Every November, the same thing happens across Massachusetts. Families plan the turkey weeks ahead, then realize two days before the holiday that nobody ordered dessert.
By then, the best bakeries are often booked solid, and walk-in shelves can be empty by midmorning. This list covers seven pie shops and bakeries, from Somerville to Cape Cod to the Pioneer Valley, that take Thanksgiving baking seriously.
Some focus almost entirely on pies, while others are full bakeries that happen to turn out excellent holiday slices. Each one has its own specialty, whether that is brown butter pecan, chocolate cream, lemon meringue, or a savory pot pie for the day after.
A few also have quirks worth knowing, like closed Mondays or strict pickup windows. Save this list, share it with whoever is hosting this year, and get that order in before the rush.
1. Petsi Pies, Somerville, MA
Two days before Thanksgiving, the line outside this Beacon Street shop can stretch on for hours. Some people reach the counter only to learn their favorite flavor is gone.
That is the clearest argument for ordering early at Petsi Pies. The bakery has built a loyal following for pies made with seasonal ingredients and flaky, buttery crusts, and the holiday demand shows it.
The menu goes beyond the classics. Brown Butter Pecan Pie, Key Lime, and Cherry all appear, and blueberry and apple are known for their crusts and crumb toppings.
I also like the cutie-sized pies for smaller gatherings. Options such as Mississippi mud, salted caramel apple, and apple crumb make it easy to offer variety without buying three full pies.
Savory pies, pastries, cookies, and cupcakes round out the case, along with coffee. Pickup is available inside or curbside, and free street parking is nearby.
Hours run 8 AM to 5 PM on weekdays and 9 AM to 3 PM on weekends. You will find it at 285 Beacon St, and the phone number is 617-661-7437.
2. Centerville Pie Company, Centerville, MA
Chocolate cream pie is the slice that tends to steal Thanksgiving at this Cape Cod shop. Families have called it the best they have ever had, which is a bold claim for a holiday dessert table.
Centerville Pie Company bakes both sweet and savory pies with signature crusts. The Chicken Pot Pie is a standout on the savory side and makes a handy dinner for the busy days around the holiday.
One practical perk is the frozen pie option. Pies can be picked up cold to bake at home or hot and ready to eat, which helps when oven space is tight.
The owners are also known for making special pies for customers with food allergies. That kind of flexibility is rare, so it is smart to ask well ahead of time.
This is a takeout shop with no dine-in seating, though coffee and free Wi-Fi are available. Thursdays and Fridays are the busiest stretches.
Find it at 1671 Falmouth Rd, with a free parking lot. Hours are 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday and 9 AM to 3 PM on Sunday.
Call 774-470-1406 to order.
3. Florence Pie Bar, Florence, MA
A pie bar sounds like a dream invented by a kid, but Florence has a real one. This rustic cafe on Main Street sells handmade sweet and savory pies whole or by the slice.
The menu rotates, so the lineup changes with the seasons. Meat pies sit alongside dessert pies, and the shop has offered a $5 pie and coffee deal.
Thanksgiving pies here have earned strong praise. On high-demand days, though, specialty pies can sell out quickly, so arriving right at opening or reserving whole pies ahead is the way to go.
Unlike several shops on this list, Florence Pie Bar offers dine-in seating and a restroom. That makes it a good stop for a slice while you place your holiday order.
The family-friendly setting fits the village feel of Florence, just outside Northampton. Parking includes free lots and street spaces.
It opens daily from 8 AM to 6 PM at 17 A Main St. Call 413-341-3283 before the November rush.
4. Marion’s Pie Shop, Chatham, MA
Lemon meringue is not the first pie most people picture for Thanksgiving. At Marion’s Pie Shop, it has become a holiday order worth bragging about.
This long-running Chatham counter shop makes its pies in house, and the range is wide. Strawberry Rhubarb and a Peach and Raspberry pie sit beside a rich, smooth chocolate cream that serious chocolate fans appreciate.
Savory options give it extra value during a hectic holiday week. Seafood Pie, Chicken Pot Pie, and lasagna are all part of the comfort food lineup, and cinnamon rolls cover breakfast.
Holiday pies are handled through advance orders, and regulars reserve theirs ahead of time. Walking in on the day before Thanksgiving and hoping for the best is a gamble.
Plan around the schedule too. Marion’s is closed Mondays, open 8 AM to 5 PM Tuesday through Saturday and 8 AM to 4 PM Sunday.
It sits at 2022 Main St with nearby parking. Call 508-432-9439 to reserve.
5. Sugar Baking Co., Boston, MA
Ordering about a week before Thanksgiving is a smart move at this West Roxbury bakeshop. Holiday pies come with order cutoffs, and the staff are helpful with questions along the way.
Sugar Baking Co. is a full bakery first. Cookies, cakes, pastries, pies, and tarts fill the cases, and favorites include the M&M Cookie, Double Chocolate Cookie, Oreo Cupcake, and Coconut Lemon Cupcake.
That variety makes it useful for hosts who want more than pie. A cookie tray for the kids table is an easy add-on.
The shop gets busy, especially Thursday and Friday afternoons and Saturdays, and it enforces capacity limits. Quick pickups are easier on a quieter weekday.
It has dine-in space, free Wi-Fi, and a gender-neutral restroom, and it is welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community.
Find it at 1884 Centre St with free street parking. Hours are 7 AM to 7 PM Monday through Saturday and 8 AM to 5 PM Sunday.
The number is 617-327-8427.
6. Colarusso’s Bakery, Stoneham, MA
Thirty-five pies, delivered on time, for an office Thanksgiving. Colarusso’s handles that kind of volume, which says plenty about how this Stoneham bakery runs in November.
The longtime, family-run shop is known mostly for Italian baking. Ricotta pie, lobster tails, and Italian rum cake are signatures, along with breads, cookies, and a Chocolate Drip Cake.
For the holiday, the Pecan Pie is a much-loved pick. Pairing it with a ricotta pie gives your table a classic option and an Italian bakery twist.
Here is the practical catch. Seasonal orders come with strict pickup windows, and pickup may not start until hours after opening on busy days, so confirm your time when you order.
Prices are reasonable, and the selection is large. It is takeout only, with no dine-in seating or restroom.
Colarusso’s sits at 210 Main St with a free parking lot. Hours are 8 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday and 8 AM to 5 PM Sunday.
Call 781-438-9793.
7. Shugah Hill Bakery, Hanover, MA
Wedding cakes might be what brings many people to Shugah Hill first. The same families often come back for Thanksgiving pies and holiday desserts.
This cozy Hanover bakery bakes everything from scratch. Custom cakes, carrot cake, artisanal pastries, and coffee make up the daily lineup.
Holiday pies are prepared on pre-order, so this is not a place to show up empty-handed on Wednesday and expect a full selection. The bakery also takes large corporate orders, which helps if you are feeding a crowd.
I would save this one for South Shore hosts who want one bakery for the whole season. Pies in November, then holiday desserts in December.
Prices are friendly, with many items in the $1 to $10 range.
Watch the schedule. It is closed Monday, open 7 AM to 1 PM Tuesday, and 7 AM to 5 PM Wednesday through Sunday at 352 Columbia Rd Unit C, with a free lot.
Call 781-924-5493.
Whichever shop fits your town, the lesson is the same across all seven. Pick your pies now, place the order, and let dessert be the easiest part of Thanksgiving.
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