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.

Why did McDonald's change the apple pie? ›

And a recent change to the beloved dessert has nostalgic fans ready to riot. The company has announced that they are revamping the apple pie recipe in an effort to make it healthier. As Insider reports, the new recipe will feature less sugar, and the apple pie will be made with fewer ingredients overall.

When did McDonald's stop frying their apple pies? ›

There are a lot of things that McDonald's does wrong, but deep-frying isn't one of them. Then, in 1992, the unthinkable happened: Ronald replaced his beloved fried apple pies with the vastly inferior, modern baked version.

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 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.

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.

Why did McDonalds get rid of Georgie pie? ›

Over time a number of restaurants have stopped selling Georgie Pie due to lack of demand, and we've seen very limited push back from customers," Howse said. McDonald's acquired a number of Georgie Pie restaurant sites when the company was closed by its owner in the mid 1990s.

Why don't McDonalds apples Brown? ›

Answer. Sliced apples will undergo browning within a few minutes of being cut. Packaged apples found at McDonalds or in your local produce section are usually treated with a solution of calcium ascorbate (a blend of calcium and vitamin C) or citric acid (found in citrus fruit) to maintain freshness and color.

How do you get a free apple pie from McDonalds? ›

Enter your Birth Date (Day and Month are only required) on the McDonald's App and get a FREE Apple Pie for your birthday.

Is there potato in McDonalds apple pie? ›

Does McDonalds put potatos in their Apple Pie? ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Not according to the listing of ingredients at their website, unless some of those Greek words mean “potato.” The starch product in the delectable crust is based on wheat and the thickener in the apple filling is corn starch.

Are McDonald's apple pies 2 for $1? ›

The Pricing Can Be Confusing. In ye olde days of McDonald's apple pies, you could pick up two pies for $1. That's obviously not the case in the 2020s, when franchisees are free to price pies as they wish, and they cost an average of $2 each-- if not on a nationwide promotion.

Why did McDonald's get rid of the cherry pie? ›

The decision to boot the dessert came after McDonald's switched up its apple and cherry pies in 1992. Instead of fried, the restaurant chain opted to bake its desserts instead. While the apple pie still brought in sales success, this was the end of the road for the cherry pie, which was discontinued soon after.

Are there real apples in Mcdonalds apple pie? ›

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.

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

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!

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).

What apples are in apple pies? ›

Jonagold or Jonathan.

Crunchy and sweet-tart, Jonagolds are a cross between Jonathan and Golden Delicious apples. They're one of pastry chef Paola Velez's favorite apples to use in pie along with Granny Smith and Honeycrisp.

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