Thanksgiving is a beloved American holiday centered around food, family, and gratitude. One of the highlights of any Thanksgiving dinner is dessert! But with so many delicious options to choose from like pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie, and more, what dessert reigns supreme on Thanksgiving tables across America?
What are the most popular Thanksgiving desserts?
While there are many delicious desserts enjoyed on Thanksgiving, the most popular and traditional options include:
- Pumpkin pie – A Thanksgiving staple made with pumpkin puree, eggs, cream, and warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Pumpkin pie is synonymous with Thanksgiving.
- Pecan pie – A sweet and sticky pie with a rich filling made of eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, and pecans. It’s a classic Southern dessert.
- Apple pie – The all-American pie. Thanksgiving just doesn’t feel complete without a slice of classic apple pie.
- Sweet potato pie – A creamy, cinnamon-spiced pie made with mashed sweet potatoes. It’s a popular alternative to pumpkin pie.
- Cheesecake – From pumpkin cheesecake to pecan pie cheesecake, cheesecake makes for a rich and decadent Thanksgiving dessert.
- Cobbler – Fruity cobblers made with fall flavors like apple or pecan are warm and comforting options.
- Ice cream – Vanilla, pumpkin, pecan – you really can’t go wrong topping your Thanksgiving pie with a scoop of ice cream.
- Cookies – Holiday cookies like pumpkin whoopie pies, maple leaf cookies or sugar cookies are fun desserts for Thanksgiving.
- Brownies and bars – Easy make-ahead options like brownies, blondies, and fruit bars round out the dessert table.
- Trifle – Layers of cake, pudding, whipped cream, fruit, nuts – trifles make for stunning Thanksgiving dessert presentations.
Pumpkin Pie is the Thanksgiving Favorite
While the dessert options for Thanksgiving are diverse, surveys and polls over the years have consistently shown pumpkin pie to be the hands-down most popular dessert for Thanksgiving dinner. In fact, an estimated 50 million pumpkin pies are eaten on Thanksgiving in the U.S. alone, according to some sources. So while apple pie may claim to be “as American as…” it’s pumpkin pie that truly deserves this honor when Thanksgiving comes around.
History and Origins
Pumpkin pie has been around for centuries and is believed to have originated in the 1600s as British colonists in New England learned to bake pumpkin into a dessert pie with milk, honey and spices. They likely adapted their traditional meat and fruit filled pies to include pumpkin once discovering the plentifulness of pumpkins in America. Over time, pumpkin pie recipes evolved to use eggs, cream and sugar instead.
Pumpkin pies quickly became a staple at fall harvest celebrations. By the 1800s, pumpkin pies were firmly cemented as a favorite Thanksgiving dessert. Fannie Farmer’s 1896 cookbook featured a pumpkin pie recipe and cooking schools taught women how to make the iconic pie. As the tradition of Thanksgiving spread across America, so did the tradition of pumpkin pie.
Popularity Over the Years
Throughout the 20th century, pumpkin pie has consistently claimed its place as the most popular pie served on Thanksgiving:
- A 1924 advisory about Thanksgiving Day menus stated that “no Thanksgiving dinner is complete without a pumpkin pie.”
- In 1936, the first national Thanksgiving survey by the Butterick Publishing Company declared pumpkin pie the near unanimous choice for Thanksgiving dinner.
- A 1948 Nestlé survey found pumpkin pie to be the clear favorite dessert for Thanksgiving, with 90% of homemakers choosing it.
- In 1951, Spiced Pumpkin Pie was chosen as Jell-O’s dessert of the year to serve for Thanksgiving.
- In 1969, Libby’s pumpkin company – the major producer of canned pumpkin – estimated that of the 2.5 billion pounds of pumpkins produced annually, 40% are used for pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.
- In 1984, a Gallup poll revealed that pumpkin pie is preferred by Americans over apple and pecan pie by a margin of 52% to 24% and 13% respectively.
- In 2020, a YouGov survey found that 67% of Americans will eat pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. Of pie eaters, 72% said pumpkin is their favorite.
Clearly, pumpkin pie has dominated Thanksgiving dessert for generations of Americans. The reasons for its enduring popularity will be explored next.
Why Pumpkin Pie Continues to Reign
So why has humble pumpkin pie remained so popular on Thanksgiving through the ages? There are several factors that contribute to pumpkin pie’s enduring status as a quintessential Thanksgiving treat:
It’s a Thanksgiving Tradition
Traditions become ingrained for a reason and pumpkin pie is deeply interwoven into the fabric of Thanksgiving. For many families, pumpkin pie recipes have been passed down for generations. Serving it simply feels customary, nostalgic and right for the occasion. If Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t end with a slice of pumpkin pie, is it really Thanksgiving dinner at all?
Pumpkins are a Symbol of Fall and the Harvest
Pumpkins scream autumn and fall harvest. As Thanksgiving is intrinsically tied to the fall harvest celebration, pumpkin pie’s starring ingredient connects it to the historic roots of the holiday.
The Taste is Universally Appealing
Pumpkin pie has a universally likable flavor. Pumpkin puree mixed with cream or milk creates a smooth, velvety custard filling. The blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and other baking spices gives pumpkin pie a warm and soothing taste. It’s sweet but not overly so. The basic flavors and spices appeal to almost everyone’s palate.
It’s Simple and Familiar
Basic pumpkin pie recipes contain simple, familiar ingredients like pie crust, pumpkin, eggs, cream, sugar and spices. There’s comfort in this familiarity. Recipes don’t veer too far into exotic ingredients or complex techniques. Bakers stick with the simple tried and true basics.
