10 Hidden Pie Shops In Kentucky That Are Worth Every Mile

Kentucky’s backroads hide some incredible baking treasures that’ll make your taste buds dance with joy.

I’ve spent years exploring the Bluegrass State with one mission: finding the most mouthwatering pies that fly under the radar.

From flaky crusts to gooey fillings that’ll have you licking your fingers, these hidden gems are worth every mile of your journey – and I’m spilling all my sweet secrets today.

1. Backroads Bakery: Lexington’s Sweetest Secret

Backroads Bakery: Lexington's Sweetest Secret
© www.backroadsbakerylex.com

Holy moly, this place changed my pie life forever! Tucked away on a quiet Lexington side street, Backroads Bakery looks unassuming until you taste their blackberry cobbler pie that literally made me tear up a little.

The owners, Martha and Jim, use berries from their own farm and a crust recipe passed down five generations. I stumbled upon this gem after getting lost on my way to a wedding (best wrong turn ever).

Their tiny shop only fits about four customers at once, and they often sell out by noon. Pro tip: call ahead to reserve your pie, and don’t miss their seasonal persimmon offering that locals line up for every October.

2. Missy’s Pie Shop: A Slice Of Kentucky Heaven

Missy's Pie Shop: A Slice Of Kentucky Heaven
© Missy’s Pies

Grandma’s kitchen has nothing on Missy’s! This Lexington institution might be hiding in plain sight, but locals know to get there early when Missy pulls her famous chocolate chess pies from the oven.

My first bite transported me straight back to childhood summers in Kentucky. The shop itself feels like stepping into a 1950s time capsule, complete with checkerboard floors and vintage pie tins decorating the walls.

What makes Missy’s truly special is their commitment to traditional methods – no commercial mixers here! Everything’s done by hand, just like it was when they opened in 1989. Their bourbon-infused pecan pie won my heart (and about five pounds to my waistline) during my three-day pie pilgrimage last spring.

3. Magee’s Bakery: Home Of The Legendary Transparent Pie

Magee's Bakery: Home Of The Legendary Transparent Pie
© Reddit

“What the heck is transparent pie?” I wondered before my life-changing visit to Magee’s in Maysville. Turns out, it’s Kentucky’s answer to chess pie – a simple, sweet custard that’s absolutely divine and practically see-through when sliced.

George Clooney himself reportedly gets these pies shipped to Hollywood! The bakery sits in a historic building with original brick walls and wooden floors that creak pleasantly under your feet as you approach pie paradise.

Founded in 1956, Magee’s hasn’t changed their transparent pie recipe once – and thank goodness for that! I bought one intending to share with friends but ended up eating half of it in my car with a plastic fork. No regrets whatsoever.

4. Kern’s Kitchen: The Derby-Pie® Wonderland

Kern's Kitchen: The Derby-Pie® Wonderland
© Kern’s Kitchen

Shhh! Don’t call it Derby Pie unless you’re at Kern’s – it’s actually a trademarked name that this Louisville gem guards fiercely. My friend learned this the hard way at a potluck when a Kern’s family member was present!

Walking into their modest bakery, you’d never guess you’re entering the birthplace of Kentucky’s most famous dessert. The chocolatey, nutty, bourbon-kissed slice of heaven has been made from the same secret recipe since 1954.

I once drove two hours through a thunderstorm just for a slice, and when the warm pie hit my tongue, all I could think was “worth it.” The Kern family won’t even share the recipe with their in-laws – now that’s dedication to pie perfection!

5. Minton’s: Lexington’s Farm-To-Fork Pie Paradise

Minton's: Lexington's Farm-To-Fork Pie Paradise
© mintons760

Never have I ever tasted strawberry rhubarb pie that made me actually slap the table until I visited Minton’s. This Lexington hideaway sources ingredients from farms within a 30-mile radius, and boy does it make a difference!

The shop is run by former chemistry professor Dr. Eleanor Minton, who applies scientific precision to her baking. You can watch the pie magic happen through a large window into the kitchen where Eleanor and her team measure ingredients with actual laboratory scales.

Their rotating seasonal menu means you might not find the same pie twice. My personal obsession is their summer blackberry lavender creation that’s worth planning your entire Kentucky trip around. They also offer gluten-free options that don’t taste like cardboard – a miracle in itself!

