We are expected to justify so much of ourselves and maybe if we focused on living our lives in the best, most comfortable, most caring and compassionate and organically so way we could all live a little more lightly. I love to bake a pie or three for Thanksgiving, but if you don’t then don’t feel like you should. That’s just ridiculous.
Even though I love to bake Thanksgiving pies, I am so tempted by the pies made by more skilled bakers and the more interesting versions made by local bakers that are available for pick up for Thanksgiving. So if you want one, go reserve one. Here are some that caught my eye or are from my tried and true spots, as well as many more options.
The Pie is the Limit
Elmendorf in Cambridge, which is also a great spot to shop for gifts for the bakers and bread makers in your family, has pie and ice cream for you as well as coffee cake, banana bread and coffee beans ground for however you will be preparing coffee for the masses. Pre order here.
Flour Bakery in Boston and Cambridge probably needs no introduction, but if you are unfamiliar google them and ogle what you find. Flour has delivery or pick up options and the entire Thanksgiving weekend food offerings to get you by as completely or piecemeal as you like. For pies and dessert there is a roasted pear, cranberry and almond crostata, their piefecta (bottom layer of pecan pie, a second layer of sweet potato pie, and a final layer of brown sugar creme fraiche), southern pecan pie, classic pumpkin pie, gluten free pumpkin pie, tcho chocolate cream pie, gluten-free tcho chocolate cream pie, cinnamon roll four packs, and sticky bun four packs. Orders can be placed here.
French Press Bakery in Needham is worth the trek. Thanksgiving offerings include: apple caramel crumb pie, bourbon pecan pie, cousin Marie’s sweet potato pie, and a gluten-free flourless chocolate raspberry torte.
Or if you are an early Thanksgiving dinner family why not serve dessert and coffee first with French Press Bakery’s European butter croissants, chocolate croissant, pumpkin orange kouign amann,
Why not also add baguette, French sourdough, or cranberry pumpkin seed sourdough to your order? Orders are due by November 22nd at the latest but get it in early because it is a simple way to help. Orders can be placed here.
Hi Rise in Cambridge is the perfect place to pick up some pies, crumbles and breads especially if you are also popping over to Formaggio Kitchen for your cheese and charcuterie board needs. Both shops also have a very nicely curated selection of wines, spirits and beer. Don’t overlook the fab mixed cases of “Everyday Wines” which is a mixed 6 pack of lovely wines for $78.
Hi Rise also offers the entire Thanksgiving menu but we’re focused on pies and desserts here so you can pick up (from one of my favourite places because everything they make is consistently delicious, perfectly made and subtly different than you will find anywhere else) apple pie, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, or cranberry crumble. For breads there are some great options too. Wednesday pick up will offer for pre-order Concord loaf, Luce loaf, cranberry pecan bread, cinnamon swirl bread, challah (pan loaf), potato bread, corn bread, semolina bread and baguette. Hi Rise will have slighter fewer options available for Thursday pick up but will include dinner rolls, Concord loaf, Luce loaf, cranberry pecan bread, cinnamon swirl bread, challah (pan loaf), corn bread
The Challah pan loaf , the potato bread and the corn bread are my three breads of choice for the prefect post Thanksgiving sandwich. Hi Rise Wednesday 11/26/25 pick up orders can be placed here and Hi Rise Thursday 11/27/25 pick up orders can be placed here.
A Slice for Every Person at The Table
South End Buttery has the whole Thanksgiving meal as well. For dessert, the options include pies and cupcakes (which they do very well). Pies available to order are: lattice apple pie, salted caramel pecan pie, pumpkin pie, sweet potato meringue pie and the option to add a quart of vanilla crème fraîche whipped cream.
There are chocolate dipped coconut macaroons that are made with no gluten. And for those who like to loudly complain at the end of the meal that they hate pie, you can whip out the assorted South End Buttery cupcakes.
The cupcake assortment includes: pumpkin spice latte cupcake with espresso buttercream frosting, vanilla cupcake with chocolate buttercream frosting, chocolate cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting, carrot cake cupcake with cream cheese frosting, red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting, and chocolate cupcake with chocolate salted caramel buttercream frosting.
South End Buttery orders can be placed here.
Greystone in the South End has a lovely assortment of pies, pastries, and coffee, matcha and chai for a crowd. There are cookies by the dozen: gluten free and dairy free peanut butter cookies, cowboy cookies, chocolate chip cookies, ginger molasses cookies, mixed dozen cookies and pastries by the half dozen as well. For drinks there are: half gallon iced latte, half gallon chai concentrate, half gallon cold brew, half gallon iced matcha, or half gallon iced coffee.
