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Cherry pie is among more than 20 options (including several gluten-free pies) at Meredith’s Bread in Kingston. Photo by Margarita Garcia
Grab a slice – or score a whole dish – of everyone’s favorite fresh-baked treat in flavors that range from apple and pumpkin to pecan and triple berry.
By Samantha Garbarini, Olivia Rose, and Sabrina Sucato
When it comes to dessert, we never discriminate. Cookies, muffins, ice cream, you name it and we’ll be there to sample it all. But if we’re talking about sweets we want to eat year-round, there’s one confection that never fails to steal our hearts (and our stomachs). Whether it’s pumpkin on Thanksgiving, blueberry in the summer, or chocolate cream all year long, pie is always the perfect way to end the day (or start the morning, because apple pie is a completely acceptable breakfast option). In the Hudson Valley, we’re blessed with an abundance of top-notch spots to score our favorite 3.14159…oh, you know what we mean.
Baked by Susan
Croton-on-Hudson
Photo courtesy of Baked by Susan
Owner Susan O’Keefe never uses pre-made fillings for her popular, old-fashioned pies with all-butter crusts. (Susan calls her Westchester shop “an old-fashioned bakery.”) Favorites include sour cherry pie, mixed berry, banana cream pie, and key lime pie. Susan doesn’t stop at the sweets, however. Her menu also boasts chicken pot pies and quiche. Come in for a slice or order a whole pie for a special occasion.
The Bakery
New Paltz
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Open for over 40 years, this sweet shop lives up to its name. On any given day, you can come into this New Paltz staple and find countless confections in its case. Pick up a full-sized raspberry Linzer torte or check out its rotating selection of pies and desserts.
Deising’s Bakery
Kingston
This previous Best of the Hudson Valley winner never fails to impress. Baking memories since 1965, these desserts are expertly crafted from years of experience. Head to one of the two outposts for all the traditional pie offerings (available in 8- or 10-inch sizes) as well as an ample selection of freshly baked breads and rolls. Banana cream, Dutch apple, pecan, blueberry crumb, and chocolate cream round out some of Deising’s most decadent pie varieties.
Golden Harvest Farms
Valatie
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This pick-your-own farm is known for harvesting some of the best apples in the Hudson Valley, but it is also home to a wonderful bakery. John Henry, the baking manager, has been cranking out pies, donuts, and other whimsical treats for over 25 years. The classics are an easy go-to, and you can’t go to Golden Harvest Farms without trying a free sample of the apple cider donuts. However, the shop should also be known for its decadent pies available in apple, Dutch apple, blueberry, apple nut caramel, cherry, pumpkin, strawberry rhubarb, peach praline, and fruits of the forest.
Green Acres Farm
Hudson
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A Hudson Valley favorite at this farm’s bakery is the apple raspberry pie. The blend of the two fruits makes for a sweet, yet tart bite. The shop offers other common flavors like tart cherry and blueberry pie year-round. Best of all, its pies are made fresh daily. Every pie is made to order, so give the hotspot a call 24 hours in advance to enjoy these treats.
Jenny Bee’s Bake Shop
Brewster
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Jenny Bee’s is a frequent vendor at the Carmel Farmers’ Market. The vendor offers a variety of pies, with creative crust designs that take the treats to the next level. As for the flavors, Jenny Bee’s is all about clever names and equally inventive ingredient pairings. Jenny’s most recent epic creation is called the “Crumble For You Pie,” a chocolate cookie crust filled with chocolate chip cookie dough cream. If you can’t wait for the Carmel Farmers’ Market, these pies are often available at Crossroads Deli in Mahopac.
Meredith’s Bread
Kingston
Meredith’s Bread. Photo by Margarita Garcia
Meredith’s Bread is famous for its indulgent gluten-free treats, but it also offers an array of traditional desserts. Almost a dozen types of tarts—apple, blueberry, peach, strawberry rhubarb, and more—are available at this bakery owned and operated by the Allen family since 1987. Even more impressive than the variety is the dedication to sustainable, local sourcing; Meredith’s creations feature New York state flour and Hudson Valley ingredients whenever possible.
Nana’s Café
Woodstock
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Nana’s Creative Café shrinks classic pies to create decadent tarts. They may not be pies, per se, but the flourless chocolate and raspberry cheesecake tarts are so scrumptious they deserve a mention in the slice-and-serve category. Lemon meringue pie is available fresh and sliced whenever you are craving something sweet. Be sure to check out this café around the holidays for take-home pies in varying sizes.
Noble Pies
Warwick
Noble Pies. Photo by Zachary Bonder
Heirloom recipes, passed down from baker Leslie Noble’s grandmother, get a locavore spin at this Warwick pie shop, where sweet treats are made with grass-fed Catskills butter and NYS flour. Among the top picks (many of which can be made vegan or sugar-free) are Texan pecan, Philly cheesesteak, and rotating classics available at the storefront in Warwick. You can also find them at the farmers’ markets in Cold Spring and Pleasantville.
Pieconic
Chatham
Photo courtesy of Pieconic
Each week, more than 100 pounds of pie dough are hand-shaped and filled with high-quality ingredients for Pieconic’s loyal customers. From the name to the extensive menu, this bakery is a pie lover’s dream. Its Empire State bourbon chocolate pie was featured on NBC’s TODAY show, but there is so much more to try, so you may have to make multiple trips. In addition to its famous pie, Piconic slings flavors like citrusy orange chocolate ricotta, poetic pumpkin pie, and bold blueberry balsamic. For apple afficionados, the backyard apple pie has two pounds of Love Apple Farm fruit in every pie.
Scotty’s Country Kitchen
New Hampton
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This bakery first opened in 1987, shortly after the marriage of founders Scotty and Laura, and remains a “family affair” to this day. Using fresh apples from Laura’s family farm, Soons Orchards, the duo bakes everything from scratch, ensuring the most delicious pies and baked goods imaginable. You can find their creations at their brick-and-mortar bakery, Soons Orchards, and farmers’ markets around the region.
The Shops at Jones Farm
Cornwall
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Everything in this shop is made from scratch, from the crust to the filling. Try a classic slice like apple or satisfy your sweet tooth via the chocolate chip pecan pie. Yes, you heard that right. The chocolate chip cookie crust is filled with pecan-pie goodness and served hot with a heaping scoop of ice cream. If you want something a bit zestier, try the lemon crème brûlée tart, which unifies the texture of crème brûlée with the sour taste of lemon meringue over a shortbread crust.
Related: 8 Creamy, Dreamy Cheesecakes to Savor in the Hudson Valley