Fall Face-off: Pumpkin vs. Apple

Ahh! The leaves are crunchy, the house is decorated with turkeys, and I, for one, am very grateful for all the cozy, warm fall foods. But as the season goes on, I continue to come across the same old question: pumpkin or apple? Don’t ask your friends if you don’t want an all-out debate on your hands. I won’t try to convince you one is better than the other… but I will point out the benefits of both and suggest how you can incorporate both into your seasonal snacking (and adventuring) this autumn. 

The Pumpkin Taste & Tradition

Few foods have deeper “American roots” than pumpkins, which were one of the earliest foods settlers found and brought back to Europe from the New World. Whether you eat it or not, pumpkin pie is considered a pretty iconic staple of the Thanksgiving meal—and it has been since the OG pilgrims. In fact, in her poem “First Thanksgiving Day,” published in 1622, Margaret Junkin Preston writes, “[S]ee, in our open clearings, how golden the melons lie; Enrich them with sweets and spices, and give us the pumpkin-pie!” 

Preston wasn’t alone in her pumpkin-pie obsession. In 1705, an entire town in Connecticut postponed Thanksgiving for a week because of a molasses shortage that prevented them from baking pumpkin pies, according to History.com. Talk about dedication! Especially since before 1929, you had to strain your own pumpkin—there was no pumpkin puree out of the can!

Fun fact: The first pumpkin pies didn’t have crusts. Sometimes, the English would even stuff a pumpkin with sliced apples and sweetened milk and roast it over a fire. What a pumpkin-apple collab! 

You might be surprised to discover that pumpkin pie was actually quite political. In the mid-19th century, pumpkin pie was mentioned frequently in anti-slavery novels, poems, and more—a byproduct of many New Englander abolitionists. All this to say, don’t knock the orange-golden crusted pie until you’ve tried it. There’s a reason pumpkin-flavored foods are so popular.

Origins of the Apple

While apples weren’t present at the first Thanksgiving, they definitely have some patriotic ties. Apples were brought over by the colonists and were first used to create cider. (Think back to your childhood—Johnny Appleseed, anyone?!)  By the mid-1700s, the average American was downing around 35 gallons of hard cider each year. Many people, from children to President John Adams, would even drink hard cider for breakfast! 

Apples have historically been associated with the fall harvest, since that’s when they’re picked. So it makes sense that apples, a symbol of prosperity and abundance, became associated with the Thanksgiving meal that celebrates these core values; hence, why apple pie typically sits next to the pumpkin pie at the dessert table. Moreover, The phrase “as American as apple pie” was introduced in the 1920s, highlighting apples’ value to the people and their “American-ness” (Is that a word?). Like its pumpkin counterpart, apple pie was very popular during the Civil War, but it was a hit on both sides because it was so affordable and easy to make. It may have been a hit back in the 1800s, but associating apples with autumn has clearly been carried into the present day. You can’t tell me getting a whiff of cinnamon-apple anything doesn’t make you think of fall. (I have a “Honeycrisp Apple” candle burning right now… veryyy fall vibes.)

Seasonal Snacks:

Whether you’re a traditionalist or wanting to try something new, you can never go wrong with either of these classic fall flavors in foods or drinks.

Apple:

  • Apple butter
  • Apple cider (hot, cold, or sparkling)
  • Apple/cider donuts
  • Apple crisp
  • Apple fritters
  • Apple pie
  • Apple slices with peanut butter (not very “fall,” but a healthy, yummy snack!)
  • Apple turnovers
  • Apple walnut coffee cake
  • Caramel apples
  • Sauteed cinnamon apples

Pumpkin:

  • Pumpkin bread
  • Pumpkin cheesecake
  • Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins
  • Pumpkin hot chocolate
  • Pumpkin ice cream
  • Pumpkin pancakes or waffles
  • Pumpkin ravioli
  • Pumpkin roll (with cream cheese filling)
  • Pumpkin soup
  • Pumpkin spice latte (PSL)
  • Pumpkin whoopie pies
  • Roasted pumpkin seeds

Family Activities

Get into the festive fall spirit by visiting a local pumpkin patch or an apple orchard as a family. Picking apples or selecting the “perfect” pumpkin can be a fun way to allow your kids to contribute to decorating or a snack/meal while enjoying the great outdoors. Plus, apples are fiber-rich and heart-healthy! Note: Apple picking might be more enjoyable for older kids. There are all kinds of things you can do with your pumpkins: paint them, carve them up, or stage them (like stacking) on the front porch, to name a few. While people typically eat the apples they pick, you can also use them for unique DIY projects like creating apple garlands. 

Whether you’re “Team Apple,” “Team Pumpkin,” or prefer neither, there’s no questioning the impact they have made on our country—and the seasonal menus at the restaurants and coffee shops around town. I say, Why not make it a “both and” instead of an “either or”?! Worse comes to worse, I guess you can always try the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving diet this year: buttered toast, popcorn, pretzels, and jelly beans… Happy pumpkin and apple season, folks! Enjoy them while they last!

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