Too Many Cooks: Thanksgiving Desserts, Sans Pumpkin

You'll be hearing from the staff at FOOD52 every week in Too Many Cooks, our group column in which we pool our answers to questions about food, cooking, life, and more.

There's no getting around it -- everyone's mind is on Thanksgiving. As the big day grows nearer, our plans fall into place: we decide which sides should grace the table, which way is best to cook the bird, what to serve before the meal. And then there's always the pumpkin pie. 

But what if this year, there wasn't? This week we're getting creative with our Turkey Day desserts, and answering the question: 

Something terrible has happened, and there are no pumpkin pie custard provisions left on earth. None. Now that the traditional pie is off the table, what do you serve guests for Thanksgiving? 

Read on to find out how, in a crisis, the meal can go on -- pumpkin or no pumpkin. 

Jennifer: I started the tradition last year and I plan to keep it going -- Salted Pumpkin Caramels.

Amanda Li: If someone smashed all the pumpkins in the world, my go-to crowd-pleaser dessert is "Death by Chocolate Kahlua Brownies." Layers of Kahlua-soaked brownies, whipped cream, crushed Heath bits, and chocolate mousse. No reason to skimp on the Holidays.

Peter: Eight words: brown butter ice cream with Maldon sea salt.

Marian: I would delegate my mom to make apple crisp with hefty amounts of cinnamon. I'd pile mine high with good vanilla ice cream for that perfect cold ice cream/melted ice cream/hot apple balance.

Kristy: If I can't have pie, I want rice pudding. 

Kenzi: Puddings, unite! I think I'm going to put in an official vote for bread pudding. 

Molly: I second the bread pudding vote! I like mine plenty bready, eggy, and sliceable.

Maddy: I'll jump on the pudding train. My vote: banana pudding.

Christina: And I'm jumping on the banana train -- Bananas Foster is my favorite. Pretty sure the pilgrims loved them too.