Thanksgiving and pie go together like turkey and gravy, and now is the time to place those orders. Find classic apple, pumpkin and cherry, as well as elaborate flavors such as ginger, ube and even bacon-topped, at these area bakeries.
Livin’ the Pie Life
The bad news: It’s already too late to pre-order from Arlington’s most in demand pie shop, which recently won Newsweek’s Best Pie in America title. The bakery founded by two Arlington moms in 2011 has reached capacity for pre-orders between now and Thanksgiving. The good news is you can still grab its award-winning sweets in person at the shop and freeze them for Thanksgiving. Proprietors Heather Sheire and Wendy MacCallum will also hold a “last chance sale” Nov. 25 at 2 p.m. Pies will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis with a limit of 4 per person. Be prepared to stand in line. Want to beat the crowds for Christmas? Pre-orders for post-Thanksgiving start Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. 2166 N. Glebe Road, Arlington
Acme Pie Co.
Owner Sol Schott has no shortage of dessert options for your Thanksgiving table. You can place orders for pickup between Nov. 21 and 24, but act quick as pick up dates are filling up fast. Acme is offering handmade 10-inch pies ($34 each) in six different flavors: apple, apple cranberry, mixed berry, pecan chocolate maple, pumpkin with candied ginger, pecan chocolate ginger and sweet potato. Order online, by phone or just stop in before Nov. 23. 2406 Columbia Pike, Arlington (Columbia Pike)
Bakeshop
Take your pick from 20 different types of pie, including three vegan options, at the Arlington and Falls Church locations of Justin Stegall’s beloved sweets emporium. The all-butter crust pies include pumpkin ($38), bourbon chocolate pecan ($40) or apple streusel ($40). For a chill option, there are icebox pies in flavors such as pumpkin spice latte, coconut cream or Vietnamese iced coffee ($36). And loaf breads, too: pumpkin chocolate chunk, banana pecan or coffee cake ($26). Pick up is Nov. 25 at 8 p.m. at the Falls Church location and Nov. 26 at 11 a.m. in Clarendon. 1025 N. Fillmore St., Arlington (Clarendon), and 100 E. Fairfax St., Falls Church
Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery
Chef David Guas is offering eight traditional and “not so traditional” pies ($24-$29) for the Thanksgiving holiday. Go classic with pumpkin, pecan, roasted sweet potato or bourbon chocolate pecan. Or branch out with snazzy flavors such as apple cinnamon crunch, bacon cayenne pecan, Virginia peanut pie or GW lemon chess pie (the GW, as in George Washington, is a reference to the Gristmill at Mt. Vernon, where Guas sources his cornmeal and grits through a proprietary partnership). Order up until Nov. 23 and at least 48 hours in advance of pickup. Pickup windows are Monday to Friday from 4-5 p.m., and weekends from 3-4 p.m. The final pickup time is 11:45 a.m. on Thanksgiving eve. For every dozen pies sold, the restaurant will donate one pie to PathForward, an Arlington nonprofit that fights homelessness. 1515 N. Courthouse Road, Arlington (Courthouse)
Best Buns Bakery & Burgers
For two weeks only, this busy bakery, coffee shop and burger joint will offer classic pumpkin pie (sweet pumpkin mixed with condensed milk and dark rum) and chocolate bourbon-pecan, made with a trio of chocolates and pecan pieces. Tack on an order of Parker House rolls to accompany your Thanksgiving feast. If you want other autumnal desserts, Best Buns bakes up goodies like pumpkin spice cupcakes, pumpkin raisin cookies and apple pie Danish, too. Pie orders open Nov. 10 on the website or in the Best Buns app, and require 24 hours’ notice. Order and pick up between Nov. 19 and 26, including from Best Bun’s newly opened location in Falls Church City. 265 W. Falls Station Blvd., Falls Church; 4010 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington), and 8051 Leesburg Pike, Tysons
Colada Shop
