Best Apple Pie In Chicago
When the cool weather hits, cozy up in a local cafe or bakery and warm up with sweet, delicious apple pie. While cupcakes have long abounded in the Windy City, these five bakeries have made a name for themselves for their homemade seasonal pies, most of which use local apples and ingredients. The crusts may vary, as may some of the ingredients, but one thing is true of all these pastries: the apple centers are just what the doctor ordered for a cool, fall day.
Hoosier Mama Pie Company
1618 1/2 W Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 243-4846
www.hoosiermamapie.com
This popular Ukrainian Village bakery offers nearly 30 different kinds of savory and sweet pies. As for its apple pie - priced at a reasonable $23 - it's made with a flaky, buttery double crust and loaded with apples that are often from a local farm, Ellis Family Farm. For the less traditional, try the sour cream Dutch apple pie, which includes tart apples folded into tangy sour cream and topped with walnut crumble. No matter which pie you choose, you can't go wrong. In addition to the Ukrainian Village bakery, Hoosier Mama's pies are also available at a handful of coffee shops around town.
Cheap Tart Bakery
Online only
Chicago, IL (Delivery zone: north to Devon, east to the Lake, south to Pershing Rd, and west to Austin)
(773) 344-1998
www.cheaptart.com
Just opened in 2010, this Ukrainian Village bakery is already making a name for itself, as chef Dinah Grossman won first place winner in both the 2012 and 2011 Bucktown Apple Pie Contest (professional division). This pie is made from local apples, as well as cinnamon, and baked into a flaky butter crust. And what makes these pies extra special is that they don't have shortening, lard or artificial sweeteners. In fact, whenever possible, Cheap Tart uses organic ingredients. The same goes for its classic apple pie pops. Cheap Tart doesn't have a storefront yet, but it deliver in Chicago.
First Slice Pie Cafe
5357 N. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 275-4297
www.firstslice.org
When you pick up a slice at this Andersonville (and Edgewater) bakery, you won't want to put your fork down. The sweet granny apples, along with the cinnamon and double crust, are to die for. Even better? It's open late, meaning you can get your apple pie fix after dinner. And even better than that? All proceeds go to outreach programs that feed the hungry and needy.
Related: Best Bakeries in Chicago
Bang Bang Pie Shop
2051 N. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 276-8888
www.bangbangpie.com
While this Logan Square pie shop comes up with some interesting - yet delicious - pie creations, like red, white and blueberry cheesecake pie, it also knows how to do seasonal pies. But since these pies are seasonal and locally sourced, be sure to call ahead to make sure the apple pies are in stock before you go. In addition to the sweet and creamy pies, Bang Bang also has savory dishes, so you can have a feast of pies. You can either grab the pies in slices ($5) or whole ($26).
Lovely Bake Shop
1130 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60642
(773) 572-4766
www.lovelybakeshop.com
Lovely Bake Shop in Noble Square offers a range of lunch and breakfast items, and that includes mini - four inches wide - seasonal and fruit pies for $5.50 each. That means you can have a whole pie to yourself and not feel totally guilty. Or try more than one flavor. Since the flavors are seasonal, be sure to call ahead to make sure the apple pie is in stock in this charming pie shop.
Related: Best Cupcakes in Chicago
Elizabeth SanFilippo is a freelance writer, who enjoys trying new foods from all over the world. But her favorite city for culinary treats will always be Chicago. When not writing about food, she's scribbling novels, and TV show reviews and recaps. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
