A sweet potato pie that only shows up in November and December? That short window alone makes me want to mark a calendar.
The bakery behind it has been rolling crust since 1986. It started by supplying local restaurants and vending companies before customers ever walked through its current door.
The seasonal pie gets the spotlight, but the everyday lineup runs deep. Key lime, banana cream, two-crust raisin, caramel pecan rolls, and turnovers baked daily all share the shelves.
This Iowa shop also bakes cakes, cheesecakes, cookies, and cupcakes for nearly any occasion.
Holiday orders need several days of notice, which tells you how busy late fall gets.
The Sweet Potato Pie Only Shows Up When The Leaves Fall
November brings plenty of things, but one arrival matters most here. Kathy’s Pies & Bakery brings back its sweet potato pie for a limited run.
The pie is available from November through December. Then it disappears again until the next holiday season rolls around.
That timing is smart. A pie you can buy any Tuesday is nice, but a pie with an expiration date feels like an occasion.
Sweet potato pie also has a special place on holiday tables. It sits right beside pumpkin as a classic fall dessert, and plenty of families consider it a must.
The short window means planning ahead pays off. Holiday orders during November and December need at least five days of notice.
So if Thanksgiving dinner is on your shoulders, put this on the to-do list early. Waiting until the night before is a gamble nobody should take with dessert.
Keep in mind that the bakery closes on Sundays. Weekday hours run from morning into the afternoon, with shorter hours on Saturday.
A little calendar math now saves a lot of disappointment later. The best part of a seasonal favorite is actually getting a slice before the season ends.
Call it holiday insurance with a flaky crust attached.
Four Decades Of Crust Have Led To This Moment
Back in 1986, a business called Kathy’s Homemaid Pies, Inc. got its start. Neil Weyland founded it, and the early focus was not a cozy storefront.
Instead, the bakery supplied local restaurants and vending companies. Those pies were reaching people long before many knew where they came from.
Growth came steadily over the years. In 2000, the business moved to a larger downtown spot in Cedar Rapids, giving it room to expand.
Ownership has changed hands along the way. The bakery was sold in February 2019, and Amy and Ron Joseph said in a 2024 interview that they had owned the business since that year.
That kind of continuity matters in a bakery. Recipes and routines built over decades are hard to fake and easy to lose.
The wholesale roots are still part of the story today. The bakery’s website describes dozens of wholesale accounts, with products supplied to other businesses around Iowa.
So when you grab a slice, you are tasting a long chain of early mornings. That is a lot of rolling pins and oven timers.
Fun fact for your next trivia night: the original name spelled homemade as Homemaid. Somebody clearly had a sense of humor.
You Will Want A Second Pie For The Rest Of The Week
Apple, banana cream, key lime. Those three alone could keep a dessert table happy for days.
The pie menu at Kathy’s Pies & Bakery goes well beyond the seasonal star. Classic fruit and cream pies anchor the lineup all year long.
Fans of old-fashioned flavors get a treat too. The 2 Crust Raisin pie is the kind of recipe that sends people straight back to grandma’s kitchen.
Apple lovers have a bonus choice. The bakery offers apple pies with sugar added and with no sugar added.
That no-sugar-added option is handy for family gatherings. Not everyone at the table eats the same way, and nobody should miss out on pie.
Here is a sneaky strategy for the holidays. Order the sweet potato pie for the big dinner, then add a second pie for leftovers week.
Banana cream works great as a contrast to spiced fall flavors. Key lime brings a bright, tangy finish after a heavy meal.
Cream pies here are made fresh daily, according to the bakery. That is good news for anyone picky about filling.
Just try leaving with only one box. Self-control is lovely in theory.
Cheesecake Fans Get Their Own Corner Of Happiness
Some people walk past every pie and head straight for the cheesecake. Honestly, that is a respectable plan.
The cheesecake list here is surprisingly long. Plain cheesecake leads the way for purists who like things simple.
Then the flavors get adventurous. White Chocolate Raspberry, Caramel Pecan, Lemon, Amaretto, and Turtle Pecan all make appearances.
Pumpkin cheesecake deserves a special mention this time of year. It pairs nicely with a sweet potato pie on a fall dessert spread.
Both whole cheesecakes and individual slices are available. That flexibility is great for different situations.
A slice covers a solo lunch break craving. A whole cheesecake handles an office party or a family birthday without breaking a sweat.
If you cannot pick one flavor, grab a few slices and share. Turning a bakery stop into a mini tasting is a fine way to spend an afternoon.
It also helps you scout favorites for future holidays. Next year, you will know exactly which cheesecake earns a spot beside the pie.
Consider it research. Delicious, creamy research that nobody will complain about.
Mornings Start Better With A Caramel Pecan Roll
Doors open at 7 a.m. on weekdays. That early start makes this bakery a natural breakfast stop.
