The strangest thing here is not the pie flavor. It is the hour.
This Alabama bakery has enough homemade pies to keep a person busy all afternoon, but the real surprise is a refrigerator outside that lets customers buy pie at midnight. Midnight.
For a bakery. That alone would be memorable.
Then you learn there are around 25 varieties waiting to choose from, including pecan and the wonderfully unpredictable Miami Vice. The crust has developed its own reputation, with people traveling serious distances just to settle the question for themselves.
At that point, a roadside stop stops being about fuel. It becomes a dessert appointment.
A Pecan Pie With a Big Reputation
Ask around Chilton County about the best pecan pie in the state, and one name keeps popping up. Pies By Mike sells more pecan pie than any other flavor on its menu.
That says a lot, since the menu is crowded with tempting choices.
The filling is rich and sticky without turning heavy. Pecans crowd the top in a toasty, crunchy layer that gives way to a smooth, buttery center underneath.
The crust holds everything together with a golden, flaky edge that crumbles just right.
Fans of the classic recipe have options, too. A Naked Pecan skips some of the usual extras for a simpler take, while the Chocolate Pecan adds a deep cocoa twist for anyone who likes a little more drama on the plate.
Each version keeps the nutty heart of the original but shows off a different personality.
Holidays are a busy time for pecan pie in the South, so planning ahead makes sense.
For a first visit, a slice of pecan is a fine place to start. It sets the bar high.
After that, the rest of the menu becomes a fun challenge to work through, one fork at a time.
The Toll House Pie That Started It All
Picture a warm chocolate chip cookie that decided to grow up and become a pie. That is the Toll House pie, and it happens to be the very reason this bakery exists.
Owner Mike Graham has described it as a chocolate chip cookie in pie form, but on steroids.
Each bite is soft in the middle with pockets of melted chocolate. The edges get a little chewy, almost like the corner piece of a pan of cookie bars.
Kids love it. Adults tend to love it even more.
The shop did not stop at one version, either. A whole family of Toll House pies now fills the case, including Triple Chocolate Toll House, Butterscotch Toll House, and a Reese’s Toll House packed with peanut butter flavor.
Trying them side by side turns into a tasty little experiment.
Fun fact for history buffs: Graham’s pie journey took off after Alabama passed its Cottage Food Law in June 2014. That law let home bakers sell certain treats made in their own kitchens.
Those early home-baked pies eventually grew into a full shop that opened in March 2020.
A slice served slightly warm brings out the gooey chocolate best. Pair it with a glass of cold milk or a hot coffee for a perfect afternoon pick-me-up.
Bring napkins, just in case.
Midnight Cravings Meet the 24 Hour Pie Room
Closed signs usually mean bad news for a sweet tooth. Not here.
Outside the bakery sits the Pie Room, a high-tech smart fridge that sells sweet and savory pies around the clock, every single day.
The idea is simple and kind of brilliant. Shoppers open the fridge, choose a slice or a whole pie, and pay right there, much like a fancy vending machine stocked with fresh baked goods.
No waiting in line, no rushing to beat closing time.
This matters because the main shop keeps short hours. It opens Tuesday from 1 to 4:30 PM and Wednesday through Friday from 7 AM to 1 PM, with Saturday through Monday usually closed.
Occasional Saturday openings get announced on the Pies By Mike Facebook page, so checking there before a weekend trip is helpful.
Travelers passing through on a Saturday or late at night can still leave happy. Many choose to enjoy their slice right outside the front door, perched near the parking lot with a plastic fork.
It is casual and cheerful, and surprisingly fun.
Selections in the coolers shift depending on what was baked that day. Key lime, fudge, and pecan often make appearances, along with quilted pigs and other savory snacks.
A good tip is to arrive with a backup flavor in mind. Popular choices can disappear fast.
Pie for Breakfast, and Nobody Judges
Morning in Clanton gets a lot more interesting once the breakfast menu comes into play. The star is the southern breakfast pie, a three-cheese egg pie that tastes a bit like a hearty quiche.
Guests can choose bacon, ham, or sausage to round it out.
Cheese melts into the fluffy eggs, while the crust adds a buttery crunch. It is filling enough to power a long drive down I-65.