Arlington restaurateur Daniella Senior is prepared to put some Cuban flavor on your Thanksgiving table in the form of a 10-inch dulce-de-leche pumpkin pie or apple-guava pie with oatmeal crumble ($45). You’ll find both flavors at the cafe’s locations in Clarendon, National Landing and the Mosaic District. Order by Nov. 23. 2811 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon); 244 19th Court, Arlington (National Landing); and 2920 District Ave., Merrifield (Mosaic District)
Founding Farmers
This restaurant, which is majority owned by American farmers, is open on Thanksgiving Day, and also offers a full holiday menu for delivery or pickup. Find a selection of traditional pie flavors, including pumpkin, apple and pecan ($45), or opt for a cheesecake ($65) in either pumpkin-spice or salted caramel. You can make the holidays even sweeter with the restaurant’s selection of house-made candy bars, such as the Snackers (caramel, nougat and Virginia peanuts), the Happy Almond (shredded coconut and toasted almond) or the dark chocolate Peppermint Crème. Order by Nov. 20 at noon. 1800 Tysons Blvd., Tysons
Fresh Baguette
This Parisian-inspired bread maker has a knack for sweets, too, and is offering several varieties of pie for the American holiday. Treat your guests to a classic pecan pie or Dutch apple pie ($49.99), or opt for something a little different with the pumpkin mousse cake ($52.99), a creamy pumpkin cheesecake mousse infused with notes of cinnamon, cloves and star anise and coated with a dulce de leche glaze. Place orders online. 6707 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
Gwenie’s Pastries
Put a little Filipino flavor on your Thanksgiving table with a vibrantly hued ube pie—a graham cracker crust filled with ube halaya (purple yam) and topped with the bakery’s signature ube cream. Baker and co-founder Stella Fernandez has been bringing family traditions and recipes to the DMV for more than 15 years, and the bakery that originated in Rockville, Maryland now has a storefront in South Arlington. She is opening a new location in Tysons Corner this fall. Order 2-3 days prior to your desired pick-up date. 1417 S. Fern St., Arlington (National Landing)
Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe
Opened in 1975 by Wolfgang Büchler, who hails from the shop’s namesake German city, this beloved bakery is selling seasonal flavors including Dutch apple ($26.95), a deep-dish pie filled with apples, cherries and raisins; mincemeat ($24.95), with apples, raisins, nuts, spices and rum; pecan ($22.95) and pumpkin ($18.95). The choices also include year-round favorites such as apple, banana cream, Boston cream, cherry, chocolate mousse, coconut cream, key lime, Linzer torte and rhubarb. Order and pay online or stop by and see what’s on offer. 2150 N. Culpeper St., Arlington
Jake’s Ice Cream
Ice cream pies and cakes are available year round at this scoop shop that employs people with disabilities (as does its sister store, Jake’s Gourmet Popcorn). The lead-up to Thanksgiving brings seasonal ice cream flavors such as pumpkin pie and apple cider doughnut, and toward the end of November, the shop will release its most popular winter flavor: peppermint. You can customize your cake or pie with any of the 24 ice cream flavors available at any given time, specifying your preferred design and decorations, or opting for traditional rosette-style icing. A 9-inch cake is $48; an 11×15 rectangle is $90. Place Thanksgiving orders by Nov. 22. The store will be closed on Thanksgiving, so the last day for pickup is the 24th. 6353 Columbia Pike, Falls Church
Joon
For a Thanksgiving with Persian flair, order treats from this upscale Tysons restaurant—a collaboration between chef and cookbook author Najmieh Batmanglij and co-founder Reza Farahani. Decadent crowd-pleasers include a Chocolate and Kataifi Pie ($120) with dark chocolate ganache, creamed pistachio and sour cherry meringue, or the Persian Roulette ($45). Order by Nov. 19. 8045 Leesburg Pike, Vienna (Tysons)
Maman
Preorders are underway at four area locations of this New York City-based bakery and cafe: Ballston, Courthouse, National Landing and the Mosaic District. The goodies include a classic pecan pie or pumpkin pie with mascarpone cream cheese frosting (each $40), or Martha Stewart’s Cinnamon Swirl Apple Pie ($42.50), with three varieties of cinnamon spiced apples. Add on boxes of croissants in almond, chocolate or pistachio flavors. Place orders by Nov. 22. 4121 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Ballston), 2055 15th St. N., Arlington (Courthouse), 1450 S. Eads St., Arlington (National Landing) and 2920 District Ave., Fairfax (Mosaic District)
