Every November, the same thing happens across Tennessee. Somebody volunteers to bring dessert, waits until the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and then finds a line out the door or a sold-out pie case.
You can skip that whole scramble with a little planning. The six bakeries on this list stretch from Memphis to Knoxville, with stops in Nashville, the Chattanooga area, and a small mountain town on the Cumberland Plateau.
Some specialize in pies and nothing else, while others are full bakeries where pie shares the counter with cookies, breads, and cinnamon rolls. You will find classic pecan, sweet potato pecan, key lime, lemon chess, lemon icebox, and even a few savory options.
A couple of these shops are open only certain days, so knowing the hours matters. Save this list, call ahead, and let somebody else worry about the crust this year.
1. Dutch Maid Bakery & Cafe, Tracy City, TN
Bakeries come and go, but this one has been working on Main Street in Tracy City since 1902. It is known as Tennessee’s oldest family bakery, which gives your Thanksgiving dessert a pretty good backstory.
Everything is made on-site, from cookies and cakes to cinnamon rolls and breads. Pies are part of that lineup, including mini pies and coconut cream pies.
The shop doubles as a cafe, so sandwiches and comfort food are on the menu too. Antiques add character to the space, and the small-town bakery setting fits the mountain town around it.
Plan around the hours. Dutch Maid is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed Sundays, so a late weekend run will not work.
Free lot and street parking make it an easy stop if you are driving the Cumberland Plateau. Call 931-592-3171 to ask about holiday pie availability before you head up the mountain.
2. Frost Bake Shop, Memphis, TN
Key lime pie at a Thanksgiving table might raise an eyebrow or two. At Frost Bake Shop, it earns a spot right next to the pecan.
This family-owned bakeshop on S. Grove Park Road in East Memphis is best known for cupcakes, with flavors like coconut, German chocolate, caramel, red velvet, and lemon.
The pie side of the case holds its own, though. The pecan pie leans on the sweeter side, which is exactly how plenty of Southern families like it.
Gooey butter bars, mini cheesecakes, snickerdoodles, and lemon cookies round things out. That makes it handy if your gathering wants a little dessert spread instead of one big pie.
Hours run Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday afternoons and evenings are the busiest, so a weekday morning pickup is the smart move.
In-store pickup and a free parking lot keep things simple. Prices are friendly too, with most treats landing in the budget range.
3. Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop, Knoxville, TN
Some shops sell pie. Buttermilk Sky sells pretty much only pie, and that focus shows.
The Bearden location on Kingston Pike is built around recipes passed down from grandmothers. Crusts are made from scratch with a hint of sea salt and sturdy enough to hold the piled-high fillings.
The signature buttermilk pie is the obvious starting point. From there, the lineup runs from classic pecan to tangy key lime, plus seasonal flavors that rotate through the year.
Guests who skip gluten have a real option here. A gluten-friendly pecan pie is on the menu, which can save a host from making a separate dessert.
Mini pies come in assortments, so you can bring a sampler instead of choosing just one flavor. Full pies, personal-sized pies, and cloud cookies are all available.
The shop is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 7 p.m., and closed Sunday. Delivery and in-store pickup are both offered, which helps during the holiday rush.
4. Pie R Square, Red Bank, TN
Lavender cream pie is not something you see every Thanksgiving. Over in Red Bank, just outside Chattanooga, it sits on the menu alongside a long list of other creative flavors.
Pie R Square is a women-owned, independent bakeshop on Dayton Boulevard. It is known for mini pies in both sweet and savory styles.
The famous chocolate bourbon pecan pie gets plenty of attention from Chattanooga-area pie fans. Other flavors include cinnamon pecan, lemon chess, banana caramel, and Dutch apple, plus fruit and cream pies.
Savory pies and quiche are a nice bonus. A quiche could easily handle breakfast on Thanksgiving morning while the turkey takes over the oven.
Timing is the big thing here. The shop is open only Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 7 p.m., so ordering ahead is the smoothest way to go.
Pre-orders are a strength, and the pickup process is simple. There is a free parking lot, and prices stay friendly.
5. Dozen Bakery, Nashville, TN
Holiday ordering is something of a family tradition for many Nashville households, and Dozen is a big reason why. Pies, sides, and rolls all show up on Thanksgiving tables from this owner-operated bakery.
The space on Grandview Avenue is a minimalist counter-serve with a large spread of breads, sourdough, and pastries. Pies are a real highlight, and the apple and pumpkin pies fit the November table perfectly.
Flavors here go beyond the basics too. Coffee toffee, chocolate creme, blueberry chess, and butterscotch pecan have all made appearances.
I like that one stop can cover more than dessert. Grab sourdough or rolls for dinner, and maybe a chocolate croissant or cherry cornmeal scone for yourself.
Hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. Weekend mornings get busy, so a weekday visit is easier.
Breakfast, quiche, and focaccia egg sandwiches are also on the menu. Free lot and street parking help, and delivery is offered.
6. Butteriffic Bakery & Cafe, Memphis, TN
Sweet potato pecan pie is the kind of mashup that solves a Thanksgiving debate before it starts. Butteriffic in downtown Memphis bakes it with a crust that leans toward butter cookie.
That makes sense, since butter cookies are the signature here. The cookie lineup also includes chocolate chip pecan, oatmeal raisin walnut, strawberry, and butter pecan.
Pie options include lemon icebox pie by the slice, lemon pie with a butter cookie crumb crust, and individual pies in rotating flavors. A four-pack of personal Butteriffic pecan pies is a handy pick for smaller gatherings.
Banana pudding is the other house specialty, including a strawberry banana version. Cinnamon rolls and a chicken salad combo round out the cafe side.
The shop on S. 2nd Street opens at 9:01 a.m. Monday through Friday, with later Friday hours.
Saturday runs noon to 9:01 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
Curbside pickup and delivery make holiday ordering simple. Saturday afternoon is the busiest stretch, so plan around it.
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