The Best Mail Order Pumpkin Pies, Ranked – Eater

Believe it or not, it’s not too late to order a pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. the dining room team ordered nine pumpkin pies from bakeries with national distribution to find out which mail-order pumpkin pies tasted the best and which arrived in the best shape. here are our findings.

(Planning to bake your own pumpkin pie this year? Consider this recipe for a gingerbread crust from pastry wizard dominique ansel, sure to be the talk of any thanksgiving table.)

cakes are ranked from our favorites to our least favorites. this classification is absolutely unofficial and completely subjective, but fully authorized.

Pumpkin Maple Pie with Pecan Streusel

Made by: Michele’s Pies via GoldbelyCost: $59 (excluding shipping)Ships from: Norfolk, CTNotes: The pie arrived in perfect condition, which was rare (as you’ll see below). In terms of taste, the filling was evenly spiced with a “mild but fresh-tasting” pumpkin flavor. The textural contrast between the crust, filling, and crumble topping was “really good” and tasters said it was better than homemade versions they’d had at Thanksgivings past.

bubby pumpkin pie

Made by: Bubby’s via GoldbelyCost: $59 (excluding shipping)Ships from: New York City, NYNotes: Though tasters overwhelmingly called this pie their favorite in terms of taste — the filling was described as “really pumpkin-y,” “fresh,” “super-creamy,” and “the best I’ve ever had” — it arrived upside-down in a box delivered right-side-up. Not only was it completely crushed, but half of it was on the lid of the box and had to be scraped back into the broken shell. Still, tasters loved the crust too, and described it as “perfectly flaky,” and “almost like a really good biscuit.”

Spiced pumpkin pie with ginger and candied walnuts

Made by: A La Mode Pies via GoldbelyCost: $59 (excluding shipping)Ships from: Seattle, WANotes: The cookie crust, ginger filling, and candied pecan topping set this pie apart from some of the more traditional pumpkin pies on offer. Tasters enjoyed the textural contrast between the crust and “very gingery” filling. The taste of “fresh ginger” got some tasters to go back for seconds. People who didn’t tend to enjoy pumpkin pie especially loved the spiced nut topping and wished there was more to go around.

pumpkin sweetie pie

Made by: Sweetie Pies Bakery via FoodyDirectCost: $39.95 (excluding shipping)Ships from: Napa, CANotes: This pie is not shy about spice. Tasters noted its deep “nutmeg and cinnamon” notes and “caramelized” flavor, perhaps because it’s made with brown sugar. As the photos show, the pie filling slid a bit out of its shell, but the crust was fairly crisp despite the long journey it took from California to New York.

pumpkin cheesecake

Made by: Frost Bakeshop via Williams-SonomaCost: $59 (excluding shipping)Ships from: Memphis, TNNotes: Though not a traditional pumpkin pie, tasters loved the buttery graham cracker crust, “pillowy” cheesecake filling, and “not-too-tart” sweet sour cream topping. Cheesecake also happens to ship well (frozen), so this dessert arrived intact and ready for its Thanksgiving close up.

northport pumpkin pie

Made by: Grand Traverse Pie Company via GoldbelyCost: $59 (excluding shipping)Ships from: Troy, MINotes: The heart on top was a sweet touch, but the dense filling didn’t win tasters over. “It’s too firm,” was the dominant comment. Some tasters said it tasted more like sweet potato than pumpkin. Others thought the crust on the bottom wasn’t cooked long enough.

handmade pumpkin pie

Made by: Tootie Pie Company via Neiman MarcusCost: $52 (currently 25% off; price excludes shipping)Ships from: Boerne, TX Notes: Neiman Marcus is known for its spendy goods, and this pie, which we paid full price for, fits right in with the luxury retailer’s reputation. Tasters thought the crust was “crumbly,” which can be a good or bad thing depending upon how you like your crust, and though the pie arrived intact it lacked the sheen that the photo promised.

mini pumpkin tarts

Made by: Indayani Baked Goods ordered via EtsyCost: $15.75 (excluding shipping)Ships from: Napoleon, INNotes: Individual pies sound like a cute idea, but these miniature pies might not suit the idea of a big, blow out Thanksgiving dinner. Though the crusts were soggy, the filling was deemed “classic” and would have gone nicely with a scoop of whipped cream.

pumpkin pie

Made by: Achatz Handmade Pie Co. via GoldbelyCost: $49 (excluding shipping)Ships from: Armada, MI Notes: Tasters noted that this pie had a “strong” cinnamon flavor, and also thought that this pie would have been better had it been warmed up in the oven for a few minutes. “It isn’t great served cold,” one wrote.

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