Did you order your Thanksgiving pie? Jersey Shore bakeries give you lots of options

Gabriela L. Laracca, Asbury Park Press
·5 min read

Thanksgiving is like the big “game day” of the year, said Jessica Errico, owner of Anna Banana's Bakery in Manahawkin.

And she's not talking football.

Last year, she baked over 350 pies. This year, she plans to top 450.

“We mentally and physically prepare all month long,” she said.

The bakery's most popular pie last year was apple crumb — and after seeing how it's made that's not surprising. Over 2 pounds of fresh apples, 1½ pounds of homemade cake crumb, a specialty mixture of sugar, cinnamon and other spices, and hand-rolled pie dough go into this whopper of a dessert.

“Everything is homemade," Errico said. “... Our (pies) have a rustic look to them. They’re all a little different."

That's because they roll the pie crusts themselves.

"It’s a lot of work," Errico said.

Shop owner Jessica Errico with a few of her apple pies at Anna Banana's Bakery in Manahawkin.
Shop owner Jessica Errico with a few of her apple pies at Anna Banana's Bakery in Manahawkin.

Pumpkin took second place last year. Other flavors, which can be ordered online, by phone or in-person before Sunday, Nov. 19 (pick up is Wednesday, Nov. 22), include gluten-free and vegan apple pie, peach blueberry galette, caramel apple crumb galette (with dulce de leche drizzle), key lime, and peanut butter pie. You can see all of the bakery's pies here.

Fitting for the bakery's name (a nickname given to her as a child by her mother), banana cream pie is Errico's favorite.

Go: 657 East Bay Ave., Suite 4 (park in the back), Manahawkin; 609-488-2323, annabananasbakerynj.com.

There are countless Jersey Shore bakeries preparing Thanksgiving pies, so be sure to place your pre-orders or visit in-store before they run out. Here are a few to consider.

502 Baking Company, Brick

This bakery has more sweets than just pie, like crumb cake, cookies and scones. Pies include pumpkin, apple crumb, key lime, peanut butter fudge, salted caramel apple crumb, and apple pear cranberry crumb. There's also vegan and gluten-free apple streusel.

Order by Wednesday, Nov. 15, and pick up during store hours on Wednesday, Nov. 22.

Go: 502 Brick Blvd.; 732-477-4502, 502bakingcompany@gmail.com, facebook.com/502bakingcompany.

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Baked on the Beach, Surf City

An assortment of Thanksgiving pies from Baked on the Beach in Surf City.
An assortment of Thanksgiving pies from Baked on the Beach in Surf City.

Chose from apple, apple cranberry, blueberry, cherry peach, peach, peach raspberry, strawberry rhubarb, peach blueberry, peach strawberry, mixed berry, cherry, pumpkin, pecan, key lime, coconut cream, chocolate cream, chocolate peanut butter mousse and pumpkin cheese cake at this LBI bakery.

Place pre-orders by Saturday, Nov. 18, for pick up on Wednesday, Nov. 22. There will be some available first come, first serve on Thanksgiving, Nov. 23, and during open hours before the holiday.

Go: 2101 Long Beach Blvd.; 609-361-3200, bakedonlbi.com,

Baker's Grove, Shrewsbury

An apple galette from Baker's Grove in Shrewsbury.
An apple galette from Baker's Grove in Shrewsbury.

This bakery will serve an Apple Galette with vanilla bourbon whipped cream, which is similar to an apple pie, but free-form, sans pan.

You also may want to try the caramel pecan tart, and cakes like pumpkin cheesecake, cranberry almond cake and carrot cake. Place orders before Wednesday, Nov. 15, for pick up on Wednesday, Nov. 22.

Go: 524 Broad St., 732-243-3249, thebakersgrove.com.

Battleview Orchards, Freehold

Dozens of assorted pies for Thanksgiving available for sale or pre-order from Battleview Orchards in Freehold.
Dozens of assorted pies for Thanksgiving available for sale or pre-order from Battleview Orchards in Freehold.

