WINTER WONDERLAND – Best Slice of Apple Pie
Cozy sweaters, crackling fires, and hot apple cider are just some of the things we cherish in the cooler months. As each of our towns become its own winter wonderland, we can’t wait to enjoy some of our favorite holiday traditions…like a slice of hot apple pie.
We traveled the region, seeking out the best apple creation in each of our Nest Realty towns…here’s the winners:
APPLE CREATION: PERSONAL APPLE PIE
BAKER: Butterbugs Baked Goods for West End Bakery
LOCATION: Asheville, North Carolina
If you can’t resist eating an entire pie (who could?!) then head to the West End Bakery. This bakery has been popular with Asheville locals since it opened in 2001. Already famed for its fresh baked breads, the bakery has expanded it’s offerings by teaming up with Butterbugs Baked Goods, who creates incredible custom cakes and pies. The four-inch personal pies are amazing. The personal apple pie is our favorite. Delicate crust surrounds layers of spiced sliced apples, sourced locally from Grandad’s Apples N’ Such in Henderson, North Carolina. westendbakery.com
APPLE CREATION: SOUTHERN COMFORT APPLE PIE
BAKER: The Pie Chest
LOCATION: Charlottesville, Virginia
Brand new to the scene and already making a huge splash is The Pie Chest. Offering seasonal savory and sweet pies, the menu is always changing. When fall arrives, the Southern Comfort apple pie is our top pick. The beautiful homemade crust envelopes layers and layers of thinly sliced apples, mixed with spices and a subtle hint of Southern Comfort whiskey. The pie is so dense, you’ll swear an entire orchard is packed into each pie tin! Top it off with a scoop of homemade bourbon vanilla ice cream. Incredible. thepiechestcville.com
APPLE CREATION: LATTICE APPLE PIE
BAKER: Flying Pi Kitchen
LOCATION: Wilmington, North Carolina
A pie this gorgeous only exists in your dreams…and the Flying Pi Kitchen! The locally-owned and operated bakery focuses on small-batch cooking. Utilizing seasonal, fresh, and local ingredients, the menu at this downtown eatery changes daily. As delicious as it is stunning, the classic apple pie starts with a perfectly flakey and buttery crust, packed with four large Granny Smith apples, then elegantly draped with lattice. flyingpikitchen.com
APPLE CREATION: APPLE TURNOVER
BAKER: Our Daily Bread
LOCATION: New River Valley, Virginia
There’s nothing better than the smell of warm apples and cinnamon roasting. Head to Our Daily Bread, a bakery and bistro in Blacksburg, Virginia, to enjoy the smell of warm goodies, fresh out of the oven. Choose from cookies, croissants, French macarons, pastries, pies, cakes, and more. Try the apple turnover, made with croissant pastry crust. Light and tender outside, filled with apples, spices, and raisins. Yum. odbb.com
APPLE CREATION: APPLE COBBLER
BAKER: Sammy T’s
LOCATION: Fredericksburg, Virginia
The apple cobbler at Sammy T’s is so popular that most people order it before their meal. Crumbles of butter, sugar, and cinnamon are generously layered with slices of crisp, green apples, then baked to perfection. The warm bowl of goodness is served piping hot, topped with a heaping scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Yes, please. sammyts.com
Ready for more Winter Wonderland suggestions? Check back next week when we round up our top home decor boutiques.