6 Maine Bakeries Where You Can Skip The Thanksgiving Baking Without Sacrificing Dessert

One Maine pie stand runs on the honor system. You pick out a homemade fruit pie, drop your cash in a box, and head home with dessert handled.

I love that kind of trust. Another spot on this list sits on a quiet coastal road and sells wild blueberry pies with buttery, flaky crusts. A third has been turning out old-school cakes and pastries long enough to earn a reputation as an enduring local favorite.

Thanksgiving already asks a lot of your oven. The turkey hogs it, the sides fight over it, and the pie usually gets squeezed into the last free hour.

Why not hand the crust work to people who make pies for a living? I can’t imagine a better trade than less flour on your shirt and more pie on your plate.

Which one of these six would end up on your table first?

1. Two Fat Cats Bakery

Any bakery that names its pies by the inch clearly takes pie seriously. The menu here lists a 9-inch Apple Pie and a 7-inch Pumpkin Cheesecake, so you can size dessert to your crowd.

American-style pies are the main event at this Portland bakery. Whoopie pies share the spotlight too, which feels right for a shop in Maine.

For Thanksgiving, the apple pie is the obvious safe pick. Grandma approves, the kids approve, and nobody asks where you got it.

Want something a little bolder? The Sour Cherry Pie brings a tangy punch that cuts through a heavy turkey dinner.

Then there’s the Black and Blue Pie, a name that sounds like a hockey injury. It’s actually a berry pie, and it makes a fun conversation starter at the table.

The Pumpkin Cheesecake deserves a moment too. It’s a smart compromise for the guest who wants pumpkin and the one who only wants cheesecake.

Inside, the tables come with cookbooks you can flip through while you sip coffee. Free Wi-Fi is also available if you need to check your shopping list one more time.

The shop sits on Lancaster Street, a bit off the busiest tourist path. Free parking makes a quick pie pickup much easier.

Plan around the schedule, since the bakery closes Mondays and Tuesdays. It opens at 7:30 AM Wednesday through Saturday and 9 AM on Sunday.

Address: 195 Lancaster St, Portland, ME 04101

2. Frank’s Bake Shop & Catering

Six in the morning is early for most of us. It’s opening time at this Bangor bakery on weekdays and Saturdays, which means your pie run can happen before the parade even starts.

Frank’s has long been known for old-school cakes and pastries. Think of the kind of bakery case your grandparents might have pressed their noses against.

The selection is wide. You’ll find pastries, cheesecake, cakes, pies, and brownies, so your dessert table can go well beyond one lonely pie.

Apple pie is a solid Thanksgiving pick here. Blueberry pie also gets plenty of love for its flaky crust.

Boston Cream Pie is on the menu too. It’s technically a cake, but nobody at your table will complain about that technicality.

Classic Maine whoopie pies make a great add-on for the kids’ table. Soft cake and creamy filling travel well in a car ride to the relatives.

Hosting a big crowd? The Tea Size Assorted Pastries let guests grab a little bit of this and that without committing to a full slice.

The shop also handles savory food like meatloaf, pasta, and homemade pizza. That’s handy if your fridge needs backup during the busy holiday week.

Free parking is available in a lot and on the street. Just remember that the bakery is closed on Sundays and closes at 3 PM on Saturdays.

Address: 199 State St #5410, Bangor, ME 04401

3. Hello Good Pie

A bakery that greets you with a cheerful name is already on your side. In the lakeside village of Belgrade Lakes, that greeting comes with scratch-made pies.

Around Thanksgiving, the kitchen here gets busy turning out holiday pies. That tells you this spot treats the season like its own big game day.

Dessert is only part of the story. The shop also offers ready-to-warm dinner pies, which are a lifesaver when leftover turkey runs out.

Gluten-free desserts are available as well. Your guest with a wheat allergy can finally skip the sad plate of fruit.

Not sure a full pie will cover it? Blondies, chocolate chip cookies, and oatmeal cream pies make easy extras for grazing.

Quiches are a popular choice too. One could quietly become your Friday breakfast while the house recovers from the feast.

