Today, we review the McDonald’s Fried Apple Pie. This is a short-term, limited edition offering from McDonald’s. It marks another first for Coalition Eats, as it is the first time we are reviewing a dessert item.
The McDonald’s Fried Apple Pie can be traced back to the 1960s. It started when East Tennessee Owner/Operator Litton Cochran created a fried apple pie. It became a popular item and eventually made its way into regular national and international offerings. By 1992, McDonald’s was under pressure to offer healthier menu items, and a Baked Apple Pie replaced the Fried Apple Pie. While the Fried Apple Pie was widely discontinued, it remained available in Hawaii and select international markets.
As mentioned, the Fried Apple Pie has made a limited return to the United States market to coincide with the America 250 (250th anniversary of the United States) celebrations. The return is only for a period of less than two weeks between June 23, 2026, and July 4, 2026. The pie is housed in a retro-style cardboard sleeve.
The Construction
McDonald’s Fried Apple Pie is served as is. There are no customization options. The pies are pre-made before arriving at a franchise, but are fried on-premises.
- Fried Pastry Shell
- UU.S.-Grown Apples
- Apple Pie Filling
- Length: 4 1/2 inches
- Weight: 3 ounces
- Location Purchased: Stallings, NC
- Price: $2.29
- Items Purchased: 2
The Appearance (*)
When it comes to many fast-food or chain offerings, the actual product often doesn’t come close to how it is staged in the press/menu photo. In this case, the Fried Apple Pie actually might have one of the closest resemblances to the staged/menu photo that I have seen in some time.
Comparison Rating: Excellent
The Experience
Since this is the first dessert review on Coalition Eats, there was no baseline to build a scoring algorithm. The following is the algorithm I used:
- Pastry Shell: 3 points
- Apples: 3 points
- Pie Filling: 2 points
- Intangibles: 2 points
Pastry Shell
The pastry shell had both crisp and flaky qualities. The crispness comes in when you bite into the apple pie. Meanwhile, the flakiness seems more present on the finish. This is a sweetened pastry shell with some sugar on the top. The sweetness of this shell is not overpowering. I do like the bubbling effect on the pastry shell. The bubbling won’t add more flavor, but it’s a product of the frying. In the end, this pastry shell does its job well.
Score: 2.25 out of 3.0 points
Apples
You’ve got to have apples in an apple pie, and this Fried Apple Pie certainly has its share of them. The apples are said to be all-American-grown. The apples were best described as average. They aren’t crisp, but they aren’t overly mushy here. They are soft enough for the Fried Apple Pie. The sweetness of these apples is probably somewhat muted by the pie filling.
Score 1.50 points out of 3.0 points
Filling
The filling of the apple pie consists primarily of a sugary cinnamon syrup, which is likely to provide a significant level of sweetness. Additionally, the cinnamon element contributes to a well-balanced flavor profile. The packaging includes a warning indicating that the pie is hot. It’s worth noting that some of the Fried Apple Pie fillings from the 1970s were known to be quite hot, whereas this particular pie was pleasantly warm, making it enjoyable to consume.
Score: 1.25 points out of 2.0 points
Intangibles
As I always do, I first assess whether the overall experience exceeds the sum of its parts. In this case, the answer is definitely yes. The filling is the most prominent element due to its sweetness, but the apples and pastry shell complement it beautifully. Each component is enjoyable on its own, but when combined, they create something truly delicious.
Another important factor is the temperature. This apple pie is served hot, and I used a thermal bag to transport it from McDonald’s to my home studio. The bag kept it at a pleasantly warm temperature without being too hot to handle. I believe this ideal temperature enhances the overall experience significantly.
The Fried Apple Pie can be eaten on the go, but you will get some minor flaking from the pastry shell or drippings from the filling. At the same time, this was not a gooey mess.
Ultimately, this item is not very filling, so it’s advisable to order a McDonald’s combo meal. Additionally, McDonald’s offers a discount when you order two Fried Apple Pies.
OVERALL EXPERIENCE
I was particularly interested in how the public would react to the Fried Apple Pie. When these were regular menu items in the past, I don’t recall them receiving much attention. However, during this assessment, it seems that people are genuinely happy with it. There’s definitely more excitement surrounding this pie compared to the Baked Apple Pie and even more than when the original Fried Apple Pie was first released. Overall, this was a very tasty offering. It’s difficult to compare it to my memories of the original Fried Apple Pie. I hope this is just a test run and that we see it added as a permanent menu item. I believe the climate has changed since 1992, and I can envision McDonald’s bringing these back into production.
Summary
| Pastry Shell (3) | 2.25 |
| Apples (3) | 1.50 |
| Filling (2) | 1.25 |
| Intangibles (2) | 1.50 |
| Total | 6.50 |
Score: 6.50 (out of 10 points)
Value: Slightly Above Average
Photo Credits: Cigar Coop, except where noted
* Not scored in the overall numeric assessment rating.