Northside Social
Hit up NoSo’s Arlington and Falls Church locations for four holiday pie flavors by pastry chef Bridie McCulla, a 2026 RAMMY Awards finalist. The 9-inch temptations with all-butter crusts include maple pumpkin ($36), apple cinnamon ($41), brown sugar pecan ($40) and sour cream apple ($37). Round out your dessert spread with pumpkin toffee cinnamon buns and quarts of ice cream. You can also grab seasonal batched cocktails, including Four Roses bourbon spiked apple cider, a pumpkin spice margarita and mulled wine. The Thanksgiving takeout menu also features quiches, chicken pot pie and biscuits. Orders must be placed by midnight Nov. 20. 3211 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon) and 205 Park Ave., Falls Church
Paris Baguette
Not a fan of pie? Shake things up this Thanksgiving and put a cake on your dessert table instead. This French-inspired South Korean chain is whipping them up in four flavors: pumpkin spice layer cake ($54.99), caramel apple streusel cheesecake ($51.99), carrot cake with cream cheese icing ($51.99) and caramel apple streusel trifle ($54.99). Each cake is adorned with Thanksgiving toppers. Add a customized chocolate plaque for $2.49. Place orders for holiday sweets at least 48 hours in advance. 3101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon) and 8344 Broad St., McLean
The Happy Tart
Need a special dessert but can’t do wheat flour? All of the goodies on proprietor Kerrigan Firth’s extensive Thanksgiving menu are gluten-free. Look for fan favorites such as apple ($48), pumpkin ($35), pecan chocolate ($55) and French silk pie ($40). Or just order a gluten-free pie shell ($8) and make your own. Be sure to order soon, as flavors do sell out. Alternatively, opt for a cranberry Linzer torte, which is also dairy free ($45), a pumpkin roll ($29) or a box of six Thanksgiving cake pops ($28.50). The bakery also turns out gluten-free baguettes, biscuits and brioche loaves. Order by Nov. 19. 410 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church
Pastries by Randolph
There are many reasons to be thankful for the 9-inch seasonal pies from this sweets emporium in the Lee Heights Shops off of Langston Boulevard. Choices include deep dish pumpkin, apple, apple crumb or cherry ($32 each). You can also wow your guests with a deep dish pumpkin mousse pie topped with whipped cream ($40). Craving chocolate? The bakery also has fall cupcakes, pumpkin crumb cake and pumpkin spice cake bites. Order by Nov. 23. Note that the kitchen is no longer certified kosher. 4500 Cherry Hill Road, Arlington
Tatte Bakery
Get your order in by Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. for a double-crusted apple pie, traditional pumpkin pie or a pumpkin pie with pecans (each $40), or a maple pecan pie ($45). Other dessert options include honey apple cake, cinnamon rolls and gingerbread tiles. Choose a pick up date between Nov. 20 and Dec. 1. 2805 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon), 269 19th Court, Arlington (National Landing), 1001 W. Broad St., Falls Church
Village Sweet Bakery
The pies on Dawn Hart’s Thanksgiving menu are twists on classics. Try a pumpkin pie with cider crust and house-made whipped topping ($38), or a chocolate bourbon pecan pie with salted caramel drizzle ($40). Other desserts include pumpkin cheesecake with gingersnap crust ($38), apple cranberry pie with Dutch streusel topping ($40) and gluten-free flourless chocolate cake with espresso ganache (you know, to fight the food coma). To make your table extra special, order custom place-card cookies shaped like leaves. Prefer your sweets in loaf form? Get a pumpkin chocolate chip, apple candied ginger or cranberry orange loaf ($25). Order by midnight on Nov. 19. All pickups are Nov. 25, 8 a.m. to noon. 5872 Washington Blvd., Arlington (Westover)
