Pies as far as the eye can see at Briermere Farm. • Photo by Estefany Molina
When it comes to Thanksgiving, we all have our favorite dishes. Some of us get a real hankering for mashed sweet potatoes with marshmallows (and know this is the only time of year we’ll actually get to eat it), while others fixate on cornbread stuffing, cranberry relish (sweet, or savory?), or turkey (brine-soaked, or deep fried?). And then there are the pies. Should you ramble through the sun-soaked rows of the Milk Pail, picking fruit to bake your own from-scratch apple pie? Find the famed Long Island Cheese Pumpkin and scour your grandmother’s recipes for the perfect graham-cracker crust? Of course you should. But short of that, you can also check out this list of the best places to order a delicious pie from one of many bakeries on the East End.
The line to pick up pies on any holiday at this famed family farm can get quite long, but well worth the wait. Most of the fruit used in all their pies, muffins and jams is grown on the farm. Blackberry-apple, pumpkin, and peach are some of the best pies. Thanksgiving Week Hours are Sunday through Wednesday, 8am – 6pm; Thanksgiving Day from 8am – 1pm. Call ahead to place Thanksgiving pie orders, which are accepted until Friday, November 17th. Sound Ave, Riverhead (631) 722-3931.
Pumpkin, coconut custard, pecan, mincemeat, apple crumb and sweet & sour cherry are just some of the holiday pies offered by this bakery, which many (this writer included) consider to be one of the best on the East End. Order and pick-up from one of several locations: Southampton, Greenport, Southold, and Riverhead. Orders must be made by Monday, November 20, and the bakeries will be open Thanksgiving until 2pm for pick-up. (631) 204-1701.
This East Hampton bakery is quickly gaining accolades for their locally-grown and produced ingredients, including grains milled on-site. Cider cheesecake, fall fruit meringue and pumpkin squash pie are a few of several absolutely gorgeous-looking (and tasting) pies. All Thanksgiving orders must be placed by Sunday, November 19th. HOURS are 7am to 4pm daily, closed Tuesday & Wednesday. 68 Newtown Lane, East Hampton.
This tiny bakery, tucked behind Main Street on Division Street, is a gem. Their muffins regularly sell-out before noon each day and—lucky for pie-lovers—their holiday pie list is long. Traditional pumpkin and pecan, walnut chocolate, apple-cranberry crumb, and pumpkin amaretto tiramisu cake top the list. Thanksgiving orders must be placed by Sunday, November 19 and will be ready for pickup on Tuesday, November 21 or Wednesday, November 22. 51 Division St, Sag Harbor. (631) 899-4900.
A long holiday pie list, including pecan, peanut butter, bumbleberry crumb, three different apple pies, and sweet potato pie is par for the course at this family-owned North Fork farm that’s as fun to visit as it is to eat from. They are open from 9 am to 6 pm everyday, and on Thanksgiving Day are open from 8 am till 2 pm, so customers can pick their pies up anytime during those hours. 1960 Main Road, Laurel. (631) 298-1140.
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Touted as the only Kosher bakery on the East End who welcomes sweets-lovers from all religions, all of Beach Bakery’s pies—and there is a vast variety of them—are baked on the premises using natural and some local ingredients. They are open every day from 6 am to 8 pm, which makes ordering and pick-up easy. 112 Main Street, Westhampton Beach. (631) 288-6552.
Nothing says The Hamptons like a bag of Tate’s chocolate chip cookies. But this well-established bakery also has some of the finest pies on the East End. Pumpkin, apple crumb, chocolate chip and pecan are just some of the traditional holiday pies offered for Thanksgiving. Tate’s also offers gluten free options. Open every day, 7 am to 6 pm. Call ahead to order for Thankgiving. 43 N Sea Road, Southampton. (631) 283-9830.
This family-run North Fork farm offers fresh and fresh-made frozen fruit pies (in case blueberry crumb suits your fancy more than pumpkin). Honey apple pie is their most unique holiday pie. All fruit baked into their pies are in-season only. Woodside also has a variety of breads and cider donuts. Open 11:30 am to 5:30 pm every day except Wednesday. 729 Main Road, Aquebogue. (631) 722-5770.
This family-run farm offers one of the most unique pies around: concord grape with crumb topping. It’s so popular, people have been known to drive all the way from Queens to pick up large orders of it—so call ahead for your order. Apple pie with lattice crust top and pumpkin pie cupcakes in a 4-pack or by the dozen are also offered. Holiday orders should be picked up by noon Thanksgiving Day (hours for Thanksgiving are 8 am to12 pm). Order deadline is November 21st at 5 pm. 5412 Sound Ave Riverhead. (631) 831-1653.
