With the holiday entertaining season here, if you’re just not up to making your own crust, finding just the right pie for your gathering can be a challenge. The following is a list of area businesses that specialize in baking fresh holiday pies. Many of the businesses require reservations for pies for the major holidays, but will also have a limited supply on-hand.

1. Salamander’s Café

This gem in Greenport does all baking on premises. Owner Claudia Helinski and her staff work around the clock near the holidays to help prepare some of the North Fork’s best pies. Call Salamander’s at 477-3711 to reserve your pie today.

 2. Wickham’s Fruit Farm

When this bicentennial orchard's fruit is picked, this Cutchogue farm remains open to sell its homemade pies, which are made fresh daily and are available at the Main Road Cutchogue location. In November, Wickham’s is open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. December hours switch to Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The last day of the season is Dec. 24. Visit http://www.wickhamsfruitfarm.com/index.htm for additional information about Wickham’s.

3. Blue Duck Bakery

Blue Duck Bakery in Southold may be better known for artisan breads, but this business is a full-service bakery.  Pies are available at both Blue Duck’s Southold and Southampton locations. To place an order, call 629-4123 or visit the website at http://blueduckbakerycafe.com/about.html.

 4. Briermere Farms

Aquebogue is the gateway to the North Fork and at the crossroads of Sound Avenue and Route 105 is the famed Briermere Farms. With 18 fruit pies to choose from, Briermere’s operations are large. During the fall, it is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. On Nov. 21, 22, and 23, Briermere’s is open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. On Thanksgiving Day, you can pick up a pie from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. If you have not placed your Thanksgiving order, call 722-3931 for availability.

 5. King Kullen

Another spot to try a homemade pie is at the bakery at King Kullen’s in Cutchogue, which offers a variety of cream and fruit pies that are made daily in the store. Call the bakery to reserve a pie at 734-5737.