Cranberry Apple pie by 'Whisked'at Pleasant Pops Farmhouse Market and Cafe. (JUANA ARIAS/FOR THE WASHINGTON POST)
Hosting for Thanksgiving is a balancing act. You have to get the house in order, make sure that everyone’s special diet is accommodated, remain gracious and pull off a picture-perfect feast. Spare yourself the extra anxiety by picking up dessert from one of these Washington-area bakeries or restaurants, listed in alphabetical order. Consider them your sweet reward.
This gluten-free vendor offers several nine-inch pies, including pecan ($17), brownie-bottom pecan ($19), pumpkin ($15) and vegan pumpkin ($22). Place orders by phone, at the bakery or online. Pick up at the bakery, the Pike Central Farm Market (Saturday, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., 11806 Rockville Pike, Rockville) or the Bethesda Central Farm Market (Sunday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 7600 Arlington Blvd., Bethesda). Order by Nov. 14 for delivery at a weekend market.
27 W. Potomac St.,
Brunswick. 301-969-0341.
www.abetterchoicebakery.com.
Pastry chef Tiffany MacIsaac and her team are baking double-crust apple pie ($32), pumpkin pie with cinnamon whipped cream ($28), sweet potato pie topped with cranberry jam and ginger whipped cream ($28) and chocolate-bourbon pecan pie with chocolate whipped cream ($30). Pints of house-made ice cream, including cinnamon, pumpkin pie and ginger ($6.50 each), are available. Place orders by phone with three days’ notice, then pick up at a scheduled time at either bakery Nov. 19-21.
901 Slaters Lane, Alexandria. 703-600-2899; 818 N. Quincy St., Arlington. 703-650-9676.
www.buzzbakery.com.
Classics such as pecan pie, pumpkin pie and apple pie are available at this Reston favorite, as well an indulgent bourbon pumpkin cheesecake with a graham cracker crust (all $24.95). Place phone orders by Nov. 19 at 9 p.m., and pick up next door at Mon Ami Gabi no later than 10 p.m. on Nov. 21.
11950 Democracy Dr., Reston. 703-707-9442.www.community canteen.com.
The company that traces its history in Georgetown to 1886 makes all-natural 10-inch pies, including apple, blackberry, pumpkin, rhubarb, cherry and peach (all $29). Available through StarNut Gourmet. Place orders by phone by Nov. 18 and pick up during regular business hours (Monday-Wednesday 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.).
1445 Laughlin Ave., McLean. 703-749-9090. www.cocopieco.
com;www.starnutgourmet.com.
This modernist Italian eatery is making a pair of Pilgrim-worthy pies: sweet potato ($22) and pecan ($26). Pints of house-made caramel, vanilla and chocolate sauce ($9 each) are available. Place orders by phone and pick up at least 24 hours later at the restaurant during regular business hours (Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday 5:30-11 p.m.).
427 11th St. NW; 202-546-0088. www.elisirrestaurant.com.
Tiffany Coln doesn’t bake average pies. The former Toki Underground pastry chef is offering five-spice pumpkin with duck fat pecan praline ($35), apple cranberry with maple glaze ($30), sweet potato with candied pecans ($30) and sweet potato Bulliet bourbon Bundt cake ($40), as well as other specialty baked goods. Place orders by phone or by e-mailing fabfete@gmail.com by Nov. 17. Free delivery within the Washington area. No pickups.
301-928-9854.
www.fab-fete.com.
Pastry chef Carolyn Crow’s attitude this year is, don’t mess with the classics. She’s offering a pumpkin pie ($15) and chocolate pecan pie ($20). Place orders by phone by Nov. 16 and pick up at the restaurant on Nov. 21 from 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
8081 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. 301-565-9700.
www.jackiesrestaurant.com.
For a Guatemalan accent, try the signature tres leches cake (eight-inch, $20; full sheet, $120). Place orders at the bakery or by phone by Nov. 18 and pick up during regular business hours (7 a.m.-8 p.m.) with three days’ notice required for large cake orders. Delivery available.
1401 University Blvd. E., G-21, Hyattsville. 301-408-3700.
www.chapinabakery.com.
Choose from classic options such as pumpkin pie, apple pie and pecan pie, or try an unexpected offering, like pear-cherry-sour cream pie, rosemary-pine nut tart or chocolate-hazelnut-espresso tart (two-inch, $2; four-inch, $4; nine-inch, $20). Place orders by phone, at the bakery, or by e-mailing bakersdozen@ northsidesocialarlington.com through Nov. 20, and pick up 48 hours later at the shop during regular business hours (Monday-Wednesday, 6 a.m.-10 p.m.; Thursday, 6 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday, 6 a.m.-midnight; Saturday, 7 a.m.-midnight, Sunday 7 a.m.–10 p.m.); until 2:30 on Thanksgiving Day.
3211 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-465-0145.www.northside
socialarlington.com.
Start a tradition by ordering icy treats modeled on Mexican paletas. Seasonally appropriate pop flavors include pumpkin pie, carrot-apple-ginger, honey-apricot and Honeycrisp apple ($2.50 each). Available during regular business hours ( Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m.).