6. Midway Bakery: Small Town, Big Pie Energy

Midway Bakery: Small Town, Big Pie Energy
© Midway Bakery & Cafe

Blink and you’ll miss this tiny treasure in the historic railroad town of Midway! Housed in an old apothecary building with the original wooden shelving, this place serves up pies that could cure any ailment – at least that’s what I tell myself.

The owner, Libby, learned to bake from her grandmother who ran a boarding house in the 1940s. My jaw literally dropped when I tried their signature buttermilk pie topped with bourbon-soaked cherries – a combination that sounds odd but tastes like pure Kentucky magic.

The bakery only makes 20 pies daily, and locals know to call dibs before 10 AM. I once witnessed two elderly ladies nearly duel over the last slice of their famous spiced pear pie. That’s how good we’re talking!

7. Payne Street Bakehouse: Deep-Dish Dreams Come True

Payne Street Bakehouse: Deep-Dish Dreams Come True
© Louisville.com – Louisville Magazine

Forget Chicago – Louisville’s Payne Street Bakehouse has reinvented deep-dish pie in ways that had me questioning everything I thought I knew about dessert. Their three-inch-deep apple cranberry masterpiece weighs about two pounds and feeds a family (or just me on a particularly rough day).

The bakehouse is hidden inside a converted garage with mismatched furniture and local art covering every inch of wall space. Owner Rick, a former auto mechanic, switched careers after winning a pie contest at the Kentucky State Fair fifteen years ago.

My favorite part? The pie flight – yes, like beer flights but with PIE – featuring four mini versions of their bestsellers. Their savory options are equally mind-blowing, especially the Kentucky Hot Brown pie that somehow transforms the famous sandwich into pie form.

8. Pennyroyal Market: Amish Fried Pies Worth Crossing County Lines

Pennyroyal Market: Amish Fried Pies Worth Crossing County Lines
© m.yelp.com

My car’s GPS gave up trying to find this place! Hidden on a country road near Mt. Victor, Pennyroyal Market sells Amish-made fried hand pies that changed my understanding of portable desserts forever.

The market itself is a simple wooden structure with no electricity, run by the Miller family who’ve been making these pocket-sized treasures for generations. Each pie is fried to golden perfection in cast iron skillets over wood-burning stoves.

The peach fried pies haunted my dreams for weeks after my first visit. I’ve since made the 90-minute drive from Lexington at least a dozen times just to stock up (they freeze beautifully). Cash only, and they’re closed on Sundays – plan accordingly for this off-the-grid pie adventure!

9. Kelly’s Cakery: The Pie Shop That Refuses To Be Just A Cake Shop

Kelly's Cakery: The Pie Shop That Refuses To Be Just A Cake Shop
© kellyscakery

Don’t let the name fool you! This Florence gem might have “Cakery” on the sign, but owner Kelly Reynolds secretly makes the best banana cream pie I’ve ever put in my mouth – and I’ve eaten A LOT of pie in my day.

Located in a strip mall between a laundromat and a hardware store, this unassuming spot doesn’t look special until you step inside to find vintage pie tins covering the ceiling. Kelly, a former school lunch lady, started baking professionally after her pies kept winning the staff bake-off year after year.

Their signature creation is the “Unbuckle Your Belt Apple Pie” with FOURTEEN varieties of apples in each pie. I’m not exaggerating when I say I once drove here during a snowstorm just to get my fix!

10. OakBrook Bakery: Where Pie Meets Art

OakBrook Bakery: Where Pie Meets Art
© The New York Times

“Is that really edible?” I gasped when I first saw the stunningly decorated pies at OakBrook in Florence. The lattice work and pastry decorations here aren’t just crusts – they’re edible sculptures that look too beautiful to eat (but you definitely should).

Pastry chef Mia Chen trained as a fine artist before turning to baking, and it shows in her meticulously crafted creations. The bakery itself feels like a gallery, with white walls, spotlights highlighting each pie, and classical music playing softly in the background.

Their signature maple bourbon pecan pie features a top crust designed to look like tree branches – I actually took photos before digging in! Despite the fancy appearance, prices are reasonable, and the flavors are deeply rooted in traditional Kentucky pie-making with modern twists.