What Makes a Pie Great, According to the Owner of America’s Best Pie Shop

Published on November 8th, 2024

THERE’S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD PIE AND A GREAT PIE

Digging into a slice of pie is one of life’s great pleasures. Whether it’s apple or pumpkin, banana cream or chocolate pecan, you really can’t go wrong when it comes to pie. No Thanksgiving dessert spread is complete without at least one pie on the table, and even if it’s a store-bought crust with canned fruit pie filling, it’s not going to be bad – even a so-so pie usually hits the spot. 

But there’s a big difference between a so-so pie and a good pie, and an even bigger difference between a good pie and a truly great pie. A great pie forces you to shut out the rest of the world, close your eyes, and revel in the moment. A great pie can be downright life-changing. But what makes a pie great, exactly?

We posed that question to Alan Nugent, the co-owner of the beloved Stockholm Pie & General Store in the small, charming town of Stockholm, Wisconsin, which is perched on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. The shop was recently named the #1 pie shop in America by USA Today, and it’s also shipping nationwide on Goldbelly. 

Getting the crust right isn’t easy and takes practice, but it’s worth it in the end. “A crust can appear simple, and to a master pie maker, it is,” he said. “But take the time to do it right. Cutting corners usually just ends up with messy corners.”

But a great crust is only half the battle. “The other important thing is to use real ingredients,” he added. “Most things out of a can just don’t have the same character and taste as something real, like a real apple and real fruit.”

A wide variety of Nugent’s award-winning pies – from his signature Peanut Butter Fudge Pie to Pumpkin Pecan Pie and Cranberry Brown Sugar Custard Pie – are shipping nationwide, but if you decide to dip your toe into the pie-making waters this Thanksgiving, he has some advice. 

“Take the time to do it,” he advises. “Make your crust, no matter what you make it with. Use real ingredients, and avoid cans. It does take longer, but pie is pure love, and it shows in the love you put into each one.”

Read More: Must-Try Pies For Thanksgiving