Gigi’s Cupcakes rolls out 3-inch mini and standard 9-inch pies for the holidays. For Thanksgiving, order by Tuesday at noon.
The fluted pumpkin pie at Gigi’s, garnished with maple-leaf cutouts and a floret of butter cream frosting, seems a little overshadowed by her gregarious cupcake sisters. But don’t be deceived. This reinvented Thanksgiving classic is scrumptious, combining a creamy, ginger-infused filling with a ginger snap crust. (Yes, we are talking ginger snap cookies!)
“We warmed up the spices for a nice smooth blend,” said Marilyn Weber, who owns four Gigi’s locations in Midtown, Germantown, Cordova, and East Memphis. “We wanted a pie that is completely different with more ginger than you might expect.”
Careful tweaking also turned the pecan pie at Gigi’s Cupcakes into a locally inspired treasure made with Southern Comfort and a thick topping of Georgia pecans. Although the popular
liqueur is now manufactured in St. Louis, bartender Martin Wilkes patented and produced Southern Comfort in Memphis during the late 1800s after moving to the Bluff City from New Orleans.
Fortunately, Gigi’s pies are baked fresh every day at the Germantown store and delivered to other locations to fill special orders. Stores also stock some pies for walk-in purchases, but Weber encourages customers to pre-order for Thanksgiving.
“We can take orders for Thanksgiving through Tuesday at noon,” she said. “Customers can pick up pies at our stores on Wednesday from 10 to 3.”
After Thanksgiving, locally sourced fruit pies will replace pumpkin for the year-end holidays, part of an ongoing strategy to diversify Gigi’s baked goods beyond the stores’ signature cupcakes.
Pies at Gigi’s Cupcakes (901-888-2253): 9-inch pies, $18; 3-inch mini pies, $2.49 each.
Locations:
East Memphis (4709 Poplar, next to Dixie Café)
Germantown (9077 Poplar, west of Forest Hill Irene)
Midtown (1680 Union, at Belvedere)
Cordova (2200 N. Germantown Parkway, next to Newk’s)
