There's an Actual Reason McDonald's Apple Pie Tastes So Good (2024)

There's just something about McDonald's food. Whether it's the refreshing taste of a McDonald's co*ke, the shoestring French fries, or the heavenly apple pie, customers have been loving Mickey D's for over 65 years.

We've all experienced the moment under the Golden Arches when you bite into your meal or sip your drink and think what makes McDonald's food taste so good? And, believe it or not, most of the time there's actually a real answer.

You probably already know that McDonald's co*ke is better than other fast-food restaurants. But what about the apple pie?

Why McDonald's Apple Pies Taste So Good

The mystery behind what makes the warm, gooey, and flaky baked apple pie so great has been revealed.

The famous apple pie joined the McDonald's menu in 1968 (the same year as the Big Mac) as the chain's first dessert. It has since skyrocketed into a staple menu item with a cult-like following. It has such a strong fanbase, that when McDonald's changed the pies from fried to baked in 1992, there was a national uproar.

The pies we know and love today are packed with apple flavor, baked, and topped with a lattice crust. And the reason customers can't get enough of the apple pie is based on two factors: the apples and the thickener used in the filling.

A-Plus Apples

Unlike the apple pie that you make at home, McDonald's doesn't just use one or two types of apples. So you can put away your Granny Smiths and Red Delicious if you think you can just whip up McDonald's signature dessert at home.

Instead, Mickey D's makes their pies with six different types of apples — Jonagold, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Gala, Rome, and Ida Red, all of which are homegrown in the U.S.

And the apples are sliced instead of diced, so you'll notice big chunks of apple in every bite.

Phenomenal Filling

So yes, McDonald's fills their pies with a lot of apples, but it's not just those six varieties that give the pie an apple-y taste. McDonald's uses a special thickening agent that adds an additional apple flavor to the filling.

Many pie fillings are made with a processed thickening agent that keeps the filling jelly-like and in place. But McDonald's uses a dehydrated apple powder. The powder not only thickens the filling, but it also adds that extra apple taste that you love.

McDonald's has rolled out many different varieties of pies over the years — including cherry pie, strawberry and crème, and holiday pies — but none have ever been as popular as the traditional apple pie. What can we say, if it ain't broke, right?

Another McDonald's mystery solved. Now that your mouth is watering (and so is ours), we'll see you at the Mickey D's drive-thru.

There's an Actual Reason McDonald's Apple Pie Tastes So Good (2024)

FAQs

There's an Actual Reason McDonald's Apple Pie Tastes So Good? ›

Many pie fillings are made with a processed thickening agent that keeps the filling jelly-like and in place. But McDonald's uses a dehydrated apple powder. The powder not only thickens the filling, but it also adds that extra apple taste that you love.

Are McDonald's apple pies made with real apples? ›

Absolutely—McDonald's apple pie has real diced apples.

What happened to McDonald's original apple pie? ›

And then there's the long forgotten fried apple pie at McDonald's, which made the switch to baked in 1992 due to health reasons and has tasted inferior ever since.

Is it okay to eat McDonald's apple pie? ›

The pies are considered fine to eat if they are cooled to a safe temperature, specifically in a refrigerator, after the time on their stickers. The pies must also be thoroughly reheated. You can reheat one of McDonald's famous pies in an air fryer or an oven without much trouble.

Why doesn't McDonald's fry their pies? ›

One major change to the apple pie is that, unlike when it first came out, it's no longer fried. In 1992, McDonald's switched from frying its apple pies to baking them to quell health concerns. Today, nearly every McDonald's in America serves baked apple pies that are somewhat "healthier" than the beloved fried version.

Why does McDonald's apple pie taste so good? ›

One of the changes that McDonald's made for its latest version of the apple pie put more of an emphasis on spices instead of using sugar to tempt your tastebuds. Sugar is still a huge part of the pie, but McDonald's has added cinnamon to give the pie more flavor rather than relying on adding even more sugar.

Does McDonald's bake or fry their Apple Pies? ›

McDonald's Baked Apple Pie recipe features 100% American-grown apples, and a lattice crust baked to perfection and topped with sprinkled sugar. There are 230 calories in McDonald's apple pie.

