The top-ranked pie in North Carolina doesn’t look like pie at all. Why fans love it
A North Carolina shop serves the best pies in the state — but their appearance might surprise you.
That’s because the top-ranking treats are oatmeal creme pies, which look more similar to sandwich cookies than pastry-topped desserts.
The restaurant review website Yelp said the winning pies are served at The Batchmaker in Charlotte, and customers can’t get enough. Online, fans raved about crave-worthy cream they said was stuffed between two flavorful cookies, helping the shop earn five out of five stars.
“The oatmeal cream pie was unlike any I’ve had before. I don’t know what Cristina (Rojas) does to make the cream rich and moist but I hope other bakers figure it out because it is life changing,” one Yelp user wrote, referencing the business’ owner.
For its part, The Batchmaker website classifies the menu item as a cookie with a “fluff filling.” It calls the pie its own variation on a cafeteria staple.
“Little Debbie would be so proud,” the bakery wrote.
The Batchmaker’s creation earned statewide recognition after Yelp said it studied pie-related businesses. It then “ranked those spots using a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews mentioning ‘pie’” over time, according to results published March 1.
“The featured flavors that are listed for each business are the most unique flavors found on each menu,” Yelp told McClatchy News in an email.
Though the oatmeal creme pies rank No. 1 in the state, The Batchmaker sells more traditional flavors, too. Those include apple crumble, key lime and chocolate bourbon pecan, according to its website.
For those who want a nod to the sandwich cookie, some of the shop’s pies have an oatmeal creme crumble topping, The Batchmaker, which runs The Batch House at 901 Berryhill Road, told McClatchy News in an email.
The rankings come after Charlotte spots missed out on other recent dessert lists. In 2022, Raleigh shops ranked as the state’s best places for chocolates and pastries, McClatchy News reported.
This story was originally published March 3, 2023 at 7:38 AM with the headline "The top-ranked pie in North Carolina doesn’t look like pie at all. Why fans love it."
