Chess pie is proof that a few pantry basics can turn into something people drive hours for. Butter, sugar, eggs, and a little patience make a sweet, custardy filling with a thin, crackly top that Southern families have baked for generations.
In Kentucky, it still shows up in bakery cases next to cookies, breads, and cream pies, often made the same way it was decades ago. These five bakeries, from Paducah to Louisville, all keep a classic slice ready for anyone who saves a little room after lunch.
1. Kirchhoff’s Bakery and Deli, Paducah, KY
Downtown Paducah has a long-running bakeshop right on Market House Square, and its chess pie has a reputation for tasting a lot like a Southern butter cake. That rich, buttery comparison tells you plenty about how it is made.
Kirchhoff’s is more than a pie stop, though. The case holds artisan loaves like sourdough and Jewish rye, plus cowboy cookies, baklava, pralines, raspberry bars, and apple mini pies.
I like this one for a lunch-and-dessert combo. The deli side turns out a Cuban sandwich, a muffaletta, a fried green tomato BLT, and po-boys with fried shrimp or chicken.
Plan around the schedule. Hours run Tuesday through Friday from 7 AM to 3 PM and Saturday from 8 AM to 3 PM, with Saturday mornings drawing the biggest crowds.
Free street parking and a free lot make the stop easy.
2. Schlabach’s Bakery, Guthrie, KY
Some pie fans happily drive three hours for a slice from this Amish-style bakery near the Tennessee line. Out on Guthrie Road, the chess pie has earned that kind of loyalty.
Schlabach’s keeps things handmade and simple. You will find fresh breads, cinnamon rolls in several flavors, German chocolate cake, and apple or peach fried pies.
The shelves go beyond baked goods too. Apple butter, honey, jams, and jellies are stocked in a clean shop, so it is easy to leave with a full bag.
Grab an oatmeal creme cookie for the drive home while you are at it.
Note the odd schedule before heading out. The bakery is open Monday through Wednesday and Friday through Saturday from 8 AM to 5 PM, closed Thursday and Sunday.
It is a carryout shop with no seating, and there is a free parking lot.
3. Riley’s Bakery, Bowling Green, KY
That thin, crisp top crust is the mark of a proper chess pie, and Riley’s bakes it right. Bowling Green knows this bakery for its cookies, pumpkin pie, and chess pie.
The pie lineup does not stop there. Butterscotch pie, coconut cream, and coconut cake all have fans, along with signature tea cookies and cream horns.
Riley’s also turns out cupcakes, tarts, donuts, breads, and deli-style sandwiches. It is a traditional local bakery in the best sense.
You will find it on the U.S. 31 W Bypass. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 5 PM and Saturday from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM, and Friday tends to be the busiest day, so go early if you want first pick.
4. Burke’s Bakery & Delicatessen, Danville, KY
Growing up in Danville often means growing up on Burke’s. This old-fashioned bakery on West Main Street has been a hometown favorite for chess pie and cherry cream pie.
Pies come big and small here, so a solo treat or a family dessert both work. Prices are friendly too, which makes a second slice an easy decision.
The menu has some true throwbacks. Salt rising bread, an old Appalachian specialty, sits alongside gingerbread men, donuts, filled pastries, and birthday cakes.
Burke’s is open Monday through Saturday from 7 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from noon to 4 PM. It is carryout only with no restroom, and free street parking is available downtown.
5. The Pie Kitchen, Louisville, KY
Late-night pie cravings have a home on Bardstown Road. The Pie Kitchen stays open until 9 PM most nights and 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, which beats most bakeries by hours.
Regular chess pie is a favorite here, but the chocolate chess deserves attention. There is even an old-fashioned shelf-stable version, handy for gifting or packing for a trip.
The rest of the menu leans fun. Double-crusted apple, chocolate cherry, pecan chocolate chip, Oreo cake, and pineapple upside down slices share space with waffle cones and double scoops.
The shop has a retro, family-friendly feel with dine-in seating, restrooms, and Wi-Fi. Free parking makes it simple, though Saturday evenings get busy.
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