Best Apple Pie In Minnesota

A favorite American dessert staple, apple pie has been praised in song and verse. Singer Don McLean's signature song, "American Pie," was an ode and elegiac metaphor. The proverbial American pie in McLean's song is, what else, apple pie! Next to a passion for peanut butter and banana sandwiches, the late "King of Rock and Roll," Elvis Presley, favored apple pie. "As American as apple pie" was a longtime national expression. So, let's get some pie. Would you like your pie plain, or with a scoop of ice cream or a slice of cheese?

Betty's Pies
1633 Highway 61
Two Harbors, MN 55616
(218) 834-3367
www.bettyspies.com

If "old-fashioned apple pie" tantalizes your epicurean taste, Betty's has it in pure, unadulterated form. The pie is made from crisp Granny Smith apples and a few dashes of cinnamon and allspice. The mixture is piled into a sturdy, lightly fluted double crust. But before you go away, try Betty's apple crunch pies. They come in plain apple, fresh strawberry and genuinely chewy caramel. Many of Betty's Pies can be ordered sugar-free.

The Pie Place Café
207 Wisconsin St.
Grand Marais, MN 55604
(218) 387-1513
www.thepieplacecafe.com

No longer a café, The Pie Place Café continues to be a bakery and catering service. The bakery's apple pie creations are dazzling. The apple ginger is baked in a spiced crust. Another ginger version is made with cider bourbon sauce. The boiled cider pie pairs wonderfully with cider beverages. Other apple-centric pies are raisin lattice, three versions of cranberry, maple cream, cheddar crumble, caramel pecan, chai spice, sour cream, Northwood apple, rose water apple and rustic apple tart. But the plain and simple apple pie is always there if you want it.

Pine Tree Apple Orchard
450 Apple Orchard Road
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
www.pinetreeappleorchard.com

The best apple pies are made from apples straight from the orchard to the bakery. Pine Tree grows over 25 varieties of apples. Many sell out before the apple season is over. But the bakery doesn't seem to run out of apples for its pies. Just before the holidays, the bakery becomes very active. But you needn't wait for the holidays or the orchard to open to satiate an apple pie craving. The bakery always has fresh frozen pies you can take home and pop into the oven. Choose from plain apple, Dutch apple, apple pecan, blueberry apple, apple crunch and low-sugar apple.

Related:  WCCO Viewers' Choice For Best Apple Pie In Minnesota

Amazing Grace Bakery & Café
394 S Lake Ave.
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 723-0075
www.amazinggraceduluth.com 

At Amazing Grace, you have a choice of Dutch or cranberry apple pie. True, the apple pie selection here is limited. But the bakers at Amazing Grace are ready to fulfill special orders for any pie. The pies and other pastries are made with the freshest local and regional ingredients. You can also request vegan and gluten-free options.

Jensen's Café
12750 Nicollet Ave., S.
Burnsville, MN 55337
(952) 808-0500
www.jensenscafe.com

The menu at Jensen's Café is Southwest American. It's one of those dining spots to visit if you love fajitas, enchiladas, quesadillas and tostados. But Jensen's serves up that iconic dessert treat — American apple pie. You get a generous slice for $2.95, served hot if you wish. A scoop of ice cream is an additional $1.50. If you can still digest dessert after an all-day breakfast of huevos rancheros, apple pie with dark rich coffee is a good finish to an all-day morning meal.

Related: Best Apple Pie In Minnesota

Linda Cameron has written home design, home improvement and lifestyle articles for The Boston Globe and City Shopper Magazine. She has related interests in the building industry, travel, real estate and financing. She is a contributor to Examiner, House Spot, Techsling and Behance, covering topics on career, people, businesses, education and technology.