Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Freeman.
Hi Amy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Amazin’ Glazin’ Fried Pies started in our family kitchen with recipes that have been passed down through generations. What began as making scratch-made fried pies for family, friends, and community events quickly turned into something much bigger when people kept asking “where they could buy more.” We realized these pies weren’t just desserts, they brought back childhood, comfort, memories of grandparents, Sunday dinners, and simpler times.
As a women-owned, family-run business in Middle Tennessee, every pie we make still carries that same heritage homemade feel and attention to detail. We make the dough, fill them, fry, glaze, package, and deliver the pies ourselves, and our family is involved in every step of the process. Growth has never changed our mission: serve people well, create quality products, and make customers feel like family.
Today, Amazin’ Glazin’ Fried Pies continues to grow, from a small hometown operation into what many proudly call “Tennessee’s Fried Pie.” Just like Nashville is known for its hot chicken, we hope Middle Tennessee becomes known for our handcrafted fried pies made with heart. Seeing our pies in stores, local markets, coffee shops, events, and even iconic Tennessee destinations has been incredibly humbling, and we’re thankful every day for an ever-expanding community that continues to support our dream.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not always been a smooth road, but every season has helped shape who we are today. We started small in our home kitchen doing everything the old fashioned way. We mixed dough by hand, rolled it out with a rolling pin, cut every pie with a large cookie cutter, and crimped each one by hand with a small crimper. As demand grew, we slowly expanded into using a dough mixer, dough sheeter, and larger equipment to help us keep up while still maintaining that homemade quality people love.
Like any small business, we have experienced growing pains along the way, but we try not to look at them as struggles. We see them as opportunities for growth, learning, and perseverance. Some of the hardest moments have been deeply personal, including the loss of our matriarch, Grandma Smithee, whose recipes and spirit helped inspire this business, and the loss of our sweet husband and father, Terry. Those losses changed our family forever, but they also strengthened our commitment to continuing the legacy and love that Amazin’ Glazin’ Fried Pies was built on.
At the end of the day, we are still a family business built on faith, hard work, and tradition, and every challenge has made us appreciate this journey even more.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At Amazin’ Glazin’ Fried Pies, we make homemade fried pies completely from scratch, and what we specialize in most is creating something that feels nostalgic and familiar. So many people tell us our pies remind them of walking into their grandma’s kitchen and smelling fried pies being made fresh. That connection and emotion behind our product is really what makes what we do so special.
One thing we are known for is our dough. Everything is handmade from scratch, and people constantly talk about the consistency, texture, and our signature glaze. We take a lot of pride in making sure every pie tastes just as good as the last one.
Right now, we are focused on continuing to grow through retail and wholesale partnerships so more people can experience our pies across Tennessee and beyond. One of our proudest milestones has been having our pies carried inside the Grand Ole Opry, which was a surreal moment for our family.
What sets us apart most is that we are 100% family owned and operated. Every pie is made with care by our family, and we truly love getting to know the people who support us. At our core, we care deeply about people and their stories. We never want customers to feel like just another transaction. We want them to feel welcomed, remembered, and connected when they interact with our brand.
We have built this business side by side as a family, and that connection is at the heart of everything we create.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Over the next 5 to 10 years, we believe people will continue searching for foods that feel authentic, comforting, and connected to real family traditions. Customers want more than convenience now. They want experiences, stories, and products that remind them of home. We believe Southern foods and nostalgic homemade desserts will continue growing in popularity, especially when they are tied to strong community roots and quality ingredients.
For Amazin’ Glazin’ Fried Pies, growth is already happening quickly. In just one short year after opening our “Pie Cottage” production space, we have already outgrown it. Our focus moving forward is increasing production capacity, maintaining quality control, and continuing to grow our retail partnerships so more people across Tennessee can experience our fried pies.
We are also dreaming beyond production. One day, we would love to open our own brick-and-mortar location where stepping through the doors feels like walking into Grandma’s kitchen. We want people to experience the warmth, hospitality, smells, and memories that inspired this business from the very beginning. At the same time, no matter how much we grow, maintaining that family-owned, small business feel will always remain at the heart of who we are.
Pricing:
- $6.00 per pie
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amazinglazinfriedpies.com
- Instagram: @amazinglazinfriedpies
- Facebook: @amazinglazinfriedpies