Who supplies McDonald's apple pie? ›

Bama has three production facilities in Tulsa and employs more than 800 people. Workers also produce seasonal pies such as holiday, strawberry and cream, cherry and cream and pumpkin. The sole producer of pies for McDonald's, Bama also makes biscuits and hotcakes for the food chain.

Is McDonald's apple pie made with eggs? ›

The Filet-o-Fish® does contain eggs as an ingredient due to the Tartare Sauce, but the Apple Pie does not. . You can find a full ingredient declaration for all food (including our burgers) served in the U.K. by visiting our online nutritional calculator tool here or downloading our Allergen Booklet here.

Why did McDonald's get rid of apple dippers? ›

For McDonald's, looking to address an image problem and guide customers who have struggled to make or enforce healthy choices for their children, the answer was to end the option. Apple Dippers will now be Apple Slices, with caramel sauce on the way out.

What fruit is in McDonald's apple pie? ›

A-Plus Apples

So you can put away your Granny Smiths and Red Delicious if you think you can just whip up McDonald's signature dessert at home. Instead, Mickey D's makes their pies with six different types of apples — Jonagold, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Gala, Rome, and Ida Red, all of which are homegrown in the U.S.

What's the healthiest dessert at McDonald's? ›

McDonald's Menu: Healthiest Desserts
  • #5 Baked Hot Apple Pie. Calories: 250. Fat: 13 grams. ...
  • #4 Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream Come. Calories: 170. Fat: 4.5 grams. ...
  • #3 Chocolate Chip Cookie. Calories: 160. Fat: 8 grams. ...
  • #2 Oatmeal Raisin Cookie. Calories: 150. Fat: 6 grams. ...
  • #1 Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait. Calories: 150. Fat: 2 grams.
Aug 9, 2016

Can I eat a McDonald's apple pie the next day? ›

You do not have to worry because the good news is, that McDonald's apple pie can be preserved for as long as two to four days. Now we know how to reheat our leftovers. The process isn't difficult at all. The McDonald's Apple pie is a great meal that can be enjoyed especially if you have a busy schedule.

Who supplies McDonald's pies? ›

Where are McDonald's pies made? All of the pies sold at US McDonald's are made in Tulsa. For more than 50 years, all the pies sold in US McDonald's have been made exclusively at Bama Companies in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Bama also makes biscuits and hotcakes for the fast-food chain.)

Why did McDonald's get rid of Georgie pie? ›

The Kiwi favourite was relaunched seven years ago but McDonald's said there was no longer enough demand for the pies. “We know there will be disappointed Georgie Pie fans out there, and this is not a decision we have taken lightly,” Dave Howse, McDonald's New Zealand's managing director, said in a statement.

Why was McDonald's apple pie discontinued? ›

So what happened in September 1992? Our beloved McDonald's Fried Apple Pie was permanently removed from the regular menu for “health concerns.” The delicious fried pies were replaced with the baked scoundrels available today, even though those, too, were recently revamped.

Are McDonald's apples real apples? ›

McDonald's Apple Slices are a wholesome, tasty side made from real apples. Specially selected varieties mean our apple slices are always crisp and juicy, making for a tasty snack with 15 calories per labelled serving. Enjoy it as a Snack or Side to your meal!

Why do McDonald's apples taste different? ›

Calcium ascorbate is very safe and is used on most of the sliced apples that you find in your produce department, so McDonald's apples shouldn't taste any different than those. You can always simply cut apples yourself if this concerns you.

Can vegans eat McDonald's apple pie? ›

The modified food starch used in McDonald's apple pies is derived from plant-based sources, making it suitable for vegans. McDonald's carefully selects their starch suppliers to ensure that the starch used in their apple pies is free from animal-derived ingredients.

Does Mcdonalds apple pie contain pork? ›

McDonald's Apple Pies are made with ingredients that are suitable for vegetarians (i.e. contain no ingredients of animal origin) and they are cooked in dedicated frying vats using a non hydrogenated blend of rapeseed and sunflower oil (100% vegetable oil).

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