Every November, the same thing happens across Missouri. Someone promises to bring pie to Thanksgiving, waits too long to order, and finds the pie case empty the Tuesday before the big meal.
This list is here to save you from that moment. These six shops, spread from Kansas City’s northland to the Ozarks to a tiny river town south of St. Louis, bake pies from scratch and take orders for whole pies, minis, and slices.
Some are known for towering meringue, some for savory pot pies, and a few for flavors you will not find at the grocery store. Pick your favorite, place your order early, and let the bakers handle the crust this year.
1. Peggy Jean’s Pies, Columbia, MO
Columbia has plenty of bakeries, but only a few treat pie as the whole point. Peggy Jean’s is one of them, with a case full of homemade fruit pies, cream pies, savory pot pies, and quiche.
The sweet lineup covers the Thanksgiving basics, including American apple, pumpkin, and pecan. If you want something a little different on the dessert table, the cherry custard and raspberry key lime pies both pair a creamy filling with a flaky, buttery crust.
Savory fans should look at the pot pies. The pot roast pot pie and chicken pot pie make a smart backup plan for the busy days around the holiday when nobody wants to cook.
The shop sells whole pies and smaller 6-inch pies, which helps if you are feeding a small group or want to sample several flavors. Online ordering keeps things simple, and curbside pickup is available.
Plan ahead on timing. The shop is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Sunday, and it is a takeout-only stop with a free parking lot.
2. The Blue Owl Restaurant & Bakery, Kimmswick, MO
A pie stacked so tall it was named after a levee tends to get noticed. The Levee High Apple Pie is the signature at The Blue Owl, and it is the reason many people make the trip to tiny, historic Kimmswick.
The pie case goes well beyond apple. Lemon meringue, mile-high coconut cream, banana meringue, and pecan all show up here, so a holiday table can get height and variety from a single order.
The Blue Owl is also a sit-down restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, quiche, sandwiches, soups, and chicken salad croissants. It keeps short hours, open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed Monday.
I would save a visit for a weekday morning, since Saturdays and Sunday afternoons are the busiest stretches and there is usually a wait. Reservations are accepted and recommended for brunch and lunch.
Takeout and catering are both options, and whole pies are a popular choice for celebrations. Parking is usually easy to find in town.
3. Prairie Pie, Springfield, MO
PB&J pie and grapefruit custard pie are not what most people expect at Thanksgiving, which is exactly why Prairie Pie stands out. The Springfield shop on South Pickwick Avenue leans creative with its sweet flavors while still covering the classics.
Caramel apple pie is a crowd favorite, and cinnamon buttermilk pie has made its way onto holiday tables as a gift. On the savory side, look for beef and mushroom pie, chicken pot pie, and a candied bacon and sweet potato quiche.
Unlike some pie shops, this one has plenty of seating and serves coffee. It makes a relaxed spot to grab a slice and free Wi-Fi.
Hours are generous: Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Monday. Takeout, in-store pickup, and delivery are all available.
Holiday orders get busy, so double-check your order details when you place it and arrive at your pickup time with a little patience in your pocket.
4. Be Happy Pie Company, Gladstone, MO
Early risers in the Kansas City northland have an advantage here. Be Happy Pie Company opens at 7:30 a.m.
Tuesday through Saturday, so you can grab your holiday pie before the morning gets away from you.
The shop’s motto is “Always made from scratch,” and the size options are a big plus. You can buy pie by the slice, tart-sized minis, individual pies, or full-sized pies.
Flavors run from fruit to cream to playful. Blueberry streusel and bumbleberry cover the fruit side, coconut cream and key lime handle the creamy end, and the oatmeal cream pie and peanut butter cookie pie bring a fun twist.
Quiche is on the menu too, which helps if you are hosting family for breakfast during the holiday weekend.
The shop is open until 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and until 2 p.m. on Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday.
It is a takeout stop on North Oak Trafficway with a free parking lot.
5. A Slice of Pie, Rolla, MO
Road trippers on Interstate 44 have been pulling into Rolla for pie for years. A Slice of Pie is a long-running bakery known for housemade pies and cakes, and the slices are famously big.
How big? The shop sells half slices, and even those are larger than you might expect.
Fruit pies with flaky crusts are the main draw, with cream pies also in the case. Savory pies make the shop a lunch option too, which is handy if you are driving across the state for the holiday.
The schedule is friendly for busy weeks. It is open every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with dine-in, takeout, coffee, and free parking.
Thursday and weekend afternoons tend to be the busiest, so a Tuesday morning stop is the calmest bet for picking up a whole pie.
6. The Pie Box Bakery, Nixa, MO
Weekend shoppers, take note. The Pie Box in Nixa is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. only, so Thanksgiving orders need to be planned around a weekday pickup.
That small window is worth working around. The bakery specializes in pies, including specialty flavors, along with cakes and cheesecakes.
Holiday standouts include pumpkin, pecan, French silk, and a French silk peppermint that fits right into the season. The pies have a fresh, flaky crust and are not overly sweet, and carrot cake is on hand for anyone who wants something besides pie.
Fast online ordering makes this one easy to lock in early. Curbside pickup, in-store pickup, and delivery are all options, though there is no dine-in.
If you live south of Springfield, this is a convenient stop on North Main Street to check off the dessert list before the week gets hectic.
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