A guide to the best pie shops in Phoenix
David Mamet once wrote: “Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.”
I am inclined to agree, especially if one doesn’t have to bake said pie.
And since it’s the season to give thanks, allow me to give non-bakers something to be thankful for: a field guide to pie bakeries around the Valley.
During the holidays, pies are an essential part of a festive spread. Though, if you want to go full Americana, you may be interested to know that pecan pie is technically more American than apple pie seeing as the nuts are indigenous to the United States, grown only in a rectangular area from Gulf of Mexico to southern Illinois and Iowa.
But don’t limit yourself to the classics, the Phoenix pie bakers on this list are making all kinds of creative and traditional options from scratch, along with fillings that change seasonally, from cherry crumb to bourbon pecan to butterscotch meringue and Moscow mule.
Here’s your guide to pie shops in metro Phoenix.
Pie Snob
With locations in Arcadia, Uptown and Chandler, Pie Snob sells pies whole or by the slice. You can even order a Frakinpie made of six slices of any of the available pies. There are plenty of seasonal flavors that come into rotation. For November, options available for Thanksgiving include apple crumb, apple double crust, chocolate pecan, pumpkin, cherry crumb and key lime.
Prices range from $26 to $32 for whole pies and $48 for cheesecakes. Slices are $5.50 and the Chandler location even offers a pie ATM for when the craving hits after hours.
Details: 3933 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 602-956-7662. And 6522 N. 16th St., Suite #1, Phoenix. 602-2660511. Also, 250 S. Arizona Ave., Suite #4, Chandler. 480-855-1019. piesnob.com.
Mamma Toledo’s The Pie Hole
Self-taught baker and sweet lover Tonya Saidi started her business to “feed and nurture the world one dessert at a time.” It began with baking for friends and family until she opened her food truck in 2011. In 2014, she outgrew the truck and opened her own brickand-mortar, which USA Today named on its best pie shops in every state list in 2020.
Mamma Toledo’s offers sweet and savory pies, hand held pies, take and bakes, breakfast and cakes — including cheesecakes. For Thanksgiving, choose from fruit pies, cream pies and meringue pies. Prices range from $24 to $27 for 10-inch pies and $48 to $56 for a dozen petite pies. Mini pies are $7.37.
Details: 15414 N. Seventh St., #6, Phoenix. 602-332-7346, mammatoledos.com.
Piefection
This shop started when Cheryl Standage, who had learned all things pie from her grandmother, decided to leave the corporate world and focus on baking in 2012. Now, she owns two stores in Mesa and Scottsdale with another coming soon to Chandler. She offers sweet and savory pies in categories like cheesecake pies, citrus pies, glutenfriendly, no sugar added, orchard fruit pies, rich creamy, seasonal pies, potpies and quiches. Prices run from $18 to $26 for a whole sweet pie. Savory potpies are $9 to $9.50.
Details: 6731 E. Brown Road, #104, Mesa. And 9015 E. Via Linda #103, Scottsdale. 480-218-7437, piefectionaz.com.
One More Bite Bakery
Owner and baker Kevin Schappert has only been running his bakery since 2021, but he worked for the previous owners for two years before purchasing the space.
He currently sells his pies at Uptown and Gilbert farmers markets and offers pick up from Desert Monks Brewery in Gilbert. He announces the five flavors of the day on his Instagram ahead of time.
Thanksgiving orders are open until Nov. 19 at 9 p.m. Some of his pie offerings include apple, apple crumble, chocolate chess, pumpkin, bourbon maple honey pecan and several cream pies. The pie wheel is his variety pie, which comes with one slice of each available pie.
Whole pies start at $25. One of his most interesting creations is pie on a stick, not available for Thanksgiving, which allows people, especially kids, to enjoy the flavors without the excess. When available, they cost $4.
Details: onemorebitebakerygilbert.com.
The Pie Box at Rock Springs Cafe
In business for over 90 years, the cafe and Pie Box are located at Rock Springs Village. The Pie Box building, completed in 2021, offers whole pies. Order pies by the slice at the cafe. Shipping is available nationally. Choose between cream pies, which include banana, coconut, lemon meringue and chocolate; fruit pies, such as apple, rhubarb crumb,
peach, mixed berry crumb; specialty pies, like chocolate cherry cream pie and seasonal ones like pumpkin. Whole pies are $25.95 and pies by the slice are $6.33.
Details: 35900 S. Old Black Canyon Hwy, Rock Springs. 623-374-5794, rockspringscafe.com/store.
Where to pre-order Thanksgiving pies
In addition to dedicated shops, some of the Valley’s most popular bakeries and restaurants are also offering Thanksgiving pies. Be sure to check the cut-off day before placing orders.
JL Patisserie
A favorite Phoenix bakery, JL Patisserie is not all croissants, macaron, bread and cake. Seasonal tarts and pies decorate the pastry case and tempt with unique presentation and flavors.
