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From Pecan to Pumpkin: America’s Sweetest Tradition
Nothing says “home” like a slice of pie, but which flavor reigns supreme across America? Local culture, produce, and tradition shape everything about regional pie flavors, from what ingredients are used down to the texture of the filling—whether it’s sweet and decadent or seasonal and nostalgic. In an effort to celebrate local food traditions from coast to coast, we took a good look at America’s favorite pies. What’s cooling on your windowsill? These are the best pies in America by region.
The South – Rich, Sweet, & Decadent
From sweet tea to sweet onions, anything sugary and comforting is the real song of the south. America’s southerners love to bake, thanks to a culture rooted in hospitality and the desire to treat loved ones to something delicious. When you head to the country’s lower half, you can expect nutty Southern pecan pie (ideally with bourbon added), sweet potato pie (instead of pumpkin, of course, because sweet potatoes are a bumper crop), custardy chess pie made with pantry staples like cornmeal and vinegar to balance out the sweetness of the filling, and similarly custardy but slightly less sweet and more tangy buttermilk pie.
America’s Best Bakeries in the South >
The Midwest – Classic, Farm-Fresh Favorites
The Midwest is the heart of America, shedding the moniker of “flyover states” in favor of farm-to-table seasonal harvests. This region focuses on the classics, pies that bring Midwest Nice to life and pull on the heart strings of just about everyone who tries a slice. Popular pies by state in the Midwest vary, from classic Midwest apple pie in Ohio, cherry pie in Wisconsin (where most of the country’s cherries originate!), rhubarb pie in Michigan and Illinois, and sugar cream pie in Indiana, where it’s been a statewide classic since before Indiana even became a state.
America’s Best Bakeries in the Midwest >
The Northeast – Fruity & Nostalgic
When colonizers came by ship to the northeast from England, they carried with them an appreciation for simplicity in all things, including (and maybe especially) in baking. That culture led to an abundance of simple fruit pies like New England blueberry pie, pumpkin pie, and cranberry pie, because the fruits were abundant and a warm, gooey pie filling didn’t take up too many ingredients. The Pennsylvania Dutch created their own classic American pie flavor, the shoofly pie, which evolved from an Amish molasses cake into a pie with a sticky and sweet filling.
America’s Best Bakeries in the Northeast >
The West – Creative, Seasonal & Modern Twists
Back in the time of westward migration, heading out into the unknown landscape and building a life required oodles of creativity. That feeling persists in western states today, where innovation reigns and fusions of flavors take center stage at artisanal pie bakeries dotted along the coast. In the Pacific Northwest, you’ll find a marionberry pie, a dessert made with a berry that’s a flavor fusion all its own because it tastes like a sweeter, richer version of a blackberry. Key lime pie may have originated in Florida, but California does a sweet version that dates back to 1926, when a hurricane destroyed the key lime crops in Florida and California had to step in with lime production. And, of course, the coastal culture of wellness leads to a plethora of vegan pies to satisfy every dietary restriction.
America’s Best Bakeries in the West >
As far as regional desserts in the USA, pie is America’s sweetest regional tradition; every slice tells a local story about terroir and culture. Order America’s most beloved pies from Goldbelly—baked by iconic regional bakers and delivered straight to your door.
