I Hit The Backroads Of Michigan To Try 12 Cherry Pie Shops (And 5 Were A Sweet Surprise)
Last summer, I pointed my car north and decided to chase cherry pies across Michigan instead of planning a sensible vacation.
Twelve shops later, my backseat was covered in crumbs, my trunk held empty pie tins, and my notebook was smudged with cherry filling.
Some of these stops were famous, the kind everyone mentions when you say you are heading to cherry country.
Others sat quietly on backroads, tucked between orchards and farm stands, waiting for someone curious enough to pull over.
Five of them surprised me so much I went back for second slices, and a few became places I now recommend without hesitation.
If you love tart cherries, flaky crusts, and the thrill of finding something delicious in an unexpected place, this list is for you.
1. Grand Traverse Pie Company – Traverse City
I rolled into Traverse City with cherry orchards on every side and headed straight for Grand Traverse Pie Company at 525 W Front St, Traverse City, MI 49684.
This is the original shop, where bakers still hand-roll crusts and fill them with tart Michigan Montmorency cherries.
The Grand Traverse Cherry Crumb pie lands on the table with a bubbling red filling and a crumble that smells like butter and brown sugar.
Locals stroll in, grab whole pies to go, and vanish before I even finish my first forkful.
I sat by the window with coffee and a warm slice, listening to quiet chatter and clinking plates.
By the last bite, I was already debating whether any other cherry pie in Michigan could really beat this one.
2. Cherry Republic – Glen Arbor
My sweetest detour came in tiny Glen Arbor when I followed the crowd to Cherry Republic at 6026 S Lake St, Glen Arbor, MI 49636.
The place feels like a cherry village, with a restaurant, shop, and bakery all orbiting around slices of house cherry pie.
I grabbed a plate of warm pie topped with cherry ice cream and settled in on the patio.
Families shared desserts under the trees while staff carried out plates that smelled like sun-warmed orchards.
The filling tasted bright and tart, never heavy, and the crust kept every bite neat but tender.
Somewhere between the last crumbs and melted ice cream, I realized this stop summed up what cherry country really means.
3. The Cherry Hut – Benzonia and Beulah
Along US 31, I made a pilgrimage to The Cherry Hut, now baking out of 1046 Michigan Ave, Benzonia, MI 49616.
Here, they turn out those classic tart cherry pies that longtime visitors will happily lecture you about.
The famous smiley-faced restaurant at 211 N Michigan Ave, Beulah, MI 49617, is resting between dining seasons with plans to return in 2026.
I bought a pie in Benzonia and cut a slice in the car, letting the simple lattice top crack under my plastic fork.
The filling was bright, old-fashioned, and just sweet enough to let the cherries stay in charge.
It tasted like the kind of recipe families pass down, and I finally understood why people time-lake trips around picking one up.
4. Gallagher’s Farm Market & Bakery – Traverse City
One of my surprise favorites was Gallagher’s Farm Market & Bakery at 7237 E Traverse Hwy, Traverse City, MI 49684.
From the road it looks like a straightforward farm stand with pumpkins, produce, and gravel parking.
Inside, the bakery counter quietly hides cherry pies that taste like someone’s grandmother is still in charge.
The crust is sturdy enough for travel yet tender when the fork goes in, and the filling stays bright instead of syrupy.
I took a slice outside on a flimsy plate and watched people load cars with cherries, jams, and cider.
Somewhere between the breeze, the picnic table, and the last bite, this unassuming stop vaulted into my top tier list.
5. Chimoski Bakery – Suttons Bay
In Suttons Bay, a local sent me off the waterfront to Chimoski Bakery at 720 N St Joseph St, Suttons Bay, MI 49682.
The building looks like a simple neighborhood bakery where regulars linger over coffee.
Inside, trays of doughnuts share space with golden cherry pies made from fruit grown on the family farm nearby.
I carried a still-warm slice back to the car and broke through a crust that flaked in perfect layers.
The filling was thick with real cherries instead of excess thickener or artificial sweetness.
By the last bite I understood why locals talk about this place in a quiet, almost protective tone.
6. Royal Farms Farm Market & Bakery – Ellsworth
Royal Farms at 10445 N US 31, Ellsworth, MI 49729 turned out to be another sweet surprise on my backroads route.
The farm market looks friendly and low-key, but the bakery case gives away how serious they are about pie.