If you stop in for pickup, grab breakfast while you’re there. The menu includes breakfast sandwiches, avocado toast, and donuts.

Coffee fans should know about one clever trick. The iced coffee comes with coffee ice cubes, so your drink stays strong instead of watery.

Hours are limited, so plan ahead. The shop is closed Monday through Wednesday and opens Thursday through Sunday, with Sunday ending at noon.

Parking is free in a lot and along the street. That makes a quick stop on Main Street simple, even with a car full of family.

Address: 39 Main St, Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918

4. Mount Desserts, Homemade Pies

Clever name, right? This pie shop near Bar Harbor borrows its title from Mount Desert Island and swaps in a sweeter spelling.

The building is simple and the setting is a quiet coastal roadside. The real attraction is the pie, not the décor.

Wild blueberry is the headliner here. Maine is famous for those tiny berries, and this pie puts them front and center.

Mixed berry pie is another favorite. The blend can include strawberry, rhubarb, and blueberry, giving you sweet and tart in one bite.

Strawberry rhubarb is also on offer. Its filling isn’t overly sweet, which is nice after a plate loaded with gravy.

The crusts get plenty of attention too. They’re buttery and flaky, so you won’t find a pale, soggy bottom hiding under the fruit.

Here’s a practical note before you go. The shop has no restroom, so plan your stops on the drive around the island.

It’s takeout only, with no delivery. Grab your pies, set them on a flat spot in the car, and drive like you’re carrying treasure.

Hours run Monday and Thursday through Sunday, from 10 AM to 5 PM. The shop closes Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so double-check before a holiday trip.

Address: 2 Lookout Point Rd, Bar Harbor, ME 04609

5. Hillman’s Bakery

Donuts at dawn, pies by lunch, and bread for the dinner rolls. Hillman’s in Fairfield covers a surprising amount of your holiday menu from one small counter.

This is a traditional local bakery in a small Kennebec County town. Fresh donuts and homemade pies are its calling card.

Fruit pies are the natural Thanksgiving pick. Cheesecakes are also available if your family leans creamy instead of crusty.

Cannolis add a fun twist to the dessert table. Nobody said Thanksgiving has to stick only to pumpkin.

Cinnamon buns are worth grabbing too. They make a great Thursday morning breakfast while the turkey hogs the oven.

Homemade breads and rolls round out the shelves. Pick some up and you’ve just crossed another chore off your list.

Bargain hunters, take note. The bakery keeps a discount rack, which can be a sweet spot for extra snacks during a busy week.

Cheese lasagna is another option here. It could feed the early arrivals on Wednesday night while you prep the big meal.

Hillman’s is set up for takeout, not dine-in. It also has no restroom, so think of it as a quick in-and-out stop.

Doors open at 6 AM Tuesday through Saturday, with Wednesday running until 6 PM. The shop closes on Sundays and Mondays, so time that pie run wisely.

Address: 16 Western Ave, Fairfield, ME 04937

6. Trish’s Pie Bakery

Trust is the secret ingredient at this Phippsburg pie stop. Homemade fruit pies wait for you, and payment goes into an honor cash box.

That old-fashioned setup feels very Maine. It also feels like a small act of faith in your fellow pie lovers.

Strawberry rhubarb pie gets high praise here. Its buttery crust and balanced sweet and tart filling make it a strong pick for the holiday table.

Blueberry pie is another star. Sometimes it’s fresh enough to still carry heat from the oven, so handle that box gently.

Pies aren’t the only treats. You’ll also find fudge, honey, jellies, and maple syrup on offer.

That lineup opens up some fun ideas. Maple syrup for Friday pancakes and a jar of jelly as a hostess gift could save you a separate errand.

The stop sits along rural Main Road on the Phippsburg peninsula. The drive itself makes picking up dessert feel like a mini road trip.

Bring cash, since the honor box is how the system works. A few small bills will make the process smooth.

Hours run daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. There’s no dine-in and no delivery, so plan to take your pie home.

Once it’s on your table, nobody needs to know you skipped the rolling pin. Your secret is safe with the cash box.

Address: 1654 Main Rd, Phippsburg, ME 04562