10 pies to try in St. Louis right now
From the city to St. Charles, these 10 pies are worth the drive.
Deep-dish apple pie from The Smokehouse Market
This is what every apple pie aspires to be. It starts with the flaky, layered, delicate crust dusted with sugar for some crunch. Inside, the apple slices maintain their beautiful texture and flavor, enhanced with a little sugar and a secret mix of spices. One slice at Annie Gunn’s next door will convince you to buy a whole pie at the market.
The Smokehouse Market, 16806 Chesterfield Airport Road, Chesterfield, 636.532.3314, smokehousemarket.com
Mixed berry pie from Winslow’s Home
Lisa Fernandez-Cruz’s mixed berry pie is a refreshing, floral take on a frequently jammy staple. A delicate jumble of fresh, seasonal berries dusted with cinnamon peeks out from the pie’s artsy top crust.
7213 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314.725.7559, winslowshome.com
Chocolate cream pie from Sugaree Baking Co.
St. Louisans flock to Sugaree’s Dogtown storefront on Fridays and Saturdays for chocolate pie. The semi-sweet chocolate, pudding-like cream filling puts the rest to shame. It’s only available every other weekend, so mark your calendar for Aug. 8, 9, 22 and 23.
1242 Tamm Ave., St. Louis, 314.645.5496, sugareebaking.com
Peach pie from 4 Seasons Bakery
4 Seasons’ crisp bottom crust and crumb top help this old reliable avoid unsalvageable sogginess and accentuate the delicious filling, lush with fresh peaches and scented with ground cinnamon.
Editor's note: 4 Seasons Bakery is now Sucrose Bakery.
Peanut butter pie from It’s Easy As Pie
We love a candy bar that masquerades as a pie. This one, with its loose pretzel brittle crust and dense peanut butter-chocolate filling, is good news for Butterfinger lovers. Better yet, this tiny baking biz offers free delivery.
Key lime pie from Windowsills BBQ Cafe
Inside the graham cracker crust is cold custard flavored with tart Key lime juice and mounds of real whipped cream. This exquisite pie nails that balance between tangy and sweet.
Editor's note: Windowsills BBQ Cafe has closed.
Chess pie from SweetArt
Cornmeal in the lemon custard filling endows this pie with a touch of Southern panache. SweetArt takes it a step further by laying fruit compote or fresh berries on top. We fell hard for blueberry, but the flavor changes daily.
2203 S. 39th St., St. Louis, 314.771.4278, sweetartstl.com
Pecan pie from Sweetie Pie’s
Flaky crust, smooth caramel-like filling and crunchy halved pecans – this pie isn’t trying to be inventive. It tastes like someone’s grandmother made it, and when it comes to pies, there’s nothing better.
4270 Manchester Road, St. Louis, 314.371.0304, sweetiepieskitchen.com
Lemon lavender blueberry pie from Pie Oh My!
Baker Jane Callahan has us swooning over this fruit filling that holds the deep flavors of blueberry, the delicate floral tones of lavender and just enough citrus to keep things bright and balanced.
2719 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, 314.704.4416, pieohmystl.com
Editor's note: Pie Oh My!
Crack pie from Cyrano’s Café
An understated, ultraflaky crust forms an exemplary vessel for the crack pie’s candy-like brown sugar filling that whispers of vanilla. The name ain’t no lie, folks – this one’s habit-forming.
603 E. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, 314.963.3232, cyranos.com