1781 Florida Ave. NW. 202-558-5224.www.pleasantpops.com.
It’s all about the pumpkin: pumpkin macarons ($1.45 each), cinnamon-glazed pumpkin pound cake (six-inch, $13), pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream and a pumpkin macaron (nine-inch, $24) and pumpkin cheesecake (seven-inch, $28). There are non-squash options: chocolate cream pie (nine-inch, $23) and a rustic Granny Smith apple tart (seven-inch, $25). Place orders by phone or at the bakery with 24 hours’ notice, and pick up during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.)
4611 Sangamore Rd., Bethesda; 301-229-8180.www.praline-
bakery.com.
These pies are worth the drive: caramel-pumpkin, mincemeat crowned with bourbon-smoked sugar and sweet potato-pecan-bourbon (all 10-inch, $24 each). The nine-inch maple-glazed apple Bundt cake spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger ($14) is equally worthy of a road trip. Place orders at the bakery or by phone by Nov. 17, and pick up on Nov. 21, 6:30 a.m.-4 p.m. (earlier pickups can be arranged).
22 Waterloo St., Warrenton. 540-347-2224.
www.redtruckbakery.com.
Gourmet catering in style: turkey-shaped sugar cookies dipped in chocolate ($3.60 each), butterscotch pudding cups topped with black pepper cream and a molasses snap ($2.05 each) and individual pumpkin mousses with cranberry compote and meringue ($2.50 each). Place orders by phone until 2 p.m. Nov. 19 and pick up Nov. 21, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Minimum of 10 servings on all orders. Delivery available.
5525 Dorsey Lane, Bethesda. 301-652-1515.www.ridgewells.com.
Tart up your table with the Nantucket cranberry pie or the apple-cranberry pie. Or stick with tradition by opting for the sweet potato pie or cinnamon-spiced Granny Smith apple pie (all nine-inch, $18). Place orders by phone until noon Nov. 20 and pick up before Thanksgiving during regular business hours (Tuesday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.).
4700 Rhode Island Ave., Hyattsville. 301-779-2836.
www.shortcakebakery.com.
What's more all-American than cupcakes? Orange-cranberry, pumpkin, red velvet and dark chocolate cupcakes are decorated with turkey and maple leaf cutouts ($3.50 each, $39 per dozen). Place orders by phone, at the bakery or online and pick up through Nov. 21, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Delivery available, one dozen minimum.
3015 M St. NW; 888-220-2210. www.sprinkles.com.
A colorful array of autumnally appropriate macarons is available at this Barracks Row bakery: sweet potato-pecan, cranberry-walnut, black sesame-pumpkin and fig-balsamic ($1.60 each). Pumpkin spice, caramel apple and sweet potato-marshmallow cupcakes are also on hand ($2.79 each). Place orders by phone or in person by Nov. 16 and pick up through Nov. 21 during regular business hours (Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.). Delivery available.
404 Eighth St. SE; 202-544-2404. www.sweetlobby.com.
Pies and cakes in a rainbow of colors are available at this well-loved Clinton bakery. Our picks are the Southern sweet potato pie with coconut-pecan crumb topping ($13.50), lemon meringue ($13.50) and straight-up pumpkin ($11). Place orders by phone by Nov. 21, in person or online with at least two days’ notice, and pick up on Nov. 21 during regular business hours (10 a.m.-6 p.m.).
8902 Simpson Lane, Clinton. 301-877-9700.www.tiffanys
bakery.com.
An impressive selection of baked delights is available here, including pumpkin cheesecake with a gingersnap crust ($56), lemon or lime curd pie topped with whipped cream or meringue ($21), maple-sweetened pecan ($30) and crumb-crested fruit pies such as blueberry ($25), strawberry ($20) or peach ($19). Place orders by phone or at the bakery through Nov. 14, with seven days’ notice required and schedule a pick up during regular business hours (Tuesday-Friday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.).
10400 Shaker Dr., Columbia. 410-997-9338.www.touchetouchetbakery.com.
Owner Jerome Colin turns out a flurry of tempting treats, including apple-cranberry pie with brown sugar streusel and almond crust, vanilla whipped cream-topped pumpkin pie ($32 each), pumpkin spice macarons ($1.50 each) and individual pumpkin-milk chocolate mousse domes ($4.65 each). Place orders by phone or at the bakery through Nov. 19 and schedule a pickup during regular business hours before Thanksgiving (Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.).
7831 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda. 301-951-0474.
www.toutdesweetshop.com.
Everything at this Sperryville jewel is gluten-free, including the pumpkin roulade ($28), the pumpkin cheesecake with a sweet-savory pecan crust ($50) and the vanilla bean cream puffs ($10 per dozen). Place orders by phone or at the bakery through Nov. 15 and schedule a pickup during regular business hours Nov. 19-21 (Tuesday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.). Delivery available.
11692 Lee Hwy., Sperryville. 540-987-9122.
www.tripleoakbakery.com.