baked commitment means you’re getting pie at its peak. No day-old slices here, just pies that came out of the oven recently enough that they’re still at their absolute best.
The selection changes based on what they’re baking, adding an element of delightful unpredictability to each visit.
What Whistle Stop understands is that sometimes simple is best. Good crust, quality fillings, reasonable prices, and friendly service.
That formula has worked for diners for generations, and it works here. The cafe atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, the kind of place where regulars know each other’s names.
Fox Lake locals guard this spot carefully, but the secret’s getting out. The pies are that good, drawing people from surrounding towns who’ve heard the buzz.
Get there early for the best selection, and don’t be surprised if your favorite sells out. That’s just proof you’re onto something special.
12. Sara’s Tipsy Pies
Beer, wine, and whiskey belong in pie, and Sara’s Tipsy Pies in the Stillwater area proves it. These boozy hand pies are pure genius, combining classic Midwest pie traditions with creative alcohol infusions that add depth and complexity to familiar flavors.
The hand pie format makes these treats portable and perfect for sharing, though you might not want to. The alcohol isn’t just a gimmick; it actually enhances the flavors, adding layers that make each bite more interesting than the last.
From beer-infused fillings to wine reductions to whiskey-spiked creations, Sara’s understands how to balance booze with sweetness.
Beyond the tipsy offerings, they nail traditional Midwest pie classics too. It’s clear this isn’t just about the novelty factor.
Sara’s has serious pie-making skills, and the alcohol infusions are just one way they showcase their creativity and technical ability.
The Stillwater area location adds to the charm, making Sara’s a perfect stop during a day of exploring Minnesota’s scenic river towns. Whether you’re a pie purist trying something new or an adventurous eater seeking unique flavors, these tipsy creations deliver.
Just remember: these are adult desserts in more ways than one.