The morning lineup includes caramel pecan rolls, classic caramel rolls, and cream cheese rolls. Each one makes a coffee break feel a little more festive.
Turnovers get baked daily too. Apple, cherry, and blueberry fillings come tucked inside a handheld pastry.
Think of a turnover as pie that fits in your hand. It is the ideal choice when you need dessert energy on the go.
These are also a smart way to sample the bakery before a big order. A quick turnover tells you plenty about the crust.
Bringing a box to work is another classic move. Nothing earns office goodwill faster than showing up with pastries.
Saturday hours start at 8 a.m. and wrap up at 1 p.m. Weekend pastry seekers should arrive earlier rather than later.
One more tip for holiday mornings. A few caramel rolls make an easy breakfast while the turkey takes over the oven.
Your future self, juggling side dishes, will appreciate that bit of planning.
Birthday Plans Get Easier With These Cake Options
Pies may headline the name, but cakes carry a big share of the workload. Kathy’s Pies & Bakery offers cakes in sizes for nearly any crowd.
Options include 6-inch, 9-inch round, quarter sheet, and half sheet cakes. That range covers a small dinner or a much bigger gathering.
Flavors include white, chocolate, and marble. Those three basics please picky kids and grown-ups alike.
German Chocolate cake also shows up on the menu. Coconut and pecan fans, this one is for you.
Holiday season is busy for celebrations beyond Thanksgiving. Birthdays, office parties, and family get-togethers all pile onto the calendar.
Online ordering is available, though some items need 48 hours of advance notice. During November and December, holiday orders need at least five days.
So build a little cushion into your plans. Last-minute cake panic is a stress nobody needs in December.
A quarter sheet works well for a classroom or office crowd. A 6-inch cake fits a cozy family celebration.
Pair a cake with a sweet potato pie and suddenly you are the dessert hero. Capes are optional.
Small Treats Make A Big Case For Stopping By
Cookie jars across Cedar Rapids could use a refill. Lucky for them, the cookie list here runs long.
Choices include chocolate chip, monster, frosted sugar, peanut butter, and toffee chocolate chip cookies. That covers classic, colorful, and crunchy cravings in one stop.
Cupcakes bring their own crowd. Triple Chocolate, Red Velvet, Carrot Cake, and German Chocolate are among the options.
Small treats like these fill an important role. Not every day calls for a whole pie, but most days could use a cookie.
Frosted sugar cookies are a natural fit for holiday parties. Kids love them, and they travel easily to school events.
Cupcakes are handy for groups too. No knife, no plates, and no arguments over who gets the bigger slice.
Mixing a dozen cookies with a holiday pie also makes a balanced dessert table. Some guests want a forkful, while others prefer a quick grab.
A bakery box of assorted treats makes a thoughtful hostess gift as well. It beats showing up empty-handed by a mile.
Your only challenge is deciding how many to keep for the car ride home.
Finding The Bakery Is Easier Than Choosing A Pie
Downtown Cedar Rapids is home base for this bakery. You’ll find Kathy’s Pies & Bakery at 616 5th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401.
That downtown spot has been the bakery’s home since 2000. Being central makes it a convenient stop for workers on lunch breaks and weekend errand runners.
Hours run Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Sundays are closed.
Those Saturday hours are short, so plan accordingly. A late sleep-in could cost you a pastry.
Delivery is available within the metro Cedar Rapids area for a fee. That is a lifesaver when your holiday schedule leaves no time for driving.
Online ordering helps too. Placing an order ahead means a quick pickup instead of a long browse.
Of course, browsing has its own charms. The display cases are where impulse purchases are born.
For travelers passing through eastern Iowa, the bakery is an easy detour. A pie for the road makes any trip better.
Just buckle that box in carefully. Sharp turns and cream pies are not friends.
Your Holiday Game Plan Should Include This Stop
Holiday hosting comes with a long checklist. Dessert should be the easiest box to tick.
Kathy’s Pies & Bakery makes that possible with a menu that covers nearly every craving. The sweet potato pie leads the season, with plenty of backup on the shelves.
Start by locking in your order early. Holiday orders during November and December need at least five days of notice.
Next, think about your guest list. A whole pie, a cheesecake, and a box of cookies can handle a surprisingly wide crowd.
Remember the no-sugar-added apple pie for guests watching sugar. It is a kind gesture that keeps everyone included.
Out-of-town relatives might love a dessert to take home. The bakery offers some whole cheesecakes frozen in limited quantities.
That option is handy for holiday road trips across Iowa. Call ahead to confirm availability, and plan to keep refrigerated desserts properly chilled during the drive.
Finally, treat yourself a little. Grab a turnover or caramel roll for the stressful prep morning.
A bakery with roots going back to 1986 knows holiday rushes well. Let it handle dessert while you handle the gravy.