LINCOLN SQUARE — Thanksgiving might be nicknamed Turkey Day but for plenty of folks the bird is simply the means to an end, and that end is dessert. And that dessert is almost always pie.
Pumpkin is the holiday's undisputed champ, but challengers abound, from apple caramel to chocolate pecan.
In anticipation of a rush of business, bakeries across the city are rolling out dough, prepping fillings and firing up their ovens to meet demand.
Here's a look at some shops that are taking pre-orders, where to find vegan or gluten-free options, and best bets for procrastinators.
► Baker Miller, 4610 N. Western Ave. and Hot Bar, 4642 N. Francisco Ave.
[Facebook/Baker Miller]
Collaborations are the name of the game at Baker Miller: the caramel apple pie is made with Virtue Cider, the booze in the bourbon pecan pie is from Koval Distillery and Deborah Maris Lader of Chicago Printmakers Collaborative designed the bakery's Thanksgiving pie boxes.
Customers can opt for a vegan or gluten-free version of several of Baker Miller's holiday pies.
The most unusual offering for 2016 is easily the purple sweet potato pie, which is exactly what it sounds like.
Online ordering: Yes (click here).
Cost: $23-$26 for pies.
Cut-off date: When the bakery receives a critical mass of orders. Best not to wait, as those who got shut out in 2015 can attest.
Beyond pie: Customers can also order take-and-bake cinnamon rolls, biscuits and cookies, as well as grits, oatmeal, various breads and even flower arrangements.
► Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits, 2501 N. California Ave and 4947 N. Damen Ave.
Key lime doesn't exactly spring to mind for Thanksgiving, but it's Bang Bang's top-selling flavor for a reason, which is why it earned a place on the shop's holiday menu. If you're headed to a non-traditional gathering, this will fit right in.
Online ordering: Yes (click here).
Cost: $26-$30 for pies.
Cut-off date: Nov. 18.
Beyond pie: Biscuits are a Bang Bang specialty too (see: shop's name). Get a half-dozen for $17 or a dozen for $30.
► Brown Sugar Bakery, 328 E. 75th St.
Stephanie Hart's caramel cake is the stuff of legends. For the holidays, she's teaming the cake with sweet potato pie for a combo offer priced at $35.
Online ordering: No. Stop by in person, call 773-224-6262 or try Uber Eats.
Cut-off date: No.
Beyond pie: Cobblers, bread pudding and so many cakes.
► Delightful Pastries, 5927 W. Lawrence Ave. and Chicago French Market, 131 N. Clinton St.
The apple pie is piled high with two pounds of apples, the pecan pie features a half pound of nuts, and the cranberry pie is wisely drowning in fudge.
Delightful's gluten-free coconut chocolate pie might even win converts among the gluten-tolerant: its coconut shell is filled with creamy chocolate ganache.
Online ordering: No. Fax available, 773-427-8837 (click here for form).
Cost: Most pies are in the $20 range, but some, like the coconut chocolate pie, cost upward of $40.
Cut-off date: Nov. 20.
Beyond pie: Delightful has a number of holiday breads (some gluten-free) on its menu as well as savory items including spinach lamb pie, veggie quiche and ham quiche.
► Fabiana's Bakery, 5655 S. University Ave.
[Fabiana's Bakery]
Fabiana's caramel nut tart is like the variety pack version of the pecan pie — plus caramel — and the bakery's mixed berry pie is almost too pretty to slice. Almost.
But for those who really want to take advantage of Thanksgiving as a "cheat" day, Fabiana's amaretto pie is the clear choice: chocolate crust, chocolate amaretto ganache filling, cream cheese frosting, whipped cream and candied almonds on top.
Online ordering: Yes (click here).
Cost: $35-$37
Cut-off date: TBD
Beyond pie: Cakes are Fabiana's specialty and there happens to be a spiced pumpkin option.
► First Slice Pie Cafe: 4401 N. Ravenswood Ave., 4664 N. Manor Ave., 5357 N. Ashland Ave.
[Facebook/First Slice Pie Cafe]
For a lot of folks, pumpkin is an acquired taste they've yet to acquire. First Slice's pumpkin cheesecake with a chocolate gingersnap crust could do the trick. There are also three versions of apple to choose from: traditional, streusel top and vegan. The cafe's polka dot pie is gluten-free.
