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Taste your way across the U.S.
A Slice of America:
8 Regional Pies to Try
Apple and cherry may not be among them, but these pies still offer great tastes of the United States.
By Virginia Brown
Folks say that nothing is as American as apple pie. But cherry pie might have something to say about that. Those iconic staples aside, other creative offerings—from the Pennsylvania Dutch’s shoofly pie to Arkansas’s own possum pie—spotlight the country’s many rich and varied cultures. Check out these eight storied treats, and where to go to get them.
Chess Pie
At the historic 1779 The Old Talbott Tavern in Bardstown, Kentucky, enjoy hearty comfort foods like country-fried steak, pot roast and the state's signature Hot Brown sandwich, but be sure to finish off your meal with a slice of chess pie. While the origin of the dessert’s name is up for debate—some say it was a misinterpretation of “cheese” pie or “chest” pie (after pie safes, or chests, pies were stored in before refrigeration), among other theories—most can agree that the whipped cream-topped custardy concoction is hard to pass up.
To explore Bardstown, Kentucky, visit AAA.com/TripCanvas
Huckleberry Bear Claws
Make sure you have a few napkins or wet wipes on hand before you sink your teeth into the huckleberry bear claw at Kyiyo Bakery & Mercantile in Browning, Montana. This old-timey mercantile inside the Blackfeet Indian Reservation is located just outside the southeast entrance to Glacier National Park. This flaky, gooey pastry features small, round huckleberries native to the region.
To explore Browning, Montana, visit AAA.com/TripCanvas.
Shoofly Pie
ADOBE STOCK
An icon of the Pennsylvania Dutch, shoofly pie is a molasses-based dessert with a crumbly topping. For an authentic version, head to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and stop in at Dutch Haven in Ronks. With its recognizable rooftop windmill, this roadside favorite along U.S. Route 30 has been baking up the classic since 1946, alongside whoopie pies and classic pecan pie, plus Amish-made crafts, furniture and gifts.
To explore Ronks, Pennsylvania, visit AAA.com/TripCanvas.
Sonker
Berry Sonker
A specialty of Surry County, North Carolina, sonker is a deep-dish fruit dessert with a biscuit-like dough, similar to cobbler. As with any good recipe, families have passed down their perfect sonker roadmaps for generations. Since 1980, the county, which comprises the region roughly from Mount Airy to Elkin to Devotion to Lowgap, has celebrated the treat at the Sonker Festival, a tradition that carries on every first Saturday in October. Follow the Surry Sonker Trail to pick your favorite.
To explore Mount Airy, North Carolina, visit AAA.com/TripCanvas.
Possum Pie
To be clear, no possums are harmed in the baking of Arkansas’s possum pie. The unique Southern staple consists of layers of whipped cream cheese and rich chocolate pudding or custard piled on top of a flaky crust. It’s topped with whipped cream and chocolate or pecan shavings. Several restaurants and pie shops across the state feature the treat, including Old South Restaurant, a 1940s-era roadside diner in Russellville.
To explore Russellville, Arkansas, visit AAA.com/TripCanvas.
Derby Pie
In Louisville, Kentucky, Kern’s Kitchen has been serving up a time-honored dessert since 1954. Derby Pie, consisting of a blend of rich chocolate and walnuts (the full recipe is still under lock and key), is the crown jewel of Kern’s, now run by the Kern family’s fourth generation. You can usually also find a slice at the annual Kentucky Derby Festival.
To explore Louisville, Kentucky, visit AAA.com/TripCanvas.
Texas Trash Pie
Made in the small town of Royers, Texas, at Royers Round Top Cafe, Texas Trash Pie blends all kinds of goodies, including chocolate chips, pecan pieces, pretzels, coconut, caramel chips and graham cracker crumbs, with sweetened condensed milk and butter to form a crunchy, sugary-salty treat that’s been a favorite on the menu since the 1980s.
Grape Pie
VISIT FINGER LAKES
Concord grapes, abundantly grown in upstate New York, are a star crop of the region, so it’s only natural that local bakers eventually concocted a pie. Indeed, grape pie has become a ubiquitous specialty of the Finger Lakes region, including at Cindy’s Grape Pies in Naples. Here, the sweet-tart fruit fills a flaky, golden crust and keeps visitors and locals alike returning time after time. Grab a slice to enjoy there, or take a whole pie to go.
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