While turkey is the star of the show on Thanksgiving, no celebratory feast is finished without pie for dessert. According to YouGov statistics, 35% of Americans who plan to celebrate Thanksgiving this year say their favorite pie to consume on the holiday is pumpkin pie. Pecan pie takes second place, with 16% saying it is their preferred Thanksgiving pie. Apple pie comes in third place with 11%, while 10%  like sweet potato pie. More than a third of those planning to enjoy ‘Turkey Day’ (37%) said the pies during their celebration are usually homemade. One-third (32%) said they normally make their pies from scratch, but they do take some store-bought shortcuts. Another 26% choose convenience by using store-bought pies.

I think it’s time to give credit where credit is due. Pie deserves the win when it comes to dessert even when not being eaten for a celebration like Thanksgiving. Fruit pie is an excellent way to persuade oneself that dessert can be “completely healthy.” And they’re delicious! Peach, blueberry, cherry, apple, and key lime are all delicious. Furthermore, pie is one of the only methods to consume rhubarb or boysenberries.

To be fair to cookies, transforming them into different shapes does not constitute innovation. Pie is about a higher level of skill and layers of flavor, thinking about what’s in season, combining unusual ingredients, and balancing sweetness, salty, and acidity. Consider the following: fruit, flour, salt, sugar, and butter. How is this not exactly what you want to eat first thing in the morning? Even if you substitute fruit for chocolate cream or honey and nuts, pie is clearly superior to pancakes.