This massive orchard and country store will be taking orders for pies through Saturday, Nov. 18, but there are also some available in store, first come, first serve.

Order apple, apple cranberry, blueberry crumb, cherry crumb, coconut custard, Dutch apple, lemon krunch, peach, pecan, pumpkin, sweet potato, very berry or no-sugar added apple.

Go: 91 Wemrock Road; 732-462-0756, battlevieworchards.com.

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Big Apple Bakery, Manahawkin

Blueberry pies with butter crumb and lemon icing at Big Apple Bakery in Manahawkin.
Blueberry pies with butter crumb and lemon icing at Big Apple Bakery in Manahawkin.

Chose from fruit flan, apple, apple crumb, apple cranberry pecan with caramel drizzle, pecan, peach crumb, blueberry with butter crumb and lemon icing, half banana and half chocolate cream, Christmas stollen (German Christmas bread), pumpkin, coconut custard, and key lime.

Place orders as soon as possible, they say, and pick-up on Tuesday, Nov. 21, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. First-come, first-serve pies will also be available on Wednesday, Nov. 22 in store.

Go: 595 East Bay Ave. Suite 3324 (In Acme Shopping Center); 609-597-7802, thebigapplebakery.com.

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Delicious Orchards, Colts Neck

Apple and pumpkin pies from Delicious Orchards in Colts Neck.
Apple and pumpkin pies from Delicious Orchards in Colts Neck.

There is no pre-order procedure here, as the bakers assures there is plenty to go around.

Pick from apple, pumpkin, mince, cherry, pecan, coconut custard, blueberry crumb, peach, strawberry rhubarb, apple crumb, four berry, and cherry crumb any day they're open, until Wednesday, Nov. 22. Delicious Orchards is closed Thanksgiving Day.

Go: 320 Route 34; 732-462-1989, deliciousorchardsnj.com.

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Dixie Lee Bakery, Keansburg

Apple crumb, pecan and pumpkin pies will be sold for Thanksgiving at Dixie Lee Bakery in Keansburg.
Apple crumb, pecan and pumpkin pies will be sold for Thanksgiving at Dixie Lee Bakery in Keansburg.

This historic bakery is selling 10-inch apple crumb, pecan and pumpkin pies this Thanksgiving, available in-store and for pre-order (either phone or in-person).

Bakery hours are 6 a.m. to noon on Thanksgiving day.

Go: 303 Main St.; 732-787-0674, dixieleebakerybydb.com.

Wemrock Orchards, Freehold Township

Fresh apple pies being prepared for baking at Wemrock Orchards in Freehold Township.
Fresh apple pies being prepared for baking at Wemrock Orchards in Freehold Township.

Pre-orders are due Friday, Nov. 17, with options such as apple, pumpkin, apple crumb, French apple, blueberry, cherry, pecan, mince, sugar-free apple and sugar-free peach, coconut custard, strawberry rhubarb, peach, and blueberry crumb.

Orders can be picked up Tuesday, Nov. 21, and Wednesday, Nov. 22.

Go: 100 Wemrock Road; 732-431-2668, wemrockorchard.com, facebook.com/WemrockOrchards.

Wild in the Treats, Atlantic Highlands

A vegan blueberry crumb pie from Wild in the Treats in Atlantic Highlands.
A vegan blueberry crumb pie from Wild in the Treats in Atlantic Highlands.

Whether you're a vegan year-round, or want be more humane this Thanksgiving without sacrificing flavor, choose from vegan apple or blueberry crumb, spiced pecan, pumpkin and Shoo Fly (a molasses-based pie).

Order in-store or by phone before Saturday, Nov. 18, and advise owner Tony Panzica of any food sensitivities, as all pies can be made gluten-free.

Feel free to stop by for a sample, he said.

Go: 183 First Ave., 732-872-4449, instagram.com/wildinthetreats, facebook.com/wildinthetreatsbakery.

Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to glaracca@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore bakeries offer Thanksgiving pie