Four Fantastic Thanksgiving Pies in New Orleans to Preorder Right Now

Every year, New Orleanians can count on one of its many essential bakeries for their Thanksgiving pies, like sweet potato chiffon at Bywater Bakery, apple crumble at Gracious Bakery, or the trio of classics from La Boulangerie. But there are also those extra-small local operations, some even without storefronts, that require a bit more pre-planning. These are the pies you want to get your orders in for right now, those stellar desserts from fresh new bakeries on the scene, hot pastry pop-ups, and the city’s go-to for pies.

Keep an eye out for Eater’s guide to last-minute Thanksgiving pies later this month.

Ayu Bakehouse

Ayu Bakehouse

Ayu is one of New Orleans’s premier new bakeries, wowing Faubourg Marigny with its savory croissants, beautiful bread, and individual tarts. For Thanksgiving this year, Ayu will offer three pies: pumpkin with meringue clouds and candied pepitas; apple, topped with flourless toasted oat cookie (that can be made as a crumble without the crust); and chocolate caramel pecan ($36 each, serves six to eight). They’re available for preorder now and will be available for walk-ins (whole or by the slice) beginning on November 13. Either way, these are going to be a hot ticket this year.

Lagniappe Baking Co.

Lagniappe Baking Co.

Kaitlin Guerin is known for approaching her pop-up pastry business, Lagniappe Baking Co., with the precision of a choreographer. For the last few years, her monthly pastry boxes have promised sweets like stout gingerbread cake, strawberry pepper olive oil cake, and pumpkin spice snickerdoodles with red wine icing. For Thanksgiving 2023, Guerin is offering two fan-favorite Lagniappe pies: fermented sweet potato miso pie with poblano whipped cream and chocolate whiskey pecan pie, $45 each. Preorders are open, and pickup takes place at Dakar NOLA (chef Serigne Mbaye and Guerin are longtime friends and collaborators) on Thanksgiving Day (November 23) from 9 to 11 a.m.

Mae’s Bakeshop

Mae’s Bakeshop

Jeremy Fogg is preparing to open his first bakery, Mae’s Bakeshop, in late November in the former home of Beth Buindo Sweets. It’s the former Emeril’s pastry chef’s bakery dream come to life after years of operating as a pop-up. Before it even opens, Fogg is offering four Thanksgiving pies (and two dinner rolls) for pickup at the soon-to-be Baronne Street address. The most exciting is probably the pear pie topped with a spiced streusel, in addition to a sweet potato pie topped with cane syrup marshmallows, a pecan pie made with Steen’s cane syrup and bourbon, and of course, a classic pumpkin pie. Preorder the $40 pies online by November 21 for a November 22 pickup at 3917 Baronne Street.

Windowsill Pies

Windowsill Pies

Nicole Eiden and Marielle Dupré’s Freret Street pie shop is always a sell-out for holidays, so get those preorders in soon (as the bakers note, you really don’t want to be in the first-come, first-served line on Thanksgiving Eve or at 6 a.m. on November 23). Online orders recently opened for their three Thanksgiving desserts this year: vanilla bean bourbon pecan pie, apple crumble pie, and a gingered pumpkin tart with candied pepitas. $45 each.