Photo by Brent Hofacker
Although Minnesota is known for so many things—winter, lutefisk, hockey, tater tot hot dish—one thing we do incredibly well, and which might be a little under-recognized, is pie.
National Pie Day, a Jan. 23 celebration of all desserts flaky, crusty, fruity, and creamy, was founded in the ‘70s in Colorado and has been sponsored by the American Pie Council since 1986. And although made-up food “holidays” can feel a little bit silly, they also give us an excuse to explore and enjoy some of our favorite treats.
To kick of National Pie Day 2026, here are some of our favorite Minnesota recipes, kitchen tricks, and bakeries that put delicious, crimped pastry creations front and center, today and all year round.
Where to Nosh
If you’re heading to the North Shore for a getaway, make a stop at iconic Betty’s Pies in Two Harbors, which has been serving up world-renowned pie since the 1950s and has a special knack for classic fruit fillings like cherry, blueberry, raspberry, and our Upper Midwestern springtime darling, rhubarb. In Castle Danger, visit the Rustic Inn Cafe for their take on cream pies, two-crust fruit pies, and buttery crumb-topped pies. The New Scenic Cafe in Duluth is also a beloved (newer) entry in the North Shore pie scene.
Other bakeries known for their pies include The Buttered Tin in Minneapolis and St. Paul; Ruther’s Sweetie Pies in Sebeka; Mason Jar Kitchen & Bar in Eagan; Vikings & Goddesses Pie Company in Minneapolis; and Hark Bakery, which serves up desserts that are vegan, gluten free, and allergy friendly.
For Minnesota Monthly’s definitive “pie edit,” check out this list of our team’s favorite road-trip pie stops across the state.
Courtesy of Betty's Pies
Plan a Pie-Focused Getaway
Although it can be hard to “think summer” in the middle of January, look ahead to August and make plans to visit Braham, Minnesota for the city’s annual Pie Day festival, held the first Friday of August every year. There’s a “sweet as pie” car show, a baking contest, a recycled pie tin art contest, and (of course) a pie-eating contest. Braham is also home to the Park Cafe, known for its (you guessed it) homemade pies.
Courtesy of Braham Pie Day
Bake Up a National Pie Day Homage
Craving pie? Take matters into your own hands with a recipe for a quintessential apple pie, that distinctively American (and comforting) dish. In addition to detailed instructions, you’ll also find handy tips and tricks from experts—like when to choose shortening versus butter for a flaky crust, or how to fix cracks in your dough.
Photo by Ciro Palomba/Pexels
Outfit Your Kitchen
If you’re an aspiring pie baker, make a National Pie Day visit a local kitchenware shop like Cooks of Crocus Hill, where you can find tools and accessories like ceramic pie birds, which let steam escape during baking to keep crusts crisp; pie shields, meant to keep those beautiful fluted edges from getting too brown; pie top cutters, which let bakers cut out dough shapes for decorations; and an assortment of colorful pie dishes, pans, and servers.
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