Welcome back to Lilly’s Hot Takes! If you haven’t been here before, my name is Lilly, and I love sharing my controversial opinions. Let’s jump in.

The hot take of the week? I hate pumpkin pie. 

Pumpkin pie has somehow found itself to be a staple at the Thanksgiving table, but it shouldn’t be. 

First of all, the texture. It’s so dense and heavy-feeling, why would you want to eat a dessert so heavy after a big Thanksgiving meal? It’s like eating cheesecake except it lacks sugar, flavor or any of the (very few) qualities that makes cheesecake edible. Don’t even get me started on cheesecake, carrot cake’s only rival for worst dessert…we’ll have to save that for another week, though. 

Secondly, the taste. You are quite literally eating mushed up pumpkin with some sugar. Why? Why would you do that to yourself? I just don’t get it. It would honestly be cheaper to go get those baby food pumpkin puree cups, it’s the exact same thing. 

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love dessert. It’s not that I’m trying to sit here and preach about eating healthy instead. It’s also not a pie thing. I love pie, arguably more than cake and ice cream. It’s the perfect balance of sweetness, lightness and flavor. Except for pumpkin pie, of course. 

But, if you’d rather go spend your money buying a big pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, sure, I’ll embrace it. While you’re at the store you might as well get the sweet potato puree, squash and those tiny little green beans. And with that logic, why not just switch to a baby food mushy diet all together?  They have banana, apricot and even avocado for a bit more energy. 

In all seriousness, what is the best Thanksgiving alternative? Apple pie, for sure. Between the flakey, savory crust and the warm apple cinnamon flavor, it wholly embodies the feeling of fall. The feeling of the slight chill in the air, fall leaves and Gilmore Girls playing in the background, it’s simply unmatched especially for a fall holiday. 

So, next Thanksgiving, please just spare yourself the stomach ache and dissatisfaction of pumpkin pie, and go get an apple pie. I pinky promise you won’t regret it. 

If you agree or are at least somewhat entertained, you can find a new hot take from me right here, every other Sunday at 10 a.m.