These McDonald’s apple pie facts will make your next bite of this fast-food dessert that much sweeter
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The apple pie made its national debut in 1968
McDonald’s humble handheld apple pie got its start in Knoxville, Tennessee. As the story goes, Ray Kroc—the businessman responsible for McDonald’s global expansion—was looking for a dessert for the brand, and franchisee Litton Cochran and his wife, Jo, heeded the call. According to their grandson Eric, who’s now a franchisee owner himself, Litton suggested a fried apple pie, telling Kroc that “it was a Southern dessert that would go over real well and was easy to carry.”
The two started working on a recipe, and after months of home recipe development with a very discerning focus group (Litton and Jo’s kids), they presented it to Kroc—and it did indeed go over real well with him! The apple pie subsequently made its big debut in McDonald’s in 1968. Fun fact: That’s also the same year McDonald’s introduced the Big Mac!
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It used to be deep-fried
The original McDonald’s apple pie was a turnover-style pie fried to a golden crisp. However, in 1992, the company decided to ditch the deep-fried goodness and switch to a baked version. The reason? “Health concerns”—aka the artery-clogging, high-calorie fat that comes along with deep-frying—in a new, more health-conscious decade.
The change to the beloved recipe created an uproar, and to this day, you’ll still find customers who clamor for a return to the original fried version.
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You can still get the fried version in the U.S.—but only in two states
And in just a single location in one of those states! You can find this proverbial unicorn in the town of Downey, California, and that’s actually the only place you can get a fried apple pie anywhere in the continental United States.
The other U.S. locale where you can order a fried apple pie? Hawaii, where most McDonald’s serve this version. At one point, Hawaiian franchisees attempted to introduce the baked version, but customers were exceedingly unhappy with this menu swap and so the islands switched back to the fried apple pies.
You may also be able to find fried apple pies internationally, depending on the country you’re in. International travelers have spotted them in Germany, Hungary and Australia, among other places.
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McDonald’s updated the apple pie again in 2018
The latest version of the McDonald’s apple pie features a lattice top with sprinkled sugar, fewer ingredients, less fat and large slices of apples instead of diced bits. The idea here was to make the dessert a little healthier again, and it came in conjunction with McDonald’s reducing the number of ingredients and preservatives in other items, including the Chicken McNuggets, as well.
The change to the apple pie didn’t come out of the blue. McDonald’s had been testing out the new recipe since 2016 in places including North Carolina and California.
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The fried version actually has fewer calories than the baked version
When it comes to desserts (that aren’t straight-up fruit), the McDonald’s apple pie is a pretty good option. It clocks in at 230 calories and has 33 grams of carbs, 11 grams of fat and 2 grams of protein. Weirdly, though, the fried version has 10 fewer calories—220—and 9 grams of fat. Color us confused!
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The McDonald’s apple pie is a healthy choice—relatively speaking
No, it’s not healthy (sorry), but with 230 calories, it’s at the bottom of the McDonald’s calorie totem pole. An Oreo McFlurry has 410 calories, while a small chocolate shake has 520. Yes, the apple pie does have more calories than the McDonald’s chocolate chip cookie (170), but that cookie doesn’t have a lick of fruit in it. So if you’re looking to keep your calories low and have a sweet treat while at Mickey D’s, the apple pie is probably the way to go.
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Meghan Markle is a big fan
The Duchess of Sussex confessed that she used to indulge regularly in this handheld McDonald’s dessert, though now she apparently makes her own version at home. On her Netflix show With Love, Meghan, she told guest Tan France that back when she was an aspiring actress, she used to treat herself to a McDonald’s apple pie after she rocked an audition. Honestly, we can’t think of a better reward!
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The pie uses at least five different types of apples
This is one of those McDonald’s apple pie facts that has had varying answers over the years. But at the moment, the dessert uses at least five and up to six varieties of American-grown apples in its recipe. Varieties used include Gala, Ida Red, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Jonagold and Rome. We feel a little bit healthier just reading that. (See, there is a lot of fruit in there!)
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McDonald’s Hong Kong offers apple pie towers as a wedding dessert
OK, let’s back up for a second and start with the idea of a McDonald’s wedding. Yes, it’s apparently a thing in some McDonald’s locations in Hong Kong. The best part, in our opinion? The wedding package includes a tiered “cake” made out of a stack of McDonald’s apple pies.
In case you’re curious, for around $400, you’ll also get McDonaldland character party favors for 50 guests, invitations, balloon wedding rings, a bouquet, a crystal McDonald’s house, party decorations, an emcee and wedding gifts. So if you want to immortalize your love of Mickey D’s—and its apple pies—on your wedding day, Hong Kong is the place to be.
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McDonald’s has expanded its pie offerings beyond apples
While the brand may have started out with apple, it has since expanded to include a number of different flavors. You can now get Strawberry and Crème pies and Pumpkin and Crème pies at certain times of the year. You can also get a seasonal Holiday Pie filled with custard and topped with rainbow sprinkles.
And in other countries, things get even fancier. The Philippines has a banana pie, while German customers can indulge in a blueberry-cheesecake option. In Thailand, you might find pineapple and corn pies on the menu, while Hong Kong offers a strawberry or chocolate topping for your apple pie. We can only hope these items make their way to the U.S. eventually!
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The apple pie has its own McDonaldland character
OK, Gen X, this one’s for you! If you’re (ahem) of a certain age, you may remember the iconic McDonald’s PlayLand in certain restaurant locations. These play areas, which made their debut in 1970, existed long before the ball pit and featured an assortment of odd characters from the fabled “McDonaldland.” This fictional world was inhabited by Ronald McDonald and his friends, including Mayor McCheese, Grimace, the Hamburglar and more. And in the backdrop of this fictional world, there were enchanted Apple Pie Trees—complete with faces. (Don’t question it—it was the ’70s.)
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At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on McDonald’s apple pie facts, Amrita Thakkar tapped her experience as a former Taste of Home editor and a journalist who often covers food news. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- WBIR 10News: “East Tennessee family behind McDonald’s iconic apple pie”
- The Takeout: “Where Can You Find McDonald’s Fried Apple Pies, and Are They Worth It?”
- McDonald’s: “Baked Apple Pie”
- McDonald’s: “Fried Apple Pie”
- CNBC: “McDonald’s tests out new baked apple pie in North Carolina, California”
- People: “Weddings at McDonald’s in Hong Kong Include Balloon Rings, Tower of Apple Pies”
- Mental Floss: “The Weird History of McDonaldland Toys”