For pies, Greystone is baking up pumpkin pie, an apple crisp that is gluten-free, egg-free and nut free, and for bread they have parker house rolls with honey butter. Orders can be placed here by Friday, November 21st but don’t wait until last minute.
For a dedicated gluten free menu, you will want to keep an eye on Verveine. If you have not been yet, Verveine is an exceptionally good café and bakery that happens to be fully gluten free. In such a way that if you got all your bread and pastries from here and served them likely no one would comment on anything except how delicious it all was. Verveine is still pulling together their Thanksgiving menu (due to insolent machinery) but keep an eye here for updates.
La Saison has desserts, breads and quiches for Thanksgiving that can be picked up at their Cambridge or Charlestown location. For dessert there is a choice of pumpkin pie topped with tahini-maple whip, dried rose, and pepita brittle, a pumpkin cheesecake, or a six pack of pumpkin cookies. For bread, choose from pull apart dinner rolls brushed with za’atar (a nice break from sage, rosemary, and thyme), golden saffron sourdough, half cranberry pecan sourdough or half golden saffron sourdough. La Saison Thanksgiving orders can be placed here.
Sofra now has two locations so you can pick up in either Cambridge or Allston. I have always loved getting all sorts of mezze from Sofra for feeding guests before and after Thanksgiving. All the dips are so flavourful and nothing like what we eat at Thanksgiving so everyone is happy for something new and different. However, Sofra also has you covered for pies and dessert with their own flavourful twists of course. You can pre-order your pies as well as sides for Thanksgiving or for lunches, snacks and dinners before the big feast. For pies you can order: brown butter pecan pie, apple butter custard pie, pumpkin bread, and a selection of their cookies. The chocolate lover in the family will definitely want an earthquake cookie, but I love the Syrian shortbread and molasses cookies. Sofra orders can be placed here.
Petsi Pies has take and bake pies so you can have that incredible pie baking in the oven experience at home without having to do any of the prep and you deserve it. Petsi Pies has one pick up options for take and bakes but two for many of their pies including vegan options. You can pick up at their Somerville location or do a Dorchester pick up at Chill on Park. Petsi Pies in Somerville has the largest selection of pies, but there are plenty available to choose from for pick up in Dorchester. For a full list of pies with everything from their perfect sweet potato pies to their take and bake vegan apple pie click here for Somerville pick up and here for Dorchester pick up. Orders are due by November 21st but the longer you wait the more pies will sell out.
Little L baker has pies and rolls for pick up as well as their usual delicious pastries. They have Dutch apple pie, blueberry crumble, and bourbon pecan pies available to order. Orders are due by November 21st, but the sooner you get them in the better. All pies are 6 inches in size and cost $20. They will also have 6-packs of butter rolls for $10 a bag.
Mariposa Bakery and Café has two pick up locations. The bakery itself in Central Square in Cambridge or you can pick up at the Somerville Winter Farmer’s Market. Mariposa Bakery and Café has large or small pies. For large pies you can order: pumpkin, pumpkin with cranberry topping, maple pecan, chocolate maple pecan, sweet potato, pear cranberry custard with streusel. For small pies the flavours available are: pumpkin, pumpkin with cranberry topping, maple pecan, chocolate maple pecan, sweet potato, blackberry almond frangipane, pear cranberry custard with streusel.
Is a Quiche a Pie?
La Saison, Hi Rise, Petsi Pies, and South End Buttery all offer quiche which is a great thing to have on hand for brunches, lunches, or a vegetarian main dish.
Rite is the place you want to go with your favourite aunt or catch up with a friend right before the craziness of Thanksgiving sets in.
So what you do is you pre-order the Rite brunch box and you grab your favourite person to pick it up with you – and take your sipping one of their seasonal specials before heading home.
The brunch box includes: 12oz single origin Speckled Ax coffee or 16oz Bird Dog espresso blend, 30g house matcha from Mizuba Tea Co, or 32oz Madhrasi Chai concentrate. Everything you need to make theit salmon toast, yogurt bowl, marmalade toast, and overnight oats: 16oz Sophia’s Greek pantry yogurt, 10oz Mainely Granola, a choice of 7.5oz Brins Jam, 4oz Catskill Smokers Scotch Smoked Salmon, dill + caper relish fixings, a loaf Iggy’s Bakery French Pullman, 1/2 pound of Beurre d’Isigny beurre de baratte (hand churned butter), Maldon flaky sea salt, 1qt of our overnight oats, and a 2oz jar of the beloved Sugar Bob’s smoked maple syrup
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