Pumpkin vs. Apple: The Great Thanksgiving Debate

Now that the election over, it's time to get back to arguing about truly important things in life, like pie. Specifically, what kind of pie is the best for your Thanksgiving feast. This debate likely began shortly after the first servings of pie and after-dinner coffee were rolled out at the imaginary dinner the Pilgrims had with the Native population in 1621.

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I don't know how you do it at your house when it comes to Thanksgiving pie, but we usually have at least one pumpkin and one apple pie at our dinner, in an effort to please everyone. My father-in-law threatens guests to not to take all the apple pie (his favorite), my wife goes for the pumpkin first, and the kids seem to be split down the middle. By the time Sunday rolls around, the last pieces of both pies will be long gone. Let's review these classic desserts with pros and cons.

PUMPKIN PIE. History.com says pumpkin pies have been a Thanksgiving tradition since at least the late 1600s, and really grew in popularity during the 1800s, adding,

It wasn’t until the mid-19th century, though, that pumpkin pie rose to political significance in the United States as it was injected into the country’s tumultuous debate over slavery.

Making pumpkin pie at home became much easier when the Libby canning company in Chicago invented the first commercially canned pumpkin pie filling in 1929.

Pumpkin Pie Pros:

• It's doesn't get any more traditional
• Cool Whip is awesome
• It's good warm or cold
• It's really easy to make

Pumpkin Pie Cons:

• It can be kind of slimy
• It's made from a squash. Gross.
• It's fairly seasonal. Sure, you could make a pumpkin pie in June, but why?

APPLE PIE. Cultertrip.com wrote a nice piece about the history of apple pie in the United States, noting that neither apples nor pie is native to North America. So much for "as American as apple pie." 🙄 Regardless of its origins, apple pie is a classic dessert seen at many Thanksgiving tables.

Apple Pie Pros:

• Twice the crust of a pumpkin pie
• Great with ice cream or Cool Whip
• Reheats well
• More diverse flavors and texture than pumpkin pie
• You can have it year around

Apple Pie Cons:

• Baking a perfect crust at home can be a challenge and time-consuming.
• Sometime the apples aren't cooked properly and are too crunchy.
• Hot apple pie is famous for scalding your mouth.

I like both apple pie and pumpkin pies, but if I was forced at gunpoint to pick just ONE, I would have to choose apple by a slight margin. We asked you on our social media channels about your preference and the results appear mixed.

Our highly flawed polling methods show it's about 50/50, with a percentage of rebels choosing "both" instead of making a choice.