Sister Pie

Sister Pie is a paragon of progress in a city working hard to reinvent itself. You walk into the bright, welcoming bakery to see a full display case and a cadre of smiling bakers. The owners make an effort to hire from the community and to foster a sense of pride around Detroit ingenuity and Michigan produce.

The first thing you notice when looking at a slice of pie are its big chunks of fresh, toothsome seasonal fruit rather than stewed, syrupy fillings. Crusts are dark, sturdy, and wholesome — somewhat mired by sogginess in the top crust. But that’s OK; when mixed into the fruit filling, it all comes together beautifully.

Founded through community funding in 2015, the bakery succeeds in its mission of celebrating the seasons and the diversity of Michigan produce. A Roasted Pear and Walnut Pie tasted like the specific moment that we were in the bakery, as summer started to mellow into cool, just a few weeks before fall. Because of the year’s late summer, pie season also extended to offer peach-blackberry filling. The filling tasted of perfectly ripe fruit.    

Sister Pie bakes beyond pie, including an eye-catching Paprika Peanut-Butter Cookie. A balance of sweet and savory in which the clever flavor combination of peanut and chili makes for a memorable bite. For a small taste of the bakery, pie cookies are a two-bite delight: flaky sandwiches with lemon curd filling. The bakery also serves a mean cup of joe that is custom roasted locally.