Their cherry pies arrive with glossy, deep red fillings made from their own fruit and carefully balanced seasoning.
I cut into one outside the car and watched the slice hold together without turning heavy or gluey.
The flavor leaned tart first, then eased into gentle sweetness that never felt fake.
As I scraped the plate for crumbs, I silently agreed with reviewers who call this some of the best take-home pie in the state.
7. Friske Farm Market – Ellsworth
Just down the road from there, Friske Farm Market at 10743 US Highway 31, Ellsworth, MI 49729 kept my cherry streak rolling.
A big red barn holds shelves of cherry products, a cafe, and a bakery that leans hard on Montmorency fruit.
Inside, families drift between jars of jam, dried cherries, and displays stacked with whole pies.
I settled in with a thick slice of cherry pie that carried a sturdy crust and a generous, glossy filling.
The fruit tasted fresh and clean, as if someone had poured jarred Friske filling straight into the shell and baked it to perfection.
It felt like the most Michigan thing possible to eat cherry pie next to a highway lined with orchards and motels.
8. Cherry Republic – Traverse City
Downtown Traverse City gave me another must-stop at Cherry Republic, 154 E Front St, Traverse City, MI 49686.
From the sidewalk, you see rows of cherry products, but the bakery corner is what hooked me.
I picked up a slice of cherry pie and found a quiet corner away from the shopping buzz.
The crust stayed crisp under a mound of tart cherries that tasted like peak season, not canned sweetness.
Shoppers flowed past with bags of chocolate-covered cherries, sauces, and salsas while I focused on every forkful.
By the time I set down my plate, it felt clear that this brand still knows everything begins with a solid slice of pie.
9. Crane’s Pie Pantry Restaurant – Fennville
Far from the festival crowds, I turned off onto M-89 and landed at Crane’s Pie Pantry Restaurant, 6054 124th Ave, Fennville, MI 49408.
The dining room feels like a mix of farm kitchen and roadside cafe, lined with wood, photos, and pie boards.
Cherry pie sits right beside apple and blueberry on the menu, and nobody looks surprised when you order it first.
My slice arrived tall, with an old-fashioned crust and a cherry filling that leaned pleasantly tart.
Around me, families finished lunch and then casually ordered whole pies to carry back to cottages and campgrounds.
I walked out to the gravel lot with coffee in hand, completely convinced the detour had been worth every extra mile.
10. House of Flavors Restaurant – Ludington
In Ludington, I shook off lake breezes and ducked into House of Flavors Restaurant at 402 W Ludington Ave, Ludington, MI 49431.
Most people know this place for ice cream, but the dessert board hides a lovely slice of cherry pie.
I ordered it after a simple diner-style meal and watched the server set down a plate that smelled like butter and fruit.
The crust held just long enough for the fork to break through into a bright red filling.
The cherries tasted assertive without turning sour, and the texture sat neatly between runny and stiff.
While kids nearby debated sundae toppings, I finished my slice and felt grateful that someone here still bakes warm pie beside the ice cream freezers.
11. Achatz Handmade Pie Co – Shelby Township
On the east side of the state, suburban roads led me to Achatz Handmade Pie Co at 45159 Market St, Shelby Township, MI 48315.
The display cases looked like a collection of Michigan harvests wrapped in flaky pastry.
Their double-crust cherry pie stood out, packed with locally grown tart cherries under a carefully crimped top.
I watched regulars stride in, grab preordered pies, and leave with the easy confidence of people who trust the baker completely.
My own slice backed up their faith with generous fruit, balanced sweetness, and a crust that managed to be rich yet light.
By the time I left, I understood why people talk about Achatz as a standard setter for serious cherry pie.
12. Murphy’s Bakery – Bad Axe
My last surprise waited in the Thumb at Murphy’s Bakery, 110 W Huron Ave, Bad Axe, MI 48413.
From the outside, it looks like a cozy small-town bakery that has been part of the morning routine for years.
Inside, cases overflow with donuts, paczki, and pastries that make decisions difficult in the best possible way.
I ordered a cherry-focused pastry that carried all the comfort of a classic pie in a more portable form.
The filling tasted bright and real, tucked into dough that was tender rather than heavy.
I left with coffee in one hand, a paper bag in the other, and the quiet feeling that I had just found a new go-to bakery for future Michigan backroad runs.