Seasoned with pumpkin spice or drizzled in cinnamon icing, Thanksgiving desserts are undoubtedly a staple of the fall season and the holidays to come. The treats that follow a full feast vary greatly, with many different kinds of pastries and sweets that people may choose to make to share with their loved ones. As someone who enjoys both making and eating desserts of all kinds, I’ve decided to make a ranked list of five of the best based on my experiences with both baking and tasting them throughout the years!
5.) Pumpkin Pie
When you think of Thanksgiving and fall, one of the first desserts people think of is pumpkin pie. However, this does not make it the best– far from it. Pumpkin pie is fairly simple, featuring a very standard crust, pumpkin filling, and (sometimes) a dollop of whipped cream in the middle. While I find this specific pie to be very plain, I do think it’s important to acknowledge its history and the reason behind its popularity. The first pumpkin pies were made in around the 1650’s with the first recipe being published in 1653 by Francois Pierre la Varenne. From there, the pie grew in popularity and eventually made its way onto hundreds of thousands of tables across the country. So, while pumpkin pie is hardly my number one pick as far as Thanksgiving desserts go, many people would consider their holiday dinner incomplete without it.
4.) Apple pie
A step up from pumpkin pie, I believe apple pie to be the next best Thanksgiving dessert. Is it insane, even blasphemous, to rank a year-round pie above a seasonal one? Probably, but there is a reason. Apple pie has many different variations and I believe it to be far more interesting in taste and appearance when compared to pumpkin. From a crumbly and cinnamon-spiced pie to a lattice to an old-fashioned, this dessert can be made in a number of different ways and, for me, it could never get old. Furthermore, apple pie is far older than pumpkin pie (as early as the late 14th century!) which I would argue makes it much more of a classic than the latter. When comparing a pie that originated in France less than 400 years ago to a pie that is older than the Pilgrims, I say that the second has a much richer and longer history that has earned its place on every Thanksgiving table.
3.) Apple Pie a la Mode
Combining my 4th place choice of apple pie with a popular cold treat like vanilla ice cream, apple pie a la mode is easily in my top three for Thanksgiving desserts. This dessert combines the soft, gooey goodness of apple pie with the cold, creamy, sweetness of ice cream. Traditionally, this dessert is one slice of pie with a scoop of ice cream on top, but there are also many other ways that people eat it! I have had friends say that they put the two components in a bowl and mix them and I have also known of people who choose to use different kinds of ice cream on top of the pie! The versatility and combination of different textures and flavors in this dessert make it highly worthy of its 3rd place spot on this list.
2.) Cherry Pie
While I already think that cherry pie is the best pie of all time, I believe it’s especially good for Thanksgiving. Cherries are a rich and flavorful fruit, not to mention their iconic appearance. The consistency of a good cherry pie filling is almost syrupy and infused with deliciousness, making for a nice contrast against the dessert’s crust! Additionally; cherry pie, like many of the other desserts on this list, also has an interesting history behind it as the first recorded one was made for Queen Elizabeth I in 16th century England! A pie fit for a queen is certainly a title for a desert which is why I’ve chosen to rank this magnificent dessert as number 2 for Thanksgiving.
1.) Cinnamon rolls
Last, but certainly not least in the slightest, I have ranked cinnamon rolls as my top dessert choice for Thanksgiving. It’s not a typical first pick for this holiday, I know. Think, though, about the combination of the cinnamon and sugar in a soft pastry bun and drizzled with warm, sticky cinnamon icing as well. I have never not felt immediately warmed and pleased when I bite into a cinnamon roll and I think that everyone deserves to feel that way during such a unifying and happy holiday with loved ones. Furthermore, the history of the cinnamon roll may be the richest on the list with the earliest versions of this sweet having thought to originate in ancient Greece, making it the oldest desert on the list.
