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Westchester’s Favorite Apple Pies

You can’t go wrong with these local bakeries for good ol’ American apple pie.

September 28, 2012

We wanted to find out which Westchester bakeries have the best apple pies so we asked around. Then, I had the pleasure of going on a taste test. I went to each of these Westchester bakeries and ordered a traditional apple pie.

I discovered that each bakery’s pie was a little different. Some had a more refined, sweeter crust and others favored the buttery, flaky crust we expect from apple pie. Most of the pies had chunks of apples, but one of my favorites uses sliced apples. Did your favorite bakery make the list? Read on… I tasted and now I’ll tell…

Baked by Susan smells like heaven. I wanted to sit down at one of the tables and eat my pie right there and then. The atmosphere is cozy and charming, partially from the vintage baking equipment and large retro stove that Susan uses to bake her all natural pies, cakes, cookies, and muffins. The apple pie did not disappoint with a hard to beat flaky crust and a mix of apples purchased at a nearby farm. I also tasted the apple crumb and it was ridiculously good with buttery crumbs and a crust to die for. I heated up our pies at home and my kitchen smelled just like the bakery. Heavenly. Pies are $14 for a small and $22 for large. Susan also makes delightful mini pies for $5. Baked by Susan is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Baked by Susan: 163 Grand Street, Croton-on-Hudson; 914-862-0874.

Topps Bakery’s apple pie won a Westchester Magazine Best of Westchester award in 2007, so I knew this was going to be a praise worthy apple pie. I was immediately impressed by the pie crust stars that look hand cut. We cut off a star for each of our girls and they were smitten. This is the pie that they remember out of all the others I brought home. My husband and I liked the sweet crust with a slight dusting of cinnamon and sugar, but we thought the apples with their slight crunch were the highlight of this pie. Small pies are $15 and large pies are $20. Open 7 days. Topps Bakery: 106 Pondfield Rd, Bronxville, NY; 914-337-4258.

Galloway’s Bakery has been a neighborhood favorite since 1962. The apple crumb pie is absolutely irresistible, but I went back to taste their traditional apple pie. The traditional apple pie has a decadent flaky crust and the apples are crisp and fresh. I had a small slice and couldn’t resist another. Pies are $13. Open Friday – Sunday. Galloway’s Bakery: 69 Harney Road, Scarsdale; 725-4074.

I had heard that Riviera Bakehouse‘s birthday cakes and cupcakes are almost too pretty to eat. Their apple pie is also absolutely gorgeous with a browned crust raised over a mound of Granny Smith apples. Slicing into the pie, I quickly noticed the apples are cut in slices instead of chunks creating a more refined pie, almost like a pastry. (My husband, however, prefers the apples in heartier pieces, so it’s a personal choice.) The apples had a nice crunch and the crust with its fine dusting of sugar was both buttery and light. Small pies are $15 and large pies are $23. Open 7 days. Riviera Bakehouse: 660 Saw Mill Road, Ardsley; 914-674-0000.

I took my girls to Grandma’s in Yorktown Heights for lunch and after an impressive spinach salad and grilled cheese for the girls, we shared a slice of their traditional apple pie. The crust was plentiful and flaky and the apples had a nice cinnamon flavor. We shared a piece between the three of us and we were full afterwards. I want to go back and taste the rest of Grandma’s 2 dozen plus flavors of pie. Grandma’s pies are available by the slice for $4.25 (unless otherwise noted) and by the pie for around $14. Open 7 days. Grandma’s: 3525 Crompond Rd, Yorktown Heights (914) 739-7770.

Did we miss your favorite bakery? Let us know and maybe we’ll write “Westchester’s Favorite Pumpkin Pies” next month!