Can You Ship Pies Through the Mail? Everything You Need to Know About Ordering a Sweet Pea's Pie

Whether you're craving a taste of the Midwest or want to send someone a gift that truly says "I thought of you," shipping a pie straight to the door is easier than you might think. Here's everything you need to know before you order.

Can You Ship Pies Through the Mail?

Quite often people ask me, "Can you ship pies through the mail?" The short answer is YES! The long answer is that shipping pies commercially is tricky — and food safety is the biggest reason why.

When shipping pies that contain ingredients that could make people sick if they get too warm (eggs, milk, cream, or meat), it's critical to package the product correctly so it arrives at a maximum temperature of 40°F. That's why shipping bakery products usually costs more than you'd expect.

At Sweet Pea's, we've taken a safety-first approach to delivering our slice of Midwest nostalgia across the US. We only ship our BAKED fruit pies and we require two-day shipping. While we can't guarantee exact transit times, shipping within these parameters gives us confidence that every pie arrives safely — and that you can enjoy it with peace of mind.

How Do You Keep Pies Fresh When Shipping?

That's a little tricky, and it took some trial and error to get it right. Honestly, even with all the care we take, we still have one or two pies each year that arrive looking a little messier than we hoped. But we've built a process — and selected packaging materials — that keep every pie as cool as possible on its journey.

Although our fruit pies don't require refrigeration, we do everything we can to ensure they have a cool ride straight from our Wisconsin oven to your door:

• We make it, bake it, cool it, and wrap it fresh
• It goes into our -10°F freezer overnight
• Then we pack it with an ice pack and a thermal insulated box liner
• We prefer UPS delivery, but no matter which carrier you choose, getting it to you within two days is our priority

When your pie arrives, get it inside, unboxed, and into the refrigerator as soon as possible. We'll include all the instructions you need right inside the box — and you can also find them on our website anytime.

What's the Best Pie to Send as a Gift?

Looking for a gift that's as memorable as it is delicious? Handcrafted, scratch-made fruit pies are one of the best gifts you can give — they create moments, not clutter. No shelf space required, no dusting next month, just pure joy delivered straight to the door.

Our top pie for shipping? Anything RHUBARB. It's a Midwestern favorite, and we have a whole collection to choose from.

Some of our most popular gifting pies are also our vegan, Splenda sweetened, and gluten-free friendly options — because those are genuinely hard to find elsewhere, and they show the recipient you really paid attention.

We originally started our bakery journey in Minnesota back in 2009, and we still proudly serve our retail partners across the state today! In 2020, we moved our main baking facility to beautifully renovate a historic building right here in Mayville, Wisconsin. Because of our deep roots in both states, we get calls all the time from people wanting to order a small-batch taste of the heartland as a special treat for friends and family across the country.

The best pie to send as a gift is one that shows the recipient you know what they like and care about them enough to spend a few minutes placing an order just for them. Pie is one of the very best food gifts — especially when it's shipped fresh from the heart of the Midwest.

When Should I Order a Pie for Thanksgiving or the Holidays?

As we head into the fall months, people start thinking about pie for Thanksgiving tables, holiday dessert gifts, and that great seasonal orchard flavor — especially American Apple Pie. Here's our advice: order a week or two before the big day.

Shipping channels get notoriously backlogged around the holidays, packages get delayed, and your precious cargo needs time to arrive safely. Because we have no control over the shipping process once it leaves our hands, if your pie does get lost you'll need to contact the carrier directly — and it's much better to plan ahead and skip that hassle altogether. See our shipping policy and refund policy for more details.

Our pro tip: order early and freeze it when it arrives. We've packaged every pie to stay fresh for up to a year in a properly operating freezer. When you're ready to serve it, just:

• Put it in the fridge the night before
• Set it on the counter in the morning, or
• Pop it in the oven for 20 minutes

Your pie will taste as fresh as the day it came out of our ovens. We've tested and tasted it — and it's true!

Frequently Asked Questions About Shipping Pies

Q: Do you ship pies to all 50 states?
A: We ship to the contiguous 48 United States. We're not able to ship to Alaska or Hawaii at this time.

Q: How much does it cost to ship a pie?
A: Shipping costs vary based on your location and the delivery speed selected. We require two-day shipping to ensure your pie arrives safely and fresh.

Q: What happens if my pie arrives damaged?
A: We take every precaution to pack your pie safely, but if something goes wrong in transit, please contact the carrier directly and review our refund policy for more details.

Q: Can I freeze my pie when it arrives?
A: Absolutely! Our pies stay fresh for up to a year in a properly operating freezer. Just thaw in the fridge overnight or warm in the oven for 20 minutes before serving.

Q: What's your most popular shipped pie?
A: Rhubarb, hands down — it's a Midwestern classic that's hard to find anywhere else. Our gluten-free, vegan, and sugar-free pies are also top gifting picks! If rhubarb isn't your thing and you don't need dietary accommodations, the caramel apple crumble pie is our most-loved pie overall — a delicious mashup of Grandma Ardath's traditional apple pie and Grandma Betty's apple crisp topping, finished with the thick buttery caramel sauce we're known for at our retail ice cream shop. Don't hold back, just go for it!

Q: Do you ship internationally?
A: We're a small-batch, Midwest bakery and we currently ship within the contiguous 48 United States only. We're not able to ship to international destinations at this time — but if you're stateside, we'd love to get a pie to your door!

Ready to Ship a Little Joy?

What do you think — do you or someone you know deserve a porch delivery of smiles, love, and community that says, "you deserve a treat today"?