Chicago Bakers Process 5,000 Pies and 3,500 Pounds of Apples for Thanksgiving

Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits in Logan Square expects to sell more than 5,000 pies during the Thanksgiving holiday. To fulfill those orders, the bakery will process approximately 3,500 pounds of apples.

The shop is one of several Chicago businesses scaling back their regular operations to focus entirely on holiday production. At Hoosier Mama Pie Company in West Town, owner Paula Haney estimates the shop will sell between 1,500 and 1,700 pies. Pre-orders for that location are already sold out.

Haney stated that the shop warns new hires about the intensity of this period. She described Thanksgiving as the event the business plans for throughout the year. Starting the Monday before Thanksgiving, the kitchen at 1618 W. Chicago Ave. will operate 24 hours a day. Staff members will chop, prep, bake, and box orders around the clock.

Other local bakers report similar surges in demand. Maya-Camille Broussard, owner of Justice of the Pies in Chatham, noted that November accounts for 34 percent of the bakery’s total annual sales. Broussard said the bakery uses 700 pounds of sweet potatoes each Thanksgiving season. Her team finalizes the holiday menu in September, adding new items to the classic fall and winter offerings.

Suppliers are also preparing for the increased volume. Hoosier Mama sources its pumpkins from Seneca Foods, a company based in Princeville, Illinois. Haney signs a contract with the supplier in May to reserve the yearly supply. The bakery uses 45 cases of canned pumpkin per season, split between its West Town and Evanston locations.

Customers across the city are placing orders online to secure pickup slots for the week of Nov. 23. Many shops set strict deadlines for these reservations. For example, Brown Sugar Bakery in Greater Grand Crossing requires orders by Nov. 15 for pickup between Nov. 22 and 25. Defloured in Andersonville and Edgewater requires orders by Nov. 19, with pickups scheduled for Tuesday through Thursday of Thanksgiving week.

Some establishments offer unique holiday items beyond standard pies. Andros Taverna in Logan Square is selling chocolate halva pie and pumpkin phyllo pie for $45. The Chopping Block in Lincoln Square offers a cast-iron apple pie for $85, which includes the skillet. Fat Peach in Bridgeport and Hyde Park is selling a 12-piece pastry box for $96, featuring items like pumpkin cheesecake and apple cider doughnut cake.

Pickup logistics vary by location. Hoosier Mama accepts walk-up requests, though Haney notes the line often stretches down the block. She distributes coffee and scone samples to waiting customers. At Justice of the Pies, the shop is closed on Nov. 23 but open for pickups from Nov. 20 through 27. Au Levain Bakery in North Center will donate 20 percent of its Thanksgiving sales to Waters Elementary School in Ravenswood.