The Best Pie Shops in the Sacramento Region

There are cakes. There are cookies. There are tortes and tarts, crumbles and cobblers, brownies and blondies. But when it comes to holiday desserts, nothing beats a good, old-fashioned pie.

Pies are as much a part of American heritage as baseball and bald eagles. The first settlers brought the tradition of pie making to the colonies, using native fruits as fillings. Apple was the one of the first ingredients used in the nation’s early days, and it remains the most popular today.

Baking pies is a labor of love. There’s the measuring, the mixing, the chilling, the rolling, and of course the baking. But all that effort may take a backseat to the many other tasks on the to-do list this time of year. So why not leave the pie-making to the experts and instead pick up a pie from one of the many bakeries in the Sacramento region? There are some great pie makers around town whose goodies are sure to impress your guests. Following are some of the top spots to check out.

Posh Baking Company | Roseville

Photo courtesy Posh Baking Company

Small-batch, artisan baked goods are the hallmark of this cottage home baker in Roseville. Certified pastry chef Marni Branz turns out every type of pie you can think of, including apple, triple berry, and cherry. She also hosts specialty classes where you can learn how to make the perfect all-butter crust.

I Love Pie | Carmichael

Photo courtesy I Love Pie

Located in the Milagro Centre in Carmichael, this cheery pie shop offers numerous pie varieties, including classic apple and pecan as well as banana cream, eggnog custard, bourbon butterscotch and more. They also offer pie-making classes for both kids and adults!

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Sweetie Pie’s | Placerville

Photo courtesy Sweetie Pie’s

This charming, longstanding eatery in historic Placerville is known for its hearty breakfasts. But they also have a full bakery onsite, and, as the name implies, they offer more than a dozen varieties depending on the day. Flavors range from coconut and chocolate cream to rhubarb raspberry and peach olallieberry.

Putah Creek Café | Winters

Photo courtesy Putah Creek Cafe

This friendly, down-home restaurant in Winters serves hearty fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But they also have a bakery where they turn out pies, cakes, cookies and other delectable treats. For the holidays, they have specialty pies on the menu, including a tri-nut pie made from almonds, walnuts and pecans, a Dutch apple pie, and a mixed berry pie made from raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and strawberries in a shortbread crust.  

The Real Pie Company | Sacramento

Photo courtesy The Real Pie Company

Located in Sacramento’s Curtis Park neighborhood, this dedicated pie shop is known for their traditional and unique pie varieties — most made with locally grown seasonal ingredients. Popular items include sweet potato pie, key lime pie and lemon meringue pie, and they have special holiday flavors such as gingerbread cream with a gingersnap crust and white chocolate peppermint mousse. You can order them whole or by the slice — they even serve pie milkshakes!

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Apple Hill | Placerville & Camino

Photo courtesy Abel’s Acres

Pie lovers in the Sacramento region know the drive up to Apple Hill (which includes parts of Placerville and Camino) is worth it for the freshest apple pies. There are numerous bake shops in the area, so it’s hard to pick just one! That said, only about a dozen spots are open in December. Some to consider are High Hill Ranch and Abel’s Apple Acres, both of which are open daily through Christmas Eve.

Ikedas | Auburn and Davis

Photo courtesy Ikeda’s

No talk of pies in the Sacramento region would be complete without mention of Ikedas, a country farm stand and market known for their 20 (!!!) varieties of pies and cobblers. Flavors include apple (of course) as well as pecan, cherry, peach, blueberry, marionberry and others. They have locations in both Auburn and Davis.  

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A Slice of Goodness | Roseville

Photo courtesy EatingThroughRoseville.com

This quaint little café in Roseville is a great spot to stop in for a quick lunch. But it also has quite a following for its large selection of fruit and cream pies! There are all types of pies available, from traditional fruit pies to sour cream pies and custard-based pies. Flavors include unique options such as coconut-crumb peach raspberry, chocolate peanut butter, and fluffy vanilla walnut.