This year, JL is taking Thanksgiving orders for pumpkin, apple and pecan pies until Nov. 20. at 2 p.m.
Their modern takes are made of shortbread crust. The Granny Smith apple pie filling sits atop a thin layer of almond cream topped with cinnamon streusel. The pecan pie is filled with house caramelized pecan butter, pecans and sea salt caramel. Last but not least, a light pumpkin custard fills the cinnamon tart shell for a lighter version of pecan pie.
Add your own whipped cream or pick up some vanilla ice cream at the bakery. In addition to pies, the bakery offers pumpkin cream cheese muffins topped with pumpkin spiced cinnamon drizzled pecans.
Pies and tarts cost $16 for a mini pie trio and $40 for a whole pie that serves six to eight people.
Details: 7342 E. Shea Blvd, #108, Scottsdale. And 4700 N. Central Ave., #121, Phoenix. 480-859-4459, jlpatisserie.com.
SugarJam The Southern Kitchen
SugarJam Southern Kitchen is known for its fun and lively brunches and sweets. Fans also are known to fawn over Dana Dumas’s pies and cookies.
SugarJam is taking preorders for Thanksgiving pies until Nov. 13, after which they’ll be available on a firstcome, first-served basis on Nov. 23. This year’s 9-inch-deep dish pie flavors include apple, caramel apple, apple crumb, cherry, cherry crumb, southern sweet potato, SJ pumpkin, bourbon pecan, chocolate pecan and peach cobbler.
In addition, the bakery will be stocked with fresh scones, muffins, cookies, brownies and cupcakes. Doors will open at 9 a.m. on the 23rd and the restaurant will serve brunch and mimosas all day.
Prices range from $27.95 for classic pies to $29.95 for cobblers and crumb, nut and caramel topped pies.
Details: 15111 N. Hayden Road, Suite 170, Scottsdale. 480-948-6210,
sjsouthernkitchen.com.
Chaconne Patisserie
James Beard semifinalist, Mark Chacón, is also offering Thanksgiving pies and other pastries, such as maple bourbon pecan pie, yuzu-lemon meringue cheesecake, pumpkin almond
croissants and glazed cinnamon brioche for the holiday.
Cutoff time to order is Thursday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. Visit the website for pickup windows.
Details: 480-330-6006, chaconnepatisserie.com.
Essence Bakery Cafe
Chef Eugenia Theodosopoulos of Essence has a Thanksgiving special order menu, which includes a French chocolate caramel sea salt tarte for $34.95, organic apple crumble tarte and coconut cream pies for $36.95 each. She’s also offering Thanksgiving goods beyond pie, including bread stuffing mix, turkey gravy, quiche Lorraine, assorted dinner rolls and assorted croissants and macarons. The menu will be available until they sell out or until Nov. 20 at 2 p.m.
Details: 3830 E Indian School Rd., Phoenix. 602-296-4958, essencebakery.com.
The Dinersaur
Owner and baker Olivia Girard changes her pastries seasonally. An online bakery since 2015, she finally opened her brick-and-mortar in 2021. Girard is known for creating whimsical designs and flavors. Her apple pie, for instance, comes with a cinnamon thyme filling. Instead of the heavier pumpkin pie, she offers an airy “punkin chiffon pie” priced at $37. Girard will release her Thanksgiving menu and start taking pre-orders on Nov. 14.
Details: 1339 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix. 602-501-3509, thedinersaur.com.
Hope’s Artisan Bread
This brother-and-sister owned bakery has added a Thanksgiving menu for preorder, including pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple crumble pie and banana cream pie are priced at $35. Quiches, their signature cheesecake, bread loaves and mini pies are also available. Preorders can be picked up between Nov. 22 to 24.
Details: 13331 W. Indian School Road, Unit 202, Litchfield Park. hopesartisanbread.com.
Beckett’s Table
Every November, chef Justin Beckett offers Thanksgiving sides and his award-winning fig and pecan pie, which you can pick up alone or with a pint of citrus zest cream cheese ice cream. The pie costs $42 and the ice cream $10. Order by Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. for pick up on Nov. 23.
Details: 3717 E. Indian School Road., Phoenix. 602-954-1700, thanksgiving.beckettstable.com.
Spooky’s Swirls
This gluten-free, sci-fi and horrorthemed bakery has a museum of props used on movie sets. The bakery was one of the contenders on Season eight of Food Network’s Halloween Baking Championships. Pre-order pumpkin pies for $35, pumpkin cheesecakes for $30, pumpkin cake for $50 and classic cinnamon buns in six or 12 packs for $35 or $65 respectively are available for preorder until Nov. 19 to pick-up on Wednesday, Nov. 23.
Details: 3029 N. Alma School Road, #117, Chandler. 707-776-6597, spookysswirls.com.
Reach the reporter at BAnooshahr@azcentral.com. Follow @banooshahr on Twitter.