Online ordering: Not yet.
Cost: $15-$18 for small pies (serves three to five); $22-$28 for large pies (feeds 10-12).
Cut-off date: Nov. 18. Order by Nov. 15 and get a free sample size glögg cake.
Beyond pie: First Slice has all the fixings for your Thanksgiving meal, from a vegan and gluten-free butternut squash chowder to a turkey pot pie.
► Floriole, 1220 W. Webster Ave.
Sandra Holl's Thanksgiving sweets are traditional with a twist: pecan pie cake, pumpkin pie with brown sugar meringue, honey pie, gingerbread pumpkin tart and an apple almond crumble pie.
Online ordering: Yes (click here).
Cost: $30 for pies.
Cut-off date: Nov. 18.
Beyond pie: Loaves of bread, dinner rolls and "stuffin' muffins" (stuffing in muffin form).
[Floriole]
► Gingersnap Sweets & Such, 1416 W. Irving Park Road;
Gingersnap's pies include an apple cranberry tart and a linzer torte, a classic Austrian pastry that will dress up any holiday table.
Not that she's looking to put herself out of business, but owner Jen Templeton is hosting workshops to teach people how to make stellar pies at home. During the three-hour class, attendees will bake two pies — one to take home and one to donate to a local food pantry. Cost is $40; click here to reserve a spot.
Online ordering: Yes (click here).
Cost: $24-$28.
Cut-off date: Nov. 18.
Beyond pie: Brioche rolls for $8 per dozen.
► Hoosier Mama Pie Company, 1618 1/2 W. Chicago Ave.
[Facebook/Hoosier Mama Pie Company]
Hoosier Mama has already stopped taking pre-orders at its Chicago location; the Evanston store still has some availability for customers who don't mind schlepping to the suburbs to pick up their pie.
Another option to get your hands on the signature Hoosier sugar cream pie or decadent chocolate chess pie: Take your chances with whatever the shop has in stock Thanksgiving week, when pies will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Cost: $21-$27 for dessert pies.
Beyond pie: Quiche, appetizer-sized hand pies and a pork-apple-sage supper pie.
► Justice of the Pies: Pick-up locations at Sir & Madame Boutique, 5225 S. Harper Court; South Loop Loft, 308 N. Leavitt St.
[Justice of the Pies]
Owner Maya-Camille Broussard has the perfect antidote for holiday stress: margarita pie. Yep, tequila is one of the ingredients.
That's just one of Broussard's unique creations, which also include a chocolate bacon bourbon pecan pie, bleu cheese praline pear pie and sweet basil key lime.
Online ordering: Yes (click here).
Cut-off date: Nov. 11. Don't fret — Whole Foods carries Broussard's pies at its new Englewood store.
Cost: $25-$30 for dessert pies.
Beyond pie: Mouth-watering quiches, yummy tarts, and a lentil and kale savory pie that totally neutralizes bacon bourbon.
► Dinkel's Bakery, 3329 N. Lincoln Ave., and Roeser's Bakery, 3216 W. North Ave.
[Facebook/Dinkel's Bakery]
Dinkel's and Roeser's have nearly 200 years of combined experience, so yeah, they've got this Thanksgiving thing down to a "T."
Both will accept pre-orders through Nov. 22 but truly no advance planning is required to nab something sweet for the holiday at either bakery.
"We don't close early, we always have the store stocked, we're not running out," John Roeser vowed.
Luke Karl, Dinkel's general manager, echoed Roeser's sentiments: "I try to make sure there's plenty. I always try to overbake to make sure we're stocked."
Dinkel's will be open until 7 p.m. Thanksgiving Eve, Roeser's until 8 p.m. Both are closed Thanksgiving Day.
Cut-off date: Nov. 22.
Cost: $11-$20 for pies at Dinkel's; $8.25-$14.95 for pies at Roeser's.
Beyond pie: Cookies (individual or by the pound), cakes and, what the heck, throw the pie tradition to the wind and pick up some of Dinkel's in-demand pumpkin and apple cider doughnuts instead.
► Scooters Frozen Custard, 1658 W. Belmont Ave.
If you're not traveling far for the holiday, here's one final offbeat suggestion.
Scooter's always stocks pies in its freezer case and welcomes orders. The cost is $19.99, a small price to pay for being a hero this Thanksgiving.
OK, who's hungry now?
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