Kind of a perfect road trip fuel, honestly.
Then there are the quilted pigs, a simplified spin on pigs in a blanket. They are small, warm, and easy to eat on the go.
Conecuh bites take things up a notch with Conecuh sausage, a smoky Alabama favorite that locals know well.
Breakfast items come out hot and fresh during weekday morning hours, starting at 7 AM Wednesday through Friday. Families with picky eaters often find these savory bites are an easy win.
Some of the Pie Room coolers also carry savory options for later in the day.
A smart plan is to grab something savory first and then finish with a sweet slice. Nobody needs to feel guilty about pie at 8 AM.
In a place this devoted to crust, it simply counts as tradition, and the staff will happily help pick the right combination.
Coffee Worth Slowing Down For
Good pie deserves a good cup of coffee beside it. Pies By Mike serves Messenger Coffee Co. from Kansas City, known for its smooth Signature Blend.
The pairing feels natural, almost like the two were made for each other.
Inside, the shop carries a cozy coffee house vibe with a seating area for lingering. Soft background music plays while the scent of fresh baking floats through the room.
It is clean, calm, and easy to settle into for a while.
Different coffee selections rotate through, so there is usually something to match any mood. A bold cup cuts nicely through the sweetness of a fudge pie.
Lighter roasts go well with fruity choices like key lime or strawberry cream.
Remote workers and road trippers will appreciate the slower pace. Taking a break here offers a chance to stretch, sip, and recharge before getting back on the highway.
The shop sits at 1015 Lay Dam Road, Clanton, AL 35045, just a few minutes from Exit 212, making it an easy detour.
Morning visits tend to feel extra peaceful. Grab a seat near the window and enjoy the quiet bustle as regulars stop in for their usual orders.
Coffee refills and a second slice are tempting, and nobody has to resist too hard.
Miami Vice, Scotcheroo, and Other Flavor Surprises
Some pie menus play it safe. This one throws a party.
With roughly 25 flavors, the lineup ranges from old-fashioned favorites to names that sound more like movie titles than desserts.
Miami Vice is a fun one to try, bright and fruity with a tropical spirit. Scotcheroo brings back memories of those chewy peanut butter and chocolate bars from school bake sales.
Pineapple Cream and Strawberry Cream add light, fresh sweetness that feels perfect on a warm Alabama afternoon.
Classic Southern choices hold their ground too. Buttermilk, sweet potato, coconut, and pumpkin pies carry that familiar, comforting taste many people grew up with.
Key lime is a crowd favorite with a tangy zip that wakes up the taste buds.
Owner Mike Graham’s personal pick is the Praline Mousse, which says a lot coming from someone who bakes all of them. Lemon Mousse and peanut butter pie also get plenty of love from regular customers.
The fudge pie is rich enough to make chocolate lovers pause mid-bite.
Gluten-free options and choices for people with diabetes are available, which makes group visits easier. Asking about samples or recommendations is welcome.
Staff members know the menu inside and out and can point anyone toward a flavor that fits their mood perfectly.
Where Strangers Leave Feeling Like Regulars
Friendly faces might be the secret ingredient nobody can bake. Mike Graham and his wife Crystal run the shop as a true family business, and that personal touch shows up in every visit.
Staff members often remember what customers ordered last time.
Visitors frequently mention being greeted warmly and offered tastes to help them decide. That kind of care turns a quick stop into a real connection.
It is small-town hospitality at its sweetest.
A map inside tracks where customers come from, and it keeps filling up. People have traveled from as far as Washington State to grab a slice.
Spotting a home state on that map can spark a fun conversation with whoever is behind the counter.
Locals stop in weekly, while travelers plan trips around it. Many now refuse to drive past Exit 212 at 1015 Lay Dam Rd, Clanton, AL 35045, United States without pulling off.
The shop has also earned local Best of the Best honors, a nice nod from the community it serves.
On select Tuesdays, the bakery features a special deal on one pie flavor, available for slices enjoyed inside. It is a great chance to test something new.
Saying hello, asking questions, and adding a pin to the map are all part of the experience here, and leaving with an extra pie box is pretty much expected.
