Tucked along the Great River Road (WI-35) on the western edge of Wisconsin is the small village of Stockholm. It’s the kind of place that takes a whoppin’ 30 seconds to drive through, and if you blink? Well, you might’ve missed half of it.
A handful of quaint little buildings sit on the 2-lane road. Many of which are small mom-and-pop shops with a facade made up of rustic decorations that scream Midwest charm. It’s the kind of town that makes you feel as if you stepped back in time, where you still ask your neighbors to borrow a cup of sugar for the pie you’re baking.
Actually, the 78 citizens of Stockholm probably don’t bake many of their own pies. Not when they live down the street from a nationally recognized, award-winning pie shop.
Stockholm Pies sits in a 100+ year old building on the main drag, and like the name implies, they specialize in delectable pies. From sour cream raisin (don’t knock it ‘til you try it) and lingonberry lemon to classics like strawberry rhubarb and apple, they’ve been hand-making sweet and fruity pies since 2008.
So, what makes the pies from this cafe – in the middle of nowhere, we might add – so special? Probably the fact that everything is done by hand. The apples in an apple pie, for example? Hand peeled and cored. The famous secret-recipe double crust? Hand mixed and rolled.
Most people would agree that the crust is a necessary evil – it’s often dry, over-baked, or just lacks flavor. After trying a Stockholm Pie ourselves, we now know that the crust is a consequential piece of the pie. It can elevate the flavor and eating experience, and we feel bad for ever doubting its role in the first place. The crust on the Stockholm hand pie we tried was flaky, buttery, and delicious, and complemented the tart blackberry filling on the inside perfectly.
It’s likely a big part of why Stockholm Pie has received national acclaim. For the last two years, they’ve been recognized as the #1 Pie Shop in America by USA Today, and they’re in the running for the title again this year, too. They’ve been featured in publications like Tasting Table, Forbes, Gourmet Magazine, and Food & Wine, and have placed in many local competitions.
Stockholm Pies proves that two things can be true at once: that you can be nationally known and still be a hidden gem.
So, find some friends to make the drive with and go try a legendary Stockholm pie! Might be a little bit of a trip to get there, but that’s the best part. Your slice might be gone in a few bites, but the memories of roadtripping 3.5 hours just for pie will last forever, and we think that’s a pretty sweet keepsake.
Or, if you’re really not up for the drive, you can get them shipped to you!