It’s Versatile and Customizable
While traditional pumpkin pie recipes remain popular, over time pumpkin pie has proven itself to be extremely versatile and customizable. Creative bakers can riff on pumpkin pie in endless ways by adding chocolate, nuts, bourbon, new spices, cinnamon swirls and more. This allows bakers to innovate while still staying rooted in the classic pumpkin pie format.
It’s Seasonal and Only Available in Fall
Pumpkin pie is a treat that can only be enjoyed during the autumn months when fresh pumpkins are harvested. As pumpkin pie season coincides with Thanksgiving, enjoying it on the holiday makes sense as a special seasonal delight.
Libby’s Dominance and Mass Availability
The widespread mass production of canned pumpkin puree by Libby’s – which controls 80-85% of the market – has cemented the constant availability and affordability of pumpkin pie filling. Libby’s cans the flesh of over 500 million pumpkins grown in Illinois annually. This mass supply makes whipping up pumpkin desserts like pie easy for bakers stocking up for Thanksgiving.
It’s Relatively Simple to Make
While techniques for perfect pie crust can require some skill, pumpkin pie filling itself is generally simple to make. With widely available prepared pie crust, pumpkin pie is an approachable baking project for cooks of all skill levels. Even novice bakers can whip one up.
Other Popular Thanksgiving Desserts
While pumpkin pie dominates Thanksgiving dessert, a wide variety of other sweets are also enjoyed. Here are some runners up in popularity:
Pecan Pie
Pecan pie trails closely behind pumpkin as a favorite Thanksgiving dessert. The sweet sticky filling loaded with pecans, corn syrup, sugar, eggs and butter is simply irresistible to many people. It also uses a fall favorite ingredient – pecans. About one in five Americans will choose pecan over pumpkin pie.
Apple Pie
Apple pie is considered one of the most classically American desserts. It makes frequent appearances at Thanksgiving alongside pumpkins and pecans. Tart, juicy apples enveloped in flaky pie crust with cinnamon and sugar is a delicious way to end the Thanksgiving meal.
Cheesecake
Creamy, smooth cheesecake is a popular choice for many Thanksgiving dessert spreads. It can shine in creative seasonal flavors like pumpkin, pecan, maple, salted caramel apple, and more. Mini cheesecakes also make great individual dessert options.
Sweet Potato Pie
For those who want to move beyond pumpkin, sweet potato pie makes a delicious alternative. Sweet potatoes give it similar spice flavors as pumpkin, but also impart a rich, molasses-like sweetness. Topped with toasted marshmallows, this pie screams autumn indulgence.
Frozen Desserts
It’s hard to resist adding a little frozen fun to the Thanksgiving dessert spread. Many households also serve festive ice cream flavors like pumpkin, maple walnut, and pecan, either alongside pie or as pie toppings. Frozen whipped cream or even pumpkin pie ice cream take it up an extra notch.
| Dessert | Thanksgiving Popularity |
|---|---|
| Pumpkin pie | 67% |
| Pecan pie | 21% |
| Apple pie | 13% |
| Cheesecake | 12% |
| Sweet potato pie | 7% |
| Frozen desserts | 6% |
This table summarizes the popularity percentages of the top Thanksgiving desserts.
Regional Differences
While pumpkin pie is the overall national favorite, dessert preferences can vary by region:
- In the South, sweet potato pie, pecan pie and coconut cream pie are popular alternatives to classic pumpkin.
- In parts of New England, apple pie claims a special seasonal significance for Thanksgiving.
- In Hawaii, haupia – a coconut milk custard – is a unique regional dessert often served at Thanksgiving.
- In New Orleans, mud pie and bread pudding with whiskey sauce are local favorites.
So while pumpkin pie may dominate nationwide, locality and family backgrounds can influence Thanksgiving dessert traditions in delicious ways from region to region.
Trends and New Twists
While time-honored classics remain go-to Thanksgiving desserts perennially, foodies and home cooks are also creatively riffing on desserts and trying out new trends. Some modern Thanksgiving dessert fads include:
- New pie fillings – Creative fillings like chocolate bourbon pecan pie or brown butter pumpkin pie spice up the classics.
- Molten cakes – Individual molten pumpkin cakes with an oozing pumpkin center are decadent.
- Cheesecake flagpoles – Pumpkin cheesecake dipped in chocolate sits atop a cookie or brownie base in this modern dessert.
- Seasonal macarons – Macarons with autumn maple, pumpkin pie or cranberry flavors add a French twist.
- Salted caramel – Salted caramel flavors both traditional pies and entirely new desserts like panna cottas and profiteroles.
- Hybrids – Cronuts, piecaken and turducken-style desserts mash up multiple sweets into one creation.
New trends put a fresh spin on familiar Thanksgiving desserts while still evoking seasonal nostalgia. Creative new options join the classics in offering an array of delicious Thanksgiving finales.
Conclusion
The tradition of pumpkin pie as the quintessential Thanksgiving dessert endures year after year for good reason. Its familiar flavors, seasonal associations, mass availability and status as a comforting tradition help it maintain dominance on Thanksgiving tables. Yet classic alternatives like pecan and apple pie remain mainstays as well. Plus regional traditions and modern twists expand the possibilities for exciting Thanksgiving dessert spreads. While pumpkin pie retains its rightful place atop the choices, the dessert course offers something for every taste to make the holiday meal complete.